Chequmegon Bay smallies?

[rascalP]

OK, what's going on up at the bay? There must be someone out there going for those bronze beauties. We're going up June 1 for the week. Seems like there isn't much runoff this year and things may get going earlier than last year. Hope the weather cooperates -- if not we'll head inland if the bay blows up.

[Smeds]

Looks like you could hit it just right. Was up there thru last weekend (may 26). Water temp. Monday night was 63.4 in the back of Sand Cut. Caught 7 fish, largest was 20 1/4". Should only get better! Good luck!

[muskybuck]

rascalP,
OK, Whats the scoop up at the Bay? I have been wanting to go up there for years. How did you do, what did you use?

[clam up]

I'll be heading up to fish the bay out of Ashland this weekend. I grew up around there but never really fished the big lake much. I'll let you know how I did. I actually had some success last winter. I caught one nice keeper coho and helped a buddy pull a 30 lb sturgeon through the hole.

[Guest]

I have fished there many times with local guide Chris Beeksma of the "Get Bit Guide Service".
In spring and summer the fish tend to use the river area. We fish mostly top water torpetos and spinner baits. Colors are chartreuse and browns & copper (greyfish patterns). I once tryed some Berkley 10 inch Power Worms and they kicked BASSASS. These work great! I pinched them down to about 6" and used them Texas style with bullet weights & on True-turn Hooks. Lots of wood in the river... as it was a logging route in the past. It is real snaggy.

In the fall the fish tend to relocate into the main bay and relate to rockpiles and drops near the shore. And, they relate to the shipping chanel drop that goes into town and up to the power plant & ore dock. Here I used live bait and jigging spoons.

One year, I was fishing with Chris and my son, Jeff. It was the day of the Vikings and Green Bay games on TV. Chris kept looking at his watch and soon remarked... "time to go if we are going to see the games on tv".
Hey...37 Smallmouth and only three of those under three pounds that day.... I am not leaving for any football game! But Chris and Jeff wanted to go! So... I stayed fishing alone. As evening approched so did the fog. I had to come in from the rockpiles and fish the lighthouse jetty. I continued to catch great smallies. Soon, the fog was so thick that I could hardly see the ore dock, so I moved closer to town. I fished the ore dock (near where the public access is located). I continued to take great numbers of smallies right in front of the ore dock! Soon, I could not see the ore dock! I moved closet to the public access... and continued to catch big smallies on raps in 8 feet of water, close to the access. I fished in front of the access from 9:00 till 10pm! I caught fish after fish... and nice fish! I took them in the lights of the public access parking lot.

My son Jeff, Chris and his wife were not real worried about me as knew I had a GPS and a marine radio in the boat... and that I amc addicted to fishing! I can not phathom the numbers of Smallmouth that must be in that bay. Must be zillions!

In daytime, I mostly I used 10 lb test, 4 to 6 inch sucker minnows on a four foot snell with True-turn hooks & Lindy Snaggless Sinkers. At night, I threw cranks over the drops and "wood piles" (the shore line is covered in stacks of submerged wood).

Chris Beeksma is a area resident and grew up there. He is an expert and a great smallmouth & musky guide. A real nice guy too. I have enjoyed out friendship and relations. I sponsored him some 10 years ago with Impulse Electronics as the Impulse Pro-Staff Director. We have remained friends and fish together annually.
I am ready to go up there again this Sept. and October, having not gone last year... I went ot Mille Lacs instead, several times.
Catch'n
Dave Hoggard
Catch-N Tackle Co.

[rascalP]

Been to the Bay twice since 6/1. First week of June was kinda tough by bay standards, though the weather was real good. 3 days, 2 guys, 45-50 fish, maybe 3 or 4 under 17" with 3 20". We used weightless plastics, jerkbaits, tubes, noodles, etc...
The end of June, I went up with my family and a friend and his family. I was only able to fish one day so I left my boat at home and hooked up with Chris Beeksma. My friend, his son and I had a great afternoon/evening with Chris fishing topwaters. Like Chris says, if it's calm, anytime of day, it's topwater time. As is so often the case, the boy got the first, the most, and the biggest --19". Despite my own problems,( broken off fish, missed fish)I was sure happy to see that. What a great smallmouth factory. A must do trip.
rascal

[can it be luck?]

A must do definitly. Anyone who's never fished here has no idea what there missing! Almost all bass are brutes and usually eager to bite. Previous posts sums it up quite well. The river area bay east from what used to be called 2nd landing(didn't pay attention to what they call it now) can be great. 2-5 FOW along the willowed south shoreline always produced for me. Leechs and crawlers under a bobber is deadly. Bobber used because of the amount of wood on bottom. One draw back is the fish tend to inhale live bait so you may be cutting off a lot of hooks if hooked deep. Artificials not such a problem but the live bait will catch a lot of fish. Fisherman have different values, bass and trout fisherman more so. Some use only artificial while others use what ever is most productive. I fall into the second category...I like to catch fish! can it be luck?

[Guest]

If a guy were to head down to the bay tommorow. Would the fish still be shallow and which is the best Bait and tackle store to stop at for gear and info. Thanks!!

[can it be luck?]

mcINmn, Being an opportunist,I try to fish when I know the fish are concentrated. Spring river walleye runs,openers usually lake Nokomis walleye or Arbor Vitae walleye and crappie,June..Lake Erie and chequmegon Bay,July and August Lake michigan trout and salmon,Fall run trout,salmon,walleye and....well you get the idea. Try to get my hunting time in also makes for a busy schedule. I'm fortunate to have a woman that shares my interests. Took a long time, but I finally found one that at times she's telling me "Please, just one more cast." I fish Chequmegon Bay in late may through June. At this time I can guarantee where the fish are. As stated earlier the bay/river area N-NE of 2nd landing is very good at this time. 2-5 FOW. The fish are spawn/post spawn fish. usually males averageing 17-21". Areas with the right bottom composite,gravel,sand,and wood are good spawning sites. Where you catch one you will usually catch many. Sometimes you will catch the same fish more than once. I know this because of individual fish markings and this year a tagged fish caught twice. These are mainly fish guarding nests and attacking intruders. A quick photo and release is a must at this time of year. As far as the rest of the year,I can't really say. I would imagine the fish to linger in this area till early summer then eventually moveing deeper. Stated by others,the docks and areas with any structure should be good. Downtown Ashland itself has a lot of this type of structure. Besides bass you will probably pick up some walleye fishing these areas also. The bay for the most is fairly shallow so I would imagine a guy would'nt have to go real deep,12-20' for the hot summer months? Maybe someone else can answer this for you. As far as bait and up to date info. I fish leeches which I buy in Minoqua,$9.50 a lb.,cant beat that! Prices in my opinion are a little expensive in Ashland. Cheapest bait I've found in the area was a bait shop S. of Washburn on Hwy. 13 dont recall the name but it had a wood carving shop there,cant miss it. There are a few places scattered around Ashland for bait but not so much on info. Anglers All used to be on Hwy 2 E. of Ashland. Big shop with guides and info. but I'm not sure if they're still in buisness. My route does not take me past there and haveing bait I've no need to stop there any more. Hope this helps you somewhat. Good luck if you go,and bring your camera! Mark Hoffmann/can it be luck?

[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 07-10-2003).]