Jerry Hartigan, Turtle Flambeau Flowage, Mercer, Wisconsin, Fishing Reports and Conditions

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Hello everyone, well the fishing has slowed down a bit. However, last night I guided a few guys and we caught many walleyes but the sizes aren't like they were last week. Alot of 14-15 inchers instead of 18-19 like we were getting. Weedless jigs and fatheads worked for us last night (3-7pm) and we got the majority off a sand point along an island adjacent to the river channel - casting up on the bar 3-5 ft and working it down and they were hitting it on the drop off in 8-10ft. We got a few eyes off shore anchored in 18ft and casting shallow right along shore and they hit it again, on the drop 6-8ft there also. We didn't get into any perch but a customer told us they were getting them in 4-6ft down on the big water in/along weeds (which are just starting to grow). I'll try to post again soon. Jerkbait
Jerkbait Guide Service <info@flambeauflowagesports.com>
- Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 08:57:49 (CDT)

Well, the water temps are finally starting to warm up. I had in the low 50's today in several spots. The walleyes on the flowage are still hitting very well with the average size at 15 to around 18. Most of the bigger fish still seem to be shallow near deeper shorelines with wood or any kind of rock. Weedless slowfall jigs and minnows are working well but stickbaits like xraps and rapala,s are doing well along shorelines, especially for bigger fish. Smallmouth have also been very active, but they are catch and release and you also need barbless hooks untill the regular season opens. Jerry
Jerkbait Guide Service <info@flambeauflowagesports.com>
- Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 17:07:37 (CDT)

Well, opening day is finally here. I am heading out on the water right now so I will give a quick report before I leave. We did OK over the weekend considering the snow and wind on Saturday. Most of the bigger fish we caught were very tight to the shore near deep dropping shorelines. Jig an minnows caught most of the fish, but stick baits like Husky Jerks and rapala's did pick up some bigger fish. The water temps were between 43 and 44.6 so the spawn should still be going on. Today is much warmer so the temps should be starting to rise. Thats all I have time for now, I will give a better report tomorrow. Jerry
Jerkbait Guide Service <info@flambeauflowagesports.com>
- Monday, May 05, 2008 at 17:11:44 (CDT)

Walleyes have been hitting well over all, but the few cold fronts we have had have been turning them on and off. Most of my fish have been coming from 10 to 12ft of water with lots of structure around. Jigs and fathead minnows have been working the best, but I have been getting some nice fish on small plastics on a jig. Walleyes have been moving up shallow on occasion in new weeds and rocks. These fish seem bigger and are feeding more aggresively. Smallmouth have been up along the shorelines, with the males just starting to build nests. The cold fronts have really been affecting them with the fish being shallow one day and gone the next. I have been getting some bigger walleye while fishing for smallies in the shallows if the wind is blowing into a rocky shoreline. I will try to update more often, but I am usually on the water so I don't have a chance to sit down at the computer that often. Jerry
Jerkbait Guide Service <info@flambeauflowagesports.com>
- Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 07:07:10 (CDT)

Well, Opening day is finally here. Most people had a hard time finding fish over the opener. Water temps were in the high 50's, which is very high for this time of the year. Most of the walleyes we found were relatively shallow (6 to 8ft) and in wood and rocks. Slowfall jigs and minnows were the best producers, with slip bobbers also working well. We also got some nice walleyes of a few points, casting up shallow and bouncing it down the drop off. This also produced several nice perch. Smallmouth are already starting to come up shallow with the warm water temps and should just keep getting better until they spawn. I will be guiding today, and the next 4 days so I will give you my reports as soon as I can. Jerry
Jerkbait Guide Service <info@flambeauflowagesports.com>
- Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 14:38:49 (CDT)

Reports coming...