Lake Winnebago "white hot"

Summer is here (for the most part) and the beautiful weather has us all enjoying the sun. With the climbing temps the water temps follow and fish activity follows.

Last week we spent some time breaking down Lake Winnebago from all angles. Everywhere we stopped produced a few fish but there are clearly areas to concentrate on which will produce consistent action. "Edges" seem to be holding great numbers of fish at this time. Walleyes can be caught high in the water column over these deeper drops adjacent to structure as well as a couple feet of bottom. From 5' down to 10' down over 10'-15' of water seemed to be the place to be over the weekend. Berkley Flicker Shads, Reef Runner Rip Shads, and Salmo Hornets all produced quality bites. Any color pattern with gold bellies seemed to be what the majority of fish wanted. "The Mud" also produced great numbers of fish from 16'-19' of water with the fish coming from 6'-12' down. Crawler harnesses with Warrior Blades were good along with the usual suspects listed above on the crankbait side.

If you're looking for a NEW Crankbait to try make sure you take a look at Reef Runner's  NEW "MINI-RIP". The bait looks like a mini version of the Deep Little Ripper and is in a size category all its own for a deep diving minnow style bait. We feel, in the limited time we have had to test the bait, that the lure really matches the hatch when it comes to early season forage yet will remain effective through the entire season. Mini-Rips will reach a depth of 15' while being trolled for suspended fish and are available in a wide variety of Walleye chewing colors. While there is no dive curve for them at this time that we were able to find we have played with effective depths to run these lures and we have found 25'-45' behind and OffShore planer board has been most effective over suspended fish. (your guess is as good as mine! my guess 6'-9' down at those leads) Mini-Rips are widely available direct from Reef Runner on "the www" or at most Mills Fleet Farm locations.

There have also been good numbers of fish being targeted and caught on the rocks along Lake Winnebago's West Shore. Pitching jigs, trolling reef tops, casting reef tops, or slip bobber fishing has all produced when playing the wind correctly. the more wind and waves you have crashing directly into a reef the better.

The cane beds in the upper lakes have been great as well dropping jigs or slip bobbers into the holes in the cane.

All of these fish are beginning to "slide through"  the system so we anticipate a more consistent "Mud Bite" to emerge in the coming weeks with the climbing water temps. Either way you decide to attack it the Winnebago System has been a great time for everyone.

A big thank you goes out to the Wisconsin DNR, Otter Street Fishing Club, and Lighthouse Anglers just to name a few. These people have prided themselves on making this system what it is today and for that we all owe them a big THANK YOU! We also need to respect the system by not taking this fishing for granted and over harvesting. Let some go, let some grow, and CPR (catch photo release) are all great practices.

Be safe and Good Angling to everyone over the holiday weekend! as always we are available for a more up to the minute report via Cellcom powered cellular phone at 920-660-7275.

Capt.Chris.

Green Bay Fishing Report

Summer has finally come, warm temps, summer storms, and fish on the move. anglers all over Green Bay and the Winnebago System have been finding success using multiple presentations. With this weeks extremely warm temperatures forecasted for the area I expect things to change quickly when it comes to fish location.

In the Green Bay area anglers targeting the Fox River have seen success on Muskies and Walleyes. Water temps have been right for the Muskie anglers and thus the success of trollers has been good. Walleyes have been being caught jigging channel edges and bridge footings with very good numbers of 14"-20" fish being caught. Jigs and crawlers seem to be the bait of choice.

Out on Green Bay anglers are also seeing good success while the fish are finally moving into their late spring patterns. We fished the Geano Reef area in 10'-12' of water Saturday and had great success trolling crawler harnesses. color was a non-factor as we didn't have anything that shinned above the rest. Dead Horse Bay and Suamico Bay had also produced on Saturday and throughout the week into the weekend. The fish have begun to slide out into a little deeper water and I expect as the waters warm this will continue. The Macco's Reef area has been producing fish on the East Shore along with the Bayshore Park area. The most success in this area has been deeper water with crank baits, 10'-15' of water being the top producer.

As far as our top producing baits: In the River it has been Lindy Max Gap jigs , blue glow was our top color in 1/4oz size. When able we have been using 1/8oz Bait Rigs Odd-Ball Jigs in Purple Tiger and they have been lights out.

Spinners have Been #6 Colorado Blades from Warrior Lures. When the sun is out it has been Copper backed blades in purple, pink, and green patterns. When it is cloudy we switch to silver backed and brighter colors of the same patterns.

As always we are available and happy to share more up to date fishing reports via telephone at 920-660-7275. Hope everyone has a great day on the water!

Green Bay Walleye Fishing Report

Fireworks in the air and on the water, fishing has really heated up on Green Bay. The fish have started their move North and into their usual summer pattern. Over the 4th of July weekend we found great action from Geano's Reef and North on both shorelines.

On the East Shore, areas like Macko's and Two Mile Reef are producing fish on the deep side of the structure. Sugar Creek is also producing fish.

On the West Shore, the "Shark Fin" north to Pensaukee Shoal has been our best spot concentrating on the 22'-25' depths with most of the fish coming suspended from 13' to 17' down.

You can choose to target these open water fish with crawler harnesses in various colors and blade sizes which vary from day to day. 1oz weighs from 25'-35' back should get the job done.

There are still good numbers of small, undersized fish, in the Fox River near the 172 bridge. We have caught them jigging and trolling small crankbaits.

If you're in need of a more detailed report we are always available and willing to share via cellular phone powered by Cellcom, we can be reached at 920-660-7275.

Good Luck and be safe on the water!

Green Bay Walleye Fishing Report

The curve ball was thrown as it usually is around the beginning of May. Mother Nature threw SNOW at us over the weekend yet the Walleye fishing has still been very good. Good numbers of fish can be caught casting, jigging, or trolling either crankbaits or crawler harnesses.

The Geano Reef area has been very good along with Suamico while trolling crawler harnesses from 3' even out to 12' and deeper. The name of the game is find what program you are most comfortable with and stick to it.

The East Shore has been good around Bayshore Park with some anglers even casting crankbaits at night off the break wall with success. Here we have been targeting the 10'-12' range with crankbaits and harnesses.

The area surrounding University Bay and Frying Pan Shoal have also been good but the fish seem to be running a bit smaller and the water clarity is definatly less than what it is to the north, which is the usual situation. Our best spot in this area has been the Kidney Island area to the southeast of the island along the shoreline, good numbers of fish but not alot of size.

The Fox River is still holding fish, as it does through most of the year. Good numbers can be had jigging the breaks from 7'-12' of water. all bridge footings are holding fish for the jiggers as well. The 172 bridge provides a trolling opportunity for the crankbait fisherman. Near the mouth of the river you can "pole line" of you are familiar with the set-up and catch some great fish near the northwest side of the river. The small islands and channel markers are also holding some nice fish to pitch jigs to, they're there all year you just need the right wind to take advantage of them.

As always we are available for more detailed and up to date reports via cell phone, powered by Cellcom, at (920) 660-7275 .

Good Luck and Stay Safe! Congratulations to Tim Boland and his partner for winning the Fox River Walleye Classic with a great bag of 26 + pounds. Tim is a heck of an angler and figured out a really tough bite. Congrats Tim, it couldn't happen to a better guy!

Green Bay Walleye Fishing Report

Mother Natures warming trend looks to have kicked the fishing in high gear. Anglers all over the Green Bay area, Fox Valley, and the Door Peninsula are reporting moderate to good action with numerous species being targeted.

Over the weekend we visited several spots in search of walleyes using several different methods. Trolling crank baits on Green Bay provided good action anywhere we could sneak out of a strong west southwest blow on Saturday. Reef Runner Little Rippers, Reef Runner Ripshads, and the always active Berkley Flicker Shad all produced action for us at a variety of depths.

Bay by Day, River by Night, was the name of our game as we ventured out after dark on the Fox Rivers flats in search of big fish shallow. Stick baits were our weapon of choice and seemed to produce the bites we were looking for. The slower we trolled the better as the fish seemed to have a tough time locating the bait in the dirty run-off from he weeks melting snow. This has been a pattern over the past couple seasons for us in the transition time of spring, target fish after dark shallow when boat traffic is at a minimum.

Sunday we turned over to fish Crawler Harnesses along the Eastern shores of Green Bay as this was the wind blown shore from the day before. This seemed to produce way more bites that the crank baits the day before, and a wider variety of takers. Which means its time to start thinking about crawler care. That being said, good worm bedding is the seldom noticed crawler bedding. Year in and year out we utilize Frabills Fat and Sassy worm bedding, it plumps up even the smallest crawlers in our flats and keeps our bait well nourished through their wait for deployment. Next time you're keeping some crawlers for a period of time give it a shot, it comes pre-mixed and pre-wet so there's no messy set-up either. Frabill even has worm food and Habitats for longer storage or the worm picker. Check it all out at Frabill.com.

Were always available for more detailed reports via cellular phone, powered by Cellcom, via dialing 920-660-7275. Good luck and safe angling!

Fox River Fishing Report 3-5-10

Welcome Spring, finally the waters of the Fox River have opened allowing boaters to hit the water and cure the winter-long itch.

Water temp has been hovering around 39-40 degrees on the surface. Thus the fish are moving a little slow, mix that with a lack of current and you have what some would consider tough conditions. Fishing has still been good for those choosing to cast jigs on channel edges, the only question in the top, the middle, or the bottom of the break? To be honest the water is very clear and it depends on the wind. Over the past few days when there is wind we fish the top, 9'-12' of water. When the wind lays down the fish seem to slide off into the channel. Water clarity may have something to do with the lack of fish being caught vertical jigging.

Our best baits have been Odd-Ball jigs 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz, basically dragging the bait across the bottom. Pink and Purple Hot Tiger have been our best colors, gold has also been good for us.

It is key to have a swivel tied 12'' up from your bait with a fluorocarbon leader in between, not only does this make your set-up more abrasion resistant but the swivel eliminates line twist and jig spinning. This small step will greatly increase your catches.

As always we are available for more detailed reports via cellular phone at (920) 660-7275. Good luck and stay safe on the water!

Lake Winnebago Report. Jan. 10

Due to other natures early cold snaps ice fishing has gotten off to a solid beginning. Anglers all over are reporting solid ice conditions from northern wisconsin down to the southern harbors. Lately we have been focussing our energy on lake Winnebago and its Upper Lakes.

Solid ice depths from 12''-14'', and the efforts of local fishing clubs, have made for relatively safe motor vehicle travel. As is always the case, use caution when on the ice with any motor vehicle. From what we have found our most productive area have been Lake Poygan and a couple miles out of Brothertown on Lake Winnebago. Mixed bags of perch, walleyes, and white bass have made for days filled with action on the locators and cameras. We are still seeing lots of nuetral fish and loads of shad on the cameras.

From the west shore of Lake Winnebago we saw water which was more stained once you reached the bottom 5' with the camera. Here we saw the Sheephead out-numbering the other species on the camera screen. It seems as if the farther south and east you go the better the fishing becomes on Lake Winnebago.

Our best baits have been Easy Prey spoons and several of the Northland Baitfish series spoons as well. JR's tackle also makes a few of our favorites. The old standby of a Firetiger Jigging Rapala has been our go to bait at all of our locations and in most cases we have been using them without any bait.

As always we are available for more detailed reports by dialing (920) 660-7275 and available for questions via email.

We are happy to announce we will be back on the water full time from late March through October/November. Including Lake Michigan Salmon!

Good Luck and stay safe on the water!