Field Report: Vilas County Lakes, Vilas County

FISHING WITH THE GUIDES

by George Langley

We have had a significant drop in the water temps, which has brought about turnover on many of our area lakes. While it may seem earlier this year, it is just about the normal time for it. When you consider that our lakes were cooler this year than last, it is just about the right time. This will make fishing lake selection harder for a while. One big difference this year is that some of the big lakes and some smaller lakes "turned" at the same time - the small lakes normally turn over first. We are starting to get some nice fall color at just the right time. Our hunters would all like a hard freeze or two to get those leaves off the trees and improve the sight lines. The early goose season was judged a success by many hunters, and with archery, grouse, fall musky fishing and a few walleye yet to catch there just doesn't seem to be enough time to get done all our annual fall enjoyment.

Walleye fishing has been good - very good. Many of our guides have reported catches of good numbers of fish on a daily basis. The main bite seems to be returning to minnows at just the right time, as leeches have become hard to find. Jigs and fathead minnow have been the bait of choice - and fishing in the deep weeds is the pattern of choice. This means roughly in the 8' range on the Chain, and 12' or so on the clear lakes. There are also some fish in the holes on the Chain, but they seem to be running small.

Musky fishing is really responding to the turnover situation now, with some lakes having "shut down" somewhat with turnover. We have been a little befuddled with the slow sucker fishing so far, but it improves greatly after the turnover and with cooler water temps. The expected warmer weather late this week will not help musky fishing at all. You can fish lakes that are turning - go shallow with bright baits. Even in the green "gunk" of turnover you'll occasionally get nice fish in this shallow water. We have had luck on all baits this last week, but as always it seems to be sporadic. The water temps are down at this point in the low 60's pretty much everywhere.

Bass action will finally slow down with the cooling temps, but you can still get some nice fish. Smallies actually will feed in the weeds and along shorelines at times in the fall. We'll also see some really nice largemouth along those weed areas in the fall. Spinners, shallow running cranks minnow imitations and small jerk baits will work well.

Panfish action remains good. We have been getting some really big perch mixed right in with the walleye along those deep weed edges. Again, as with the walleye, fathead minnows are working best in those deep weeds. Crappies have finally slowed a bit, but some people are still reporting them on the Chain. Bluegills have slowed a little, with some decent fish still in the mid level weeds on waxies and worms being reported.

All in all, we are very weather dependant at this time of year. If it gets cold, the lakes that have turned over will clean up and provide us with great walleye and musky action. If it gets real warm, expect these lakes to remain green and "dirty" until the water temps fall again.

Good luck and good fishn'

George Langley Eagle Sports Center 715-479-8804 fishing@eaglesportscenter.com

Good Fishing!
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