A Few Brief Thoughts on the 2012 WI Fishing Opener...

The 2012 statewide fishing season opener here in Wisconsin, similar to many of my brothers and sisters in the outdoors as a second Christmas, is less than one week away! If you’re like me, you’ve long since re-spooled your reels with brand new Sufix monofilament or braided fishing line, checked the guides on each of the plethora of St. Croix rods you own for any chips or cracks, organized and then re-organized each tackle box, pouch, and bag, and are more than ready to embrace the opener on your favorite body of water.

While preparation of your boat and gear is indeed critical to fishing success, equally vital is an understanding of the habits of your quarry, especially during the spring of the year. Water temperatures play a huge role in fish location, including helping determine when they spawn; by understanding the relationship between water temperature and the fish you pursue, you’ll up the odds in consistently locating your finned adversary.

If you’re a northern pike angler, the early spring this year means that the spawning season has long since come and gone. Pike can be found in likely spawning locations before the ice is departed and spawn as soon as it begins melting off the lakes. Shortly thereafter, one of the most popular of Wisconsin’s game fish – the walleye, swims into action as well. Walleyes begin migrating towards spawning grounds shortly after the ice leaves and water temperatures range from 38-44degrees F. The peak of the walleye spawn typically occurs when the water reaches between 42-50 degrees F.

Around the same temperatures as the walleye, yellow perch can also be found moving shallow to spawn. The first of the “big three” panfish to spawn in Wisconsin each year, perch prefer water temperatures between 44 and 52 degrees F. Given the early spring, if you’re an angler in committed to the pursuit of northern pike, walleye, or perch, understanding basic fish biology of these species will enable you to begin to pattern likely areas to fish opening weekend knowing you’re looking at a mostly post-spawn bite.

My hands-down favorite gamefish is the musky - the king of freshwater, and a species that spawns when water temperatures range from 50-60 degrees F. While most species open statewide this weekend, musky season only opens on water South of Highway 10. Anglers fishing the Southern Zone for muskies should be finding the bulk of the fish in a post-spawn mode.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass (60-65 degrees), crappies (61-68 degrees), and bluegills (67+ degrees) all spawn in water temperatures ranging in the sixties. Depending on the body of water you’ll be fishing, there is a good chance you’ll be able to find numbers of crappies and bass located in the shallows opening weekend. Slip bobbers tipped with Mister Twister Lightnin’ Bug jigs and crappie minnows will be an excellent option, while bass fishermen (both largemouth and smallmouth) would be wise to consider crankbaits such as the Rapala Rippin’ Rap and Rattlin’ Rapala or slower plastic presentations like the Mister Twister FAT tube or a Trigger X Tube.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that it is imperative to treat the resource with respect. There is nothing wrong with keeping a meal or two of fish, but be a steward on the water and take only what you need, especially during the delicate spawning season. Turn the hat around backwards, open the throttle, and get ready, because here we go – the opener is here! I’ll see you on the water...

Tight lines,