Spring Report.

Well flat line trolling is starting to take off in some areas here. Reports of some guys are making it out from Saxon Harbor east of Ashland and doing fairly well. The Chequamegon Bay is still locked up with a cap of ice on it. From Washburn north to the Souix River launch guys are getting small boats out, If you plan to launch there bring a pair of hip boots you will need them to get out. Guys have been trolling from there to Houghton Point and up to Bayfield along the shore line and bringing in some great catches of Coho, Brown’s & a few Splake n’ Lake trout have been in the mix. Most fish 20 to 4ftow along the shoreline. From there north to Bayfied the launch there was still iced in however it was busted up in big cakes yet a no go at the moment. North from there to Sand Bay the launch there is wide open and trolling has been good again mixed bag of Browns, Coho’s, Lake Trout working all along the shoreline. From there to the west to the Bark Bay launch in Corny is also wide open and good to go, trolling there has been also good along the shoreline.
We have been working over a good hand full of lure colors and styles from spoons to stick baits. As for spoon we have been successful with (Flashbacks)- “Jack-O”, “Aneurism” & “Carrot”. (Creative Touch)- “ Kavorkian” , Black Ghost”, “Pink Eclipse”. (Moonshine)- “Bread Winner”, “Sand Burr” “RV Agent Orange” (Northland Tackle Live Forage Flutter Spoon)- “Smelt”. Emerald Shiner”, “Herring”. For sticks We have been (Rapala X Rap’s) “ Ghost”, “Hot Pinks” they have been working well each time out.
As for smelting I will keep you posted after the ice is out of the Cheq-Bay here things are just getting going here after our crazy spring. I’ll be here more often keeping you up to date.

how does the snow cover look on the ground? I may be up there to fish the shorelines the weekend after opener.

Most shorelines are good to go as for walking. The nice weather and rain tonight is taking care of the left over snow. There is some good shoreline fishing now and it is only going to get better here on out.

John:

Now spring will just get crazy from the boat!!!

Mark

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Most shorelines are good to go as for walking. The nice weather and rain tonight is taking care of the left over snow. There is some good shoreline fishing now and it is only going to get better here on out.

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awesome news! I cant wait to get up to my cabin in Herbster now

You got it Mark!

Salmo Trutta, I was just in Herbster and there was very little snow all I could see is rocks and sand for miles. Also for shoreline wading guys have been doing great casting around the Bark Bay Landing a nice mix of great fish.

How long before the bay’s ice breaks up would you say. Were heading up next week

what size flutter spoons are working best for you guys?

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How long before the bay’s ice breaks up would you say. Were heading up next week

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Well I just got back into town to see a nice big lead opened up across the bay things might happen at a fast pace here on out. I will keep posted to let you know to when it will be open. Guys are also starting to get there smelting gear ready I will keep in tune with that report as well.

As for spoon sizes we have been using 3 3/4 & 4 3/4 both.

thanks, Ill keep an eye out for those sizes. do you think spawn under a float would have any luck? the real deal stuff no imitation eggs.

Salmo,
Spawn under a float works great. Or a floater weighted to the bottom. When I fish near the river mouths I set a rod in one of my wading pole holders and cast with the other.

I had to go back into the posts when you asked about size spoons my mind was stuck on trolling, Not casting from shore. When I wade from shore I use a ton of different size spoons it all depends on the wind, As a general thumb if you have to use higher than a 3/4oz spoon the wind is really strong and your going to get wet in the waves. I have a good stock from 1/4oz to 3/4 in many brand spoons.
John

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Salmo,
Spawn under a float works great. Or a floater weighted to the bottom. When I fish near the river mouths I set a rod in one of my wading pole holders and cast with the other.

I had to go back into the posts when you asked about size spoons my mind was stuck on trolling, Not casting from shore. When I wade from shore I use a ton of different size spoons it all depends on the wind, As a general thumb if you have to use higher than a 3/4oz spoon the wind is really strong and your going to get wet in the waves. I have a good stock from 1/4oz to 3/4 in many brand spoons.
John

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awesome! time to search the freezer for my frozen coho eggs thats the plan, cast with one egg soak with the other.

Well the ice on the Washburn side of the Cheq-Bay here was gone all the way to Houghton Point. the ice is going fast there is still a ton left with a little luck and the right wind the rest of the bay will open up. I will keep you posted.

Just got word that there was a few boats making there way out from the Bayfield launch & that the Red Cliff landing behind the casino is now open as well. Just as things were looking good mother nature drops another foot of snow on us. Tight lines! John

is anyone reporting any luck using lindy river rockers either casting or trolling?

What’s the prediciton for the timing of the smallie spawn? Will Mem. Day weekend be too early this year?

I finally got to da Big Lake yesterday… Got out of school at 3:20, jumped in my truck to meet a friend out on 51, jumped in his truck and by 5:00 we were on the water out of Saxon. In a common theme, I am assuming, after all of the late snow, then sudden warm up, water is gushing into the Lake from all of the tributaries and probably even the little rivulets that are normally dry!!!

Along with that we saw more wood deadheads floating than a busy day during floodstage on the Miss. R., I mean real boat wreckers… we fished from 5-7 p.m., went offshore to check to see if the water would clear up at all, then moved back into the shallows, put out loud and bright lures and proceeded to warsh them… We marked a decent number of fish and baitfish, found decent water temps up into the upper 47;s, but just couldn’t convince any of them to hit our baits. Most of the other peeps we talked with had the same luck that we had… we put in with some guys that appeared to be local. They told us that this is the most water flowing into the Lake in the spring in the last ten years!!! I certainly don’t remember water being as murky last year as this year. By the time we made it back into the harbor they were gone… I am betting that they didn’t do well and didn’t feel the need to stay late. I did find out that another one of the guys that works at school was up and they did manage to catch three and they were real shallow and on stick baits… The dude he was with supposedly went back up today. The last two boats I mentioned fished the MI side out of Saxon…

Mark

I bet, I dont fish out of Saxon area but maybe twice a year, However the times I was there it was good fishing right out from the launch and to the left. Sounds like it must have been bad timing with the run off. From here north the past few days I did notice it was a early and late bite and marking fish and bait through out the day. Maybe would have been best off running to the Madeline Island shore line??

Nice idea, but at least for that night we were doing the boat’s shakedown cruise. I keep looking at the satelite photo keeping an eye on the mud lines. The amazing thing was the guys from over here that found their fish really shallow!!! I really wasn’t surprised to hear it, when they weren’t a lot deeper… Now, I am not really sure if I wouldn’t take a stab at jigging up some lakers… It was just a lot of fun getting back up there again!!!

Mark