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Member
Posts: 87
Location: Neenah, WI | Wind and more wind. I don't remember a spring this windy for a long time, could be 40+ today. It can stop.
Trolled cranks a few hours yesterday on west shore in 7 - 9 fow, picked up 2. Best bite is still on the reefs right now. Water is still cool, was 59 south of Kalbus, should warm up a bit yet this week with the forecast.
Viking - the water is a bit warmer from Oshkosh down south. Dirty warmer water from the river actually goes south/southeast out of the mouth. |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | Things are finally picking up on the north end; not great yet, but decent. Water temp was 62-63 this morning. It was clouded up thanks to the wind the past few days but when the wind died down you could tell it was still pretty clear. |
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Member
Posts: 87
Location: Neenah, WI | Carp are in spawning already, rooting in the weeds and clouding the water, temp was 64, somewhere south. Picked up 4 walleyes from 16 - 20. |
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Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | Went out on Friday with a client and hit the reefs on the West shore. First three stops only produced 1 eye but the 4th spot was the magic one. We got our limit in about four hours. Interesting how they are biting now, they must be laying on their bellies, cause the slip bobber just rolled over on it's side when they took the bait. We had to stay on the top (highest point) of the reef, and keep the bait ONE inch off bottom to get bit. Leeches and worms were even till about noon then leeches took over and they wouldn't hit the crawler. We went thru almost a 1/2 lb of leeches, so I quess we missed over 20 plus bites (very very light bites) I have seen Perch more agressive than those eyes were. Wind picked up for a half hour some small white caps started and the fish quit, then it settled down and they started again. not what you would expect for a rock bite. Green was the best jig color with yellow next. All eyes were obviously full of lake fly worms oozing out like spawn when they were held. Keep your baits low and watch for any small change in the float at all. Very picky right now but gettable if you pay close attention to detail, and check your depth frequently. Got today off to do some honey dues but have to be out again Sunday,I will post the result of that day later.  (edit) Almost forgot- all eyes were from 16 to 20 inches and fat as could be, what ever happened to the VHS?
Edited by Hafe 5/23/2009 7:59 AM
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Member
Posts: 269
| out today 5 hrs nothing,then 2 in 5 minutes, then 0 the next hr.didn"t c much caught. trolled reefs , mud, tryed slips. |
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Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | Out today from 8:00 to 3:00 with the NE wind and white-caps everywhere on a West shore reef. Fished the same rock pile as friday with a new client had the same results...11-eyes (1-24") 1- sauger, 3 whitebass, 7-sheaps, 1- yellow bellied bulhead. Slips and leeches on top of the reef. Only difference was 5 came casting (hard to read the bobbers in the waves) jigs and dragging them back on bottom. Went thru another 1/2 lb of leeches. Crawlers were not doing it today. Green jigs were still the best under slip bobbers, and yellow/orange for casting. We had at least 40 bites today, got to 8-eyes and missed the next 11 bites in a row, very frustrating to say the least. All eyes were in the 16 to 19 inch range with two smaller ones around 14. |
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Member
Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | Pulled cranks on the East side for 4 hrs this afternoon with just 2 walleyes to show. Both fish came on top of a reef in 5 FOW on shad raps. Water temp is 63 near Quinney and Brothertown. |
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Member
Posts: 744
| I trolled harnesses on Butte des Morts yesterday...got nothing but sheephead.
Then some guy at the boat launch told me he puts worms on his. He was kind of dressed weird so I didn't pay him much attention.
Edited by thumper 5/26/2009 3:13 PM
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| We Pulled cranks and made one pass on northshore from 1-5 on sunday and only pulled 1 18" walleye,2 big fat sheephead,3 whities and one huge carp. |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | Fished the mud east of Neenah & north of Stevens Reef for a few hours this morning pulling harnesses. LOTS of sheeps, a few whities and 2 nice eyes (19', 21"). If there's a big flock of Pelicans, there's probably a big school of sheeps nearby. Water temp was back under 60 when I went out and barely over 60 when I went in. |
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Member
Posts: 141
Location: Oshkosh, WI | I went out for a couple of hours sunday morning and between sheephead, caught a nice breakfast walleye flat lining on a blue/chrome Fleet Farm shad rap just northeast of the mouth in oshkosh in 10 fow.
I went out around 17-18 for a while, but couldn't get anything but whitebass trolling shad raps at 2-2.5. I am kind of a trolling novice, so I would welcome any assistance about what approach to take (bait depth particularly) in the deeper water trolling at this time of year. |
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| Lake Winnebago endured another week of fisherman unfriendly weather. Rain and wind blew through the area most of the week until Sunday which gave us almost ideal fishing conditions in the morning. The water clarity is moderately stained, and the first small algae bloom of the season can be witnessed during calm conditions. Water temps were in the lower sixty degree range for most of the week. Another fly hatch has also occurred.
One of the great things about Lake Winnebago is it unique composition making fishing completely different from one area of the lake to another portion of the lake. This is very true currently. The southern half of the lake has had one of the best runs on walleyes in recent memory. The north shore has been spotty for walleye.
On the south shore, the western shore has had excellent trolling success, especially from the Hwy 45 wayside up to the Island. We worked this area multiple times this week with great results. The key for us was finding small depth changes, and working those contours. Our experiences indicated the active fish have moved into 9-12 foot depths, from the 5-9 foot depths from last week. This could partially be due to the weed cover thickness, making trolling more difficult in those shallower areas.
Presentations varied by day; however, one thing was consistent--- Shad style baits in black and gold dominated the fish taking. Flicker Shads, Walleye divers, Reef Runners, Hot n Tots and Shad raps all took excellent fish for us. Not just walleye – but small mouth bass, largemouth bass, white bass, pike, sheephead and crappie. Trolling depths varied by conditions but generally 50-60 feet behind the board was producing the best walleye. Other good colors included fire tiger, bubblegum and white.
The Third reef and Long Point were relatively slow. These areas seem to be overrun with sheephead currently. Occasional walleyes and a sporadic perch have been reported. The area off of Deadwood Point on the east shore has had a lot of boat traffic, with fisherman slip bobbering. No reports of what they were picking up in this region, but with that many boats something was popping. Typically this is a nice spot for perch and walleye.
The area around the Jesuit (Fahrney’s Point) is starting to produce some bass action. Both large and small mouths are present, and can be taken along the shore lines casting cranks, cleo’s or traditional plastics. Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac has also had excellent largemouth action on a bobber and meat or spinners. The 45 wayside was also producing small mouths by wading in the water casting. This method was also producing walleyes on cleo’s.
On the North shore many of the reefs have been fairly quiet. A couple walleyes per trip have been the norm, and this has not changed in weeks. The 7 foot ranges off of Davis Point was giving up some nice sized walleyes on a slip bobber and leech. There is a mud bite occurring in the 13-16 foot ranges along the north and northeast corner of the lake, especially in the general area of Otowana Launch in Neenah. This has been a crawler harness bite. Overall it has been inconsistent, but the fish size has been good once you locate them. The Outer Bar and Lighthouse Reef have been very slow.
On the Wolf River Louis Woods (Owner at Wolf River Outfitters) reports: The fishing conditions are still good for the white bass. The fish have dropped to the deep holes. We used Wolf River rigs and jigged off of the bottom to catch most of the fish. The trick to catching some nice fish was to use a light weight in the deep holes so you could barely feel bottom. When you could not feel the sinker hit the bottom the fish had it and it was time to set the hook. For the walleye: The mouth of the river by Lake Poygan is producing some nice fish. Flies are working well down there. We are casting the shores and catching the fish. Pink flies worked well for us. The bluegills are in the bays spawning. This is a great time for the kids to use some bobbers and red worms.
Several things to note in the coming weeks: 1. The carp should start to spawn in the next couple of weeks. (Waverley Park has already had some activity). Walleye love to eat carp spawn. Find the spawning areas, and you will find feeding walleyes. 2. Some of the biggest tournaments of the year will occur during the next three weeks. Check the My Fishing Partner calendar to see which launches will be filled early from tournament fisherman. This will save you a lot of frustration finding a place to launch your boat. 3. Fishing reports will become guarded. Many of the tourney guys will not give up their vital information. I will do my best to keep you informed. However, typically these reports get very short the next couple of week as information does not get shared easily. 4. We will attempt to hold the video shoot (3rd try) with Daryl Christiansen this Saturday, weather permitting.
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| Thats alot of information from a guy who doesnt own a boat! |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | I've been out 3 of the last 4 days including this morning. During those trips, I've only boated 12 walleyes but 7 of them have been over 20" and 3 of those 25" or greater. In other words, not much for quantity but really excellent quality. I'm really enjoying it, but I wouldn't mind a few more 16"-18" mixed in for some walleye dinners. Lots and lots of sheeps to waste my crawlers and keep me occupied between eyes.
Harnesses over the mud, 16'-18' fow. May or may not be coincidence, but all 3 of the 25"+ fish have come on #5 Northland Holographic Purple Cisco blades. Water temp is stuck at 62. I'm off to MN for a long weekend, hopefully the water will warm and the bite will pick up but I'd be OK if I had action like this all summer. |
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| Wondering,
I own a boat, as matter of fact 3 boats. If you want to take a ride in one of those boats let me know.
Mark |
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | Mark,
Ignore the trolls, don't feed 'em. |
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| Wondering,
Maybe you have me confused with another fisherman.
I will be on the water saturday (In some one else's boat) but you can join me Sunday, Tuesday PM, Weds all day, Thursday (I have a first mate that day) or friday am next week. Next weekend you can come see my boat at Walleye weekend at the weigh in if you really are that concerned.
Sorry to blow up, but i hate ignorance. Some guys work hard at this craft, and are willing to share information to help other fisherman. This sport needs more guys who are willing to share this kind of information, promote the sport and industry, and peak interest to support new anglers to ensure our future. There are many guys on this thread which are excellent at this and I thank them. I left this post because i replied on the previous thread as a guest (forgot to enter my name), and I believe you should know who is replying to you. |
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| I did think this was someone else please except my apology.I to spend alot of time on the water and have been taken advantage of by certain people who gave myself and others in this area a false impression of being someone they are not.
Walleyes in mud pulling meat gold and clown blades 16-17ft north of neenah these fish have been shifting around alot fish have been close to bottom.Butte has been picking up for me also.Same blades.
Todd |
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Member
Posts: 2300
Location: Berlin | Fished the last three days and caught over 30 walleyes each day. Biggest was 26.5" with the majority being around 17". This stable weather really has them turned on right now. The mud keeps getting better. Water has been clearing up with the lack of wind and the deeper rocks have been doing extremely well. This weekend is supposed to cool down so the bite will get a bit tougher. This has been one of the best weeks I have ever seen on this system. TONS of 20-23" fish in the system right now.
If this weather does not shut them down we should see HUGE weights in the Full Throttle tournaments this Sat. |
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Member
Posts: 1406
| I'll second Rich's post! A great week of fishing, just hoppin the weather doesn't turn my bite off! LOTS of nice 20-23" eaters!
Good Luck
Tyee |
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| Nice to read good reports.....no fishing for this cat...I'm one of t he few that gets OT an i'm working every bit of it.....But I sure would like to get some of those fish!!! hopefully in 3 weeks I'll get out there or maybe sooner...walleye beware...nice job guys..... |
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| Rich,
What time is the weigh in on Saturday?
Wondering.
We are cool! Thanks for the reply!
Mark |
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| Tyee and Rich,
Where have you been picking up the fish? Nothing specific as to location. Reefs, shallow, trolling etc. You can leave a message after the tourney. i understand. My reports that have come in to me this week is that things are really slow, especially in the southeast corner. I haven't been out yet this week because I was in Canada. Will be on the water all weekend. |
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Member
Posts: 378
Location: Omro,Wi. | Heres what I know (well not all) but first I agree with Rich, HOT BITE all week second I DISAGREE with Tyee 23" eaters? (cardboard fish...LOL) This lake despite the cold 64 degree water has lit right up this week. Trolling is great, rocks are great the bite overall has been fantastic. Tuesday limit in 3 hours (10) rocks-Thursday in 2.5 hours (10) rocks.Friday 3-guys in 6 hours with 4 thrown back (over 20-26). Rock bite was great today and so was the trolling bite. I started off fishing 17 feet of water off Oshkosh got 8 eyes deep toward bottom, moved up the baits to 10 feet down and got bigger fish (3) over 20". Waves just got too big by noon so I moved to a reef and dragged jigs and leeches over it to get the rest, done at 2:00 for the trip. If it stays like this I'll have to quit my part-time job. Weed bite is started,rocks are stable and trolling is started. Anyone not catching fish shoud go back to the basics ans stop over thinking, they are just fish. |
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Member
Posts: 269
| started casting west shorelines at 4:30am, no fish. then i trolled 4 about 4 hrs several different reefs, one small walleye, some whitebass.should have stayed home. |
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