silvercliff_46

I don't much think about soft water fishing until March. The wife and I start going through the catalogs to see what we can afford to get for the up coming season. By the time we order and get the stuff it's mid April and usually the lakes open the third week or so of April. General fishing opens the first weekend in May, but bass doesn't open until the third week in June where we live. The end of April, first part of May, we do most of our pan fishing. After the opener we fish for trout until bass opens, then go after them. Right now I have been too busy blowing snow out of the drive to even fish through a hole. We have had fish-able ice since just before Thanksgiving.

Keep breathing for 5 more months until the ice goes off the lakes then another month until the season opens the third week in June. Yeah ! I know

I live pretty close to Cauldron Falls and High Falls, in Marinette county. I like to fish High Falls early in the year and in the fall after the nut cases leave. I have a 17 foot bass boat with a 115 hp motor, that can feel like a dugout canoe surrounded by PT Boats in summer on High Falls. Cauldron Falls sucks FOR ME! It's around a 1400 acre flowage (reservoir) and I don't have much experience on reservoirs. For thirty years I fished Shawano lake. It's a six thousand acre natural lake. I fished reeds, weeds and docks and caught enough to satisfy my wants and needs. If I wanted something different I fished (and still do!) the small lakes of the Nicolet national forest that range from 10 to 100 acres. Many of them are carry in launch (the only carry in I do now days is from the carry out.) and my little 12 ft. canoe does just fine. The only electronics I have when I fish these tiny waters, is my insulin pump.., maybe a thermometer in spring. My competition is loons, bears, herons, mink, and the occasional otter. Most of these little gems don't have a house or cabin on them. I catch the majority of my bass in the fallen timber along the shore line. I must say also; bass are at not the top of the food chain in my lakes. Wolf packs of Northern and alligator mouth musky seem to force them to cover. The closest thing to what happened the other day, is usually caused by a large May fly hatch, especially the Big Brown drake and Hexagenia hatch. There is a difference though, because everything goes nuts. I've caught everything from bluegills to bass, notherns, walleye, even bullheads at the same time and all on the same kind of fly. Nose breathing is a must when fishing in a hatch that looks like a snow storm, or you'll find out the flavor of the day. Personally I think it must be an acquired taste, as it doesn't do that much for me. Heck maybe I shouldn't even analyze why I had a morning like that, maybe God gave me one, "just cuz". I hope it's a preview of what's to come in his forest.

I went fishing Monday, on a small 80 acre natural lake in N.E. Wisconsin. The weather was almost perfect. There was hardly a wind. It was a cool start in the morning with a fairly thick ground (water?) fog that rose about 4 feet over the water, even so the blue clear sky promised a warm day. The weed growth was heavy. We haven't had much rain up here so the water was gin clear. I started by throwing a spinner bait along the edges of the pads. Here and there I snagged a snake northern. I switched to a Jaw-Breaker spoon and worked the heavy stuff, nothing. I went to the bank pitching, flipping and skipping both a 4 1/2 inch tube (green) and a six inch black flat-tail worm. I nailed a few small large mouth but no great shakes. Now this is where it gets good. There is a small island on the lake. Just off one edge, there is a pretty good expanse of pond weed (the good pond weed) which drops into about ten feet of water. Just so you know the deepest part of the lake is about 15 feet. I ruminated on what to do, and figured "Heck bass ain't nothin' but big bluegills, so fish them like it." In summer I use a beetle spin for big gills. I cast it out let it sink then flutter (lift, drop, reel, repeat) it back. So back to the spinner bait. I cast out let it sink to the bottom, rest a second then used the old "flutter"....BAM! a nice 15 inch-er hit it. I wanted to say slammed it, but it felt more like a walleye take, kind of a bump. After we made our peace, I thanked him and shot another cast out. Another one ! This one a bit bigger then the last. Another salutation to the bass and another cast, and.., another replay!!!! This went on over the course of another hour, and I got maybe 20 bass from 13 to 17 inches. WHAT A GAS! I did target the spot because I saw a couple of loons doing well getting their morning breakfast, and some telltale rings of gills slurping on last nights leftover blue-wing olive hatch. I figured the bass might be under the gills. I heard you Southern guys talk about fishing schooling bass, but I never experienced it on our little natural lakes in the north country, not like this anyway. SO wadda ya think? a fluke or what?

After over 50 years of fly fishing I have to say I have figured the info offered out. I am just trying to describe a fly that I have filed in my fly fishing information cabinet, but can't recall at this time. You see if you've been around long enough, you acquire a lot of info to sift through. That being said thanks for your effort. Yup speedbead your right, when in doubt tie on an Adams.

It's not tied that way, it is that way. When it comes off the stream it is slow rises on about a 45 degree angle, is slow flying, bushy, drops like a rock then lifts off again. I will look through my books when I get a chance and come back with it if someone doesn't come up with it. By the way----- THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Not familiar with that one. This one has a pretty common name. Once found you and I will say "Oh Yah!, that one" It's just I can't remember the name and am trying to take the easy way out without searching for it. :-[ It maybe the Ephamiliar Whatthehellzat fly :-/

JHoffman Those are to nice to fish with. Nice job! Do me a favor check out my thread on "What the heck is that fly's name" As far as spin lures/baits, straight line spinners. Live bait = worms, minnows, leech's, crickets, corn.

I'm looking for the name of the fly that has the double wings that show in flight. It's a bushy mayfly/caddis/?, kind of tan/brown in color, 12-14 in size. I'm in N.E. Wisconsin and we are having a real late spring. Lows have been in the twenties. Highs hit 60 when we are lucky. All my streams and rivers are free stoners (for the sake of you Californians It is NOT what you think it is ). I have this fly described in one of my half a dozen fly books, but if someone knew of it off hand, it will save me quite a search.

I have great trout, walleye, musky, bass, pike (you name it) fishing around me. The season is wonderful, but way to short. Ice fishing on the other hand has less attraction every year another birthday passes. I guess it's like having one ugly fat girl in camp with a hundred guys. Even she looks good sometimes, and your glad to dance with her when your turn comes. :-[

The weather lady said it is possible that we could get 6-12 " of snow over the weekend. Our fishing season opens the first weekend in May (Bass won't open until the middle of June where I live) I have to say it's nothing new under the sun. A couple of years ago me and the wife kept our trout fresh by putting snow in our creels through the first two weeks in May. and speaking of Globa Warming ;D

It's all in the meds......, yup all in the meds. "What's in the meds"...., "What?"..., "The meds, you said it's all in the meds!",...., "I said "What's in the meds????" " OH! ..., NEVER MIND !"

I know what you mean, but sometimes a man's got to do what a man's got to do. The weather guys are calling for snow over the weekend, but if it does stick, it won't be around long. ;D Either way fishing by Monday morning. I like being retired.

The snow is almost gone, the lakes are ready to open up. I'm in the process of smoozing the wife into letting me get some new fishing stuff..........,and my Mother board decides it lived long enough and commits suicide. Oh Well!!! I guess that's life, maybe I'll get that new rod next year. Anyway it's good to be back.

I'm going to give Rogers a chance. I can remember a scrawny kid completing his first pass at Lambeau field. It was Brett Favre to Brett Favre, (No I didn't misspell his name Favre is the way it is spelled, but he pronounces it FaRve ? When you play like him you can call yourself what you want.) and the interceptions. I thought "where did this guy come from and when are we going to send him back". He grew.....boy did he grow, until we have the legend we have today. Brett was MORE then a football players though, he was a man, and one of the best examples of a man since the "Duke" (John Wayne). The thing was, Brett, was real. He puked blood, and kept playing, he got hooked on pain killers, admitted it, then played even better. His Dad died, and he played his best game ever, his wife got cancer, and he broke almost every record there was. He's a Hall Of Fame'r, but above that, what a man should aspire to be. Thanks for everything Brett.

Hey ! don't go by me. I'll bet there are a lot of guys that eat them. Most of the clams eaten around here is done by the otters. I have had them deep fried at the Red Lobster in Green Bay though. They weren't bad.

Thank You Catt These were copied and saved to Master Cook 9 (as were the others) I am looking forward to giving both a try.

Looks like we got a good collection started. I really like the ones that go in the oven or on the grill for a change of pace. One thing I have done with left-over fish is to make fish taco's. I make them up like regular taco's with the salsa or make a sauce with mayo, sour cream, a touch of lemon or lime juice and some dill. I put them in a big soft shell taco and fold them on the top and bottom, roll them up and pop them in the cooler for a bite when I am in the boat. Don't let the fish see you with them or they will know the jig is up.

Addendum: You forgot the slaw, rye bread and a couple of ice cold_____ depending on your convictions you fill in the blank.

NOW THAT AIN'T FAIR !!! I got a stream full of trout that I can't touch until the first week-end in May, and you post that recipe..., pictures and all. Lead me not in to temptation, but deliver me from evil :-[

redbone alley "roasted garlic aioli" is that available at the grocery store. I only eat "Brooke's" from the creek that runs through my land. My favorite is "Fin and Field" consists of the orange belly Brook trout and the free range organic venison that use my property too. I tell them trespassers will be shot!, but they don't listen. :

Now I understand that none of us would ever keep any type of fish ever. We all practice catch and release religiously. However ! on those occasions when a bass, crappie, or other finned critter makes a leap from the water, wrests your fillet knife away and says "Good Buy Cruel World". We are left with the disposal of the body. :'( It has been my usual pattern to anoint the victim in butter milk followed by seasoned flour, then sauteed' in hot oil. This does get old after awhile, and I was wondering if you had any other ways of eulogizing our scaly friends before disposing of the body. So ya got any good fish recipes ! :-?

I did say in the posting that I was thinking bait casting, but am open to spinning. What ever gives the best bang for the buck.

Basically I am looking for a combo around $100 bucks. Yeah! I know the old arguments about buy the best quality you can afford. The thing is, that is!, about the best I can afford, and less would be better. I happen to be retired, and I would bet there are a lot of folks on the board that have kids, bills and wives that are limiting factors to what they can spend. In addition to that, I started with a couple of stainless steel rods, with direct drive bait casters (Shakespeare Maroff and Pflueger Akron I still got them) So any composite rod, and any free spool bait caster is awesome in comparison. I fish mostly slop and wood for bass. I am thinking bait caster, but am open to spinning gear. Currently I use a couple of Ambassador 5500's on Lacrosse graphite rods and a couple of Shimano spinning reels on Fish Eagle II rods. I don't know of a more qualified group of folks to recommend fishing gear......, so lets hear it.

Thanks I'll check out the on-line store