May/June 2013 Vol. 6, Issue 5 READ MORE OONLINENLINE OnWisconsinOutdoors.com Hunting/Fishing Tips from the Field with the Dick Ellis Experts When The Trout Call Better water, better knots, better go Winter Tactics, Summer Gills Hot tips from cold northwest WI What’s That Buzz? Good vibrations, blind faith Spring Cleaning The ‘Bago mud fl ats bite Bass Attacks Jig-n-pig, stick bait arsenals River Runs More than spring, more than walleyes From The OWO Gun Cabinet Ammunition shortage, everyday carry DNR Report Deer falter as winter lingers Tom’s Hung Up Now hang him on your back Gobbler Hunt Surprise Bobcat kills buck Explore Wisconsin Great winter breakout ideas Photo by Dick Ellis Photo by Dick Ellis HUNTING • FISHING • TRAVEL • EXPLORE WISCONSIN OnWisconsinOutdoors.com 2 May/June 2013 OnWisconsinOutdoors.com OnWisconsinOutdoors.com May/June 2013 3 DAVE DUWE Fish Like A Pro. Lindy Rigging OnWisconsinOutdoors.com/WisconsinFishing Approaches of pro fi shermen to present live bait. I rig for walleyes, full of line twists. contacted Brad Davis, a Skeeter boat pro smallmouth and northern pike. When rigging with customers I who fi shes the pro walleye trail, and Jon Th e Lindy rig is a Walking Sinker almost always position fi sh or back Th elen, fi eld promotion manager for or Lindy No-Snagg sinker, a ball bearing troll very slowly. A heavy weight isn’t Pradco Outdoor Brands, the company swivel, a snell from two feet to 10 feet necessary. I choose a leader length of 2-3 that now owns Lindy Legendary Fishing and a hook. When fi shing nightcrawlers feet. Tackle. or leeches a #4 or #6 size octopus hook is For bass or walleye I use a Jon’s and Brad’s approaches to one of the best. For minnows I choose a spinning outfi t, a Pfl ueger President rigging were similar to each other, larger #2 hook. Th e size of the weight is reel spooled with 8-pound Silver however, very diff erent from my determined by a couple of factors. First Th read monofi lament and a 6-foot application. Brad covers water trolling is the water depth you are fi shing; the 6-inch medium action Fenwick rod. 1.4 – 1.5 mph but slows down to 1 mph Jon Thelan with a nice Lindy-rigged deeper the water, the heavier the weight. For Northern Pike I use 20-pound when he fi nds fi sh. By moving faster walleye. Walking sinkers come in a whole bunch monofi lament on an Abu Garcia 6500 he believes he puts his bait in front of of sizes, and 1/8 ounce to 1 ½ ounce with a bait clicker on a 7-foot medium more fi sh. Th e sinker of choice is a 1 ive bait fi shing has been part of is what I use the most. Secondly, how heavy Berkley lightening rod. Th e areas ounce to 1.5 ounce weight. Brad always my fi shing repertoire since I was fast you are trolling makes a diff erence. I concentrate on are “spot” on spots, keeps his line angle at 45 degrees and Lold enough to hold a pole. Using You want the rig on the bottom and the which make my presentation stationary adjusts the weight accordingly. Th e snell natural bait will increase your odds of line at a 45 degree angle off the bottom. and vertical. length starts at 5 feet and goes up from success. Some 40 years later, I am still A simple rule: the faster you troll, the Th e bait of choice for walleye there. As a rule, the clearer the water, the fi shing and making a career out of it by heavier the weight. Th e snell length is nightcrawlers or leeches. For longer the snell. Areas of the lake he rigs being a professional fi shing guide. is a bit more complicated. Th ere are a smallmouth I use minnows, chubs and range from 15 - 35 feet of water. Brad With clients and young people, live myriad of factors including clarity of leeches, and for Northern Pike I use keys on scattered weeds and rock, and, if bait is the easiest and most productive water, where the fi sh are located in the exclusively meat suckers or chubs. he had one bait to choose, it would be a way to catch fi sh. Anyone who has fi shed water column and how skittish the fi sh As an avid Lindy fi sherman, 5-inch red tail chub. If he fi nds the areas with me over the last 20 years of guiding are. Th e most important component to I wanted to gain some pro walleye holding fi sh are too “snaggy,” he will knows my love of Lindy rigging. It is one the Lindy rig is the quality ball bearing angler’s perspective so I called a couple shy away from Lindy rigs in favor of a of the easiest and most eff ective ways swivel. Without one you will have a day of buddies who are in the know. I continued on page 24 TOM CARPENTER Cubs Corner Time to take a trout trip any folks think trout are straightforward regulations for each beyond their reach in the one. Mskill department. Actually, Wisconsin is rich in trout fi shing nothing is further from the truth. In opportunity. Th e best areas in which fact, trout fi shing some of Wisconsin’s to start kids out are the western and fabulous streams is a great way to get southwestern counties for three outdoors with your young sportsman reasons: an abundance of good or woman. And late May and early streams, plenty of “pasture” creeks that June—when the vegetation is still run through more open country (not under control and mosquitoes aren’t a brush) that are easy for kids to fi sh, problem—is the perfect time to go. and gorgeous scenery that can’t be Name another kind of fi shing that beat on a late spring or early summer provides you with an easy-to-follow morning. guidebook that also shows you all the Richland, Crawford, Vernon, best fi shing spots. It’s called “Guide to Monroe, Lacrosse, and Trempeleau to target streams that allow fi shing practice on waters that can’t handle Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations counties are all great places for with live bait (because trout can’t resist the harvest. Kids love to keep a few 2013-2014.” Printed copies are trout fi shing, with an abundance of a plump nightcrawler) and where you fi sh to take home or eat back at camp. available at most license vendors. beautiful trout-fi lled streams. Iowa, can keep a few trout to eat. Trout fi shing is easier than you In it you’ll fi nd maps showing the Grant, Lafayette, and western Dane Yes, I said keep a few trout! It’s think, and it’s actually perfect for kids general location of practically every County run a close second, with lots true that trout are the kings of catch- because you’re not sitting around for trout creek in the state, along with of good water too. With kids, it’s nice and-release. But it’s also true that hours at one spot or stuck in a boat. fi sheries managers wouldn’t allow that continued on page 20 4 May/June 2013 OnWisconsinOutdoors.com DAVE HRAYCHUCK Winter Tactics For Summer Bluegills ft er a long ice fi shing season for no resistance when the fi sh hits the bait. panfi sh, it’s nice to get in a boat, Small dime-sized, pear-shaped Ashed the gloves, coats, and Sorel bobbers or lightweight stick bobbers boots and enjoy the sunshine. To catch work best. more and bigger panfi sh, however, keep Over the past few years, I have a winter tactic and apply it to your open shown many clients how important water fi shing. Th at tactic involves your these winter tactics and equipment are winter equipment: light line, small baits, for not only catching lots of bluegills but small bobbers and small lures. Custom being able to consistently catch the big jigs and spins, 2 spots, ‘gill pills, rockers, bull bluegills in open water fi shing. shrimpos and cubby jigs top the list of Now that you have the equipment lures. Favorite colors are pink and white ready, it’s off to fi nd the best locations and fl uorescent green and gold. for pre-spawn and post-spawn bluegills. Four-pound extra limp line works At this time of the year bluegills relate to Winter or summer, Ann Hraychuck agrees, the tactics are the same! best for a natural presentation; tie your the weed beds and weed edges. lure directly to the line. Spawning fi sh stay in the shallow, When it comes to baits, I prefer wax weedy areas during the spawn. Aft er worms year around. Gulp baits, Uncle spawning is completed, or if a cold consistently fi sh the weed beds using the on lakes, landings and bait shops Josh baits, nightcrawlers and red worms front moves in during the spawn, the rigs that I have described. Lure colors in northwest Wisconsin, check out also work well. Remember to use just fi sh move out to the deeper edges of the and baits may vary when the bite slows the “Wisconsin Focus” section of enough of these baits to cover the hook. weeds. down, but the presentation is always the OnWisconsinOutdoors.com.