Fresh Fishing; Season Opens Throughout State

By BOB RIEPENHOFF

The inland waters fishing season opened on Saturday.

Here are some pre-season reports from Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisors for each of the agency’s six regions:

Southeastern Wisconsin

“Walleyes on our deeper, cooler lakes like Big Cedar, Geneva, Pine and Delavan, may still be spawning; something that does not happen very often this far south,” said Randy Schumacher, regional fisheries supervisor with the DNR in Milwaukee. “Largemouth bass fishing will probably be pretty slow and confined to natural bait or slow-moving natural bait imitations like plastic worms. Look for the best bass fishing under any sunny skies even if it’s at high noon. Also, try any shallow bays and inlets on the north side of the lake where sunlight has the most warming penetration. Channels should be good for bass on some lakes.

“Don’t forget about stocked trout lakes. Old favorites like Lower Genesee, Lower Nashotah, Ottawa, Fowler, Waubesee and Beulah lakes will be stocked with full quotas and should provide excellent fishing for browns and rainbows.

“Northern pike will be well past spawning and should be very active in all our lakes. Muskies may also still be spawning, which could inhibit fishing for them a bit. Small baits fished slowly might be the best for early season muskies in this area.”

Northeastern Region

“The walleye spawning will be done by the opener,” said George Boronow, regional fisheries supervisor, Green Bay. “The fish are not going to be sitting up in the shallows in vulnerable areas but back to their normal habits and should be feeding readily.

“It’s an excellent walleye population in the Winnebago system – good numbers of fish and good sizes. The Marinette area is also good for walleye around the spring opener. Fish the lower Menominee River or Green Bay on the west shore. Trout streams are going to be full of water, not overflowing but good water flows. We have excellent streams and a lot of public frontage on them.”

Northern Region

“It is likely that walleye will have completed spawning on all but a few of the largest, deepest lakes by the fishing opener,” said Steve Avelallemant, regional fisheries supervisor at Rhinelander. “Timing should be good for a decent post-spawn bite at that time.

“If you can’t find the walleyes, it is a good bet that panfish, particularly crappies, will be found in the shallower, muddy bottomed bays, especially on the bigger waters. Then too, northern pike can often make your day as they are generally willing biters and we saw some fairly strong year classes across the region in the lakes that hold pike a number of years back.”

South Central Wisconsin

“Musky, walleyes, and pike will be done spawning by the opener,” said Scot Stewart, regional fisheries supervisor, Fitchburg. “Depending on what water temperatures do, anglers could find walleyes at night in the shallows, associated with the spawning areas, and mostly males. Females will be in deeper water.

“If you’re fishing for muskies, they will be over the top of emerging weeds, so try and find new weed growth. Pike will be associated with new weeds. Bass will be looking for warm water temperatures. Trout anglers should look for cover on outside bends, deep holes or timber in the water.”

West Central Wisconsin

“Northern pike have completed spawning and will be feeding heavily by the opener,” said Bob Hujik, fisheries supervisor, Eau Claire. “Walleye anglers should also enjoy success as walleyes are finished spawning and beginning to feed. Larger females will be located on or near shallow flats, while males are generally in the deeper water. Afternoon is usually the best as water temperatures rise.

“Panfish anglers should look for shallow bays out of the wind. There, they will find bluegill, crappie and perch waiting for a worm or minnow. Trout anglers could face tough conditions with extremely clear water making trout spooky. Anglers will have to use the stealth approach when stalking the wily brook and brown trout.”

Mississippi River

“A typical spring brings conditions that constantly challenge anglers, and this spring has done just that,” said Ron Benjamin, fisheries supervisor, La Crosse. “Recent reports have anglers catching good numbers of walleye below Lock and Dam 4, 5, 7 and 8.

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