Wisconsin Opener

[HarmonH]

I am fishing the wisconsin opener with a buddy again this year. He has a cabin near spooner, on Trego Lake or flowage something like that. Anyways, the lake is more narrow and shallow ranging from 3-11 feet in the places we fish. We spend a lot of time trolling for walleyes using original floaters and jointed raps. I was wondering if this is the best set up to use since he doesn't generally use live bait? Any other suggestions?

[LoonASea]

Try trolling some berkley flicker shads in the #5s or the shallow shad rap ,,,,I have had some good openers using those baits

LAS

[Walleye Guy]

Trego is really a hit or miss lake. I've fish it a few times as a couple friends have a cabin on it. The few walleyes they catch are on leeches and slip bobbers. I've casted and trolled crankbaits and only caught pike and smallies. If live bait is not an option I would try original rapalas and shap raps.

[fivebucks]

I don't know the WI rules so maybe someone can chime in. This is not meant to bust anyone, just for my own info. Isn't it unlawful to troll in WI or is that just in some areas? I very rarely fish over there and would research before I do.

[Walleye Guy]

It is illegal to troll in some counties in Wisconsin.

From the 2010 fishing regulations:

It is illegal:

to motor troll except in counties and waters listed in the section titled Special

Regulations—Listed by County (see definition of motor trolling on page 18).

I believe Trego is in Washburn County but I could be wrong. Please check to verify.

[SpecialK]

You can drift fish though.

[Nick Kuhn]

Trego would be in Washburn where trolling is allowed county-wide.

[Jim Hudson]

Usually, on opener, pitching jigs with Gulp! to new weed growth is a sure bet to catch a mess of walleyes.. Search out "fishy" looking areas, looking for newly emergent weed growth, which we should have a good mess of this year due to the early ice out (which also means, the fish should really be on the feed).

Pitch 1/16 to 1/8 jigs (or bigger depending on depth and wind, I like Fin-Tech Nuckle-Ball teamed with 3" Gulp Minnows. Awesome feeling to have the fish whap a jig, and you can cover so much more water with the Gulp, looking for active fish. Just like ice fishing - your looking for biters, not sniffers!!!

[tgruenke]

I will be fishing Lake Holcombe in Chippewa county. Last year had good luck tossing jig and night crawler around the mouth of the Jump River. Probably do the same this year.I do want to try the new Gulp Alive though. Good luck to everyone this season.

[fivebucks]

Thanks for the trolling info!