Fishing Update

[Scott Biscobing]

I managed to get out this past weekend one night. I have not been out partially due to the cold we had and then it was a time factor. oh well the reports have not been very promising. We stopped at a local bait shop on the way and asked how things were going. The report was grim. he said there were people that have been out for several trip with little to no success. He did state that the panfishing has been improving. We went out anyway to a spot that has produced in the past. Tipups in by 4:00. We ended up with 3 flags and caught 2 fish. One 19 1/2 and the other was 20 1/2". Both fish were caught literally minutes apart right at dark. The other flag was shortly after dark and that fish simply dropped the bait. We were fishing in between 20 and 30 feet of water off the edges of the structure. We fished for about 3 hours. It was not terrible but it was not very good either. I am not sure what has been playing out, but the fish we caught were nice stocky fish. I think with the warm summer with abnormally high water temps if it did not produce a very good spawn of bait fish in our system which is providing an abundant supply of food for the fish. I am not sure just and idea. I think right now you just have to put in the time and try multiple spots and look for a few active fish. One good thing is the panfish ( crappies and Perch) are only going to get better as spring gets closer.

Good Fishing,

[Mark Benson]

Scott:

I was going to mention that I would be doing the NP/Rhinelander girls game Thursday night, but hoping to see how it went. Wasn't sure but didn't think that I found you in the crowd though I looked a couple of times.

Here's hoping that Rhinelander and Lakeland meet next Friday, eh... Then I'll walk up the bleachers and introduce myself.

Mark

[Scott Biscobing]

Hi Mark,

It is the only game I missed. I was in Eau Claire for work for a couple days. I was able to catch it on the internet though. The girls played Mosinee last night and looked very good. They will be playing in Lakeland on Friday night. I will definitely be there. It is exciting for the girls coming off a 0-21 season last year to 2nd in conference and the first tournament win for Rhinelander in 12 years.

Scott

[Mark Benson]

Scott:

I will try to be there and if not I am chasing panfish!!! I do think that there is a distinct possibility that the Hodag girls can win this game against Lakeland Friday night, just don't say anything to jinx them before game time!!! Good luck to both teams in the tourney!!!

Here's a little except that I posted on another thread regarding the crappie fishing as of late:

"The last two Sundays I have been able to get out to explore the lake that my brother bought on... It seems to be a fertile fishery, but haven't gotten very close to finding anything yet.

However both last Sunday and yesterday I pulled off to a little lake close by known for producing some mega crappies and tried two different spots other than the community spots and was rewarded both times with some quality fish. Looking for areas on the basin sides close to spawning areas is starting to show fish just off the weed lines in 15' - 20'.

Both nights I was able to pull marks off the bottom and get them to chase the Lil' Cecil I was fishing with so fast I had to reel the bait up at the same time or there was no room to set the hook as the bait was so high above my head!!! Playing cat and mouse in this fashion has been a blast to say the least.

Last Sunday I was able to get 7 'tween 9" and 11"in about 20 minutes, while being a little earlier this week allowed me to get in the hour long bite before dark started setting. Yesterday, I was able to find some fish on the first lake and then catch an additional 17 crappies 'tween 8" and 12".

The spot I was on last Sunday started to show just before dark a chironomid hatch, where your vex screen (hues of green & orange) starts to show all sorts of life at the bottom and the fishing just slowed down. I tried this past Friday after work and was too late and the hatch had already started. This second spot had a fair amount of tannic water and I was not able to detect the "hatch", but the bite slowed considerable just before 6 p.m.

The next time I get to fish this lake, I will be practicing selective harvest of fish less than the 10" mark as I have plenty of bigger fish cleaned and ready to dine on. All fish cleaned were of the female variety. All fish cleaned were of the female variety showing the need for selective harvest to maintain the size distribution by keeping the great genes in the population.

Mark

[Scott Biscobing]

Thanks for the info Mark. I was out last weekend and we caught a good bunch of fish up to 10 1/2". I was on a shallower flowage scenario and we were fishing cribs just off the weed edges. I look forward to this time of year now through ice out to fish crappies. Again thanks for the info and maybe we will see you Friday. Go HODAGS!!!

Scott

[Mark Benson]

Got a chance to get out and hook up with a couple of friends last night on the same lake at the first spot that produced for me. Wasn't able to get out there until 5:20, but did manage to lay the wood to a couple of fish right off the bat, but even in the storm, the fish were not nearly as aggressive as last Sunday.

Mark

P.S. Can't wait for day light savings this weekend!!!

[Scott Biscobing]

I forgot about daylight savings time. You are right I will be able to catch the evening bite then to. The sooner spring gets here the better!!

[Mark Benson]

Scott:

Sorry we weren't able to connect tho we got to wave on my way out. I wasn't able to find you going in and there was no way to get to you on the way out. Great crowd!!!

Your Hodag team was as surprised as I was at the tenacity that the T-Birds came out with in the 1st half. And your Hodag team fought back nicely in the third quarter as well. They really stood a good chance. The press again did a nice job as it did in the NPines game. Once the T-Birds calmed down, got their composure and were able to handle the press they were able to turn the momentum, then it became a FT shooting contest.

Tell your daughter that it was nice to see her become a lean fighting machine that helped lead that program back to respectability. She will be looked up to by many young girls in the city of Rhinelander for a long time to come!!! There are many nice kids on that team as was evidence by their attitude at Pines. And they have a nice nucleus coming back with the big girl and Fortier and some underclass guards!!!

Now lets get back to the crappies, 'gills and perch!!! If I don't go down for the Region Final against Medford, I will be fishing again tonight and for sure tomorrow and will report.

Mark

[Scott Biscobing]

Mark, Thanks for the nice comments. The Hodags indeed have a nice future with the program. I see the t-birds fell last night to Medford. Well BB is over now so it will be time to get some more ice fishing done! I am on my way out the door in an hour or so. Good luck the last part of the ice season and keep up the posts. I enjoy the conversations.