Fishing Report 6-17-10

from: Bill Sherer’s We Tie It Fly Shop - Boulder Jct., WI

 

Wisconsin:

Water!  We have water - at least for now.  Generous thunderstorms have given us a good dousing of rainfall, enough to make a difference in many lake and river levels.  Seepage lakes are still woefully low, reminding us we are not yet out of this drought, but lakes with rivers and streams flowing from or through them are in much better condition.

 

Warmer, muggy weather patterns are now entering the Northwoods area and the fishing is at it’s peak - this is the “BEST TIME”  to be afield!  Monday is the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year - a time when the spring ebbs into summer, the fish have ended their annual rush for procreation and are settling down into regular feeding patterns.  

 

Ahhh…summertime, when the fish are all fat and happy - where the water is warm, the skies are blue and everything is lazily taking in the bounty of the of the season!  Just like flipping a switch, the fish are suddenly not as easy to find, they’re not sitting on spawning beds or cruising the shallows all hours of the day, they’re feeding - oh what a novel idea, we will now have to feed the fish what THEY WANT to eat.  Slowly the food, (insects, frogs and minnows) have grown up and are offering more protein value per bite, but the food has also gotten smarter and is not as easy to catch - the fish must forage farther and use better tactics if they’re going to grow larger and survive - the fish are now in control of their feeding habits - not nature, pushing them to make offspring!  This is where smart anglers will use all the “tools” at their disposal to get the fish to strike, tools like sinking lines, neutral weight flies, smaller diameter tippets and longer leaders to get to the fish without spooking them. 

 

You should still take a generous amount of insect repellent with you, the Mosquitos are down to just a dull roar and the Sand Flies are just starting to become a minor nuisance.  The abundant populations of Dragon Flies  are having an effect on all the bug populations, making an evening outdoors more enjoyable.

 

The “Hex Hatch” is just about to start- (Hexigenia Limbata) - the Northwoods’ largest Mayfly!!  The Hex emerge at dusk and continue throughout the first 2 hours or so of the night with a secondary hatch at about 2:00 am.  Just about every fish in the lake will become surface oriented and nocturnal when the hatch is at it’s peak - during that week or so the daytime fishing will be slow to nonexistent as the fish gorge themselves on the Hex Nymphs and Duns in the evenings.  Be prepared for some of the most explosive night time fishing action of the season - this is the last major Mayfly hatch of the year on our area lakes - it may last for several weeks on some bodies of water, but the first week is when it will be the heaviest and have the most effect on the fishing!

 

Northern Pike action is still consistent during the morning hours from 6:00 am to about 11:00 am in the thickest Cabbage weeds and Lilly pads close to shore you can find.   Weed growth is up due to the low water levels and early spring we had, so finding suitabe habitat for these fish in very important!  By about noon the fish are moving offshore into  deeper water (6 - 12 feet) where it’s cooler and more desirable for them.  Bright colors are working best, a Red/Yellow or a Chartreuse/White Deceiver are still my most consistent patterns.  Good catches of larger than usual fish are coming in from Allequash and Palmer lakes. 

 

The flyfishing for Muskies is still excellent and I’m seeing larger fish acting like they’re interested.   It won’t be long before those big females get real hungry and they’ll hit you like a freight train!  Smaller fish (30 to 38 inches) have increased their activity and are now giving me some very good action.  My best pattern in weedy lakes has switched to a Perch colored Edgewater Diver fished with a 9′ 9wt. rod and Cortland Ghost Tip Line just over the weed tops, (about 3 to 5 feet deep), - a brisk retrieve  with short sputtering twitches has been best.   I’m still chasing some very large females in the very clear water deep lakes, they have moved to the edges of the shelves and sand beaches and are taking much more interest in the flies.  I’m still using a very clear leader system with Saltwater Shock tippet on a 9′ leader with the Ghost Tip Line,  give the fly a chance to sink about 3 or 4 feet before starting your retrieve and move it somewhat slowly with lots of twitches and pauses.  My best pattern has been the Big Green, a more natural colored streamer (White and Olive - minnow colors) about 6 inches long.

 

Good catches of Walleyes are coming in from Big, High and Trout lakes, smaller weedier lakes are fishing best with slip bobber techniques since the fish have spread out to forage throughout the weeds and mud flats on the Dragon Fly and Hex Nymphs.  Tongue Depressors fished on a sink tip line in 6 to 10 feet of water have also been catching fish on mud flats and off points and rock bars in the evenings and on cloudy afternoons.  Many Walleyes are feeding throughout the “Cabbage flats” in 6 to 12 feet of water taking the occasional larger minnow pattern, but mostly they are beginning to gorge themselves on Hex Nymphs - an Olive or Chartreuse Tongue Depressor has been the hot fly this week!  The fish are widely scattered and the bite is light, but quite a few good sized fish are being caught.  A good daytime bite is on near the deep water gravel bars as Walleyes are beginning to take up feeding positions during the middle of the day.  Many Walleyes and larger Perch are taking up positions on the mud flats feeding on Hex Nymphs - especially early in the morning and the late afternoons when the nymphs are most active.  

 

Crappies are being caught in open water throughout many weedbeds especially in the evenings - use a small White or Gray Zonker or Crystal Bugger fished about 3 to 5 feet deep near the thicker patches of weeds.   Bluegills are off their beds in most lakes and are in their post spawn “Feeding Frenzy”, soon they will disperse and scatter throughout the weedier portions of the lake basin.  You still have time to get your fly rod out to get in on some of the best pan fishing of the season!  A small Yellow Wooly Worm or White or Chartreuse Popper on a 7 1/2′ 4X leader is just the ticket for these scrappy fighters.

 

The Largemouth Bass have long completed their spawning and are in the shallow stumps and bays, feeding on smaller panfish, minnows, moths and lots of Dragonflies and frogs. The topwater action for Largemouth Bass is outstanding,  just work the shorelines with any bright colored popper and you’re in for a day of great  action!  Most fish are averaging about 2 to 3 pounds, these hard fighting acrobatic “Bucket Mouths” are an exciting fish to catch on the fly!.  Many Smallmouth Bass are still in shallow gravel bottomed bays hanging near their spawning beds, even though the spawning is over.  Topwater action is hot for Smallies in shallow bays in the evenings, there’s nothing like watching them sneak up and suck in a popper from the surface!  Dragonflies have been especially effective this past week and with the Hex on the verge of emergence, you can expect the Bass to go just nuts for a Yellow or Olive popper!

 

Many smaller “carry in” and “bog” lakes have been the most consistent and productive throughout the season, this week is no exception. There are  alot of lakes with good Walleye, Bass and panfish populations which have been producing some very great catches - with Walleyes averaging 2 to 4 pounds and Bass coming in at a very heavy average of about 5 pounds.  These “secret fisheries” are a very closely guarded secret among those anglers who frequent these bodies of water, but a little research with the DNR will reveal most of them in short order.  The action on these types of lakes remains very good to excellent.

 

The river Smallmouth Bass fishing is outstanding right now, the Smallies are definitely looking up and taking anything on the surface - as long as it’s not too large!  I have had my best topwater action on an Olive size #6 Deer Hair Diver.  Goop it up generously with fly floatant to make the fly last nearly all day!  The Flambeau, Turtle, and Wisconsin Rivers are all fishing very well right now!  I’m using a 2X  9 foot leader on a Cortland Redfish Line (this stuff is the best Smallmouth Bass line I have ever used), I’m casting a 7wt so I can gun the fly to the bank from sitting in my inflatable pontoon boat at 30 to 60 feet.  Most of the fish are in just inches of water looking for anything that moves!  In the mornings or on cloudy days I have had great success with my old standby - the Black/Yellow and Tan/Yellow Double Bunny.  Let the fly rest about 2 or 3 seconds before you begin your retrieve - 2 short strips of about 6 inches and then a pause of about 2 seconds, repeat about 3 times when the fly is with in 3 to 8 feet of likely looking cover.  The fish have just been electric!

 

As the daytime temperatures slowly increase the topwater fishing activity will continue to pick up, the shallow water fishing is still peaking!

 

TROUT:

 

In this relieved condition, I am once again advocating trout fishing, but I must warn you, just because we have great water levels, our fish populations are still low.  Practicing Catch and Release fishing will best preserve our fisheries as they begin to recover.  Trout fishing has been very good, the cooler weather and extra water has extended the season by several weeks - in spite of the low water levels.  We are well into some of the best fishing of the season.  The Brown Drake  Hatch is now waning on area streams and lakes. We should see the beginning of the Hex by the weekend!!!  The dry fly action is excellent with many larger fish being caught daily.  Mayfly and Caddis hatches will continue to peak with spectacular spinner falls beginning just before dark.  Many area streams are experiencing a “Smorgasbord” of insect activity as multiple hatches come off throughout the day, especially in the late afternoon and evening. 

 

Watch the rise forms closely to determine what the fish are doing and which insect or life stage they may keying in on, size and color do make a big difference with trout - be prepared to “Match the Hatch” as closely as possible and fish the Spinner fall with a Spinner, not a “Doctored-up” Dun, you will see the difference the right fly will make!   

 

Morning hatches are nearly as strong as the “evening rise”, I have had great success on area streams in the early mornings, by 9:00 am spinners are making their way back to the water which really attracts the attention of some larger trout.  Brook Trout in many area spring ponds and creeks are still being caught and the “put and take” lakes are now producing some very nice catches of larger trout.  Regular hatches are coming off daily with some Mayflies in the daytime and Midges and Sulphurs just before dusk.  Weed growth in the spring ponds has increased and Scuds are now a favorite meal, with Midges in the evenings.

 

Michigan: 

 

U.P.  fishing conditions have caught up with and in some cases passed Wisconsin’s,  Muskie and Northern Pike activity has picked up considerably in the past week.  Walleyes are in the weeds and deeper drop offs during the day and moving up onto the rock bars and points in the evenings. Lake Gogebic is still seeing some great Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Perch fishing throughout the lake with a lot of fish being caught on the east shore.  Bluegills are well off their beds and taking small bugs from the surface - get your fly rod out this is some of the best pan fishing of the season!  Stateline and Langford Lakes are still hot for hand sized ‘Gills on the surface and some huge Northern Pike!

 

Trout

 

The Middle Branch of the Ontonagon below Agate Falls is beginning to fish very well, with some larger fish now moving upstream from the dark waters below.  The water levels are stable and about normal, the Brooks, Browns and Rainbows are sipping dry flies from the surface of all your favorite areas. Large Stone flies are now hatching and offering some excellent topwater action on a size 8 or 10 Stimulator and a large Black or Brown Nymph.  The stretch from US 45 to Mex-I-Mini Falls is fishing very well also with good Brook Trout taking streamers very well, especially Olive or Black Zonkers.   Cooks Run and the South Branch of the Paint are near normal flows and the fishing is very good. Steady water levels and stronger hatches are allowing the fish to take up feeding positions in favored areas, look to riffles for the best action, especially just before and during a hatch.  The Brown Drakes are waning  and the Hex are just a few days away - this truly the MAGIC TIME to be on the streams!  Mornings are getting some great insect hatch attention, and by mid day the dries dominate.  The fishing is really turning on in the evenings with a rise that rivals anywhere in the world, as the bugs make their way back to the water the fish are eagerly awaiting their arrival.  These prolific hatches  are bringing out the largest fish in the rivers, they are responding with a feeding frenzy lasting well into the darkness every evening!  

 

Bear in mind the drought of the past several years has limited our trout populations all over the region - we have fewer trout than past years, but where we lack in numbers we are making up in size!  We are missing a couple of age classes of fish in the middle sized range - we have big ones and little ones, but very few medium sized trout presently!  

 

Along with all this activity the Mosquitos will have their way with you , come prepared to do battle with a swarm of biting bugs!

 

Sylvania:  

 

Smallmouth Bass fishing on the drop-off areas is excellent, the Bass are now well past the peak of their spawning activities.  Bluegills are also well off their beds in all the Lakes and are eagerly taking a variety of flies, especially small poppers.  Clark Lake has the largest Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass of the tract - most of these fish are now taking surface baits very aggressively and the evenings are becoming just electric with surface feeding activity!  During the day Dragonflies are returning to the water to lay their eggs, a Dragon Fly imitation twitched on the surface will certainly get the attention of any bass in the immediate area .  Tongue Depressors and Clousers are still taking many fish.  The fishing has been excellent this past week and many anglers are reporting larger than average fish being taken on smaller top water poppers especially in the evenings.

 

The weather is warmer this week and the fish are responding to it with increased surface activity and angling opportunities are excellent.  Warmer air and water temperatures are bringing the fish into shallower water and they’re looking up! 

 

- MORE NEXT WEEK -

Bill Sherer’s We Tie It Fly Shop

5570 County Rd. M

P.O. Box 516

Boulder Jct., WI 54512-0516

715-385-0171

www.wetieit.com

wetieit@wetieit.com