The last six weeks(N. WI)

[Lunker]

Well, I'm finally back to civilization after spending the last six weeks in northern Wisconsin . I was up in the Tomahawk/Rhinlander area for a six week summer camp for school. Beautiful area, lots of wildlife and o the fishing! Spent the majority of my time fishing solo for bass, but will include some pics of those times I was fishing with others. I will say for how good the fishing is in the metro area, nothing really beats getting out into the middle of an unpressured area. The first week I got there the bass were still bedded(legal to fish catch&release there) and hammered them in the shallow(6"-3ft) bays using soft plastic jerkbaits. My best fish there were multiple 18" largemouths, and I saw a few pigs bigger that spooked. After they left the beds we still managed lots of nice fish in different lakes fishing a variety of soft plastics, mostly sight fishing still. Once it started to weed up real bad I switched my focus more to the rivers up there for smallies.(I also tried trout fishing for the first time and had fun doing that a few times.) I fished the river multiple times managing only one 16" smallie and a bunch of small pike on artificials. The stretches I were fishing were shallow and rocky, and I remember someone saying to me on FM about using shiners or chubs in such a situation, and my first day livebaiting for bass with redtailed chubs managed 5 smallies of 19", 18, 18, 17, and 15, and also a bunch of pike. My biggest previous smallie was around 17" Wish I had a camera that day. Went back with the same pattern a couple more times and duplicated numbers, although size shrank to an average of "only" 16 or 17".

So I can't say this is a report of how their bitin, but since I haven't posted in over 6 weeks thought I'd let it be known that northwoods bassin is pretty dam great. Included are a few pics. Also, all the fishing I did was either wading or in a canoe.

This pic was dark so I tried to ligthen it up so the fish was visible, kinda shotty.

[Matt Johnson]

Great report and pictures Lunker! How's the college life treating you? You have to be close to done now eh?

[FRESHWATER PETIE]

Nice bass pics!!

[Lunker]

Thanks. College life is good, got a couple years down a couple more to go.

[DeathRoe]

Isn't that the way it goes, forget the camera and you're almost guaranteed to have a great day and catch some pigs.