Lake DuBay, Wisconsin, Marathon County, Fishing Reports and Conditions

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

With a variety of species to choose from, the North-Central Wisconsin area is one of the finest fishing destinations in the Midwest! Some nice panfish, including slab crappies and jumbo bluegills, are finding their way into local livewells. Minnows, small leeches, and night crawlers are all working, as are small jig and rubber combinations. Look for areas containing blow-downs or stumps and work the wood thoroughly, even during mid-day hours. For the fly fisherman, morning and evening are producing nice catches using small poppers or dry flies. The Smallmouth Bass bite continues to roll on. Early and late have been best compared to the heat of the day, but these time frames are seeing terrific action from solid fish, some into the 20" range. Jig and twister combinations, lipless crankbaits, and surface baits are all working well. As the sun climbs, try working docks, log-jams, and other shady areas with a small flipping jig or Texas-rigged worm for continued action. Walleyes are still on the prowl with legal sized walleyes including "slot fish" (20"-28") continue to show up in the bottom of our Frabill nets. Jigging has been an effective method for staying on active fish, and the trolling bite has also been good as fish scatter over the flats in search of food. Slip bobber’s rigs with weedless jigs tipped with live bait will provide all-day action when worked in heavy wood cover. This is a great way to pick up bonus smallmouth and crappies as well. The Musky fishing has also been good during low light periods, at least when fishing your more 'typical' structure. “Burning” bucktails and erratically twitching both jerkbaits and twitch baits is producing on both pike and muskies. As the heat of the day approaches, muskies and some nice bonus pike are being taken out suspended once the weed/wood bite appears to die down. With the continued warm weather and ever-increasing surface temperatures, use extreme caution when landing and releasing these predators. The high temps place a great deal of stress on them and handling needs to be kept to an absolute minimum.
Joel DeBoer <joelthemuskyman@charter.net>
- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 14:00:10 (CDT)

Hot summer temperatures have arrived, and with them the exceptional fishing the greater Wausau area has to offer. A host of species are active right now with something for everyone available! Downed timber has been a magnet for panfish as of late. Work the wood with small slip bobbers and jigs tipped with live bait; both bluegills and crappies have been present. A much overlooked crappie bite also is occurring as schools of slabs roam the deeper flats and sections of channel. Use quality electronics to mark school of fish and capitalize by working the area thoroughly with slip bobbers and minnows. Small countdown style crankbaits with shiny finishes also work well for fan casting areas and finding active fish. A relative newcomer to the North-Central Wisconsin area, white bass are becoming plentiful and providing good action. Look for schools of whites breaking surface as they push minnows up to shore. In-line spinners, small crankbaits, and popper-style surface baits will all produce fish. Musky activity continues to provide anglers with heart-pounding excitement. With surface temperatures well into the seventy degree range and the weed beds in full bloom, the surface bait bite has been excellent. Big muskies continue to be up shallow, in as little as only two or three feet of water, even during mid-day. Both prop style baits and walk-the-dog lures are producing action. Areas of downed timber are also holding numbers of fish and should be worked thoroughly with both surface lures and musky-sized spinnerbaits. Bass of both species are currently active, with a good largemouth bite to be found while fishing heavy “slop”. One of the best times for fishing the slop is during mid-day hours when the sun is at its highest. Large Texas-rigged presentations as well as weedless surface baits are producing good catches of fish. The smallmouth bass bite on top has also been very good, with areas of boulders and rocks or shallow timber adjacent to current holding plenty of smallies. During mid-day hours work these same areas with an in-line spinner or spinnerbait with some fine bronzeback action. Anglers looking to score with the resident walleye population should begin by working the channel edges with live bait rigs or jig and minnow combinations. Areas containing structure in addition to the breaklines have been holding the most fish. Trolling has been very productive for walleyes and also taking good catches of bonus crappies with them. A variety of crankbaits will produce action and anglers should use their electronics to help determine if the fish are tight on bottom or suspended. For those looking to try a new and exciting outdoor adventure, bow fishing at night in the Wausau area has been phenomenal. Good numbers of carp in the twenty pound range are available nightly, and larger specimens over the thirty pound mark are present as well. http://www.wisconsinanglingadventures.com
Joel DeBoer <joelthemuskyman@charter.net>
- Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 14:39:06 (CDT)

Musky season opened for Wisconsin waters North of Highway 10, including the Wausau area, and thus far the fish have been consistently active. The best action has come from shallower water containing weeds or wood in close proximity to the shoreline. Points, especially those extending further out into the lake or river and adjacent to shallow bays and backwaters are also holding fish. The best producing lures have been on the smaller side, with in-line spinners such as the Mepps Musky Killer an excellent choice for fishing over and around heavy cover. Downsized rubber style baits such as Suzy Suckers and Killer Eels have also been working well. Fish these lures along the emerging weed lines or adjacent to shallow wood. The walleye fishing has been excellent with big fish being caught during the daylight hours on a regular basis. Anglers looking to score on marble-eyes should stock an assortment of weedless jigs and probe the plentiful logjams, blow downs, and submerged wood in the area. Jigs have been the most productive when tipped with minnows such as large fatheads, and will also score a variety of bonus fish such as largemouth bass, northern pike, and the occasional musky. The better developed weedbeds will produce walleyes on slip bobbers when fished during early morning or evening as well. Again, rig your presentation with a large fathead and small hook to present as naturally as possible. Smallmouth bass fishermen are experiencing some fine action while working shallower areas containing rocks, gravel, or sand. Search these areas with a lipless style crankbaits such as the Bucher PT Rattler in the 2” or 3” size. For fishing close to stumps or other heavier cover, utilize the weedless abilities of a Mepps Black Fury Combo or a weedless rigged 3” tube. Weedless rigged tubes are dynamite lures for scouring the array of woody structure currently holding smallmouth bass. Fish have been active in as little as a foot of water so be sure to not overlook the “skinniest” areas while attempting to locate these bronze battlers. Although many of the bays and backwaters frequented by the resident populations of bluegills and crappies are becoming heavily vegetated, good numbers of fish remain accessible to anglers. Work small floats rigged with tiny jig and tubes or live bait alongside downed timber. Look for pockets and lanes in the weeds to also offer avenues for scoring on good catches of panfish. For sparser areas, try a tiny Aglia spinner or crankbait as these will often provoke strikes from the largest panfish in the area. 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.
Joel DeBoer <joelthemuskyman@charter.net>
- Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 18:09:51 (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 11:49:14 (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 www.wisconsinanglingadventures.com
Joel DeBoer <joelthemuskyman@charter.net>
- Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 20:25:18 (CST)