T_boy
07-31-2008, 06:40 PM
Northern pike action has been good on the Chetek chain these past few weeks and should continue to get better into August. Early spring weed growth has started to die, opening up more waters in which to fish for northern pike and other species of fish.
Northern pike are caught quite regularly by people fishing for them in different ways, some by casting flats in travel ways of the northern pike. Anglers are also having success while trolling when the weather conditions are right for the fish to feed. Those who like to soak sucker minnows are having success on some of the flat areas on the lakes.
Walleye fishing is very scattered on the chain. Some fishermen are getting an occasional walleye while trolling the weed edges and channel areas for walleyes. Anglers are catching one or two while casting the shorelines with deeper running rapalas, shad raps or crank baits along the sand and rocky drops of the shorelines. Walleyes tend to swim in schools, so where one is caught, there are usually more. Walleye can also be caught while fishing some of these same places with live bait, such as night crawlers or leeches or jig and minnow rigs bounced off the bottom of the lakes.
Bass fishermen have been successful. Bass, too, are scattered with some activity in 5-7 feet of water and in the deeper parts of the chain with some type of structure or weeds. Rubber worms, jig and craw combos, crankbaits and buzz baits used in the early morning an evening hours near weeds and lily pads can produce a possible four- to five-pounder.
Panfishing is getting more active. Nicer bluegills are being caught in 5-7 feet of water with some weeds or wood in the fishing area.
The crappies seem to be smaller this year, but there are bigger ones out there. Get the bait down to them on the bottom more. The smaller ones are nearer to the surface and are biting at bait. Put a small split shot sinker a foot above the crappie jig to get through the smaller fish faster and down to the bigger ones below them. Try moving out to deeper water 14-16 feet instead of that 7-12 feet of water people normally fish.
Practice good fishing etiquette and don't keep more than you should. It's the over-taking of fish that hurts the lakes the most.
Northern pike are caught quite regularly by people fishing for them in different ways, some by casting flats in travel ways of the northern pike. Anglers are also having success while trolling when the weather conditions are right for the fish to feed. Those who like to soak sucker minnows are having success on some of the flat areas on the lakes.
Walleye fishing is very scattered on the chain. Some fishermen are getting an occasional walleye while trolling the weed edges and channel areas for walleyes. Anglers are catching one or two while casting the shorelines with deeper running rapalas, shad raps or crank baits along the sand and rocky drops of the shorelines. Walleyes tend to swim in schools, so where one is caught, there are usually more. Walleye can also be caught while fishing some of these same places with live bait, such as night crawlers or leeches or jig and minnow rigs bounced off the bottom of the lakes.
Bass fishermen have been successful. Bass, too, are scattered with some activity in 5-7 feet of water and in the deeper parts of the chain with some type of structure or weeds. Rubber worms, jig and craw combos, crankbaits and buzz baits used in the early morning an evening hours near weeds and lily pads can produce a possible four- to five-pounder.
Panfishing is getting more active. Nicer bluegills are being caught in 5-7 feet of water with some weeds or wood in the fishing area.
The crappies seem to be smaller this year, but there are bigger ones out there. Get the bait down to them on the bottom more. The smaller ones are nearer to the surface and are biting at bait. Put a small split shot sinker a foot above the crappie jig to get through the smaller fish faster and down to the bigger ones below them. Try moving out to deeper water 14-16 feet instead of that 7-12 feet of water people normally fish.
Practice good fishing etiquette and don't keep more than you should. It's the over-taking of fish that hurts the lakes the most.