| Plain garden worms are the favorite bait for bluegills, but they can be caught on a number of different types of lures. The fly fisher can have fun with poppers, especially in spring and early summer, when nests are concentrated in shallow water. Most large bluegills are taken in deep water during the summer months by drifting with the wind using worms. Wintertime jigging in the weed beds with grubs or mousies on ice jigs also produce excellent results. State Record: Bluegill 2 lbs. 9.8 oz. 8/02/1995 Green Bay Brown County |
| The walleye is one of the most highly prized game fishes in Wisconsin. Thousands are caught each year during their spring spawning runs. Walleyes are primarily minnow feeders, but leeches, small bullheads, night crawlers, and various small plugs are favorite baits. In clear waters, walleyes usually stay in deeper areas during the day, moving into the shallows at night. In more turbid waters, they can be caught throughout the day. The large, unusual eyes of the walleye are designed to help them easily find their prey. State Record: Walleye 18 lbs. 0 oz. 09/16/1933 High Lake Vilas County |
| The black crappie is considered an excellent game fish when taken on light tackle. Extreme care must be taken in landing these fish because their mouths are very tender. Anglers specializing in catching black crappie know that to be successful the bait must be kept constantly moving. The best baits are small minnows, small maribou-covered jigs, plastic minnows, or small streamer flies cast along the outer edges of weed beds. The crappie lies in weed beds in deep water during the day and bite best in early morning or toward evening. In summer, with the abundance of small fish for feed, they are more difficult to catch. Small minnows are used as bait in winter. State Record: Crappie, Black 4 lbs. 8 oz. 8/12/1967 Gile Flowage Iron County |
Pound for pound the smallmouth bass is the scrappiest fish of all Wisconsin. It is
usually associated with a rocky stream or lake environment where its favorite
food, the crayfish, is abundant. Some of the best lake fishing takes place in June
during, and just after, the spawning season, and in early fall. Natural baits like
hellgrammites, dragonfly larvae and crayfish are especially effective during early
morning or late evening. (Note: in Wisconsin it is illegal to possess live crayfish
while fishing or while possessing angling equipment on any inland water, except
the Mississippi River.) Probably the best artificial baits are those used on the
surface. Light tackle is ideal. Fish quietly, casting toward rocks or logs, keeping
the rod tip up the line taut.
State Record: Smallmouth 9 lbs. 1 oz. 06/21/1950 Indian Lake Oneida County
usually associated with a rocky stream or lake environment where its favorite
food, the crayfish, is abundant. Some of the best lake fishing takes place in June
during, and just after, the spawning season, and in early fall. Natural baits like
hellgrammites, dragonfly larvae and crayfish are especially effective during early
morning or late evening. (Note: in Wisconsin it is illegal to possess live crayfish
while fishing or while possessing angling equipment on any inland water, except
the Mississippi River.) Probably the best artificial baits are those used on the
surface. Light tackle is ideal. Fish quietly, casting toward rocks or logs, keeping
the rod tip up the line taut.
State Record: Smallmouth 9 lbs. 1 oz. 06/21/1950 Indian Lake Oneida County
| The natural home for the musky is in the northern lakes and rivers. It is a solitary fish and lurks in weed beds or other protective cover. Anglers usually have the best luck fishing during the daytime. Large plugs, spoons, and bucktails are the best artificial baits. A live fish bait 10-12 inches long is also good. State Record: Muskellunge 69 lbs. 11 oz. 10/20/1949 Chippewa Flowage Sawyer County |
| Unlike other common species of game fish, northern pike are most active when the water is cool. The northern pike is quite accommodating to anglers, biting best during the daylight hours. Being a predator, northerns prefer live fish baits, and wobbling spoons. They are a favorite target of ice fisherman with tip-ups. State Record: Northern Pike 38 lbs. 0 oz. 8/06/1952 Lake Puckaway Green Lake County |
| Yellow perch are primarily bottom feeders with a slow deliberate bite. They eat almost anything, but prefer minnows, insect larvae, plankton, and worms. Tackle may range from a simple handline or a fly rod in summer to a short, whippy, jigging rod in winter. Because perch prefer cooler water, the best fishing is usually in deep water. Perch move about in schools, often numbering in the hundreds. If one spot is unproductive after a few tries, it is best to move to other spots until a school is located. State Record: Perch, Yellow 3 lbs. 4 oz. 1954 Lake Winnebago Winnebago County |
| Walleye |
| Smallmouth |
| Musky |
| Northern Pike |
| Crappie |
| Bluegill |
| Yellow Perch |
Walleyes:
The famous Turtle Flambeau
Flowage, (17,000 acres of water) is
rated by theWisconsin D.N.R. as
having one of the best walleye
populationsper acre of water in the
state. Laid out with open mud flat
areas, miles and miles of river
channels, log jams, rock, and sand
shorelines, submerged as well as
visible stump fields, hundreds of
center lake rock and mudd humps,
back bays, islands, bogs, and
numerous weed bedsallows “Doc”
to teach you numerous
presentations that put walleyes in
the boat.
The famous Turtle Flambeau
Flowage, (17,000 acres of water) is
rated by theWisconsin D.N.R. as
having one of the best walleye
populationsper acre of water in the
state. Laid out with open mud flat
areas, miles and miles of river
channels, log jams, rock, and sand
shorelines, submerged as well as
visible stump fields, hundreds of
center lake rock and mudd humps,
back bays, islands, bogs, and
numerous weed bedsallows “Doc”
to teach you numerous
presentations that put walleyes in
the boat.
Small Mouth Bass:
Although much known for its fantastic walleye fishing the Turtle Flambeau Flowagealso boasts a excellent
population of Small Mouth Bass. With 17,000 acres of superb small mouth habitat, abundant feed,and acres
of prime spawning areas the small mouth population on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage has exploded in the
last 10 years. Commonlyreferred to as “footballs”, the Turtle Flambeau
Flowage produces much heavier smallie than the average inch to pound
ratio than most other bodies of water. From early spring to late fall the
small mouth can be found roaming the various structures of the TFF.
Although much known for its fantastic walleye fishing the Turtle Flambeau Flowagealso boasts a excellent
population of Small Mouth Bass. With 17,000 acres of superb small mouth habitat, abundant feed,and acres
of prime spawning areas the small mouth population on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage has exploded in the
last 10 years. Commonlyreferred to as “footballs”, the Turtle Flambeau
Flowage produces much heavier smallie than the average inch to pound
ratio than most other bodies of water. From early spring to late fall the
small mouth can be found roaming the various structures of the TFF.
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