Lake Temperatures for Northern Wisconsin and the Western UP of Michigan

FISHING REPORTS: (for even more information, check out the FORUM page)

Well folks, here I am back in the Northwoods of Wisconsin a couple of weeks early this year. The record floods in Arkansas sure put a damper on our bite there. Predictions from the Army Corp of Engineers are for water in Greers Ferry not to recede to normal until possibly mid-summer. We traded beautiful weather in the 70s, green grass, leaves on trees, flower, etc, for sub-freezing and snow when we got back to the Northwoods. However, that gave me some time to get lots of chores I've put off for years done around the house before the big game fish Opening Day on May 3rd. Speaking of Opening Day, the colder than normal spring here has delayed ice off on our 3600 lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. In the past couple of days, we have seen ice off on most lakes 300 acres in size or less. There is little hope to see the large lakes like Tomahawk or Trout to be ice free by opening day, though. The good news is we will have plenty of open water to fish this weekend. Walleyes, of course, will be just beginning their spawn, but northerns will be done spawning and very active. With the walleye spawn just beginning, action will be found in shallow water, mainly on rock shore lines or points. Active males will be the main bite for a week or two, but you will score a few spawning females, too. Actually, a week of early ice off or a week of delayed ice off like this year makes very little difference in the bite in my opinion. All opening weekends are about the same year after year. The type of water you pick for the opening week of fishing will be the key on how to score big. Dark water or flowage water will find eyes remaining shallow all day long close to spawning rock areas. If clear water is your choice, look for eyes to be very shallow at night and back off into 15 to 20 feet adjacent to these rock areas during the day. No question that 1/16 oz jigs and fat head minnow combos will produce the bulk of your catch. Leeches will be at a premium this year as ice still covers Minnesota lakes where the bulk of our leeches come from. Anyway minnows will still far out produce leeches until at least mid May, as leeches naturally will not swim freely from the mud until that time. The other method that will produce a lot of fish is casting shallow running crank baits like Rapala Husky Jerks or X Raps in shallow water. Again, your choice of water will be critical in successful use of this method. Dark water will produce night or day, but clear water will only produce at night. For best results on very early season eyes, pick the numbers lakes for action on smaller fish. It's true, big, deep, clear lakes will produce a few trophy females but don't expect a lot of action on those types of lakes until spawning is complete for a week or two. My choice for Opening Week will be area flowages or at least river type water in lakes that are fed by rivers. Of course, flowage landings will be very crowded opening weekend, but those of you who can spend weekdays angling will find plenty of room to do your thing. As usual, you will find very, very little new green weed growth yet. If you do find any green sprouts at all in your favorite water, there is no question you have a hot spot. Sometimes even old weed growth from last year, even if brown cabbage, will hold fish. In lakes without wood or rocks, old weed growth is the only structure forage fish can hide in from predator fish. If walleyes are tough for you opening weekend, target northerns or jumbo perch. Both are done with their spawn and will be hungry and feeding aggressively. Another species to target is crappie. They will be actively feeding in very shallow bays with warmer water than the remainder of the lake. Simple 1/32 oz jigs tipped with small twister tails under a bobber will work very well. These crappies will be in and out of these bays as they will follow perch fry and other minnows that are present in these shallow bays. One day you will enjoy a fast bite, the next you won't have a hit. So move around a lot until you contact a feeding school and you will limit out. After a very long winter for most of you, it's time to get excited and join us in the Northwoods to celebrate another fishing season. Come on, catch the good life with us in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 09:39:05 (CDT)

In the last week I have been on 6 different lakes from 150-1200 acres. Water temps from 51-57. With these temps everyone is screaming turnover. On over half of these lakes it hasn't been the case. Dropping a temp probe to the bottom I am still seeing temps almost 10 degrees colder. Now it's real close. With the colder nights more are most likely flipping now. Yesterday had another hard frost with temp at 27. THis morning a bit warmer with 35 and no frost. The rain we were not supposed to see held the temp up I suppose. In the last 3 weeks we have damm near seen rain in some form in every 24hour period. After today the forecast is saying clouds, but no rain with normal temps. Hope this is true. The fishing. Well it's been up and down with the weather. Some days we have just pounded them, others really had to work just to get a bite. Last thursday was one of those days. Got a single fish right off the bat, with a few bites. Then the first crack of thunder, and we were done. Still am finding fish on the deeper edges of structure for the most part. On the darker days have done better as shallow as 5ft. Have found fish on rocks, green weeds, and wood. It has just depended on the primary structure for the lakes fished. In general the bite has been mostly on minnows. Med-XL fatheads have been working the best. Normally this time of year I like the walleye suckers, but they are just not producing well. Crawlers and waxies still producing panfish. Musky fishing continues to pick up on suckers. As for lures, jerkbaits and cranks have been the way to go. A slower retrieve with longer sweeps seems to get the most attention. This weekend looks like it may be really good for us. I have to spend 3 days with the legendary crowmaster for some hardcore musky fishing. So I am sure will be able to write another chapter in his book of crazy antics!! The hunting also seems to have been slightly stifled by the weather. Bowhunters have seen the deer moving a little less. The grouse have been holding tight with the wet stuff. Get some dry days and things really pickup. As for ducks it seems most of the resident birds have been either shot off or move on with the pressure. Warm weather in Canada has kept from pushing the majority of the birds down so far. Colder weather now should really change that.
Jeff Bolander <jeff@upnorthpublishing.com>
- Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 10:35:46 (CDT)

Major seasonal patterns in fishing are taking place since Labor Day. This has been a very unusual year in the weather dept in the Northwoods. Nearly record drought and very warm temperatures have prevailed. The vast majority of my summer was spent on area flowages with great success. Day after day water levels fell to a point now they are almost unfishable. There are only single landings that anglers can access either the Willow or the Rainbow Flowages. The main landing by the dam on the Willow and the new landing by the dam on the Rainbow are the only ones accessible. All other landings on both flowages are high and dry. Once on these flowages, only main river channels are available. Idle speeds only must be used. I've insisted on continuing to fish them with good success on fish production. However it's cost me. In the past 3 weeks, 6 prop repairs were necessary. If no heavy rains occur, this is it for any flowage fishing. Normal fall hot lakes are starting to produce now as fall like temperatures are now being seen. Normally we see at least one hard frost in August, but not this year. In fact, even now in mid September, no frosts have occurred. Cool nights, though, have dropped water temps from the mid 70s to the mid 60s now in a week. Now, mid 60s is no where near fall turnover. They way it's going, we will not see fall turnover until well into October. Very late indeed. Some lakes like Squirrel are seeing action on deep rockbars now, but most lakes including the Flambeau Chain, Plum, Little Trout, and other deep rock action lakes are still seeing most action occurring shallow and weed related. There also has not been the complete switch from crawlers to minnows that we normally see by this date. Continue to take crawlers along with you until the water temps fall to 55 degrees. At that point, exclusively minnows will produce. Deep green weed edges will continue to be your best bet to produce decent size fish. Deep rocks have been primarily the haunts of smaller fish and is a great place to produce on size exempt walleye lakes, but don't expect these rocks to produce the big girls until fall turnover. Whether you believe in global warming or not, it is a fact the past few years have seen much warmer fall temps than the "good old days". In years past, we always had fall turnover by the third week of September. Recently this turnover has not occurred until mid October. The same will be seen this year. Expect that big bit surge, especially on muskies, to be again short and sweet and probably in early November again. If trophy fish is your bag, concentrate on big small mouth bass. This is the best year I can remember for this species, as numerous 18 to 23 inchers have been coming. Oh, by the way, it's now time to get back on the Minocqua Chain. The armada of jet skiers and water skiers are for the most part gone now. Well, it's time for me to hit the water. See ya next time and come on. Catch the good life with us in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 10:14:47 (CDT)

Reports coming...