[Eric Haataja]

Well this fall the fishing has been awesome here in the harbor more bigger fish than I have seen in recent years catches are waaaaaaay up withlots of fish around, which typically means life is good on the water. Caught some monster browns in the past 2 weeks and also seeing a lot of other anglers with some fish close to and around 30 lbs just crazy! This is going to be a great winter!!!!!!!!

On a side note I have been working very hard on our new television show Big Fish 365 that has been my focus along with guiding. Our new site BIg Fish 365 should be live by this Friday.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas!

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[TJPike]

Whats wrong with 10 fish in less than 4 hrs ? Sounds pretty good to anyone reading your post.You watch to much TV fishing..

[eyeguy]

Ok. Lets try some CPR then... SUPER LATE REPORT. Fished sunday in the milwaukee harbor and kinda struggled. Most of the day was spent jigging plastics, but we did some casting of spoons, cranks, and other things. Saw lots of boats trolling and doing quite well,and I had the trolling stuff along, but the vote was to stay with the stand up tackle regardless. So, we continued to jig in several different spots and ended the day with about ten fish landed. It was a pretty tough bite overall for us, but then again, we didnt launch til after 10 am and were done before two, so not ideal fishing times. Anyways, not a stellar report, but just trying to breathe some life back into the thread. Tight lines everybody, theres no ice anywhere in SE WI, so get out there and get in on the action!

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[Needtofishmore]

blitzfish, on 16 December 2011 - 10:18 PM, said:

It's sad how dead this place is this year... anyways I've been hearing good things about winter brown action that I can't wait to hop on as well as lots of steelie action still. I won't be back until Tuesday so don't catch them all on me this weekend.
Until later,
Blitz

This forum has officially died. Sad.

[blitzfish]

It's sad how dead this place is this year... anyways I've been hearing good things about winter brown action that I can't wait to hop on as well as lots of steelie action still. I won't be back until Tuesday so don't catch them all on me this weekend.
Until later,
Blitz

[Jason]

Badgerfisher and LM Lunatic, excellent reports there! Now I have more hope and confidence for this coming ice season! I am glad you guys have found the fish and that they are there a lot more than I thought! I just remember in past years being able to walk the pier, and around the marina, and seeing massive schools of trout swimming around! But thank God they are around in good numbers. Just not around the shore spots like LM Lunatic mentioned I guess. Thanks for boosting my confidence, now those fish just have to come into casting reach for me to get them, lol. Any day now and they will be around for us shore guys to catch! Good luck guys, and everyone else here! Stay safe this ice season, and keep those drags screaming! ><))))O>

[badgerfisher]

Fished a southeastern Wisconsin harbor yesterday. Interesting day. Day began cloudy and cold, started out with cranks and had nothing to show for it for 2.5 hours. (didn't see anyonelse during that time cath anything either) Then the sun came out, warmed up maybe 10 degrees, tried some spawn and things changed. Wound up going 4 for 7, all steelhead. 3 came on spawn and one on an orange crank at the end of the day. 1 was dark, 2 had average color, and one was a fresh chrome. For the spawn (brown trout spawn), I had more bites on the cured spawn but the fish were just tasting and not eating it, so I missed a few on cured spawn (let the bobber stay down sometimes for about 5 seconds). I had fewer bites on uncured but each time I found the hook in the stomach. One of those days where not giving up and trying something different paid off. Water temp was ~35F. Happy to say I caught my largest steelhead to date (I have only been doing this type of fishing ~ 3 years). 11 pounds and colorful. I have not seen a steelhead this red before, but once again I am relatively new to this.

[LM Lunatic]

Thanks for report Jason, I have been fishing from a boat around the harbor and have never seen the browns so easy to come by. 30-40 a trip has been common every trip out. Where we have been catching them is an area that you wouldnt have been able to see them from shore so I believe you when you say you havent see many. I dont know what it is about this year but in recent years if we caught 5-10 we were happy, this year has been absolutely great for numbers, size wise most in the 2-7 lb range. Hopefully bite continues all winter. Lots of lakers also this year, especially outside the harbor.

[Jason]

Hello everyone, and I must say to Badgerfisher! NICE CATCH! And nice report!

I only got out fishing 2 times in the past month. I fished out of Milwaukee Harbor and the action has been very slow. I did see a few snagged fish get kept, which shows how slow things have been for us shore fisherman. But it also shows that when you see blood spots on the pier, they are not a sign of true action unfortunately

I am being honest when I say this, the action has been very hit or miss. I went 2 times, and I was lucky enough to hook into 4 fish total. I tried spawn, tube jigs, hair jigs, spoons, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. All my action came on a 1/8 ounce Cleo, the smallest size you can buy. When the fish hit, they felt like bluegill bites. Its hard to believe a fish that weighs over 5lbs can hit so light, but these trout bite very light even when the lures moving at times. Only 2 fish hit a white hair jig for me. I fished a total of 11 hours in 2 days of fishing in the past 2 weeks, and all my action either came on the 1/8 ounce spoon, or a couple fish on hair jigs. I lost 4 fish in 2 trips, caught only 2. What I am seeing as far as numbers is very sad to say the least. I only counted 21 fish I seen swimming around in 2 trips total, only 4 females out of the 21 fish. I caught 2, lost about 4. I also know quite a few diehard fisherman and they all have had slow success. Its not hot action at all!

My most recent trip was 12/8/11, and I landed 1 fish, lost 2. I was jigging a spoon around a steelhead that kept circling my bait when suddenly a brown came out full speed from under a dock, slammed my bait, flipped, and threw the hook. The other fish I lost was seriously the most beautiful brown I ever seen. When I seen this, think about the colors of a brook trout for a moment. This wasnt a brookie, but a brown. I hooked the fish on a hair jig below a bobber, and had him on for maybe 20 seconds. It shook the hook at the surface. But it was a beautiful fish about 10lbs, and the colors were gorgeous. Still feel disappointed I lost it. I wouldve given up a 20lb normal Brown Trout for that fish, it was that beautiful looking .

But like I said, there are not many fish around in Milwaukee Harbor at all. I checked everywhere from McKinley pier to P Dock, and there is very few fish around. But when you do find them, there is a few schools scattered around. Personally I dont think the major numbers came into the harbor yet. When I say I searched, I seriously fished everywhere you can walk on shore from McKinley pier to Summerfest, and its been very slow.

I am no trout expert, but I know some techniques that work great for myself and others. So I rig up with one rod with a lure, and change baits regularly. And I rig up with what I call my "bobber rod". The bobber rod has either spawn, or a jig like a tube or hair jig. I fish hard, move a lot, and see what happens. The Trout are not in heavy at all. Dont believe me, go and see for yourself. The water the past 2 weeks has been crystal clear around the marina. I wouldnt lie at all, but I am also not going to tell you exactly where to fish. I will tell you how I catch them, but not give up my spots. If I say marina, you will know somewhere in a 2 1/2 mile expanse of water, there is fish or no fish, so I am not BS'ing you.

I am not happy with what I see for numbers. I remember 3 years back seeing a school of over 100 fish circling around right by the gates of the McKinley pier. In 2 trips I seen 20 fish or so, and that is fishing hard like I said. Searching, looking through clear water, and the numbers are way down. Maybe the DNR is stocking less, maybe they havent came in, I dont know. But the numbers are down. Doesnt look like a hot fishing season. What I do know is spawn only had 1 bite for my fiance, and she missed the hookset. Personally the 1/8 ounce Cleo spoon has caught hooked some fish for me. But I try everything, I am to A.D.D. and impatient to wait 1 hour with 1 bait. I change, I experiment, I even try what nobody else does. The fishing is hit or miss. Like I said before, I seen a few guys snagging and if they are reporting, snagged fish as we all know dont count. I couldve snagged 20 or so, but I rather catch them in the mouth. Its more rewarding obviously.

What I will end with is, experiment! I say this for 1 reason. I am a multi species fisherman. Yes I am young but I have fished steadily for 20 years of my life and learned a lot. Its the guy ahead of the crowd catching fish, not the follower. I try things nobody else thinks of doing, and sometimes it pays off. I am no guide or fishing show host, but I catch fish from time to time. Have my bad days, have the good. These trout are tricky! Any person who figures them out is ahead of the crowd, like Eric Haataja, great fisherman! He figured out these trick fish! Any of us can do it though, but it takes a lot of time on the water! I say if you want to learn the tricks, hire or go to Eric's school for trout! If I had the money I definitely would do it! But I am stubborn, lol. I think 3 fish a day is accomplishment! But other guys, 3 fish is a slow day. I grew up fishing inland waters for the multi species action. Trout and Salmon are still new to me. Salmon easy to catch for me, Trout harder.


Here is a few pics of my success. Not much, but something at least. And it didnt come easy, it was a lot of hours of boredom to get these fish. I could've snagged at least 5 but, I didnt want to lower myself to snagging fish. But sometimes you can piss off those fish you see. Usually they will swim off scared. But I have dropped baits in their faced in the past, and after awhile they strike. Its somewhat rare, but in the past it happened. The fish I seen this year, they dart off like they seen a ghost, lol. Just fish, have a good time, and learn! Pay attention to weather, fish behavior, and apply the knowledge you gain! In past years spawn and jigs worked best! This year its spoons for whatever reason! But I try it all because, each day is different! Good Luck, and lets hope those fish show up in better numbers or else, itll be another slow icefishing season like the past 2 years!


Good Luck everyone! Of you figure out how to catch these fish right now, you are truly special! Not even joking! With fewer fish around, it takes a great fisherman to catch 1 or more. When you are stuck on shore like me, you know what I am talking about! If I had more fish to share in pictures I would, but here is the 2 I caught! So good luck!

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[badgerfisher]

Fished Racine today. Went 3 for 3. 2 browns and a steelhead. Had to work for them today. Tried all sorts of different colors, but all hits came on orange or red cranks. A lot of guys fishing the marina, most cleared out by around 10:30ish. Didn't see other fish caught, but we were moving around a lot. Water temp ~ 41 F.

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[Jason]

Very nice fish Cheddarmelt! We are going to have to get together some time and do some fishing! Been a long time. I may give it a shot somewhere today and see what I can pick up.

[cheddermelt]

God the marina is just chalked full of brown and steel. Managed to go 3-5 casting small 4th ounch cleos, and 1-2 on single boiled eggs. The one henny i lost on the boiled egg had to roll up in the 25lb range. i mean not a single scuff or indication she was gonna throw on her moldy jacket. Of course she was full of piss and vinegar and wrapped me on a pile on. Still gonna have to wait another day for my wall hanger.

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[Jason]

Did pretty decent on the Walleyes 11/14/11..... Caught all my fish jigging 1/8 ounce jigs tipped with 4" Mr Twister style grubs, and Ringworms. I really love those Ringworms, every bit as important to Walleye fishing as the Mr. Twister is in my honest opinion. I landed 5 Walleyes, the biggest was 25" long and I released her. The rest were all really nice sized fish. After several trips with very little to no results, it felt great catching some Walleyes that were all nice sized fish. The 25" is my biggest Walleye for 2011 so far, but I hope to beat it before the rivers and lakes ice over. Also landed 2 undersized Walleyes, lost 3, and my fiance lost 2. We wouldve had 12 fish but, you cant always catch them all. We tried minnows today but the walleyes would only nibble them. But the ones that hit the plastics were always nice sized fish and slammed the hell out of the plastics. The 25" that hit a Mr. Twister style grub actually jumped clear out of the water twice trying to shake the lure like a Bass. Never seen a Walleye jump in my entire life.

The Walleyes wanted to bait worked extremely slow whether it was reeled steady, or slowly jigged across the bottom. With the curly tail grubs I do a lot of steady retrieves but also catch fish jigging them. But with Ringworms its a slow jigging retrieve, light twitches, frequent pauses, no reeling involved in Ringworm fishing. IN COLD WATER FISH EXCRUCIATINGLY SLOW!!!! It takes patience and discipline to teach yourself to jig and fish slow, but you will catch more fish. Well good luck everyone!

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[Jason]

GET HOOKED:

Thanks for the compliments on those flies. Its an underrated and extremely deadly technique on the river. I caught more fish on streamers than any jig or lure combined the past few years fishing the river. There were a few days I forgot the streamer fly box at home and regretted it deeply as I watched fish after fish get caught by guys fishing the streamers.

What you said about people moving in on your spot is absolutely true. I took my fiance, brother, and brothers girlfriend fishing this past saturday. We were throwing streamer flies again, catching whitebass, walleyes, rough fish of all sorts. We had 2 guys walk right up and squeeze themselves in between us. I looked at the guys and just kept fishing. They couldnt buy a bite on their jig/Mr.Twister combos, but we were catching fish left and right. One of the guys bought a few streamers and pencil lead sinkers off me, and one of them caught a 20" walleye. But the thing is, even though there were 6 of us fishing that spot, I would catch 5 to 10 fish for every 1 fish someone else would get. Even when you have the same rig and bait setup, its all about proper presentation. Some days they want it jigged aggressively, but more often its a very slow retrieve with light twitches of the rod tip. Its a technique that takes practice, and detecting the bites takes practice as well as a tight line during the retrieve.

><))))O> .... We fished Friday evening, and Saturday afternoon/night and landed about 30 whitebass which we kept for the frying pan. I lost 2 really nice sized northern pike (low to mid 30" fish), and a walleye about 20" long casting Berkley Flickershads at night. Also landed a 26" northern that I released because I had enough whitebass to keep me busy with filleting. The pike I landed also hit a Berkley Flickershad. We also landed about a dozen smaller walleyes and saugers. The highlight of the weekend is watching my brother's girlfriend land a monster 28" walleye on my streamer flies. She was using a color I came up with on my own when the monster walleye hit. Most people have to fish Green Bay to catch a fish that size, and really put their time in. She catches a 28" her second time walleye fishing. Regardless it was awesome seeing that fish, and cool it hit one of the streamer flies I tied. It was cool to finally get some fish to hit a crankbait for a change.

Also fished 10/31/11 for 5 hours at night. Only landed 2 walleyes which were 18" and 17", and lost one about 18" as it was just about to be netted. You cant win them all I guess.

Anyways, Ill be back out fishing more this Fall for walleyes and whitebass. Cant wait for the next trip out, and hopefully I'll be the one posing with a monster walleye next time .

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[Get Hooked]

I will vouch for Jasons flies, and the set-up. It totally works when people around you are gettin skunked. Just be prepared for guys to think that you are on top of a sweet spot and start crowding you.... with the wrong set-up.

[blitzfish]

I've used flies numerous times in the Winnebago system and done great. I've also used them quite a bit on the Wisconsin River and it works almost as good there too! Just have to present it right, at the right time, in the right spots... most of the time ha ha ha

[walleyewackr]

jax this is a tactic used on the rivers of the winnebago chain for years and years. kind of a secret that hasnt really caught on in lots of places. been doing it for over 10 years now, the guy that taught me this has done it for over 25 years, unfortunatley he has passed. it works in any river, caught fish on the wisconsin, mississippi, and tribs to green bay using them, spring and fall. spring it usually works best when fish are postspawn. few different ways to rig as well, killer on eyes and white bass, also get some crappies as well. as far as color combos go you cant go wrong with red/white, red/black, gold/black, silver black, or my personal favorite is all white with silver sparkle. they all work at times, think its more reaction bite then anything. any bait shop has them on the wolf or fox river, i personally tie my own as well. spring i dont usually even use bait after spawn for eyes. super fun to use and very effective.

[Jason]

Jaxfishn..... The streamers I tie are about 2" to 3" long on #4 aberdeen hooks, and I tie them dark back,tinsel in the middle, lighter colored belly to mimic baitfish. I add gold or silver tinsel. I use bucktail hair, tinsel, and flashabou accent on my streamer flies,and have about 15 different colors that work such as:

(green/silver/white, blue/silver/white, red/silver/white, purple/silver/white, purple/gold/red, purple/silver/light blue, green/gold/orange, red/silver/chartruese, purple/gold/chartreuse, red/gold/chartreuse, black/silver/white, black/gold/red, green/gold/light blue, chartreuse/silver/white.)

I may have forgotten a few but, all I know is every river system I fish for walleyes and whitebass has a different pattern of colors that works better than others. So its good to have a selection of different colors, and experiment until you find what works best. For example when I fish the Winnebago system it always seems I do well on the red/silver/white, green/silver/white, and blue/silver/white streamer fly patterns. I think this is due to the fact that the Winnebago fish feed on skinny Lake Shiners as well as shad. But I do notice that a lot of the crazier colors get more attention on other river systems around the state. Ive had days where I am experimenting with different colors, the fish arent biting well at all, and suddenly I tie on some crazy bright color with orange or chartreuse in it, and the fish start hitting. Then Ive had times that even in muddy water, or even crazier at night, Ill be catching fish on the dark colored flies. This past Spring while I was fishing I had a experience where I only caught 1 walleye and 3 whitebass in 4 hours of fishing. I was about to call it a day but decided to stick around and try night fishing. Suddenly the sun set and for 3 hours straight I was catching whitebass on every cast using purple flies, and green flies. I tried a brighter fly and it didnt get touched. Makes you wonder how they see the dark colored fly in muddy water at night. Also, Ive been told by many people to bait the flies with minnows and have seen this work for some. But personally I have seen no difference in using minnows or not with the streamers. But a little scent and action cant hurt.

Below I attached some photos of flies I tied, and of the 3 way rig with the pencil lead sinker I use when fishing the streamers. Just cast it out, let the rig sink, and jig the rig by snapping the rod upward, and following the rig back down on a tight line. Very similar to using a jig, just a little more aggressive. Its an old school technique but unlike jigging, it doesnt catch on to well with 95% of the guys who are out fishing the rivers for walleyes. Its known as a deadly whitebass technique, but theres days I limit out on walleyes using them. Whitebass though taste absolutely great, and dont let anyone tell you different. If you like walleye or panfish, coldwater whitebass in spring, fall, and winter are great eating. I dont even keep crappies anymore due to the fact they are slightly to soft for me. But I will fill a cooler or basket with whitebass any day I can. This streamer fly technique has helped me bring home many fish frys of whitebass and walleyes.

Good Luck to you!

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[Jaxfishn]

Jason
Great pics of your fall fishing efforts so far this year. Your comment about using streamers on 3-ways is intriguing. Got any photos of the streamers? I'd like to get some idea of sizes and colors that you like. I'm sure all kinds of color combos will work at times, but what I'm after is whether they are primarily light or dark, about how big? I'd like to try them up on the Wisconsin River.

[gilliganusmc]

Was on the root yesterday in Horlick park. Lots of browns coming up the river. Landed two. 8 1/2lbs the biggest. A black egg sucking leech wooly bugger worked best for me