Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

[Scoop]

I am going finshing in northern Wisconsin in a couple weeks. I would like to catch some Bluegills for a fish fry, but every year at this time, I come up empty handed. Any tips?

- Lake is extremely clear
- water level from 5 foot to 30 feet
- Usually catch Bluegill in 8 to 11 foot of water in August
- See tons of Bluegills in 2 to 5 foot of water in August
- This time of year, shore plants die off and no bluegills can be seen in shallows
- Almost nil vegetation under water. Only vegitation is around shore in warm weather
- Water will be cold. Probably 35 to 45 degrees
- The only fish I have caught have been a couple bass.
- On a different lake chain near there, I have caught lots of bluegills and perch in 8' of water at the same time of year.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Clear lakes are always tougher then stained. You will need a light weight rig that can cast a long ways. If water temps get to 35 chances are the lake has turned and fishing can be real tough after that happens. If just before it happens the deeper water near vegetation will be the best. I like 1/64 oz flu flu with slip bobbers and wax worms. Slow trolling with beetlespins and mimmicing minnows work well if they are in 8 ft or less of water. I like to troll with the beetlespins till I feel a tap then try the flu flu with the wax worm. Live vegitation and maybe under docks that are still in the lake.

Good Luck

 

[Scoop]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Thanks Eurolarva.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Bluegill usually aren't all that spooky. I'll tell you what you already know, if you can find some cover/structure you'll probably find some fish. We had good luck this year with Berkley Sparkle Maggots and Micro Craws. They seem to produce as many fish as live worms with allot less mess in the boat. The kids love to play with the worms and the worm bedding used to end up all over the place. We also had good luck with small panfish jigs with small rubber trailers. Spray a little scent on if they're not aggressive.

Good luck!

 

[koolerb]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Bluegill usually aren't all that spooky. I'll tell you what you already know, if you can find some cover/structure you'll probably find some fish. We had good luck this year with Berkley Sparkle Maggots and Micro Craws. They seem to produce as many fish as live worms with allot less mess in the boat. The kids love to play with the worms, and the worm bedding used to end up all over the place. We also had good luck using small panfish jigs with small rubber trailers. Spray a little scent on if they're not aggressive.

Good luck!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Hi Scoop.
Is this a lake or a reservoir where they drop the water level?

If its a reservoir, good luck.

If the water temps get that cold, the fish will be going into the deep water and getting ready for winter, action will be s-l-o-w.

Fish the deep side of any weed growth that has not died off.
They will still hang close to that cover as long as it is there.

The gill action is still pretty good around here according to the guys at work.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

When they go into the winter bite wind will be your biggest enemy. The bite is so light that a lot of time the float will not even move. I have watched big bluegills with my aquaview when ice fishing and have seen the entire bait in the fishes mouth and the bobber never moved. As Roscoe said if there are weeds that are living that is where the bluegills will be.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Thanks guys. This is a small clear lake. Some say it is spring fed. It is a peat bottom lake with no vegitation except around the edges of the lake. 1/2 the lake is undeveloped and so there are a lot of trees down in the water. Pretty flat bottom with a couple of very slight ridges between islands. Since it will already be so cold, I believe the bite will be very light.

The only fish I have caught here in September or October were couple large mouths. It was an odd catch. I was out in the boat getting some casting practice in with a spoon of all things. It was snowing and I caught two 15" Bass. Cold water, snow and they hit a fast lure? At first I thought I snagged a branch. I didn't figure anything would hit the spoons with that low a water temp. They must have been starving.

I will try deep with some of the berkley sparkle maggots. If I don't catch anything, no big deal (although catching is better). the next weekend I will be fishing a lake chain that they lower. I believe I will get some there. Walleye, Smallies, Northern, Muskie and blugills in that lake.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Sounds like Spectacle Lake, east of Eagle River.

How did you do?

 

[Scoop]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

I decided not to put in at my regular lake. Too much of a pain. I went to another lake about 35 minutes away and caught my limit of red-eared sunfish and perch plus a couple of the biggest rock bass I have ever seen. Over 10" long and really fat. Caught my limit both days I fished. I had to fish very slow and let them hook themselves.

The one day I debated whether to go out. the water temp was 55 and the wind was blowing 1' waves. When I was backing the boat out of the ramp, I had waves coming over the transom an in the middle of the lake, I have to lean to one side while trying for some walleye because of waves coming over the side. Where I caught the fish was sheltered from the wind. The temp and colors were great.

I am packing right now to go back up and try for some Muskys. Looks like it is going to be cold and snowy. Forecast is for snow Friday all day with lows in the upper to mid twenties.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

Hi Scoop. Sounds like you had some good table fare.

Its been miserable weather up here for 3 days.
Steady 15-20 mph wind out of the west northwest, with gusts to 32 mph.
Snow for 2 days, the ground is covered and the highway is covered and slippery tonight.
Windchills of 12*.
Supposed to warm up a little bit for the weekend, but not much.

Bundle up and be safe.

What part of the north woods do you visit?

Good Luck.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema

I just got back. We were fishing the Manitowish chain.

We did not get any Muskies. We did see a couple. One swam by with it's head out of the water tilted a little to the side like it was watching us. When we threw a lure, it dove. Another tried to hit a lure at the boat but did not get it.

We did fish for some more panfish and got some good sized perch for a small fish fry.

The weather on Friday was cold (just above freezing) and snowing the whole day. One of our trucks pulling one of the boats got stuck on a small hill at 3:00 AM on Friday Morning. They had to unhitch the trailer and use a rope to get the boat and trailer up the hill. The boat ramps had to be shoveled Friday morning.

Saturday was better. Still cold, but no snow and even some sun in the afternoon.

We fished Clear, Stone, and Fawn

The other group fished off the chain on Saturday. They hit Crab and North Crab. They got a small Muskie and a medium Northern.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Northern Wisconsin Bluegill dillema