Vacant boat launch parking lots were common around the East Central Wisconsin the past several weeks. Many outdoor enthusiasts have traded in their fishing rods for hunting gear temporarily. Weather conditions have provided area fishermen with a smorgasbord of temperature extremes. As a result, the water column is deeply stained with water temps in the low to mid 50’s.
Perch action remains strong system wide. This continues to be one of the best perch years in recent memory, and the prospects for long term success look to be grandiose based on the sheer numbers of small perch being caught. There are several thought processes as to why these conditions exist, but the increase in aquatic rooted vegetation seems to be the main factor as it provides places for the young of the year to thrive.
The best perch action remains in the transition zones from 8-11 feet, where a gravel/sand bottom exists. Most types of worms or crawlers have been productive. A few anglers have tried minnows with some success. Areas around wed beds should not be over looked, especially where the weed line is along a break leading to deeper water.
The entire season, perch have been thick in and around Fisherman’s road. This trend continues, but has slightly slowed from past weeks in this area. The west shore has had some improved action from Fraction Island all the way north to Oshkosh. The reefs in and along Neenah have been producing well also. Don’t overlook the Brothertown area or the Fond du Lac River either. I’ve witnessed some nice perch coming out of the FDL River this week.
The Department of Natural Resources is conducting their fall “census” of the fish populations. They have been seeing large numbers of walleyes and small mouths in the shallows at dusk along the east shore. The good news is the walleye population is strong, even if fishermen cannot catch any currently.
Bluegills have been taken with more regularity, especially in some of the bays along the weed edges. Pike are also active in these same areas.
I made a trolling run last week, with limited success. Crawler harnesses out produced cranks on the Off Shore boards. White Bass were the most common fish, followed by sheephead. No walleyes were caught during the trip.
The Wolf River is starting to have walleyes showing up in good numbers. Check shallow water (low current) with jigs and minnows or Gulp. White bass are present, but not in huge numbers. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s and the water levels remain high in the river. Check submerged wood for crappies.
The Winnebago Fishing League is coming together well. You can now access the website of www.winnebagofishingleague.com for further details. We will start accepting participants in approximately 45 days. Should you have questions related to the league starting in 2011, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Next fishing report as conditions change, and more current updates can be found on the Twitter feed on the main page or at the Facebook fan page located at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Fond-Du-Lac-WI/My-Fishing-Partner/222624783318. Happy Hunting and fishing to all!
