4/27-30 Lower Dells, Wi Rv w/pics

[Tony Boshold]

Arrived early Thursday, just beautiful out, t-shirt weather. After a great breakfast sandwich at the River's Edge Pub and Grub we launched from their launch and got right to it. Water was extremely low and it's temps in the high 50's. Time to troll!!! Tried the west side in front of RE with no luck. Hopped across the river and picked up a nice smallie and put a couple 15-17" eyes on the stringer. Then my buddy connects with a monster. 15 minutes later this came in. He attracted a crowd. 22+# Buffalo. Can anyone tell me if it's a big mouth or smallmouth? The smallmouth buffalo state record is 20#. Check 'er out. 8# test on an ugly stick got 'er done.

Any one for some football (s)?

You have to really stop to closely inspect the scenery, so much life everywhere. (Hint) Can you spot the formation known as "Hawks Beak" behind me in this one? "You have to use your imagination a little."

Up river at the "Duck's" launch. Always something here, casting jigs and cranks. You can see the corner of the launch near my elbow. It comes out like a road bed and drops into the 20+ channel. Fish are there to take advantage of the ducks launching and disorienting the bait fish. Just cast right behind the duck boat after it launches. Give them a little space off to either side first of course. Fish can usually be found up and down that shore in either direction for upto 100yds from the duck launch. The tour boats are not afraid to get friendly out there and have started already.

Trolling, trolling, trolling, get them smallies trolling.

Looks like this ones tail caught on fire. Across from RE.

Another "keeper." None kept but, only 14"+ "Keepers" pictured. This was his first ever smallie.

And another solid, AKA "Scarfish."

The smallies and Whities are on a prespawn terror. The whites came in drove and pretty much looked like this fatty. I so caught my PB several times this trip this one was 14.5".

I couldn't tell you why but no night bite going. It was lights out when it got dark. This one hit right at dark the first night and I thought it was "THE ONE". Fished 2 more hours with out a bite. Heard the same from everyone that fished after dark. The fight was great untill I found out what it was, they fight just like eyes when they are this big.

It clouded up Friday and cooled off a little. Saturday I had new company in the boat with me. We got off to a late start after breakfast. Just in time to start fishing when the rain started. Well it rained over 3" and never let up. I was pulling the plug every hour. Needless to say I had two very wet and unhappy campers in the boat. One of them only had one bite all day. Something followed him almost back to the boat and after a brief battle the water erupted like dynamite and the line snapped. He lost a few cranks and refused to donate any more to the river. Although he did not mind donating line to my prop. He did not catch any more. Other than a 30" norton my other bud landed right before his break off we caught short eyes and smallies with a fish on every pass but that was it. Try to hit them again and nothing else. The evening bite was hot, the fish were right up on the shore rocks and you could not reel the jointed shad raps fast enough.

How about this 20". He lost one and cought this one on the same cast, they were so competitive. We had 3 double headers back to back and the poor guy in the middle didn't get sniffed. I really felt bad for him, lead them to water but...

How about this PHAT piggy 20"er! From "under the Cable."

This guy exclaimed, "best day ever!" I never get tired of that one. That's what it's all about.

Whisker,

The annual trip dates have changed, the new dates are June 25th until July 2nd. Sorry if I'll miss you. I will definitely miss the fireworks.

Just about all the fish were caught in water less than 7'. A few in the 8-12' range. Either along the "seam" or right up in the faster water runs. There were eyes and saugers still spawning in that fast water. The eyes would not touch the plastics much for us. We caught 98% of them casting and trolling cranks in 3-7'. Heard the same from everyone I talked to. Key for eyes was an orange bellied bait, smallies ate everything. The whities were best taken from an anchored or shore position casting jigs/plastics or minnows. Had a chance to watch the DNR shocking the Sturgeon for breeding/stocking. Whoa!, is all I can say about that. I have never seen so many 4-6' long fish in one place. After the beating we took in the rain on Saturday, I could not convince my crew to hit it any more Sunday cuz it had not stopped yet.

We all had a great time! (Except for that one guy. Oh well, I'm sure he'll get over it. ) I can't wait to get back again.

[Jim Hudson]

Tony

Awesome report man. And great pictures. Looked to be one great trip, with some big fishes caught.

Can't help ya on the id there, but maybe try posting the picture in the carp forum and see if those guys can help you out.

[Quickstrike]

looks like a sweet trip, nice pics!