Wisconsin Opener

[bassfshin24]

Anyone headed to Wisconsin to fish opener? I've heard a lot of Wisconsin lakes are still froze. A family memeber has a cabin 50 minutes away from the cities and it was still iced over last weekend. Also does anyone know of any good bass lakes around Siren WI? I have a buddy with a cabin up there and was thinking about heading up there this weekend if the ice is off and would love to know if there are any decent lakes to hit around that area.

[Craigums]

Every spring there is a bass tournament on Clam Lake apparently you can run up river and catch smallies too. I've fished Wood and Trade lake just west of there and done well on both once the water temps get at least into the 50's. I've got a club tournament on Bone Lake on the 18th. I'll probably head out there to do a little scouting the weekend of the 10th/11th

[JBMasterAngler]

I'm gonna try apple river flowage. At some point this spring I want to hit clam lake, but I'll have to keep an eye out for those tournaments. Certainly don't want to be on the lake on the same day.

You can boat up the clam river? I heard there are trout in that river as well, or is that way farther upstream?

[Nick Kuhn]

I will be up there. The primary question will be if we can get the boat out of the yard (it floods near the road). As far as ice goes, I think the ice out line will be very close to the Burnett/Polk county line, with some larger lakes in Polk still having partial ice and shallow lakes in Burnett possibly being open. Water will be ice cold, try to find something that will warm quickly if the sun comes out.

Craigums if you've never fished Bone it is a very straightforward lake. Quite a bit of good structure out there. Just be mindful that muskies will be spawn or just post spawn, so they will be frequenting the shallows, especially in the north end bays. Try not to spook them, and maybe have a way of handling them if one decides a bass bait looks like an easy meal.

[cwmn]

I was out in Amery on Sunday, all water open in town and the flowage water is high and will be higher by Saturday. Good luck.

[snagger]

I just got a report that the ice is off Lower Turtle (just south of Hwy 8 in Turtle Lake) so I would think most lakes should be ice free in Polk County.

FYI.....I believe there is a tournament this weekend on the Apple River Flowage in Amery. If you plan on going there be ready to compete with other boats. I'm headed to a small private lake near Burkhardt. The ice has been off it for at least a week but the water will still be cold. I plan on dragging jigs and drop shotting. We'll see what happens.

[Cecil]

Not getting out this weekend, but next weekend either to Wisconsin or to Mille Lacs (weather pending).

[SkunkedAgain]

I've heard that some of the smaller lakes in the Spooner area are open. We'll be up there

[Deitz Dittrich]

Not getting out this weekend, but next weekend either to Wisconsin or to Mille Lacs (weather pending).

I'll be with Cecil.. LOL

[Cecil]

I guess he's coming with me

Bahaha

[beeflover]

good luck that water is gonna be cold! I think you might do well on Mud Hen but the access can be very shallow sometimes a big problem. You might check it on the way over there, lots of great shallow water flats and breaks.

[JBMasterAngler]

I just got a report that the ice is off Lower Turtle (just south of Hwy 8 in Turtle Lake) so I would think most lakes should be ice free in Polk County.

FYI.....I believe there is a tournament this weekend on the Apple River Flowage in Amery. If you plan on going there be ready to compete with other boats. I'm headed to a small private lake near Burkhardt. The ice has been off it for at least a week but the water will still be cold. I plan on dragging jigs and drop shotting. We'll see what happens.

Thanks for the heads up about the tournament. We'll drive past and see what the deal is, there's a couple nearby lakes I was also eye ballin' as a backup.

[Nick Kuhn]

Tournament on the Apple is Sunday, but it has to be a small club tourney because there is no permit for it.

[Todd S.]

I read online that the await governors fishing opener is on Balsam FYI just as a heads up

[MN BassFisher]

I have a cabin in Burnett County and I guess the ice came off our lake about a week ago. Water is still cold. Pops is going up to check the Crappie bite this weekend.

[Nick Kuhn]

How did you guys do? I found a jerkbait (a small one at that) near downed wood to be the ticket. Action wasn't exactly hot, and a majority of the fish were on the smaller side (males probably), but I did get a couple of bigger fish. This 20.5" girl was the biggest, and she saw a rough winter I think. Pretty thin and no eggs, but at least she's still swimming.

[Craigums]

Nice report, I did not make it out unfortunately. I will be heading out next Saturday to try my luck in WI. What were the water temps, I heard many lakes still in the 40's?

[bassfshin24]

Hit Shell Lake for a few hours on Saturday. Still had quite a bit of ice in the middle so drove around it. Had to move a few times due to the wind blowing the ice shelf towards us haha. Water temp was 38°!! Ended up with three smallies and an eye though. Of course the two guys with me were the ones that caught them. Had some motor issues so the day was cut short. Thank god it was only spark plugs!!

[Juan Grande]

We put the docks out in Zimmerman this weekend and the water was definitely in the 40s. Got a little down the front of my waders.

[bassfshin24]

As you can see it was a little chilly!

[Todd S.]

It was rough for us to, only 3 dinks for 3 lakes. Temps were 40-42. The three I did catch were on a jerk bait.

[snagger]

Tried a small shallow lake in Burnett County that used to have some real nice bass. I didn't even get a wiff from a fish. Made my way into a bay on the west end of the lake and the entire shoreline is covered with dead fish. So, it appears winter kill was severe on this lake. Fished another small lake in St. Croix County yesterday and water was 52. Caught 1 and missed several flipping jigs in downed trees. It'll get better this week.

[wormdunker]

Fished a small spring fed Siren area lake. Water ranged from 39-44 through out the weekend. Ended up with 12 bass one pike......One large mouth 22" but skinny. Males were staged on breaks near existing vegetation and the big one was in shallow warm water. Bait could literally not move. The slowest presentation I have ever had to endure jerk baits and senkos. I would not call it deadsticking, it was beyond that.

No one else in our group caught a fish. It was mentioned before but 50 degrees is the magic number for activity.

[Todd S.]

Snagger I to went to small shallow lake, approx 100 acres. Dead fish everywhere, we saw them on shore by the boat landing but didn't put the boat in even. Pretty sad deal

[snagger]

Yes, not good. I'm not a fish expert but I'd have to believe that even if a lake didn't freeze out the fish were extremely stressed by the severe winter and late spring. I wonder if some fish will skip spawning totally? In addition, it seems like the younger year classes of fish will struggle. I guess it's Mother Nature's way to balance itself. It just stinks for us fisherman!