Star Journal

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

logo

Star Journal

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
Uncategorized
Home›Uncategorized›Outdoor Report: Nice weather leading into the opener

Outdoor Report: Nice weather leading into the opener

By StarJournal
May 5, 2012
534
0
Share:

A long awaited surge of warm weather this week set the stage for what many expect to be a good opening weekend for inland game fish. The heat of March is long-gone, and after it left, temperatures have been balky and uncooperative. As a result we’ve seen inconsistent action in the past month. But the weather this week should bring water temperatures up and that in turn should improve fishing.

Walleyes are the key target this weekend, and we expect them to be pretty hungry as they come back from the stress of spawning. It’s always difficult to predict where to find fish, but we think that walleyes will be in shallow to moderate depths, along the outer edge of a drop-off on most lakes. They’ll go for small to medium minnows and similar size artificials. As with any early season fishing, it’s important to use a slow retrieve for all species.

Panfish have been the only legal fish in the past month or so, and they’ve been spotty at best. Reports have had crappies mostly in 10 to 12 feet of water on most lakes and not that cooperative. Lately we’ve seen them move into the shallows on warmer, sunny afternoons, usually on darker water lakes as they respond to the warming water. Then, after sun down, they’re back out deeper. The warming trend of this week should encourage them to make a commitment to shallower water, where small jigs and small minnows should produce good action.

Perch have been very inconsistent, but as with crappies, warmer days have produced some fish. It’s late for a major feed by perch, but we’d try those shallow back bays and see what happens. We’d expect some perch action this week.

Overall we think this should be a strong opener, as the stable weather should help a lot. As recently as a week ago we had some very cold nights that set things back. Now we should be coming up on more normal conditions and that will mean some good fishing.

We’re past the halfway point in the turkey season, and things are not as good as a lot of people hoped for. Toms are not gobbling much this week, and have been inconsistent through most of the season. And that is not just in this area; hunters who travel to other areas of the state have reported the same.

Many hens are on nests, but toms will still be looking for other hens. They may not respond to calls by gobbling, but often will move toward a hen call regardless. Early morning may still produce birds, but now midday is often productive as toms roam more widely. Patience, always a virtue to hunters, is important in the final weeks. Birds are still out there, but they have been hunted and are even more wary than normal.

The Outdoor Report is provided by the staff of Mel’s Trading Post in downtown Rhinelander.

Previous Article

By Submitted photo (Gallery: 130628703)

Next Article

Sports Round-Up 5/6

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • LocalUncategorized

    Ostermann named Main Street volunteer of the year

    November 8, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • BusinessUncategorized

    Business Close-Up: Getting damaged vehicles running

    November 14, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    About Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    Contact Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    Advertise

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    About Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Star Journal is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×