The same deal guys. Lots of kings snapping now near shore, you don’t even need a boat to catch these fish as they are stagged and ready to finish with a final bang!
Cranks, jerk baits, rattle traps or just about any of your bass tackle and techniques work great. Be prepared to hook into some of these fish and have them go airborn just like smallies, with a lot longer of a battle!
The time of day has not really mattered I know guys are getting them at night but I’m mainly just fishing for them during the day and we are getting about 15-25 fish hooked up a day. Bring plenty of extra hooks and split rings as they will test your tackle quickly!
Eating quality is about 50 percent, some fish are still fine and the meat is great looking, while other fish would only be good for the smoker. These fish do not natrually reproduce and they are all stocked.
Man, that looks like a ton of fun!!!
Kooty…I can see a trip out there next year for a long weekend, huh?
I’ll drive!
What are you using for line? Are these fish line shy at all? Fireline vs. Mono? Any preferences?
I have an 11 foot St. Croix Wild River that I use in Alaska for 10-15 pound silvers…I would love to tag some Kings with that set-up!
I have some customers out that way…I PROMISE I will be out to see you next Fall! God willing!
Uh, heck ya!! What is it, 5 hours to Milwaukee??
Bout that.
We can even stop on the way home and fish some of those huge crappies Boog keeps posting!
Yep, about 5 to 5.5 hours to Milwaukee.
Let me know if you’d like to make a group trip, Tuck. I’d even be willing to let Kooty into my boat.
Schedule-wise September is a perfect month for me! I wish I would have known about this bite earlier! I would have made time for it.
As far as a group trip…I am in for sure! Anytime you hear Holst squeal like a Sally about a fish spooling him…I want a part of that!
I have had a lot of fun in Alaska over the years. But this trip seems like it would be a lot more reasonable! Man, take a Friday and Monday off? SWEET!!!
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve been “allowed” in a boat. I’ll feel just like at home.
I think after catching a 20lb king on a 7′ spinning rod the crappies wouldn’t draw my attention too much.
My ONLY reservation I have is your coyote ugly impression on the gunwale of my boat.
Just messing with you, you’re welcome anytime. Shoot me a PM if you’d like to do some trolling this Saturday night. 
Maybe you should organize an IDO outing for next year. It is only a little over an hour drive for me. Much closer than all those northern Minnesota ones I can’t get to.
It is pretty entertaining getting into those on spinning tackle.
If someone else wants to plan it…fine. Not me.
If it was to be IDO sanctioned, a request needs to be sent to the Steering Committee.
Pick me up on the way to Milwaukee! Or, a couple guys could always jump in my boat.
If Tuck or anyone else wants to stop by Lake Wisconsin on the way home for some crappie fishing, I’m more than willing to lead you all right to some of my favorite spots.
As long as I know well in advance that we really can make this happen, I’m sure I could do the majority of the leg work on this.
I’m totally with mendotaeye on this one. The Mil-lacs get together ends up being almost like a drive to Canada for those of us who live in the southern half of Wisconsin. Not that I’m against it but it just ends up being a shade to far for a weekend trip.
It might also be just the type of thing that could spur a bit more interest for IDO in this area.
Tuck – how soon do we need to put that request in?
And, if we had a few guys down here willing to provide the boats, it would make the trip easier for guys from further away. No need to haul a boat down. My boat would be there for sure!
Worst case, we do a non-sanctioned event. Then we won’t have to worry about BK tagging along.
So, what’s the difference between a sanctioned event and a non-sanctioned event? Is there no championship belt in the non-sanctioned event
I don’t know, all the events that I’ve been to, that started on IDA are a blast. Usually the door prizes are better at the sanctioned events though.
This bite for kings is going on now just about every where from Racine- Kenosha to Sturgeon Bay, The River bite has also just started and the big browns will follow in late ocotober all the way through Spring. The fish can be a little line shy, I use 14 lb Stren Braid with and use a 4 foot 10-12 lb floro leader.
I’m also very fortunate to have the Worlds best brown trout fishery in my back yard so I’ll give you a heads up way in advance! Ice fishing for browns and steelhead here is a blast! Also I fish for the browns open water all year with my airboat or regular boat depending on the amount of ice and cold temps. These fish fight hard and in late fall winter 20-60 browns with some steelies mixed in is average. All these fish are caught jigging or casting gulp or using spawn with light tackle.
So just giving you a heads up on the next bite coming up. here.
Here’s a few pics as well
I think I can speak for most of us by saying; You’re killing us.
Those are some absolute tanks!!!
Yeah, I’ll second that.
I would likely attend such an event. I fished the big lake for the first time last summer and really would like to hook up on lighter tackle.
I will make the request.
Yes…sanctioned events usually entail door prizes, etc.
Awesome fish Eric! I’ve seen many of those pictures before and still enjoy them as much this time as I did the first time.
Tuck, I’ll do what ever needs to be done on this end. I may need a little direction from time to time, but I won’t be short on effort!
This bite is everything and more Eric is reporting ! It has been years since I have done it,but was a regular for many years before the Resort business altered my schedule a bit.
Most of my fishing was done with a fly rod in the river which was a hoot.The Browns are in-describable untill you experience it first hand.You guys better start your weight lifting!!!!!!
BTW Eric, what rods & actions are you using ?
Rods for the kings or for browns? For the browns it depends…If we float fish the river it’s 10’6″ to 13 foot drift rods along with 9 foot spinner or crank rods for casting, this is all done wading. If we fish the harbor and cast for them it’s medium action bait casters or spinning rods, if it’s really cold I go with 6 foot glass rods if possible with mono (No strecth or braid collects ice when really cold) but typically the colder it gets here mid winter the better our brown trout and steelhead fishing is.
Pics from last past seasons ice fishing etc.. just sharing a few more pics.
Please stop. I’m already very jealous!!
Keep the awesome pics coming.
Those browns are unreal!!!
Are the rainbows Loopers like here on Superior?
The rainbows are a mix of Arlee’s, Skamainia’s, Ganaraska’s and Chambers creek. Here’s a few from this year. It’s cool how some are chromers while others are all colored up. Best bite for the steelies is typically November- Mid December Open water that is….
That’s where this all started for me 17 years ago cutting my teeth on the rivers guiding, but I’ve grown to love all those other fish!
Take care time to hit the rack!
Those Skemanias fight to the death!!!! We had caught a few when the stocked them before the Loopers up here…we had fish that fought so hard that they were DOA when we finally got them in!
We will be looking into a guide trip with you this Winter!
Did well today on cranks and jerk baits, rouges and shad raps were best. Skein bite is also starting I tried a few different cures today and the only thing that got touched was the new stuff I tried called fire cureworks great and I just ordered another 12 pack of it. Good stuff!
I also talked to my buddy who was fishing from shore in Racine and he caught 12 fish and missed about 8 other fish fishing there today on skein and on cranks, so the bite is going good now all over. He said there was only one other guy fishing there this evening, and lots of fish boiling and he missed a lot of fish on the float rods. Good bite happening all over in just about every port. Back at it again tomorrow AM early!
Good Night!
Eric, Do smoke many of these fish as I’m sure the meat is getting questionable this time of year??
If you fellas decide to make the trek here, would be pleased to help coordinate and show you around the lake, and even make room for one or two in my boat. Been trying to get BK here for some of that fall/winter brown action, but he keeps telling me he’s too busy chasing those cats….
. I have to confess that at one point we talked about a trip-swap, but then I learned that the only thing he knows about eyes, is how to rig them up for catfish bait when nobody’s looking, so those discussions fell apart. 
As for the 5 hour drive, not bad for a great fishing experience. I make the reverse trip to hit Pool 4 twice a year, spring and fall, and well worth it.
5 hours is nothing. I can’t wait to come out there next fall. I’m trying to figure out how to make a winter brown trip yet this winter….
I can tell ya how…We fill up the Navigator and head east.
How cool would a replica of a 20lb brown be on the wall. Then add a 20lb king next fall!!! I’m a little giddy just thinking about those fish.
Myself personally I do not smoke them in the fall unless the meat looks really good, however i’ve been told they’re still fine by many anglers. So it’s personal preference. The browns arte horrible to eat in my opinion but a blast to catch. I”m pretty spoiled getting all the salmon I want in mid summer so I save a bunch and smoke those.
Out again today for 2 trips and the bite was very good again, however it’s transition time so tactics are starting to change and the float bite with egss is starting to take over. Left my camera at home….
Good night folks!
Count me in guys! Time to load the crew cab and head east.
Glad to see you guys may be getting something going in our neck of the woods. If it happens, count me in. Been fishing the big lake since a kid (from shore) in Indiana and the stories abound. What a great resource to have nearby. I am also willing to help do what I can as well.
And Eric is right. The stream fishing is a blast for browns and the steelies. Was doing the spinning and spawn thing for most of my life. Switched to fly rods last year.
Can’t wait for this gathering happen. It will be a blast.
D
Did another trip today. Clients hooked 20 fish in 5 hours of fishing today unfortanetly we only landed 9 fish. Many of the fish just kept screaming line and snapped us off. All with stand up spinning tackle. Lots of fun on the stand up tackle! Casting cranks and fishing eggs.
Capt Eric Haataja
Still banging the kings on cranks and spinning tackle with floats now. Also starting to get some bonus steelies and browns now as well!
Man! You are livin’ the Dream Eric!
thank’s for tip
Thought I would bring this report from last year back up to the top. These are some fantastic looking fish. Its getting to be that time of year again. When do they start biting in the harbor again?