The water temp on the two systems runs from 49 to 51 degrees. Look for the action to pick up as the temps rise.
Since the opener, most anglers would agree that things have been slow. Although most are not getting skunked and are putting a few eaters in the boat. The ratio of legal fish is running about 25% on both systems.
Chippewa River: I have been getting good numbers on the Chippewa but many small fish. Current seams in depths from 4 to 13 ft have been the best. The best pattern has been slow trolling live bait rigs upstream. Leech’s have been the go to bait lately. Fish can be taken by pitching jigs shallow also. There just has not been a go to bait though. Ringworms and Doo’s are both working if you are willing to keep switching colors often. Dragging ringworms also is putting fish in the boat. Not as consistant as live bait but the quality of fish make up for it.
The smallie action is hit and miss right now. The key factor being bug hatches. Hit it on a day when a hatch is occuring and the fish are busting. A few pike are also showing up in the same areas as the walleyes.
Red Cedar: Plastics are the way to go on the Cedar. Going vertical with doo’s or dragging ringies are putting the quality fish in the boat. 8 to 12 ft has produced the best results for both presentations. Again switching up colors often has been key for boating more fish.
The smallie action is starting to improve each trip out. Throwing cranks or plastic to rock shorelines or areas where baitfish are present.
The trolling bite has not been worth a hoot yet. With the nice temps predicted for the weekend, look for that presentation to be hot real soon. See you on the water, Don
Nice report Don. I know what you mean about hit and miss. Been there done that the last few times out.
Yep I generally have a lot better luck from the shore than what I have been having also. I’m sure its the cold temps and lack of mosquittos. If they were as thick as they normally are I’m sure the fish would be biting like crazy!! I don’t now if its because you can’t hardly stand to be out there or maybe it’s the extra movement of the rod. Like you say though the water temps are a little cool yet and a couple of warm days are needed. This rain is going to help fishing also.
Thanks for the report guy’s, and I’ll see ya out there.
Steve
Thanks for the report Don.
My ratio of legal fish is running less than 20% on the Eau Claire River and Lake Eau Claire. The smallest ones have mainly been coming from jig and minnows. Nightcrawlers have produced somewhat larger walleyes. I’ll try some plastics as you suggested and see if the size improves. 
Good Fishing.
Plastics are worth the effort,most all of my legal fish are coming on them. The bright colors are working best, Chart/orange, chart/pepper, have been my go to colors.
let us know how it works for you.
Thanks for the report Bud. Yes its spring and Mother Nature can’t make up her mind with either cold or warmer temps. As soon as we get some warmer air and water temps things should start going. Just in time for the small Arm Event the first weekend in June.
Thanks, Bill
Thanks Don for your suggestion on plastics. They definitely produced bigger fish for me than the combination jig and minnow. Today, plastics also caught bigger fish than nightcrawlers. In plastics, The black and white shad imitations produced some fish but a Chart/orange three inch swirltail was my best bait.
Good Fishing.
I went out the other night and struggled a little bit the other guy I was with at dark started hammering the eyes. He was catching them on X-raps and plastics. I’m heading out now to see what I can do.
Sounds like things are picking up for you guys.
I won’t be fishing for a couple of days, I will be at the Wissota boat show. So good luck to everyone, should be a kick butt weekend!