Wausau/Central Wisconsin area (MARATHON COUNTY, including the
communities
of Kronenwetter, Mosinee, Rib Mountain, Rothschild, Schofield,
Wausau, and
Weston) -- as of May 5, 2008:
Walleye, bass and northern providing excellent action, with
great
bow fishing opportunities for carp, and lots of quality gobblers
being taken
by hunters in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area.
While many lakes further north are still at least partially
locked with ice
or winter-like water temperatures, the waters in the Wausau/Central
Wisconsin area are flowing well, with water temps ranging into
the mid to
upper 40 degree range or warmer.
After a successful spawn, the walleyes in the Wausau/Central
Wisconsin area
have scattered, but are eminently catchable. During this transition
period
of migration to their warm weather haunts, search for the walleyes
in a
variety of depths and areas. Once located, fish using crankbaits
or jig and
twister tail combos, which have been producing successfully
for weeks. Some
real nice fish, in the ten pound range are being caught. Many
post-spawn
walleyes are also succumbing to trolling presentations on the
Wisconsin
River and its flowages.
Smallmouth bass in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area have already
begun to
move from their winter locations towards spawning grounds. Locate
these
fish in gravel or rock bottom areas, by fishing the deeper water
surrounding
them during the coolest portions of the day. utilize a jig and
twister tail,
a three inch tube jig, or a suspending style crankbait. Numbers
of
trophy-quality smallies are almost a "gimme" on the
mighty Wisconsin River
system.
Northern in the 40 inch or more range are being caught on the
Wisconsin
River systems as well as the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir in the
Wausau/Central
Wisconsin area. The largest northerns are currently frequenting
back bays,
sloughs, and inlets. Larger suspending style crankbaits, as
well as
swimbaits and jig-and-creature combos are scoring daily. Once
fish-holding
areas have been located, use a jumbo golden shiner or larger
sucker minnow
beneath floats, which will prove very productive during cooler
water
periods, and higher fishing pressure situations.
A nice "plus" in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area
is to capitalize on bow
fishing opportunities. Numbers of large carp are frequenting
many of the
sloughs, backwaters, and bays, making for some of the best shooting
of the
season. There are evenings going on right now where over 500
pounds of carp
are being shot from a single boat!
And when your arms tire from reeling in all the trophy fish,
there's some
great wild turkey hunting going on in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin
area,
with an array of quality gobblers harvested, and countless more
available.
And remember, that unlike so many lakes further north, that
have daily
walleye bag limits of two or three fish, the walleye bag limit
remains at
FIVE (5) fish on most of the waters of the Wausau/Central Wisconsin
area.
With such a wealth of opportunities, it's important for anglers
to practice
catch-and-release for everything but a few for the frying pan.
This simple
and mindful conservation will insure that the legendary fishing
in the
Wausau/Central Wisconsin area will continue for generations
to come.
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