North-Cental WI fishing report

There has been from time to time recently, a hint of autumn in the air. High school football has kicked off, the NFL pre-season is in full swing, and many a hunter is ardently preparing for the impending onset of fall. For many anglers, me included, the fall fishing season, although denoting the departure of summer, is embraced for a variety of reasons: a reduction in boating traffic, more temperate and comfortable fishing conditions, and excellent “bites” as many species of fish put on the ol’ “feed bag” in preparation for the impending Wisconsin winter. While we are presumably a few weeks from true autumn weather, the cooler evenings and subsequent reduced water temperatures have spurred on fishing activity as of late.

Walleyes are being caught from deeper holes, flats, and breaks, especially during mid-day hours. While there is still good action to be found while fishing shallower wood or weed edges, the largest walleyes have been consistently coming from deeper water. Live bait rigs tipped with minnows or leeches are working well, as are Mister Twister jig heads tipped with 3” Meeny grubs and/or livebait. Trolling has been another very productive option for targeting walleyes, with #5 and #7 Rapala Shad Raps and crawler harnesses producing good catches of fish.

Anglers looking to target smallmouth bass should try throwing Rapala Clackin’ Raps, Skitter Pops or Rattlin’ Chug Bugs, or in-line spinners such as the Mepps Black Fury Combo in and around logs, stumps, and rocky areas, especially those exposed to current. While smallmouth are being caught throughout the day, the early morning and evening periods have consistently had the most intense feeding windows. An often overlooked species in our area, largemouth bass have been producing steady action for anglers throughout the day as well. Thick vegetation and areas of tangled submerged wood have been the best areas to target. Weedless surface lures, Terminator buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, and jig-and-pig combinations have all been producing fish.

Catfish anglers continue to enjoy one of North-Central Wisconsin’s hardest fighting fish by working holes and pools with fresh-cut bait on a slip-sinker rig and Mustad Demon circle hook. While commercially prepared offerings and even chicken livers will catch channel catfish, anglers looking to see the most consistent action, especially with the largest fish in the system, will do best with fresh chunks of fish.

Late-summer stream conditions currently have the brook, brown, and rainbow trout more concentrated in deeper pools and cuts. With the reduced flow and increased water clarity, the trout have been a tad more skittish and wary, and thus requiring stealthy presentations to consistently catch fish. Fly-fishing using both dry and streamer flies have been productive, as has casting light Mepps in-line spinners such as the Aglia Spin Fly and Aglia SpinFly Wooly Worm during the day. A few large brown trout have been caught and released recently by casting Floating Rapalas after dark.

Double-ten style bucktails including the Mepps H210 and prop-style surface lures like the Tyrant Crusader are continuing to produce the most consistent musky action, although jerkbaits are starting to come on strong recently as well. While classic summer musky haunts such as weed edges and submerged wood/stumps are still holding plenty of active fish, rock structure, especially where current is present, has been holding plenty of fish as well. Bulldawgs, Suicks, and Phantom Softails have been productive jerkbaits while 10” Jakes and 9” Shallow Czars have been the crankbaits working well right now amongst the rocks, with perch, walleye, and sucker patterns all producing well.

September may be right around the corner, but there’s still summer left to be enjoyed! I’ll see you on the water…

Tight lines,