In the Milwaukee area waters, you can fish for anything from the #1 Wisconsin panfish, the bluegill, to Lake Michigan’s powerful and fast Chinook salmon and hard fighting steelhead, otherwise called rainbow trout, and to the mighty musky, the state’s gamefish.
Nagawicka, in Waukesha County, is the most fished per acre lake in our state. It produces good pike, dandy walleye, and plenty of panfish, including bluegills, crappies and yellow perch. There are no boat liveries (rentals), yet plenty of anglers launch in the park on the east side of the lake.
2,493 acre Pewaukee, just east of Nagawicka, is home for numerous fine muskies. Traditionally anglers only fished in the daytime for these large predators, but night fishing is beginning to produce muskies, plus walleyes and bass. Many years ago, Joe Ehrhardt caught a 50# musky during gun deer hunting week. He was planning on panfishing in the Madison area, and he and his partner changed their minds. The fish would’ve officially weighed over 50#, but Ehrhardt didn’t realize he had a line class, world record fish. So, on the next day, the fish was officially weighed. It had lost some weight due to evaporation, but it was still just a shade under 50#.
Other near to Milwaukee counties offering great fishing include the small lakes and ponds of Ozaukee County. These waters feature panfish and largemouth bass. Some of these small waters have stocked walleyes.
Washington County has both small and large lakes, plus smallmouth action in the Milwaukee River. Big Cedar serves nice bass and occasional large northern pike. I’ve enjoyed many hours catching bluegills on live bait and Dick Smith Panfish Grubs, largemouth bass on black Mr. Twister spinnerbaits, and pike on trolled crankbaits such as Shad Raps. Not only is trolling excellent in the summer, especially where you find inside turns having healthy, outside edge aquatic plants, but it makes hot, humid and windless summer days more bearable.
South of Milwaukee, Racine County’s waters present panfish, pike and largemouth bass. Wind Lake, for example, also has walleye on its angling menu. The Racine Quarry is stocked with trout, and the Root River, which runs alongside this deep, manmade pond, is excellent for river run fish from Lake Michigan.
Kenosha County offers lakes similar to those in Racine County, and the Pike River is home to river run fish. Yes, Milwaukeeans, it is okay to go south to catch fish. Why not? It’s closer, and gas is no longer a bargain.
We’ll have plenty to discuss regarding the diverse Milwaukee area fishery. The seasons change fish locations and depths. Sun angle does that too. Temperatures move fish around in the lakes, and ice is another factor. We will look at moonlight, high and low pressure systems, rising and falling barometers, and all kinds of other things related to fishing. With my 34 years in area instructional fishing clubs, my experience fishing some tournaments and fisherees, and my 33 years as a published outdoor writer, we can draw on this vast collection of information, and both you and I will learn and relearn all about fishing in the Milwaukee area.Now, go and make sure your hooks are sharp. It’s time to go fishing.
Photos courtesy of the Wisconsin Fishing Club, Ltd., www.wisconsinfishingclub.com/ Joe Ehrhardt’s near 50#, line class musky from Pewaukee Lake.
Webmeister Note: This article was written by Larry Van Veghel. You can see more of what he has to say at: Milwaukee Fishing Examiner
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