• For more information about the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area
• Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau: 888-948-4748, or
  715-355-8788; web: www.visitwausau.com
• Fishing and hunting Info: Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Services
  (Phil Schweik, John Sparbel, Craig Lemmer, Justin Gaiche); phone: 715-693-5843; e -mail: info@hooksetters.biz; web: www.hooksetters.biz

Editor's note: The daily bag limit for walleyes on many lakes and the
Wisconsin River in Central Wisconsin (always check the regulations on the
particular water, first) is five (5) fish per day throughout the year while
the daily bag limit for walleye in many areas north of Mosinee and Wausau
may only be two to three fish because of Native American spearing
initiatives and the resulting DNR "quota limits".

Walleye and crappies hitting, as some nice bucks taken during
firearm deer season ; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of
Wisconsin's Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).


Crappie action has really picked up, with bluegills and northerns
hitting well, and a great walleye night bite; all in and amidst the lakes
and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin's Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near
Mosinee and Wausau). EDITOR'S NOTE: At the end of this report, see the
information about a great ice fishing tournament being held on Lake Wausau.

Crappies are biting well in the central Wisconsin area, and just this past
week we have seen a very good increase in our catch rate. We have been
finding the crappies in about 12 to 16 feet of water suspended anywhere from
1 foot off the bottom to 6 feet off the bottom. The key to finding the
larger fish is to stay higher in the water column. You may catch more fish
near the bottom but the larger fish are usually holding higher. Small
minnows have been working well but I generally like to run a tiny jigging
spoon tipped with just a minnow head or a plastic wedge tail.

The bluegill bite has been very good this past week in the central Wisconsin
area. We have been seeing the best action early in the morning up to about
10:00 AM and then good action from about 3:00 PM until dark. The best baits
have been Northland Mud Bugs and Mooskas in yellow and orange. We have been
tipping them with waxies or spikes depending on what the day brings. For
the larger fish we have been using plastics like Shrimpo's and Rat Finkies,
or just tipping our regular jigs with wedge tails.

For you guys that don't want to mess around with the small stuff the
northern action in the central Wisconsin area has been pretty good. We
have been fishing in 4 to 10 feet of water along sharp break lines with good
timber on the bottom. Large golden shiners have been the bait of choice
when suspended about 1 to 3 feet off the bottom. For the best action
instead of running a steel leader we have been using a 14 to 17 pound
fluorocarbon leader. The clear leader helps give the bait more freedom to
move around and it is almost impossible to see and I really don't seem to
get many bite offs due to the strength of the fluorocarbon line..

Walleye activity has been very good especially in the evening in the central
Wisconsin area. . Small sucker minnows or golden shiners run on tip-ups has
been the best bait when suspended below a tip-up in shallow water.. We are
generally fishing less than 6 feet of water when targeting the walleyes and
keeping our bait right near the bottom.

Trails End and Hooksetters Guide Service

1st annual ice fishing tournament.

Fish anywhere on Lake Wausau!

Headquarters:
Trails End Bar & Grill Located at: 3901 Sherman Rd. Wausau, WI 54401
Date: February 11th
Time: 7:00am until 5:00pm
Entry: $10.00 per person ­ Purchase between now and the day of the
tournament at Trails End. Bar will open at 6:00 am on the day of the
tournament for registration.
To register fish: Bring them to Trails End Headquarters. Come by road or
waterŠ. Fish must be at the Headquarters no later than 5:00 PM

There will be prizes awarded in the following categories:
Northern-Walleye-Crappie-Bluegill-Perch
There will be cash prizes for 1st through 3rd place. Prize amounts will be
determined by the amount of participants.
1st through 3rd place will be determined by the three largest fish brought
in by length in each division. In case of a tie the tie breaker will be
determined by weight. If there is still a tie the winner will be determined
by the first fish registered.

There will be food and drink specials all day long during tournament hours
at the bar. There will be several different raffles going on throughout the
day with lots and lots of great door prizes as well. Too many to give
details.

There will be FREE food for tournament participants after 5:00 pm ­ and it's
good!

Mark your calendar for February 11th.
We will see you there.....
Any questions please call John: 715-370-3018