2008 Fishing Reports

July fishing report

Southern Wisconsin

Down on the southern lakes fishing been on the slow side and with the water temperatures starting to hit the mid 80's it is best to fish early morning hours or after 8pm and into the night. The fish we been on have been off the breaks following the large school of bait fish. Large rubber baits been working best fishing the edges or just below the bait fish schools. Also don't be afraid to use large blade baits, count them down to were the bait fish are and then rip them back at a good pace.

Northeastern Wisconsin

The last 3 weeks the fishing has really improve, the water temperatures have been steady in the low 70's and many follows though out the day with a couple of hook ups. By going back to these fish at sunset and after dark has really been paying off. Again larger baits have been paying off. On North Twin we been using Live Action baits and going to the darker colors as night falls. These have been out producing the Bull Dawgs, I feel the fish have been seeing way to many of these (bull dawgs) lately and showing them something different has really been paying off. Also after dark we been throwing large Gerry Girl's and Jaw Baits with a steady and slow retrieve and they been just crushing them. We been moving fish both off deep weed edges and off the edges of rock bars during they day and moving on top of the structure at night Also don't forget to do a large figure 8 at night because a quarter of our fish been hitting at night on the first turn into the figure 8. I had a couple of guys out on July 25th and they kept forgetting to do the figure 8 and had 3 boat side hits when they were pulling their baits out of the water and didn't hook one of them. There is nothing like a fish hitting a figure 8 at night. Also a little trick is I like to break the top of the water with my bait on the turns at night this really seems to trigger them.

Also on the brighter days I been pulling off the clearer lakes and Lac Vieux Desert been a great choice this year, the grass that is usually a main issue this time of year is not a problem and the deep cabbage beds have been producing good size fish. Also the hole by Desolation Point has been good, also work this deep break from the duck blind all the way down into Rice Bay the front guy should work the drop with deep crank baits or rubber while the guy in the back should cast over the weeds with bright color bucktails or surface baits. I usually work the North side of this break into Rice Bay and then come back up casting the break on the south side (shore side) here you will have timber and some weeds. Sometime these fish will all be relating to the timber. Best baits been bright color bucktails and LifeLike lures in 10” models. Also if it is real hot out and need a break the Hill Side is a good place for lunch this is located on the South Shore straight South of Little Duck Island. Robbie is a good fisherman and loves to talk about fishing, have him show you the 51” he got this year.

Also for more information and if you want to see the World Record tiger musky stop in by the Minnow Bucket they will give you the latest information on area lakes. Located on highway E and West Shore Drive.

Don't forget catch & release is the future and if you are lucky enough to catch a fish that you want mounted please see in Northern Wisconsin Rick Lax Reproductions in Conover 715-547-3710 in Southern Wisconsin Fishn'Fever in Okauchee 262-569-7491. They both do a great job on reproductions just make sure to take good pictures and measurements of your fish.