A simplified overview of the cause of the population explosion goes back about 10 years, when water clarity on Lake Winnebago improved.  The improvement came from several reasons including the invasive zebra mussels, and better management of fertilizers used in agriculture (which can enter the system from rainwater runoff).  The clearer water resulted in more weeds providing cover for young pan fish.

Lake Winnebago, Awesome panfish fishing

Since 2006, the year classes of the pan fish have exploded, with excellent hatches each year with a pinnacle class in 2011.  Pan fish are not stocked on this body of water.  As a matter of fact, the WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does very little pan fish stocking on any lake in Wisconsin.

The DNR is currently studying the impact of pan fishing statewide.  In 2012, a creel study was conducted specifically on the Winnebago system starting in July and running until Oct 1. Current bag limits allow an angler to take a daily limit of 25 fish.  The results were truly eye opening.

During the creel study, 1,970 random anglers participated in the program.  Each boat averaged 1.86 anglers. The average trip length was about 4.5 hours.   Other findings include:

• - The average angler bag was 10 fish
• - 77% of the perch harvested were female
• - 9% of anglers brought in limits
• - Total harvest amounts by species: 203 crappies, 353 walleyes, 937 bluegills and 16,685 perch.
• - The average perch harvested was in the 7.5” to 8.5” range

Given the creel study, the perch numbers were astounding.  The DNR estimated that from July 1 to October 1, 2012 the perch harvested on Lake Winnebago was 630,693.  Total year harvest is estimated around 750,000 perch.

The south end of the lake dominated the pan fish harvest.  45% of the total harvest was taken out of the Fishermen’s Road/ Pipe, WI area.  15% of the fish were taken out of the Black Wolf launch and an equal amount was counted at the Fond du Lac launches.  That results in 75% of the pan fish harvested coming from the southern third of the lake where weed cover is most common.

One alarming conclusion was the lack of larger perch (10’+) in the system.  The DNR estimates that 95% of the perch population in Lake Winnebago is three years old or less.  A three year old perch averages 8”, with a 10” perch at 5-7 years old.  Overharvest is an obvious conclusion, but there are other yet to be defined reasons contributing to the lack of larger perch.

Overall the system is extremely healthy, with huge 2011 year classes of perch, crappie and bluegill swimming the water.  Crappies should be reaching the 10” plus size this summer, so hang on to your poles.   Overall, the 2012 young of the year census was the lowest in recent years, but well above the norms of the mid 80 and 90’s.

The DNR has no current plans to change bag limits on the Lake Winnebago system.  They are studying how to better manage the system and all state waters.  If changes were needed, they would be proposed in 2015, with a regulation change in 2016. Concluded angler studies favor reducing the bag limits for pan fish but only by a small margin.

Be sure to check in at myfishingpartner.com.  Our weekly fishing report of the Winnebago System will keep you up to date on the current conditions on the Wolf River, Fox River, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago and other Wisconsin Lakes.

White Bass Continue to be on fire on Lake Winnebago

The peak of the winter ice fishing season (and the end of the sturgeon spearing season) are about to conclude on Lake Winnebago.  The second largest ice fishing event in North America, Battle on Bago, took place on Saturday.

Ice conditions are nearly ideal.   Travel by car/truck is fairly easy, and most areas of Lake Winnebago can be accessed with minimal snow cover.  Ice depths are typically around 20-24 inches on the main lake, but areas of subpar ice remain.  These may be the best ice conditions in the last 24 months.  Heavy use launches, like Merritt Street in Oshkosh or Wendt’s in Van Dyne, have taken a beating during the past two weeks.  Water Clarity remains an issue in many areas of the lake, with stained water common.

The white bass have been on fire in the central portions of the lake.  An area from the mouth of the Fox River (Oshkosh) to Garlic Island has been holding huge numbers of white bass.  Many of the white bass have ranged from 4” to 14” in length.  Mixed in these schools are solid numbers of large crappies, large perch along with some stray sauger.  Bait choice varies  by the day, but jigging raps or small spoons are doing great. There tends to be 2-3 large  “villages” of fishermen associated with these schools.  These white bass are roaming, so be prepared to make adjustments throughout the day.  An aggressive jig motion (or banging bottom with a lure) will bring the fish into the strike area.  Once on the flasher, move the bait up the water column, followed by a short pause and then a small quick small snap to activate the fish.

On Saturday, we fished the northern most “village” off of Asylum Bay in 15 feet of water.  Once the daybreak was upon us, the white bass turned on immediately with jigging raps with no attractant.  Black and Gold, clown, or pink glow were key colors.  As the fishing pressure ratcheted up, the fish shut down.  Being mobile allowed us to move outside the heavy traffic zones to produce additional fish.

Walleyes have been fairly absent on the central lake. What we have discovered is that many of the walleyes may already be staging near the Fox River for the spring run.  The bite has been daybreak and sunset, and limits are being reported in small windows of opportunities.  Some whispers that the Garlic Island area has also been producing eyes.

Very few fishermen are targeting perch currently, partially due to the Battle on ‘Bago event, where perch have minuscule impact on the event.  In the next 30 days, the perch/bluegill
will start moving into the shallow areas in preparation for ice out, followed by spawn.  In the meantime, perch can be found in the deep water areas, or in areas still holding vegetation (like
Wendt’s).

I have only a few tidbits for Lake Poygan this week:  Overall fishing remains just OK, with
walleyes, perch, white bass and crappies the most common catches.  Shallow areas have held a few pike.

The Northeast Wisconsin Sports Show will be held March 1-3 in Appleton WI at Player’s Choice.  Admission is $8.  I will be at the show all day Saturday, mainly at the Tommy Harris Custom blade booth (#106).  I plan to stop by the Wisconsin Outdoor Fun booth also.  Please stop in and say hello.  This is your chance to get the Spoon Deville’s, which everyone will be chasing down later this summer.  Tommy will also have custom colored Salmo Hornets, Rip shads, Flicker shads, Hot n Tots, River Rockers and other cranks.

In about a month, many anglers will be focusing on the beginnings of the open water walleye run. Every inch of snow we receive now, increases the likelihood of a positive spawn by producing better water flow once the snow melts.   One thing is for certain, Spring will come
later than last year.

Weekly reports can be found at myfishingpartner.com. Have a great week and stay on top.

The concept is a slow death spoon.  You’re probably thinking that’s something you’ve heard about….the crazy spinning live crawler that you drag super slow.  Fish don’t bite live bait that spins.  You’re probably thinking that can’t work, right?  No one should fish that slowly.  The pros of the FLW and AIM walleye circuits proved that theory wrong over the last several years after Mustad hooks came to the market with the slow death hooks.

The evolution of this lure takes the slow death hook and adds it behind a specialized trolling spoon, which was developed by Paul “Coot” Williams.  The spoon provides a unique wobble to the presentation, while the slow death hook and crawler assume a spinning presentation.  This unique blend of wobble and spin drives walleye insane.

One major advantage to the system is its versatility related to speed.  Normally, a slow death presentation has speeds below 1.0 mph. The spoon system can be fished at the slow speed; however, we have found successes at as high as 3.0 mph on Lake Winnebago.  Ideally, on most days, speeds of 0.8- 2.0 mph were common.

One interesting aspect of this system was we could use this presentation while using crank baits on other lines.  Typically a live bait presentation and a crank bait presentation can not be used simultaneously, because of the speed differences required to make the presentations most effective.  This allowed us to determine if the fish were more inclined toward live bait or artificial on a given day.  This advantage allowed us to dial in preferences much earlier in the day, ultimately creating a larger window of success on tournament days.

The manufacturer of the system, Tommy Harris Blades (Kenosha, WI), has tested the product for several years and now and has refined the components to make this deadly presentation ready for the walleye market.  Most anglers are familiar with Tommy’s product line and quality which almost borders on fine art.  The complete lineup is named Spoon De-velie and offers 32 colors.

Tommy will be at some local sports shows over the next several weeks, making the product available to the general public for the first time.  The shows include the Madison Fishing Expo Feb 22-24 and Northeastern Wisconsin Fishing Show in Appleton, WI on March 1-3. On  average, the system runs about $5 per lure.    The product will be available via tommyharrisblades.com in the future.

The 2012 season was marred by poor ice conditions and poor water clarity on Lake Winnebago.  Spearers were forced to travel almost exclusively via ATV/snowmobiles to partake in the hunt.  2013 looks to have many of the same attributes of the 2012 season.

The past week has seen substantial rain, followed by sub zero temperatures and heavy snow.  Areas near rivers or feeder creeks should be viewed as extremely dangerous due to rain water runoff.

Ice depths are very inconsistent on Lake Winnebago, and safety measures will need to be taken by all participants in all areas of the lake. As of Sunday, Feb 3, open water pockets remain scattered throughout the main lake, with additional open areas near cracks and heaves.  Ice depths range from open water to 18” of ice.

The Up-River Lakes appear to be in excellent spearing condition, with solid and fairly consistent ice over the majority of the lakes.  Water clarity is very good.  Ice reports indicated about 14” of ice on Lake Poygan.

2012 opening day at Stockbridge WI

The rain water runoff has also caused some water clarity problems, especially in the Fond du Lac area and near the Fox River in Oshkosh on Lake Winnebago.  However, plenty of time remains for the muddy waters to settle, creating better conditions.  In Fond du Lac, water clarity was at less than 1 foot.  North of Fisherman’s Road (Pipe,WI) the clarity had already improved to approximately 6-10 feet. The north shore has clarity in the ranges of 2-5 feet as of Sunday Feb 3^rd.

Car/Truck travel is occurring along the east shore with established “roads” (or tree lines) at Fisherman’s Road, Stockbridge and Calumet County Park.  On the south end, there is an established unmarked trail coming off the BP gas station on Winnebago Drive (Fond du Lac).  At Wendt’s in Van Dyne, truck travel is possible, especially to the north, with all vehicles  staying inside of the crack.  Overall, the snow pack on the ice’s surface is very manageable at just a few inches.

Outlook:

Like last year when all 16 days of the season were needed to close the season short of the established cap numbers on Lake Winnebago, 2013 looks to be similar.  In 2012, some licensed participants opted to sit the season out based on conditions, and we expect the same story may be told at the end of the 2013 season.

On the upper river lakes, we think the season could be short, as anticipated cap numbers (83 adult females) could be reached very quickly.  Conditions and sturgeon concentrations are in favor of the spearers.

According to the DNR, sturgeon populations are very strong system-wide including many 100 pounds and over.  A record sized sturgeon (240 pounds) was tagged by the DNR during the 2012 spawn, and it is possible that a 225 pound plus fish could be harvested in the next several years.   In 2012, 6.5% of the sturgeon harvested exceeded 100 pounds including a 175.3 pound fish–the largest fish for the season.

Conclusion:

The 2012 season ranked 57^th all time based on 70 recorded years of sturgeon spearing (volume).  Myfishingpartner.com is forecasting a slight increase from 2012 harvest numbers, but only by a small margin.  Estimates of 45,000 adult sturgeons exist in these waterways, so population favirs the spearers.

Conditions are less than ideal concerning travel, water clarity and ice depth. The ten day forecast indicates a warming trend.  With fewer participants expected due to poor ice/water conditions, this could translate into a tick under average harvest rate.  The predicted warm temperatures could encourage participants to stay on the ice longer, increasing harvest numbers.  Ultimately, weather/water/ice conditions during the potential 16 day season will play a critical role to the season’s success.

Be sure to follow the highlights of the season at www.myfishingpartner.com.  With any luck, we should have a day one video online on Saturday evening.

Fond du Lac Area Tourism and Visitors Bureau is the backbone behind the event, which will bring Lake Winnebago and the Fond du Lac area into the spotlight.  The mornings will consist of sturgeon spearing while afternoons will revolve around ice fishing, ice kite boarding and  other events in the area.  There is much more to the sturgeon spearing other than the actual hunt.  Participants will experience many traditions.

The cast includes an impressive list of participants:  Marianne Pfister Huskey (2012 Angler of the year for AIM), Kristine Houltman (Fish on Kids author), April Lewandowsi (Pink Fishing), Carrie Zylka (Wisconsinoutdoorfun and the Wild World of CarrieZ), Dena Witt Woerner (Fishhound.com) and others.  Nearly all of the participants are first time sturgeon spearers, but have long established resumes in the outdoor world.

Major sponsors include Frabill, Wendt’s on the Lake, Pro Motorsports, The Retlaw Hotel, and Wolf Pack Adventures.  Other local spearers and fishing experts will provide assistance to the group including John McArdle (Fond du Lac Outdoors), and myself  (myfishingpartner.com) . Media scheduled include The Chicago Tribune, Midwest  Outdoors, Outdoor Junkies TV, and others.

For more information related to the event, go to http://wow.wwocz.net/ to follow the events.  Hopefully one of the ladies will have the opportunity to drag their speared sturgeon throughout
the local bars in the evening.

January 13, 2013 started on the Petenwell Flowage. A cold snap had entered the area, after a brief January thaw which had occurred earlier in the week.  Ronald arrived at about 7:00 am, proceeded to his desired spot on the ice, and dropped a few lines in 18 feet of water.  Initially the fish were biting yielding 3 crappie, 2 walleyes, a white bass and a perch.

What happened next is explained by Ronald (In his words) via his Facebook page.  “I was out on Petenwell and the strong winds of the past few days opened up a heave and then it refroze last night/today. I wasn’t paying attention the way I should and I thought it was the same glare ice that was in other spots and had 7″ of ice. I heard/saw the ice crack and for some reason I took another step and I went in. I had my shanty strapped to my back and after struggling to get it off I barely had enough energy to try and pull myself out. I tried 2-3 times to get out but I just couldn’t. Had to yell for help and guys who were  about 250 yards away heard me and rushed over.”

Several individuals rushed to Ronald’s rescue and pulled him from the freezing water- saving his life.   Witnesses estimate Ron was in the water for 8-10 minutes.  Had it not for these heroes (who are still unknown), we would be reading Ron’s obituary instead of this article.  They took him to their vehicle, gave them their coats, and waited for the ambulance to arrive to take Ron to the hospital.   Other bystanders retrieved his shanty and loaded his gear into his vehicle, locked it up and returned the keys to the ambulance driver.

After being released from the hospital later in the day, Ron was very happy to see his wife and daughter again.  He spent the rest of the day recovering from his near death experience.

In the next few days Ron sorted through all of his frozen gear and made an amazing discovery.  His Hummingbird Ice Flasher (55 Model), a high end electronic device used to help locate fish (value $500), is missing and assumed stolen.  “Losing my phone and mp3 player from water damage was one thing but for someone to take my flasher as I get put into an ambulance really makes me feel a certain way,” Ron said.  Unfortunately, the unit has yet to resurface, even after pleas on message boards for its return.  Ron has filed a police report.

Throughout the event, Ron saw many sides of human nature.  He experienced the trauma of a life and death situation, followed by the heroic acts of strangers, then someone taking advantage of an unfortunate circumstance.  Hopefully, he can experience someone’s remorse if the expensive Ice Flasher is returned.

Ron will be back onthe ice soon.  He now vows to carry ice picks around his neck each time he goes on the water for added security.  Even the most seasoned veterans of the outdoors, who know their surroundings, are at risk on the ice.  Stay on top Ron!  We hope that your Hummingbird ice flasher is returned soon.

Weekly fishing reports on the Winnebago System can also be found at myfishingpartner.com.

My Grandma was an ornithologist and teacher and had a passion for birds and bird watching.  She also had an intense knowledge of everything wilderness, from the plants which grew on the forest floor to the animal tracks which marked the mud.  She also knew how to untangle a six year old’s cane pole, so I felt this to be one of her greatest attributes.

We traveled into metro Birchwood, population 538, to get the provisions we needed for the day.  Fresh water, food, bug spray, worms and the boat.

The boat was glorious in my estimation. A 12 foot row boat made of thin aluminum, with bubblegum and the 1950’s equivalent of marine goop patching the holes in the bottom to prevent the water from gushing in.  A rusty old tin can lay on the floor of the boat for bailing water, just in case some of the gum became too brittle.  The old wooden oars were weathered and cracked, but still seemed to have some life left in them.

Once back at the property, we carried the boat down to the front lake.  The other two lakes are inaccessible from the main road, and one of the lakes has never been fished in the 70 years we have owned the property.  To get to the third lake requires maneuvering the boat through the forest, down a steep embankment and thru approximately 30 acres of woods.  In today’s world with four wheelers it is achievable, but unfathomable back in the 1970’s.

Grandma loaded me up on the hot aluminum bench seat of the boat, secure in my bright orange floatation device.  Grandpa gave us the heave ho from shore while losing a shoe in the muck of the soft mud.  Grandma rowed our barely functional boat to her favorite spot on the lake—a point directly related to deep water.  Lesson:  Location, location and location.

If I was going to fish, I would have to bait my own hook.  I grabbed the ancient cane pole, and threw a small temper tantrum. Grandma said she would show me how to hook the first worm, but I was six now, and would have to fend for myself the rest of the week.  The worm was rigged, so I whipped that cane pole into the water, bobber and hook in one direction and the worm in the other.  Guess who had to put the worm on now?  Lesson:  Fish or cut bait, either way you have to bait the hook.

Once re-baited, grandma suggested that I “gently place” the bobber along the lilly pads, because that was where the big fish hang out.  The bobber landed in the exact location I was hoping for—the water.  I sat patiently as I expected the fish to be on the hook within seconds.   Grandma taught me quickly to wait, be prepared, and sit quietly until the fish made our offering a meal.  Lesson: Fishing is a finesse sport.

All of a sudden, the bobber disappeared, and we had action.  I ripped that cane pole so hard; there was no way this fish was ever getting off the hook.  I had instantaneous turned a bluegill from a fresh water fish into a flying object. Grandma explained all about the appropriate method of setting a hook.  Lesson: A fine touch is required to be successful.

Of course I had to take the fish off the hook.  Grandma supervised me to ensure the fish was not going to be harmed.  I was so excited to keep and eventually eat that Bluegill.  Grandma had other ideas.  I remember her saying that it was too small to eat, and that I had better get my bait back in the water so that we could have dinner that night.  Lesson(s): This was my first exposure to selective harvest and fishing under
pressure.

As the day went on, we caught some eater- sized bluegills.  We returned back to the home base to meet grandpa, who was anxiously awaiting our return with his filet knife.  He walked over to the tree which had a small board attached to it.  The make shift table wobbled as he placed a fish upon it.  Next the scales were flying and I was petrified.  Then the head of that fish came off, and I ran to the hills.  How could my grandpa do that?   He said it was for the raccoons which would show up later that night.  I thought that was pretty cool.  Lesson:  Everything in the wilderness gets recycled.

That evening grandma fired up the propane stove inside the trailer.  A couple mice got a quick education about heat, and scurried out of the trailer. Grandma’s secret recipe started with bacon grease as the main ingredient.  To this day, I have never found a coating which has better taste.  Grandpa made me eat the tail of the first “keeper” fish I caught.  Fried within the special concoction of grandma’s method, the tails were crispy good.  Lesson:  Bacon goes well with everything.

It is now forty years later, and I have I taught my sons the delicate art of fishing in Birchwood, on the same lake, with the same methods,
and a little newer boat with less bubblegum in it.  They experienced many of the same reactions I had at 6 years old, so it was incredible to think how they just might teach my grandkids the same way.  Above all else, the lessons which were ultimately taught and learned was an appreciation of Nature, which gets overlooked so much in today’s society.  Thanks Grandma!

Travis Schram with his first deer.

My first hunt in 27 years just completed.  I hate to admit that a quarter century plus had passed since my last deer hunt, and that my math in my previous article understated my absence by 10 years.  I guess I am not ready to admit to anything for 25 years.

Opening day started on public hunting grounds in Waupaca County.  An early arrival to the woods occurred to make sure our party could obtain our previously scouted “secret” spots.  We had an advantage to get to the backside of the large public acreage via some private land owned by our hunting party.  After about an hour and a half in the moonless night, the sun rose above the horizon.  To my surprise, there was orange everywhere.

As the morning progressed periodic gun fire would erupt, but nothing ever emerged. Suddenly gunshots were heard, with each blast getting closer to my position.  My son had a look at two does in full stride, but the shot was just too long.  Two other hunters unloaded their rifles with 10 misses.  The deer were approaching fast, but, unfortunately, even with a perfect target zone, I had other hunters behind my shot and could not take my long awaited shot at some meat for the freezer.   The rest of the weekend went off without any other excitement.

On Tuesday, we set out for a two hour afternoon hunt in the Eden, WI area.  A quick drive of a small marsh produced no results.  My son, Travis, set up on a tree line on top of a hill on one side of a marsh, and I positioned myself on an alfalfa field on the other side.  After about an hour, three midsized deer worked their way onto the field feeding on the alfalfa.

After about 15 minutes of observation, and with the hope that a buck would emerge before closing diminishing, I decided to take a highly improbable uphill long shot (with the shotgun) to fill our first tag. With careful aim, I dropped the deer in its tracks.  Moments later I took a second shot to complete the harvest.  The two remaining deer worked their way into the marsh.  After 27 years, I could still make the improbable shot.

The next day, we worked the same 2 hour timeframe with my son in a different location -a tree stand.  I had given him the option to hunt the alfalfa field but he opted for the tree stand.  With almost 8 tags to fill from the rest of the group (I still had multiple tags left myself), the plan was to harvest another doe.  Almost like clockwork, the two other deer emerged on to the field again.  I had set up at the other end of the field due to a wind direction change and previous movements of the deer from the day prior.

Well, I was proven wrong as the deer emerged on the opposite end of the field.  Again I waited for the buck, which never emerged.  After about 30 minutes of observation the deer started working back toward the marsh, with the deer being at the far end of my shooting range.  Could I duplicate the ridiculously long shot from the day before?  Careful aim resulted in a missed shot, but the second shot appeared to be a hit, as I saw the deer drop from view below the hill’s crest. As I walked up the hill, I was mentally patting myself on the back for the  marksmanship I had been exhibiting.

Reaching the crest of the hill, two deer were staring back at me – alive.  Unprepared to shoot, they had a good head start back to the swamp.  My finally three shots missed their white tails as they bounded into the marsh.  No blood trail was found, and my phone was now receiving the “was that you?” text messages from the rest of the party.  My day was done, and I walked back to the truck in disappointment.

As I was packing up, I heard a shot ring out nearby about 7 minutes before close.  Soon, my son texted that he had shot a doe he had been watching for a while.  The deer ended up being a nub buck and was his first deer harvested ever.  He was so excited; as was I for him.   His excitement was overwhelming, and you could see that he was now forever hooked on hunting.

I anticipate the next few years will allow my son and I hunt together again.  I want to thank Cody Maeder, who asked us to hunt with his party, and did much of the heavy lifting of the week.

Because of Cody’s efforts, a new tradition may have been forged for our families.  As sportsmen, getting other individuals involved in our passions is the greatest goal for the sport, in my opinion.  This time around, I was the student, rather than the teacher.  With more to learn, I am sure to return to the woods again soon.

2012 will mark my return to the sport of hunting.  Over the years I have had plenty of
opportunities to return to the sport, but have always found an excuse not to venture
out the woods.  Real life was often to blame for the absence, including things like lack of vacation time, work and family obligations, and maybe a lack of motivation.

After much reflection, I really believe my apprehension was due to a body weight issue I was battling.  Back in 1985, I was rock solid at 285 pounds and a college athlete.  I remember how difficult the uphill climbs were in the LaCrosse area even being in excellent shape.  There was no way I could endure those trails weighing a lot more. Let’s just say I had a huge weight gain after college.

A couple of years ago, I had a huge healthy weight loss of almost 170 pounds.  This has opened doors for me personally, which just weren’t physically possible with my obese condition. The weight losses revitalized my life, and rekindled some old passions.

Fast forward to 2012: 17 years have passed and Nov 17^th will mark the first time I
will carry a firearm into the deep woods of Waupaca County.

I eagerly await the trail walks into the woods to set up my little piece of paradise.  This is the
exact portion of the hunt which kept me from partaking in the sport for many years.  For anyone battling the similar demons which limited my life, do whatever you can to overcome them, so your passions don’t become memories.  The thrill of the hunt is brewing in my veins again, and it will be remarkable to experience the smells, anxieties, and thrills which have been absent for so long.

So the decision has been made to partake in the hunt.  The license and clothes are purchased.  The guns will be sighted in shortly. Now a decision needs to be made….Hunt for a trophy or hunt for some meals?  Stay tuned; I am sure there are some stories which will need to be told in the coming weeks.