walleyemaxx
06-25-2010, 08:36 AM
Hi everyone,
This weeks DNR report talks about the high water in the flowages due to all the rain.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The recent heavy rains seem to have alleviated the low water conditions on most flowages and drainage lakes in the Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Taylor county areas and most have been reported as 'full'. However, many seepage lakes (those without inlets or outlets) still have very low water levels and some still have difficult access conditions. Another interesting observation with the recent rains and increase in water levels has been a significant change in water color on many lakes and flowages. The low-water, drought conditions of earlier this year had produced some fairly clear water on many bodies of water, but the heavy runoff of recent weeks has added a lot of darkly-colored water to these lakes and flowages. This has resulted in a medium to dark stain returning to many of these waters and some anglers are claiming that this has contributed to the disrupted fishing patterns of late. With the opening of Northern Zone bass season this past weekend, fishing for largemouth and smallmouth provided most of the highlights for this past week. Variable and almost constant changing weather greeted the opening weekend anglers and action could only be termed fair. The bass seemed to be a bit disrupted in their normal feeding patterns due to the increased water levels caused by the 3-plus inches of rain in the last couple weeks. Success was best on smaller finesse baits such as small rubber worms and tube jigs, and presentations had to be rather slow. Largemouth still seem to be in a “free-swimming” mode and have been found along the weed edges and among the developing lily pad beds. But as the summer develops look for them to develop a more structure-oriented pattern, where they'll be relating more to wood, docks and thick weed cover. Smallmouth have been most consistent on the deep edges, in 4 to 6 feet of water and near woody structure along rock and gravel bottoms. Panfish action has been very good. Bluegill have just about finished up their spring spawning ritual and some nice catches are still being made. Crappie have still been very active and some nice fish have been found near mid-depth cover and along any emergent weed lines. Perch have also been active and are being found along the deeper weed edges. Musky action has also been heating up with many more fish starting to get into an active feeding mode, especially on the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers. Bucktails and jerk baits seem to be the preferred baits and the late afternoon hours have provided the best action. Walleye success has been very erratic. With the increased water levels on most waters, their normal pattern also seems to be disrupted and action has been inconsistent with active walleye often hard to find. The best catches have been on the deep drop-offs in 8 to 14 feet of water, with leeches and crawler rigs producing the best action.
Heard a news story on a Hayward radio station about the heavy moisture in the rain clouds this year. I say 'about time'.
Walleyemaxx
This weeks DNR report talks about the high water in the flowages due to all the rain.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The recent heavy rains seem to have alleviated the low water conditions on most flowages and drainage lakes in the Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Taylor county areas and most have been reported as 'full'. However, many seepage lakes (those without inlets or outlets) still have very low water levels and some still have difficult access conditions. Another interesting observation with the recent rains and increase in water levels has been a significant change in water color on many lakes and flowages. The low-water, drought conditions of earlier this year had produced some fairly clear water on many bodies of water, but the heavy runoff of recent weeks has added a lot of darkly-colored water to these lakes and flowages. This has resulted in a medium to dark stain returning to many of these waters and some anglers are claiming that this has contributed to the disrupted fishing patterns of late. With the opening of Northern Zone bass season this past weekend, fishing for largemouth and smallmouth provided most of the highlights for this past week. Variable and almost constant changing weather greeted the opening weekend anglers and action could only be termed fair. The bass seemed to be a bit disrupted in their normal feeding patterns due to the increased water levels caused by the 3-plus inches of rain in the last couple weeks. Success was best on smaller finesse baits such as small rubber worms and tube jigs, and presentations had to be rather slow. Largemouth still seem to be in a “free-swimming” mode and have been found along the weed edges and among the developing lily pad beds. But as the summer develops look for them to develop a more structure-oriented pattern, where they'll be relating more to wood, docks and thick weed cover. Smallmouth have been most consistent on the deep edges, in 4 to 6 feet of water and near woody structure along rock and gravel bottoms. Panfish action has been very good. Bluegill have just about finished up their spring spawning ritual and some nice catches are still being made. Crappie have still been very active and some nice fish have been found near mid-depth cover and along any emergent weed lines. Perch have also been active and are being found along the deeper weed edges. Musky action has also been heating up with many more fish starting to get into an active feeding mode, especially on the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers. Bucktails and jerk baits seem to be the preferred baits and the late afternoon hours have provided the best action. Walleye success has been very erratic. With the increased water levels on most waters, their normal pattern also seems to be disrupted and action has been inconsistent with active walleye often hard to find. The best catches have been on the deep drop-offs in 8 to 14 feet of water, with leeches and crawler rigs producing the best action.
Heard a news story on a Hayward radio station about the heavy moisture in the rain clouds this year. I say 'about time'.
Walleyemaxx