6-29-2014 Sun 130PM-9PM myself and Scott
Weather: (1755) S9, light rain with storms in area, 73˚
Water: stained but clear, 74˚
Where: Potters Flowage, Black River Falls, WI
Caught: Me: 1 LMB 12", 1 Musky 25", Scott: 2 LMB 14"
Comments:
It was an exploratory trip to Potters Flowage in Jackson County. This body of water is stocked with muskies, plus it also has some LMB. From the results of our fishing I would almost have to say it is easier to catch muskies than Large Mouth bass. I threw everything and anything at the bass and only caught one. Scott was able to catch two and both his and my fish came off Senko type worms.
I did catch the only musky of the day and that was caught on a yellow and orange buck tail. I also lost a pretty decent size one on the same bait. It is probably a good thing the big musky got off, because I had forgotten to bring a net. Scott had no musky action at all.
Observations:
This is nice remote body of water with lots of structure. The largemouth bass are very hard to come by, but they muskies seem to be abundant. We saw four other boats musky fishing, so I think the lake gets lots of musky fishing pressure.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
6-25-14 Wed
6-25-2014 Wed 6PM-830M myself
Weather: (1853) NW10, clear, 79˚, 29.88 rising
Water: 12.23 rising, 138 kcfs, 76˚, clear to dirty with lots of floating debris
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: 1 pike 22", 1 LMB 14"
Comments:
It is very hard to get motivated and go out and fish the river during these high water conditions, but I cannot go to long without fishing so I just had to get out. With the conditions as they were I figured if I caught a fish it would be a bonus, I actually had two bonuses.
I started out fishing the lower stretches of the Black River near Hammond Chute and had absolutely no luck there. the last area I fished was Lake O and I caught a pike at Ashley Point and a bass on the norther most island. Both fish were caught on a buzz bait.
Observations:
The water is very high and getting higher and my dock is totally submerged. There are quite a few big bunches of cattails floating around on the lake; they look like tiny islands and are about the size of large bathtubs.
Weather: (1853) NW10, clear, 79˚, 29.88 rising
Water: 12.23 rising, 138 kcfs, 76˚, clear to dirty with lots of floating debris
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: 1 pike 22", 1 LMB 14"
Comments:
It is very hard to get motivated and go out and fish the river during these high water conditions, but I cannot go to long without fishing so I just had to get out. With the conditions as they were I figured if I caught a fish it would be a bonus, I actually had two bonuses.
I started out fishing the lower stretches of the Black River near Hammond Chute and had absolutely no luck there. the last area I fished was Lake O and I caught a pike at Ashley Point and a bass on the norther most island. Both fish were caught on a buzz bait.
Observations:
The water is very high and getting higher and my dock is totally submerged. There are quite a few big bunches of cattails floating around on the lake; they look like tiny islands and are about the size of large bathtubs.
Monday, June 23, 2014
6-21-14 Sat.
6-21-2014 Sat. 1PM-130AM myself, Pete and Todd
Weather: (2353) calm, clear, 66˚, 29.90 steady
Water: 11.4 rising, 120 kcfs, 76˚, dirty with lots of floating debris
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8
Caught: All: bait, Pete: 2 lb. channel cat
Comments:
It was the second day of flat head fishing with Pete and Todd and my confidence level was very low. Today I was changing it up a bit by fishing the La Crosse area and pool eight.
I had brought some bait casters along so we could start out fishing bass and pike. We started out fishing Lawrence Lake, mainly because I thought the water would be a little cleaner down there. The water was cleaner but the fish did not cooperate.
we then headed north and caught our bait for the evening in Dresbach Bay. The bluegill fishing was pretty good there, but the bait was much bigger than I like to have for this early in the year.
After catching an ample supply of bait we docked at one of the bars on French Island so we could quench our thirst and fill our bellies.
We fished till 1:30AM again, but this time we had nothing to show for our efforts. We never even had a bite!
Observations:
The water is very high, dirty and fast and there was an enormous amount of weeds and debris fouling our lines.
Weather: (2353) calm, clear, 66˚, 29.90 steady
Water: 11.4 rising, 120 kcfs, 76˚, dirty with lots of floating debris
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8
Caught: All: bait, Pete: 2 lb. channel cat
Comments:
It was the second day of flat head fishing with Pete and Todd and my confidence level was very low. Today I was changing it up a bit by fishing the La Crosse area and pool eight.
I had brought some bait casters along so we could start out fishing bass and pike. We started out fishing Lawrence Lake, mainly because I thought the water would be a little cleaner down there. The water was cleaner but the fish did not cooperate.
we then headed north and caught our bait for the evening in Dresbach Bay. The bluegill fishing was pretty good there, but the bait was much bigger than I like to have for this early in the year.
After catching an ample supply of bait we docked at one of the bars on French Island so we could quench our thirst and fill our bellies.
We fished till 1:30AM again, but this time we had nothing to show for our efforts. We never even had a bite!
Observations:
The water is very high, dirty and fast and there was an enormous amount of weeds and debris fouling our lines.
6-20-14 Fri.
6-20-2014 Fri. 7-130AM myself, Pete and Todd
Weather: (2353) SE5, clear, 73˚, 29.89 falling
Water: 10.9 rising, 110 kcfs, 76˚, muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: All: bait, Pete: 15 lb. flat head
Comments:
I had a couple friends from the Baldwin area down for the weekend flat head fishing. We have always talked about them coming down to fish but this was the first time that we were to do it. Our original plans were for them to come down in July, but because they are big bear hunters and they hunt bear every year, June just was a better choice. However, it sure was not the best choice for fishing flats. With the water being extremely high, I knew it wold be tough.
Our first spot was the best and only spot that we had any action at. Pete caught the one 15 pound flat and Todd missed one. Our two spots after that were a total bust.
When we got back to the landing Scott was waiting for us. He had also been out fishing with a buddy and they got three, but he was not there to tell us that. Someone had ran into the fender on his trailer and bent the bracket into the tire, and he was unable to move the trailer on account of this. Luckily Pete was along and with his ingenuity he was able to rectify the situation.
Observations:
The water is still rising and very muddy. All our bait came from along the railroad tracks just downstream from the airport lights.
Weather: (2353) SE5, clear, 73˚, 29.89 falling
Water: 10.9 rising, 110 kcfs, 76˚, muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: All: bait, Pete: 15 lb. flat head
Comments:
I had a couple friends from the Baldwin area down for the weekend flat head fishing. We have always talked about them coming down to fish but this was the first time that we were to do it. Our original plans were for them to come down in July, but because they are big bear hunters and they hunt bear every year, June just was a better choice. However, it sure was not the best choice for fishing flats. With the water being extremely high, I knew it wold be tough.
Our first spot was the best and only spot that we had any action at. Pete caught the one 15 pound flat and Todd missed one. Our two spots after that were a total bust.
When we got back to the landing Scott was waiting for us. He had also been out fishing with a buddy and they got three, but he was not there to tell us that. Someone had ran into the fender on his trailer and bent the bracket into the tire, and he was unable to move the trailer on account of this. Luckily Pete was along and with his ingenuity he was able to rectify the situation.
Observations:
The water is still rising and very muddy. All our bait came from along the railroad tracks just downstream from the airport lights.
6-19-14 Thr
6-19-2014 Thr. 8-11PM myself
Weather: (2253) SE5, mostly cloudy, 69˚, 29.96 steady
Water: 10.48 rising, 102 kcfs, 76˚, muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: Nothing
Comments:
I was out on a pre scouting trip for the upcoming weekend, and I was disappointed with the results. I never caught a channel cat or a flat head and I only had one bite.
Observations:
The water is on the rise and very muddy.
Weather: (2253) SE5, mostly cloudy, 69˚, 29.96 steady
Water: 10.48 rising, 102 kcfs, 76˚, muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: Nothing
Comments:
I was out on a pre scouting trip for the upcoming weekend, and I was disappointed with the results. I never caught a channel cat or a flat head and I only had one bite.
Observations:
The water is on the rise and very muddy.
6-17-14 Tues
6-17-2014 Tues. 7-1130PM myself & Scott
Weather: (2253) E6, a few clouds, 76˚, 29.82 falling, storms in area
Water: 9.85 rising, 92.1 kcfs, 73˚, getting muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: Me: 1-8lb. flat head, 1-8lb. snapping turtle, bait
Scott: 2 flat heads 8 & 42 lbs., bait
Comments:
It was definitely a Scott night. He was able to catch his personal best tonight; a forty-two pound giant.
We fished multiple spots tonight and caught fish at each one. Unfortunately the river is on the rise on account of all the precipitation the water shed has received the last week or so.
Observations:
None
Weather: (2253) E6, a few clouds, 76˚, 29.82 falling, storms in area
Water: 9.85 rising, 92.1 kcfs, 73˚, getting muddy
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7
Caught: Me: 1-8lb. flat head, 1-8lb. snapping turtle, bait
Scott: 2 flat heads 8 & 42 lbs., bait
Comments:
It was definitely a Scott night. He was able to catch his personal best tonight; a forty-two pound giant.
We fished multiple spots tonight and caught fish at each one. Unfortunately the river is on the rise on account of all the precipitation the water shed has received the last week or so.
Observations:
None
6-16-14 Mon
6-16-2014 Mon. 7-8PM myself
Weather: (1953) E7, cloudy (storms close by), 81˚, 29.75 falling
Water: 9.69 rising, 89.7 kcfs, 73˚, clear
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 Lake Onaslaska
Caught: Approximately 15 bluegills and 2 rock bass
Comments:
It was a quick panfishing trip out to the man made islands on the lake. I did have pretty good success on the front side of the north island.
Observations:
None
Weather: (1953) E7, cloudy (storms close by), 81˚, 29.75 falling
Water: 9.69 rising, 89.7 kcfs, 73˚, clear
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 Lake Onaslaska
Caught: Approximately 15 bluegills and 2 rock bass
Comments:
It was a quick panfishing trip out to the man made islands on the lake. I did have pretty good success on the front side of the north island.
Observations:
None
Saturday, June 14, 2014
6-13-14 Fri.
6-13-2014 Fri. 730PM-1130PM myself and Scott
Weather: (2053) SE5, clear, 67˚, 29.95 rising
Water: 72˚, clear, Black: 4.08 falling, 1.54kcfs Miss.: 10.35 falling, 100 kcfs
Caught: Me: 1 flat 8 lb., Scott: 1 channel 8 lb.
Comments:
Tonight's success was somewhat limited. We had quite a few mediocre bites, but only connected on two fish.
Observations:
The Mississippi River has backed the Black River up and consequently there is not much flow in the Black. There was a lot of surface chasing going on up the Black tonight.
Weather: (2053) SE5, clear, 67˚, 29.95 rising
Water: 72˚, clear, Black: 4.08 falling, 1.54kcfs Miss.: 10.35 falling, 100 kcfs
Caught: Me: 1 flat 8 lb., Scott: 1 channel 8 lb.
Comments:
Tonight's success was somewhat limited. We had quite a few mediocre bites, but only connected on two fish.
Observations:
The Mississippi River has backed the Black River up and consequently there is not much flow in the Black. There was a lot of surface chasing going on up the Black tonight.
6-12-14 Thr.
6-12-2014 Thr. 4PM-730PM myself
Weather: (1653) W18 G23, overcast, 70˚, 29.85 rising
Water: 10.4 rising, 72˚, clear off of Black but dirty otherwise, 101 kcfs
Caught: Approx. 12 LMB 10-18", 2 pike 20 & 22"
Comments:
It was a thursday. It was very windy and hard to fish, but there were not many people out, so it was very relaxing. Fishing was very tuff, but I did alright fishing the lower deltas of the Black.
Observations:
The Black is full of minnows right now, and I suspect they are pike fry.
Weather: (1653) W18 G23, overcast, 70˚, 29.85 rising
Water: 10.4 rising, 72˚, clear off of Black but dirty otherwise, 101 kcfs
Caught: Approx. 12 LMB 10-18", 2 pike 20 & 22"
Comments:
It was a thursday. It was very windy and hard to fish, but there were not many people out, so it was very relaxing. Fishing was very tuff, but I did alright fishing the lower deltas of the Black.
Observations:
The Black is full of minnows right now, and I suspect they are pike fry.
6-11-14 Wed
6-11-2014 Wed. 7PM-11PM myself & Troy
Weather: (2053) SE5, clear, 73˚, 29.72 falling, moonrise 8PM
Water: 10.34 rising, 72˚, clear, 100 kcfs
Caught: me: 1 flat head 25 lbs, 2 channel cats 6-8 lbs
Troy: 1 flat head 12 lbs
Comments:
I have not fished with Troy for awhile and it was good to get out with him again. The fishing was pretty good, and we had consistent action. We were fishing up the Black River a little ways.
Observations:
The water is still very high, but a least in the back slough areas the water is still very clear. There is a lot of wild rice laying on the surface, but none of it has stood up yet.
Weather: (2053) SE5, clear, 73˚, 29.72 falling, moonrise 8PM
Water: 10.34 rising, 72˚, clear, 100 kcfs
Caught: me: 1 flat head 25 lbs, 2 channel cats 6-8 lbs
Troy: 1 flat head 12 lbs
Comments:
I have not fished with Troy for awhile and it was good to get out with him again. The fishing was pretty good, and we had consistent action. We were fishing up the Black River a little ways.
Observations:
The water is still very high, but a least in the back slough areas the water is still very clear. There is a lot of wild rice laying on the surface, but none of it has stood up yet.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
6-9-2014 Mon.
6-9-2014 Mon. 7PM-830PM myself
Weather: (1953) E3, clear, 72˚, 29.94 steady
Water: 10.21 rising, 74 ˚, semi-clear, 97.5 kcfs
Caught: Approximately 25 bluegills 4-7.5”
Comments:
I plan to do some catfishing in the next two weeks, so I needed to get out and see if I could find some bluegills. The water is quite high and fairly dirty, so I was not overly optimistic. I did not find a large concentration of gills, but overall I did find a fair number. The average size was about six inches and most had not yet spawned. I fished the man-made islands and did the best on the rock face of the northern most one.
Observations:
The black flies were bad tonight and of course so were the mosquitoes. The irises are in full bloom along with the peonies and the wild rice is now lying on top of the surface.
Weather: (1953) E3, clear, 72˚, 29.94 steady
Water: 10.21 rising, 74 ˚, semi-clear, 97.5 kcfs
Caught: Approximately 25 bluegills 4-7.5”
Comments:
I plan to do some catfishing in the next two weeks, so I needed to get out and see if I could find some bluegills. The water is quite high and fairly dirty, so I was not overly optimistic. I did not find a large concentration of gills, but overall I did find a fair number. The average size was about six inches and most had not yet spawned. I fished the man-made islands and did the best on the rock face of the northern most one.
Observations:
The black flies were bad tonight and of course so were the mosquitoes. The irises are in full bloom along with the peonies and the wild rice is now lying on top of the surface.
Monday, June 9, 2014
6-6&7-2014 Fri/Sat
6-6-2014 Fri. 11AM-830PM myself & Scott St Louis River6-7-2014 Sat 1PM-8:30PM myself & Scott, St Croix Flowage and Bear Lake
Weather: 6-6(1355) Duluth W12, sunny, 79˚, 29.90 rising
6-7(1330)Danbury NE8, overcast, 55 ˚, 30.02 rising (it rained all night and most of the morning).
Water: St Louis R, 72-74 ˚, dirty and high
St Croix Flowage clear, very weedy, 68 ˚
Bear stained, high, 66 ˚
Caught: St. Louis: 1-41.5” musky, 3 small pike
St Croix Flowage: lots of small pike with one 28” and some decent largemouth bass
Bear Lake: 1-42” musky, several small pike
Comments:
It was my annual spring fishing trip up to the cabin. Unfortunately we did not hit the small mouths up in Ashland, but instead concentrated on musky fishing. Friday we spent the day up in Duluth fishing the St Louis River. If it would not have been for Scott catching a musky on his third cast it would have been a bust. The water was very dirty and high and too warm for the pike to be active.
Saturday we fished the St Croix Flowage. I mainly fished for pike while Scott punished himself searching for muskies. We both caught lots of small pike and I also caught some largemouth bass, but no muskies were caught. This was a new body of water for us to fish and it has a ton of weeds almost everywhere.
We finished off Saturday night fishing my favorite musky lake not too far from the cabin. We both caught small pike and I also caught the one decent musky.
I also set out a bear bait behind the barn and had a bear on the camera ten hours later.
Observations:
The area up here had been buried by snow all winter and now this spring it had been drenched by the rains. Unfortunately the road into the cabin is soup and the mosquitoes are absolutely the worst I have ever experienced. The lilacs are blooming up here, and the weed growth in the St Croix flowage is already quite extensive. We saw lots of wildlife this trip and it included: deer, bear, coyote, fox, skunk, porcupine, turkey and an unidentifiable black critter about the size of a medium dog.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
6-1-14 Sun.
6-1-2014 Sun. 615PM-815PM myself
Weather: (1853) S6, scattered rain, 72˚, 29.76 falling
Water: clear, 74 ˚, 8.94 rising, 79.6 kcfs
Caught: 3 pike 20-28”, 5 w bass 14-16”, 3 lmb 13-15”, 2 smb 12-14”
Comments:
Tonight was a fish for whatever bites night. I had seen fish chasing minnows the other night at one particular spot, so that spot was definitely on my radar. I started out fishing for bass and pike and had limited success. I then tried for some walleyes and had no success with them.
Finally, I settled in to a white bass on top water action spot, which resulted in some pretty fun action. You just cannot beat fishing for white bass using top water baits.
Observations:
The river has stopped receding and is heading back up. The locust trees are now blooming.
Weather: (1853) S6, scattered rain, 72˚, 29.76 falling
Water: clear, 74 ˚, 8.94 rising, 79.6 kcfs
Caught: 3 pike 20-28”, 5 w bass 14-16”, 3 lmb 13-15”, 2 smb 12-14”
Comments:
Tonight was a fish for whatever bites night. I had seen fish chasing minnows the other night at one particular spot, so that spot was definitely on my radar. I started out fishing for bass and pike and had limited success. I then tried for some walleyes and had no success with them.
Finally, I settled in to a white bass on top water action spot, which resulted in some pretty fun action. You just cannot beat fishing for white bass using top water baits.
Observations:
The river has stopped receding and is heading back up. The locust trees are now blooming.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
5-30-14 Fri
5-30-2014 Fri. 7PM-11PM myself
Weather: (1955) SE5, clear, 79˚, 30.07 rising
Water: clear, 74-82 ˚, 9.46 falling, 85.2 kcfs/Black R. 5.79 falling, 3.2 kcfs, clear
Caught: Bait: some very nice bluegills, no flats or cats
Comments:
I was flying solo on the catfish tonight. I started out trying to catch bait on the south end of the channel, but that was a dead end. I then made my way out to the man-made islands, and my fortunes increased. There were lots of big bluegills out there and they were into the spawn. Catfishing was very uneventful, I had one bite and that was it.
Observations:
The mosquitoes were absolutely and totally horrendous! The purple flowers over the dog’s graves are blooming along with the irises. My red but tree did not have much for blooms this year and now it is beginning to leaf out.
Weather: (1955) SE5, clear, 79˚, 30.07 rising
Water: clear, 74-82 ˚, 9.46 falling, 85.2 kcfs/Black R. 5.79 falling, 3.2 kcfs, clear
Caught: Bait: some very nice bluegills, no flats or cats
Comments:
I was flying solo on the catfish tonight. I started out trying to catch bait on the south end of the channel, but that was a dead end. I then made my way out to the man-made islands, and my fortunes increased. There were lots of big bluegills out there and they were into the spawn. Catfishing was very uneventful, I had one bite and that was it.
Observations:
The mosquitoes were absolutely and totally horrendous! The purple flowers over the dog’s graves are blooming along with the irises. My red but tree did not have much for blooms this year and now it is beginning to leaf out.
5-28-14 Wed
5-28-2014 Sun 8:30AM-5:30PM myself
Weather: (1253) NW6, clear, 67˚, 30.07 rising
Water: 10.99 falling, 76.7 kcfs, 72 ˚, clear but got very muddy
Caught: 12 pike 12-36”, 16 LMB 14-16”, 1 walleye 15”
Comments:
Since I had such good luck up the river last Sunday, I was hoping for a repeat. Of course it did not happen, but I still did catch plenty of fish.
I did have an interesting moment with the largest pike of the day. When I picked the fish up and slid my fingers under its gill plate, I hooked myself on the lure that was in the fish’s mouth. I was pretty nervous until I was able to free my finger from the grip of the lure. That fish was rather large and powerful and if it would have started to thrash, I would have been in big time trouble. I somehow did manage to free my finger, remove the hook and release the fish and escape with only a couple small punctures to my finger.
Observations:
There is still not too much for aquatic vegetation up here, but the water has been so high for so long that I think it has slowed the growth of the plants.
Weather: (1253) NW6, clear, 67˚, 30.07 rising
Water: 10.99 falling, 76.7 kcfs, 72 ˚, clear but got very muddy
Caught: 12 pike 12-36”, 16 LMB 14-16”, 1 walleye 15”
Comments:
Since I had such good luck up the river last Sunday, I was hoping for a repeat. Of course it did not happen, but I still did catch plenty of fish.
I did have an interesting moment with the largest pike of the day. When I picked the fish up and slid my fingers under its gill plate, I hooked myself on the lure that was in the fish’s mouth. I was pretty nervous until I was able to free my finger from the grip of the lure. That fish was rather large and powerful and if it would have started to thrash, I would have been in big time trouble. I somehow did manage to free my finger, remove the hook and release the fish and escape with only a couple small punctures to my finger.
Observations:
There is still not too much for aquatic vegetation up here, but the water has been so high for so long that I think it has slowed the growth of the plants.
5-26-14 Mon
5-26-2014 Mon. 6PM-11PM myself
Weather: (2053) S13, mostly cloudy, 80˚, 29.86 steady, storms in area
Water: clear, 72 ˚, 10.86 falling, 107 kcfs/Black R. clear, 6’ falling, 3.53 kcfs
Caught: 4 channel cats 4-10 lbs. 1-10 lb. flat head
Comments:
I did not have much ambition today, so I pretty much did nothing around the house. This evening however the conditions looked and felt right for a good night to get out and try catfishing for the first time this season. The bite was surprisingly good, I actually ran out of bait before I was ready to quit.
Observations:
The weather has definitely turned summer like, but the water is still quit high.
Weather: (2053) S13, mostly cloudy, 80˚, 29.86 steady, storms in area
Water: clear, 72 ˚, 10.86 falling, 107 kcfs/Black R. clear, 6’ falling, 3.53 kcfs
Caught: 4 channel cats 4-10 lbs. 1-10 lb. flat head
Comments:
I did not have much ambition today, so I pretty much did nothing around the house. This evening however the conditions looked and felt right for a good night to get out and try catfishing for the first time this season. The bite was surprisingly good, I actually ran out of bait before I was ready to quit.
Observations:
The weather has definitely turned summer like, but the water is still quit high.
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