Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Wisconsin, Marathon County, Fishing Reports and Conditions

FISHING REPORTS: (for even more information, check out the FORUM page)

My e-mails are always "How's the fishing?", "where should I go?", "what should I use?" and "what species are biting?"

Let's make this short and sweet:

1. This is my favorite time of the year through middle of June

Everything is biting

Use minnows until water temps get well in the 50's, then use BOTH

Fish warmer water

Fish green weed EDGES

Crappies will spawn at around 61 deg, catch males during the spawn and females after

If you catch a loaded female (bass, crappie, bluegill, etc with eggs), throw it back!

Fish low light if in clear water, doesn't matter in dark water

Try the new GULP series of bait, they work!

Put new line on your reel!

We are fishing like it is the beginning of May or late April because of the winter we had

Hire an experienced guide from our website

Have fun

Take a kid, young or old

If you're too busy to fish, you're too busy
Jeff Bolander <jeff@upnorthpublishing.com>
- Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 15:28:56 (CDT)

Opening weekend of fishing season here in Wisconsin found some lakes still locked with ice or with winter-like water temperatures – that was not the case in the greater Wausau area where the ice has been gone now for weeks, and water temperatures are ranging in the mid to upper forty degree range or warmer. After yet another successful walleye spawning season, the marble-eyes of the Wisconsin River and surrounding have begun to depart from their spawning grounds; look for the fish to be more scattered than in weeks past, but certainly catchable. An excellent approach during this transition is to actively search a variety of depths and areas looking for action – “running and gunning”. Once you have located walleyes, fish the surrounding area thoroughly as there will often be numbers of fish working through a spot. Crankbaits or jig and twister tail combinations make for good search lures and have been producing fish for the past few weeks, some of them quite sizeable. One of the many advantages to fishing in the Wausau area is the option of trolling on the Wisconsin River and its flowages – an excellent tactic to use when attempting to locate numbers of walleyes. Many a post-spawn walleye have succumb to trolling presentations in the past week. The Wausau area produces walleyes over 10 pounds each season! A truly under-rated smallmouth bass fishery awaits anglers looking to tie into one of these bronze-backed feisty fighters. Smallmouth bass in Wisconsin typically begin spawning when water temperatures reach 62-64 degrees, although some fish will spawn in cooler water. The smallies have already begun to move from their wintering locations towards spawning grounds, ideally those areas containing a gravel or rock bottom. Locate these areas and being by fishing the deeper water surrounding them during the coolest portions of the day utilizing jig and twister tails, 3” tubes, and suspending style crankbaits. As the water warms, look for fish to begin sliding shallower; terrific presentations for these shallower fish include lipless crankbaits, in-line spinners, and even large fathead minnows suspended below a float. Boasting numbers and trophy-quality fish, the Wisconsin River system is a “must-fish” for anglers looking to capitalize on an exciting angling opportunity for smallmouth bass. Another exciting option for anglers looking to put a bend in their rod right now are northern pike. The Wisconsin River systems as well as the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir are some of the best options for catching a true trophy pike of 40” or more thanks in part to genetics, forage base, and regulations. Some of the largest fish in the systems are currently frequenting the back bays, sloughs, and inlets in the area. Larger suspending-style crankbaits as well as swimbaits and jig-and-creature combinations are scoring daily on these toothy predators. An excellent option to utilize once fish-holding areas have been located is the presentation of jumbo golden shiners or large sucker minnows beneath floats. Not only is this effective during cooler periods of water, but also in higher fishing pressure situations. As with any of the many, many, trophy gamefish in the greater Wausau area, please practice CPR – catch, photo, and release. The early season ice-out found in the Wausau area allows anglers the opportunity at a variety of top-notch fishing experiences this time of year, from crappie to walleye, northern pike to smallmouth bass. Outdoorsmen looking to get into more than just angling action may capitalize on some fantastic bow fishing opportunities as well. Numbers of large carp are frequenting many of the sloughs, backwaters, and bays in the area making for some of the best shooting of the season. Within the past week and a half, there have been evenings where over 500 pounds of carp have been shot from a single boat! Along the lines of hunting, ample turkey hunting exists within Marathon County with an array of quality gobblers already harvested, and countless more available.
Jeff Bolander <jeff@upnorthpublishing.com>
- Monday, May 05, 2008 at 11:49:41 (CDT)

Well folks, here I am back in the Northwoods of Wisconsin a couple of weeks early this year. The record floods in Arkansas sure put a damper on our bite there. Predictions from the Army Corp of Engineers are for water in Greers Ferry not to recede to normal until possibly mid-summer. We traded beautiful weather in the 70s, green grass, leaves on trees, flower, etc, for sub-freezing and snow when we got back to the Northwoods. However, that gave me some time to get lots of chores I've put off for years done around the house before the big game fish Opening Day on May 3rd. Speaking of Opening Day, the colder than normal spring here has delayed ice off on our 3600 lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. In the past couple of days, we have seen ice off on most lakes 300 acres in size or less. There is little hope to see the large lakes like Tomahawk or Trout to be ice free by opening day, though. The good news is we will have plenty of open water to fish this weekend. Walleyes, of course, will be just beginning their spawn, but northerns will be done spawning and very active. With the walleye spawn just beginning, action will be found in shallow water, mainly on rock shore lines or points. Active males will be the main bite for a week or two, but you will score a few spawning females, too. Actually, a week of early ice off or a week of delayed ice off like this year makes very little difference in the bite in my opinion. All opening weekends are about the same year after year. The type of water you pick for the opening week of fishing will be the key on how to score big. Dark water or flowage water will find eyes remaining shallow all day long close to spawning rock areas. If clear water is your choice, look for eyes to be very shallow at night and back off into 15 to 20 feet adjacent to these rock areas during the day. No question that 1/16 oz jigs and fat head minnow combos will produce the bulk of your catch. Leeches will be at a premium this year as ice still covers Minnesota lakes where the bulk of our leeches come from. Anyway minnows will still far out produce leeches until at least mid May, as leeches naturally will not swim freely from the mud until that time. The other method that will produce a lot of fish is casting shallow running crank baits like Rapala Husky Jerks or X Raps in shallow water. Again, your choice of water will be critical in successful use of this method. Dark water will produce night or day, but clear water will only produce at night. For best results on very early season eyes, pick the numbers lakes for action on smaller fish. It's true, big, deep, clear lakes will produce a few trophy females but don't expect a lot of action on those types of lakes until spawning is complete for a week or two. My choice for Opening Week will be area flowages or at least river type water in lakes that are fed by rivers. Of course, flowage landings will be very crowded opening weekend, but those of you who can spend weekdays angling will find plenty of room to do your thing. As usual, you will find very, very little new green weed growth yet. If you do find any green sprouts at all in your favorite water, there is no question you have a hot spot. Sometimes even old weed growth from last year, even if brown cabbage, will hold fish. In lakes without wood or rocks, old weed growth is the only structure forage fish can hide in from predator fish. If walleyes are tough for you opening weekend, target northerns or jumbo perch. Both are done with their spawn and will be hungry and feeding aggressively. Another species to target is crappie. They will be actively feeding in very shallow bays with warmer water than the remainder of the lake. Simple 1/32 oz jigs tipped with small twister tails under a bobber will work very well. These crappies will be in and out of these bays as they will follow perch fry and other minnows that are present in these shallow bays. One day you will enjoy a fast bite, the next you won't have a hit. So move around a lot until you contact a feeding school and you will limit out. After a very long winter for most of you, it's time to get excited and join us in the Northwoods to celebrate another fishing season. Come on, catch the good life with us in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. Good Fishin'
Tommy Zinda <tadpole@g2a.net>
- Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 09:35:03 (CDT)

Yes, there’s plenty of ice on local lakes and reservoirs, and yes, it may be some time until winter finally releases its stranglehold on North-Central Wisconsin. That being said, late February finds me in the grip another stranglehold – cabin fever! Although the ailment is not limited to fishermen, anglers are arguably the most affected of all populations. There is but one cure – springtime; however, there are ways to help alleviate the symptoms of this notorious affliction, one of which is looking ahead to the endless possibilities that exist during the open water season. This week, that’s just what we’ll do… While there are many “perks” to living in our area, one that pushes to the forefront during the waning weeks of winter is old marble-eye itself, the walleye. Unlike most bodies of water in the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River system season remains open for us to take advantage of some fantastic walleye fishing beginning with the late ice period and moving steadily through spring. While many anglers are still waiting the statewide opening weekend in May, scores of walleyes are being caught from local waters, often beginning as early as late February. Recent years have seen an increase in the average size of local walleyes, perhaps due in part to the slot limit enacted by the DNR a few years back. Yearly, we boat very good numbers of “slot” walleyes (walleyes 20”-28”), along with scores of “eaters” and the occasional giant as well. There are literally miles of river and reservoir in our region to explore in search of some fine spring walleye action. Beginning with the late-ice period, another toothy adversary offers some exciting action, northern pike. While often overlooked in our region for the often more glorified musky, walleye, and smallmouth bass, pike can provide some true heart-stopping moments. For a pike angler, our area offers a legitimate shot at a trophy “slimer”. Looking at last year’s records alone, we caught and released an amazing number of fish in the mid to upper thirty inch range, and even managed to break the “magic” forty inch barrier once as well. While many of these fish were “accidental”, caught while fishing for muskies or other species, it was not always the case. Perhaps one of the best times of the season to target these large aggressive pike is during the late-ice period and subsequent early open water period. Late ice pike often succumb to tip up presentations baited with large golden shiners or sucker minnows. Dead bait, such as smelt, also can be deadly when used properly on these late winter behemoths. As the ice melts, look to dark-bottomed back bays and inlet areas, be they rivers or creeks, to hold the largest pike. Live bait presentations work exceptionally well, as do suspending style crankbaits and jerkbaits. The quality of the northern pike fishery here in Marathon County will surprise you, and offer a nice reprieve from a bad case of cabin fever. The possibilities do not end with walleye and northern pike, but merely begin. A myriad of species and angling opportunities exist within the confines of our area – I encourage you to explore the possibilities. As for me, I’ll see you on the water… Tight lines, Joel DeBoer
Joel DeBoer <joelthemuskyman@charter.net>
- Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 20:24:50 (CST)