Pike, largemouth bass & walleyes remain active into Dog Days

Roger Stack is the owner of R&R Sports, aka fishin' hole, and he's been in business for decades. His large, current store is at 3115 E. Layton Ave., Cudahy, WI 53110, (414) 481-6888.

My favorite St. Croix panfish rod had suffered a life-ending blow, so I'd retired it to tomato plant stick status. Of almost 70 ready-to-go rod and reel set-ups, this had been my most productive set-up. It was light, and so was the sturdy metal, black Browning spinning reel.

I was replaceing the St. Croix with a longer version, as I had done in the past. I toss light, plastic-bodied Dick Smith Panfish Grubs, so I wanted additional casting distance while having excellent feel of even the lightest bites. I place the line in the crease of my index finger, so as to feel bites that finger tip callouses would not notice. 4# Fireline Crystal line went onto the reel. The line that had been on it when the reel was bought had been the worst line I'd ever had regarding coiling and coming off en masse' from the reel spool. The line had more memory than could a herd of elephants.

At the other end of the spectrum was the South Bend musky rod that had decided to break rather than be bent to fit into a smaller space than was possible. The panfish rod was needed for Friday of the same week, and Saturday required the musky rod.

This time, I asked Stack's advice. I wanted to go into the 7' to 7'-6" range, as current musky pros were using longer rods in place of the old broom stick models. Besides my brass Shimano Calcutta looked awful sad and lonely mounted to the reel seat of the old, broken rod. Not knowing how I'd react to my cancer treatments and with professional fishing rod suggestions from Stack, I again went with a St. Croix rod. It was longer and lighter than the previous rod, and it had excellent backbone. The Shimano reel and this rod were a perfect match. I added some off white crankbaits because new lures always help motivate.

The Fishin' Hole is known for its accurate, over-the-phone, fishing reports. You'll get plenty of fishing related advertising, but the reports are excellent. Stack covers effective baits, depths, active species and lots more.

Roger told me the bass were coming from along drop-offs, and anglers have been catching these fish on dropshots with 7" plastic worms along weedlines during the day. My success had been on black Chatterbaits.

As he has for a few decades, Roger uses the Diving B's, by Berkley, along weedlines in 20-35 feet of water. This is where big pike and muskies suspend and watch for dinner to swim past. Smaller pike and muskies tend to inhabit the weed jungles. As the bottoms of the aquatic plants drop their leaves, pike and muskies have little trouble cruising in search of food.

With the welcomed normal summer weather consistancy, panfish are found in traditional locations including along drop-off and suspended off of drop-offs. Panfish anglers have had excellent success when using ice fishing jigs and Gulp.

By: L.A. Van Veghel - Milwaukee Fishing Examiner

Spiny waterfleas discovered in Burntside Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that spiny waterfleas were discovered in Burntside Lake near Ely last week. They were discovered by an angler when he observed them collecting on fishing lines in the water.

“Spiny waterfleas can spread when boats, fishing or bait harvesting gear become contaminated with egg-laden females or when water from the infested lakes and rivers is transported,” said Rich Rezanka, DNR invasive species specialist. “Although the waterfleas can die between fishing trips, they might be carrying resting eggs that can begin a new infestation.”

Spiny waterfleas are currently found in Lake Superior, Mille Lacs Lake, Fish Lake, and the U.S.-Canadian border waters such as Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and Namakan Lake as well as lakes on the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marias.

Spiny waterfleas can collect in masses, entangling on fishing lines, downrigger cables, and anchor lines. The masses can resemble gelatin or cotton batting with tiny black spots, which are the creatures’ eyes or eggs. Individual animals are difficult to distinguish without magnification because they are only one-fourth to five-eighths inch long.

Spiny waterfleas are zooplankton - microscopic animals like the Daphnia in lakes. They have a long tail spine with up to three pairs of barbs. As a predator, they eat other zooplankton, often becoming abundant in late summer and fall.

Anglers are often the first to discover spiny waterfleas because they become attached to fishing gear. The waterfleas can be a nuisance to anglers, collecting in gobs on fishing lines and downrigging cables.

Spiny waterfleas can change the species and numbers of zooplankton, which may harm those lake ecosystems. Native zooplankton are an important food source for small fish.

However, spiny waterfleas are not good forage and may actually compete with fish for desirable native zooplankton.

In response to this new infestation, the DNR will:

• Designate Burntside as infested with spiny waterflea prohibiting the transport of water and requiring draining of livewells, bait containers, and bilges.
• Update the signs at water accesses on Burntside to indicate the presence of the waterfleas.
• Increase watercraft inspections and enforcement efforts at the water accesses
• Provide area businesses with information on spiny waterfleas.

Before leaving the water access, boaters and anglers should:

• Remove aquatic plants and animals, including gelatinous or cotton-batting-like material from fishing lines, downrigger cables, anchor ropes or waterfowl decoy cords.
• Drain water from livewells, bait containers, and bilges by removing the drain plugs. (Those who want to keep live bait must replace lake or river water with tap or spring water.)

Boaters and anglers should also:

• Dispose of unwanted live bait, fish parts, and worms in the trash.
• Wash/spray the watercraft and gear with hot high pressure or hot tap water for several minutes before transporting to another water.
• Dry the watercraft and gear thoroughly for at least 24 hours and preferably five days before transporting to other waters.

Experts believe spiny waterfleas originally arrived in the U.S. from Eurasia in the ballast water of cargo ships. They were first found in Lake Superior in 1987.

Wisconsin Fishing Club LTD to Host Meeting

Wisconsin Fishing Club, Ltd.

2010 - Our 44th year.

Aug. 9- Kevin Moore, tournament angler, IMTT 2006 Team of the Year and IMTT 2006 Pewaukee Champion, and guide, speaks on Secret Summer Musky Spots.
Free! Yester Years Pub & Grill, 9427 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, 414-476-9055. Contact
Dan Freiherr, Treasurer, 414-464-9316,. Fishing reports, fishing equipment raffle plus hot food is available.

Kevin Moore's Muskies, Etc. Guide Service website: http:\\www.muskiesetc.com

Our club is an active member of the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations.

Free Internet Milwaukee Fishing Examiner column at: http://www.examiner.com/x-15565-Milwaukee-Fishing-Examiner