Walleye fishing report for Boulder Junction Wisconsin

(This will be the final report of the current fishing season for the
Chippewa Flowage.  The reports will resume upon the opening of the
Wisconsin fishing season, the first weekend of May, 2002).

Head: Crappie fishing real strong, with walleye and musky improving, on the
Chippewa Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's largest
wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following is being
reported by Bill Meiser:

Crappies:  Crappies have been the best fishing on the Chip.  Starting to
suspend off the fish cribs and in the river channels, in 10 to 20 feet of
water.  Crappie minnows and tubes are the best.  Good sized eaters, but no
huge slabs.

Musky:  Fishing has been fair, but improving. with some fish being taken on
jerk baits and suckers, with very SLOW MOVING surface baits working as well
as anything.   Fish the sides of the bars,  weed edges or breaks, in deeper
water, recognizing that the water is down almost 3 feet, because of a draw
down.

Walleye:  Walleye action has improved.  Fish the hardbottom areas in the
river channels (12 to 15 feet), using a mixture of baits (transition period
right now), with leeches and minnows both working.

Smallmouth Bass:  Smallies have slowed down some.  Fish the east side of
the Flowage, near the river channels, 10 to 18 feet.  Use a fathead or a
leech as live bait, or a tube jig.

Bluegills:  The gills are suspended with the crappies.  Use a tube or a
waxie.  The gills that are being caught are decent size.

Northern:  Fish the weed edges, a little deeper (8 to 12 feet) along the
bogs and islands.  The action is just OK -- nothing special.  Use a
northern sucker, or a shiny spoon.

Good fishing all around on the Big Chip out of Treeland's
Resorts, with musky, crappie, bluegills and bass producing particularly
well.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported:

MUSKY: Two 42-inch muskies were registered at
Treelands Resorts this past week.  The previous week, muskies between
34 and 48 inches were registered at Treelands.  A variety of baits were
successful and many water depths were productive for our musky hunters.
Crank baits, jerk baits, surface lures, and bucktails all were helpful
in getting fish to Treeland's chart.  The 48 inch musky was a tiger
musky and caught on a bucktail in 3 feet of water.  The fish was
released with many wonderful pictures taken --a graphite mount will be
prepared for this terrific sportsman. 

Fish have been seen with many follows, short hits, boils, and lethargic
muskies coming up on a variety of lures.  Our muskies were caught from
3 feet to 18 feet of water with some folks fishing around the sunken
bogs, fish cribs, and heavy brush piles.  It seems the crappies, small
walleyes, and a variety of panfish are schooled up around the deep
water structure and the musky is in there feeding on these fish.  Some
folks are seeing musky follows while pulling up crappies on this same
structure.  Having a musky grab a crappie on light tackle is always a
lot of fun!!  Surface water temperatures are beginning to drop, nights
are getting cooler, leaves are turning, our lake will soon "turn over";
the weeds are dropping off, and musky should get even better for our
fishing friends at Treelands Resorts.  The Chippewa Flowage is about 2
feet, 4 inches low at the present time which makes navigation a little
more cautious for our boaters. 

WALLEYE:
The walleyes are really starting to gather in deep river channels in
the area of Treeland's Resorts on the Chippewa Flowage,  and folks are
doing well fishing in the structure in 18 to 22 feet of water --
directly off the bottom.  Jig and fathead minnows are the bait choice
for the patient fisherman.  Try to fish near migratory river channels
and go to the severe break points.  You should try to be in the wood
and weed structure with the bottom feeding walleyes in these areas for
your best luck.  Jig and a minnow or slip bobbers fishing directly into
the cover might be your best pattern at the present time.  A change in
water temperature will greatly affect the catch rate, size, and
searching patterns for the walleye in the next  couple of weeks. 

CRAPPIES
Crappies are schooled up around the sunken bogs, floating bogs, deep
water fish cribs, and deep water sunken brush piles --18 to 22 feet of
water.  Good sizes and limits were taken this week and fishing for
crappies will only get better as we get into the fall patterns for all
fish species.  Tube jigs and small minnows are working best, with blue
and red tubes working the best for colors on the crappie. 

PANFISH
Some slab-size bluegills are being caught along with the crappies in
deep water.  Fishing for a basket of gills will require a lot of
sorting, but this makes for good action on light tackle.  Bluegills
will hit the tube skirts, worms, maggots, and small minnows while
fishing around the deep water structure. 

BASS
Many good-sized Bass are being caught by our musky fisherman on crank
and jerk baits.  A few Bass in the 18 to 20 inch range make for a great
fight, even on heavy tackle -- it does not take too long, however, for
our musky angler to sense the fish is not what was being pursued --
another toss back.  Bass fisherman are hitting the heavy weed
shorelines using pure weedless type lures and crawler harnesses

Good fishing all around on the Big Chip  out of Treeland's
Resorts, with musky, crappie, bluegills and bass producing particularly
well.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKY  muskies between 34 and 48 inches were
registered at Treelands this past week.  A variety of baits were
successful and many water depths were productive for our musky hunters.
Crank baits, jerk baits, surface lures, and bucktails all were helpful
in getting 7 fish to our chart.  The 48 inch musky was a tiger musky
and caught on a bucktail in 3 feet of water.  The fish was released
with many wonderful pictures taken --a graphite mount will be prepared
for this terrific sportsman. 

Fish have been seen with many follows, short hits, boils, and lethargic
muskies coming up on a variety of lures.  Our muskies were caught from
3 feet to 18 feet of water with some folks fishing around the sunken
bogs, fish cribs, and heavy brush piles.  It seems the crappies, small
walleyes, and a variety of panfish are schooled up around the deep
water structure and the musky is in there feeding on these fish.  Some
folks are seeing musky follows while pulling up crappies on this same
structure.  Having a musky grab a crappie on light tackle is always a
lot of fun!!  Surface water temperatures are beginning to drop, nights
are getting cooler, leaves are turning, our lake will soon "turn over";
the weeds are dropping off, and musky should get even better for our
fishing friends at Treelands Resorts.  The Chippewa Flowage is about 2
feet, 4 inches low at the present time which makes navigation a little
more cautious for our boaters. 

WALLEYE
walleyes continue to be in the heavy weeds at about 8 to 10 feet of
water.  Try to fish near migratory river channels and go to the severe
break points.  You should try to be in the wood and weed structure with
the bottom feeding walleyes in these areas for your best luck.  Jig and
a minnow or slip bobbers fishing directly into the cover might be your
best pattern at the present time.  A change in water temperature will
greatly affect the catch rate, size, and searching patterns for the
walleye in the next  couple of weeks. 

CRAPPIES
Crappies are schooled up around the sunken bogs, floating bogs, deep
water fish cribs, and deep water sunken brush piles --18 to 22 feet of
water.  Good sizes and limits were taken this week and fishing for
crappies will only get better as we get into the fall patterns for all
fish species.  Tube jigs and small minnows are working best, with blue
and red tubes working the best for colors on the crappie. 

PANFISH
Some slab size bluegills are being caught along with the crappies in
deep water.  Fishing for a basket of gills will require a lot of
sorting, but this makes for good action on light tackle.  Bluegills
will hit the tube skirts, worms, maggots, and small minnows while
fishing around the deep water structure
. 
BASS
Many good-sized Bass are being caught by our musky fisherman on crank
and jerk baits.  A few Bass in the 18 to 20 inch range make for a great
fight, even on heavy tackle -- it does not take too long, however, for
our musky angler to sense the fish is not what was being pursued --
another toss back.  Bass fisherman are hitting the heavy weed
shorelines using pure weedless type lures and crawler harnesses. 

Largemouth bass bonanza on the Big Chip out of Treeland's, along
with great action for big blue gills.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:
 

MUSKY Many anglers reported good action with a
few legals caught but the heat took over and it seemed everyone dove
into the lake for relief from the high temperatures.  A 44 and a 36 1/2
inch were registered at Treeland's with spoon type baits.  A couple of
avid musky anglers  reported good size fish up on surface baits late
afternoon and early evening into dark.  These fish were spotted on the
deep water side of heavy weeds and very near open water.  We may be in
a pattern of deep water jerk and crank baits because of the warm water
in the shallows, surface water, and heavy weeds.  It might be a tactic
to start in the deep water off the points, toss deep divers, go to the
dark colors on the bucktail, and end up with the surface lure over the
weeds.  You might cross up this wily old girl and come up with a
lunker. 

WALLEYE
Not too many of our guests are fishing because of the heat with a few
folks getting a very early morning start, before sun up, and having
some luck on the walleyes.  Walleyes can be found feeding on the edges
in 8 to l2 feet of water and very near old river channels that drop off
to 20 plus feet.  Humps in 20 feet of water that come up to 10 and l2
feet with wood structure have also been productive for some of our
guides with guests.  Tackle being used is l/4 oz. jig with either
nightcrawlers, leeches, and some fish caught on large
minnows-----walleyes are averaging about 13 to 18 inches.  Many fish
can be picked up on sonar in deep water, these fish are probably not
feeding, one must go to the nearest weed bar, humps in deep water, or
heavy weed development just off the shorelines.  A few fisherman have
had some luck with small diver type lures on the weed edges after dark.
If you can survive the bug bite you might just get into some good size
walleyes during these evening hours. 

NORTHERNS
Many small Northerns are being caught by fisherman relating to other
preferred fish species.  It seems the northerns continue to be active
in the shallow and deep water where there is heavy weed and wood
structure. 
 

PANFISH
Many good size gills are being caught in deep water by our crappie
anglers.  If you get too deep on the fish cribs or brush piles there is
a good chance you will hook into a good sized bull gill.  Many times
you can stay with this pattern and get a great basket of gills.  The
gills are biting on tube skirts, small minnows, and leaf worms along
with chunks of crawlers.  Many times you have a choice to catch either
the crappie by fishing above the structure or dropping into the
structure and catching gills and perch.  You may find you do not have
to move around to different spots---only to shift your boat around on
top of the same structure for active fish.  We are talking about 20
feet of water with heavy structure.  Be patient and position your boat
around the structure---it may require that you move from one side of
the structure to the other to get the creatures to hit your bait.  It
you anchor it may require that you use one oar to swing the boat into
the preferred position-----be very careful when pulling your anchor as
you do not want to destroy the structure for another day and another
angler. 

BASS
We are all having a bass bonanza on the Big Chip.  Largemouth bass in
the l4 to 20 inch are the norm and some of our tournament bass folks
are thinking about the Flowage for a future bass tourney.  Shorelines,
heavy weeded humps, wood exposures, hard bottoms, and rock piles all
make up a pattern for catching good size bass and a test of your
tackle.  Small surface buzz baits, jig and leech, jig and crawler, jig
and plastic all seem to work for this guy and folks are having a blast.
Most everyone reports tossing these fish back into the lake and
allowing someone else to enjoy the thrill of catching this fish on
another day.  The bass is a great fighter and will leave you howling
all the way back to the fishing dock. 

NOTE
we are spotting many many very large schools of bullhead tads along
most every shoreline around the lake and this is a wonderful sign for
future fishing of this specie.  For those of us who live on the Big
Chip it has been many years since we could say that we actually fished
for the bullhead.  I can remember folks sitting on their dock after
dark, with a lantern, and fishing for bullheads----and doing very well
with many fish to skin out.  The bullhead makes a terrific meal and
hopefully this is a sign for great fishing in the near future. 

Smallies are best, along with very good crappie action Out of
Treeland's Resorts, Oak Shores Deluxe Suites & Chippewa Queen Tours on
the Chippewa Flowage

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

Smallies are best right now.  Fish on the east side of the Flowage in
the river channels.  Fish the rocky shorelines, 8 to 12 feet.  Use
leeches and tube jigs.  Action is quite good.

Crappie are very good suspending around the cribs, starting at 15 feet
and going deeper.  Crappie minnows or tube jigs will work.

Musky are picking up a little bit on the Chippewa Flowage out of
Treeland's, with evening or night the best bite.  Fish the tops or side
of bars, anywhere from 5 to 18 feet.  Use surface or twitch baits.

Walleye have been pretty slow.  Some are being found in the sunken
bogs, around 15 to 20 feet.  Use leeches or crawlers.

Northerns are being caught around the weed lines, 10 to 12 feet of
water.  Just about anything will work, including live minnows.

Largemouth bass are fairly good in the backs of bays in the shallow
slop, especially on the west end of the Flowage.  Surface or spinners
are working

Largemouth bass bonanza and good sized bull gills on the Big
Chip.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKY:  With all the hot weather and humidity we really did not have that many folks out fishing.  A few fish have been caught, at last guest check most of these fish were undersize and nothing for the board.  Last week many
fisherman reported good action with a few legals caught but the heat
took over and it seemed everyone dove into the lake for relief from the
high temperatures.  A couple of avid musky fisherman reported good size
fish up on surface baits late afternoon and early evening hours.  These
fish were spotted on the deep water side of heavy weeds and very near
big open water.  We may be in a pattern of deep water jerk and crank
baits because of the warm water in the shallows and heavy weeds.  It
might be a tactic to start in the deep water off the points, toss deep
divers, go to a dark choice on the bucktail, and end up with the
surface lure over the heavy weeds.  You might just cross up this old
devil of a musky and come up with a lunker. 

WALLEYES:  Not too many of our quests are
fishing this week because of the heat with a few folks getting a very
early morning start, before sun up, and having some luck on the
walleyes.  Walleyes can be found on the weed edges in 8 to l0 feet of
water and very near old river channels that drop to 20 feet.  Many fish
can be picked up on the sonar in deep water, these fish are not
feeding, one must go to the nearest weed bar, brushy point, or heavy
weed shoreline just off these detected deep water fish and hopefully
you are in the best spot for a walleye catch.  Fish have been running
small with a few keepers for the fry pan.  A constant search is
required on the walleye with guests catching fish at most hours of the
day.  Try for the early morning bite and return in late afternoon
towards sundown to dark.  Leeches and night crawlers on a jig or slip
bobbers directly over the heavy weeds might be your best pattern for
this time of year.  A few fisherman have had some luck with small diver
baits on the weed edges after dark.  If you can survive the bug bite
you might get into the walleye bite during these hours. 

CRAPPIES:  crappies continue to relate to the
fish cribs and brush piles in deep water.  Good numbers of fish catches
have been reported.  Many small crappies; however a sort-out can put
some fish on the picnic table for your vacation meal of fish.  Deep
fried crappies with some egg and breading can be the very best. 
Crappies are being caught on small minnows, tube skirts, and leaf worms
in 20 feet of water fishing at about l0 to l2 feet just over the fish
crib or brush. 

NORTHERNS:  Many small northerns are being
caught by fisherman relating to other prefered species.  It seems the
northern contines to be active in the shallow water and deep water
where there is heavy structure. 

PANFISH  Many good sized gills are being caught
in deep water by our crappie fisherman.  If you get too deep on the
fish cribs or brush piles there is a good chance you will hook into a
blugill of good size.  Many times you can stay with this pattern and
get a great basket of gills.  The gills will bite on tube skirts, small
minnows, and leaf worms along with chunks of crawlers.  Many times you
have a choice to catch either the crappie by fishing above the
structure or dropping into the structure and catching bluegils and
perch.  We are talking about 20 feet of water and heavy structure.  Be
patient and position your boat around the structure-----it may require
that you move from one side of the structure to the other to get these
creatures to hit your bait.  If you anchor it may require that you use
one oar to swing the boat into position to get the best shot at the
fish coming onto your bait. 

BASS  we are having a bass bonanza on the Big
Chip.  Largemouth bass in the l4 to l8 inch range are the norm and some
of our tournament folks are thinking about the Flowage for a future
tournament for bass.  Shorelines, heavy weeds, heavy wood structure,
hard bottons, and rocks all make up a pattern for the bass.  Small
surface buzz baits, jig and leech, jig and crawler, jig and plastic all
seem to work for this guy and folks are having a blast.  Most everyone
reports tossing these fish back into the lake and allowing someone else
to enjoy the thrill of catching this fish on another day.  The bass is
a great fighter and will leave you howling all the way back to the
dock. 

Note:  we are seeing many many schools of bullheads along the
shorelines and this is a wonderful sign.  For those of us who live on
the Chip it has been many years since we could say that we actually
fished for bulldeads.  I can remember folks sitting on their dock after
dark, with a latern, and fishing just for bullheads----and doing very
well!!  The bullhead makes a great meal and hopefully this is a sign
for bullhead fishing in the near future. 

Walleye biting well at night, lots of crappie hitting hard, and
largemouth bass going wild. 

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKY:  It seems the musky action on the Chippewa Flowage has been
sporadic with many folks reporting sightings and lack of aggressive
hits on baits.  A few fish have been registered at Treeland's in the 36
to 40 inch range this past week.  The frustration has been seeing fish,
bringing up the same fish from previous sightings and the fish simply
not taking the baits.  A number of very large musky have been reported,
going into the 48 to 51 inch range, but no hooks for these big girls. 
Fish have been caught on underwater and surface baits without any
specific pattern being established.  For the most part musky have been
caught during the daylight hours, with minimal action during the
evening bite.

WALLEYE:  Many fine sized walleye have been caught during the week with
most folks finding the evening bite, in the weeds as the best option
for keepers.  Walleye are in the 13 to 15 inch range, with all caught
on leeches.  Look for 10 to 12 feet of water at the break points, near
river channels, and in the heavy weeds.  Best luck for hooking these
walleye is with a slip bobber,  a heavy split shot, and fish directly
off the bottom.

CRAPPIE:  The crappies are back in great numbers, with good sizes for
the frying pan.  It seems the crappies have been driven to deep water,
are in the deep brush piles, fish cribs, and just off the break points
from the old river channels.  Fish have been caught in 18 to 20 feet of
water, just over the brush or fish crib, using very small minnows or
tube skirts.  Depth is critical for the crappie and patience is
required for the catch.  Keep working your baits and try to discover a
pattern for the best depth.

NORTHERN:  Northern continue to be active, with most fish in the 18 to
25 inch range.  Most fish are being caught while pursuing musky,
walleye, and crappie.  Anglers going for northern are having luck with
small spinner baits, plastic, small surface baits, and most kinds of
live bait.

BASS:  The large mouth bass are going wild.  Three groups of tournament
bass anglers are saying they have never caught so many bass on the
Chippewa Flowage.  They're using the Flowage as a warm-up for contests
that will be taking place in the next couple of weeks.  Bass are being
measured in the 17 to 18 inch range, and larger.  The bass anglers are
using spinner baits, plastic, and small surface baits.  The largemouths
are being caught in the shallows, lily pads, heavy weed patches, and
off of grass islands.

PANFISH:  Many fine catches of bluegills have been common.  Leaf worms
and chunks of crawler are the live bait choices, using very light
tackle.  Look for tree falls, heavy weeds, tree stumps, and grass weed
areas.  The larger bull gills are being caught in the crappie areas,
but the bait presentation must be deep into the brush and fish cribs. 

Good walleyes and sizable bass on the Chippewa Flowage Out of
Treeland's Resorts!

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKIES  On the Chippewa Flowage, out of
Treeland Resorts, muskie action continues to maintain a slow to fair
production of sightings and catch/release out of Treelands.  A 42 1/2,
and 39, 37, and 36-inch muskies were boarded so far this week, which
presents a dilemma for many of our guests.  At present we have many
muskie hunters, very good fishermen and women, who define the pattern
as unstable and sporadic for catching fish.  Fish caught were on
bucktails and propped surface baits.  Many folks are throwing crank and
jerk baits which was the pattern when they were here last season.  We
all know that that approach usually does not work year-to-year as there
are many variables with muskie catch patterns.  Some weather fronts
with rain and wind shifts are expected in the next few days which
hopefully will turn the muskie guy on to our "hunters".  Most muskies
registered have been caught in shallow water, heavy weeds, and wood
structure. 

WALLEYE
On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, the walleye
fishermen are completely satisfied with their luck on catching
good-sized fish and in fair numbers.  Walleyes are being caught at all
hours of the day, in the heavy weeds, 6 to 10 feet of water and only
leeches.  Slip bobbers tossed into the weeds allowing the leech to sink
to the bottom between the weeds and l/4 ounce jigs tipped with a leech
seem to be the most productive approach for the walleye guy.  A number
of walleyes have been in the 20 inch range with most fish in the l2 to
l5 inch size range. 

CRAPPIES
Wow!  What a difference a week can be on catching crappies.  For a
variety of reasons, we simply did not see the numbers this week for
crappie catches on the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts.  Cool
nights, wind shifts, clear skies during the day, and folks perhaps not
fishing for crappies, may be a few of the reasons for the low numbers
on this fish this week.  Reports were that a couple of crappies were
caught, long intervals between bites, and a constant battle of critical
depths for action, and seaching out new habitat caused folks to just
give up on trying to get numbers on the crappie.  Lucky folks were
using small minnows, worms, and leeches to lure this guy to the
terminal tackle and make a net landing.  We are all looking to
continued crappie action but this week was a struggle for catches. 
Fish seem to be around the brush piles and fish cribs in large number
-- getting them to grab the bait is the challenge. 

NORTHERNS
a few northerns have been caught, fishing for the above species all of
which have been small fish.  The northern are not as active as was the
case a few weeks back, but they are still hanging around the muskie
areas -- weeds, shallow water, and warm bays.  Bait used with the
muskie, crappie, and walleye will snag you a northern with most fish
outings. 

BASS:
some very sizable bass have been caught this week, falling into the l6
to 20 inch range on the Chippewa Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts.  It
seems the folks that are fishing for panfish are also catching bass on
worms.  This presents a terrific battle while using very light tackle
-- a 20 inch bass will take you around the boat a few times along with
a lot of oooohs and aaahs.  Bass are also being caught on small spinner
baits, plastic, and small prop baits over heavy surface weeds. 
 

PANFISH
good numbers of bluegills are being caught in the warm water bays and
fishing into lilypad pockets/weed openings in shallow water.  Some 8 to
l0 inch blugills are being cleaned and providing wonderful dinners
during the week for our guests.  Leaf worms and waxies are the favored
bait using very light tackle. 

Musky Fishing "Terrific" and "Crappie going wild"  on the
Chippewa Flowage

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, and home of the world record musky, the
following is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKY:  We had a terrific time with the muskies and folks are very
encouraged by the numbers caught, observed, and frequency with which
musky have seen and caught.  Seven muskies were registered at Treelands
this past week between 34 and 36 1/2 inches.  Three fish were caught by
guests who had success for the first time in measuring and releasing a
musky.  The fish registered were caught on bucktails and double-propped
surface baits.  Three larger fish were missed, broke off, or just plain
got off because someone was not prepared to "set the iron."  Most
muskies were caught and observed in warm water river channels, off of
small weed bars, and in wood structure all in shallow water.  It seems
the larger muskies that were reported being seen, but not hooked, were
in deeper water and heavy weeds, very near break points to deep river
channels.

WALLEYE:  Good to excellent fishing continues with the Big Chip
walleyes on Treeland's end of the lake.  Walleyes seem to be on the
isolated heavy patches of mud flats in shallow water, and around wood
structure with heavy weed growth.  Folks are catching 14 to 17 inch
walleyes, with many smaller fish being tossed back to the lake. 
Leeches are the primary live bait, along with some luck on crawlers. 
All anglers are using slip bobbers.  Catching consistent eating-size
walleyes requires moving around and trying different presentations with
tackle.  Edges of weeds, into the heavy weed, sitting directly on top
of heavy weeds and fishing straight down, using light jig heads, or
just allowing the leech to drift into the weeds all become options for
the challenged angler.

CRAPPIE:  Crappies on the Chippewa Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts
have gone wild, and with many groups of our guests all fishing in the
same area, once word gets out on location, you end up with many, many
happy crappie anglers.  It seems the crappies have located on the
floating bogs in very large numbers, which provides fishing for many
boats and anglers.  The bogs that are productive are very near the old
river channels which are migration routes for the crappie.  When these
crappies go in to feed, these large bogs become a terrific food source.
With our guests having good luck finding these spots, and having some
crappie-catching experience, this becomes a true crappie bonanza. 
Crappie are generally running small, going 8 to 10 inches.  However,
with some sorting and being selective, the 15 fish limit per angler,
soon provides a great dinner and some to take home for a share-meal
with friends next winter.  Crappie are after very small minnows and
tube skirts.  Folks are fishing in 18 to 20 feet of water over fish
cribs and brush piles, with the best luck for a catch just above
structure.  Bog fishing is at about 10 to 12 feet of water, with the
bog hung up somewhere in shallower water.  Be on the deep end of the
bog and allow your bait to drift under the bog.  Fish at about 6 feet
down, in 12 feet of water.  That's where the crappie are suspending.

BASS:  Bass are running about 12 to 15 inches, with many being caught
once some productive structure is located.  Folks are having the best
luck along shorelines with tall reeds and heavy weeds, exposed
dead-head wood structure, rock bars, and humps, with heavy weed growth.
Crank baits, small spinner baits, and plastic, along with crawlers and
leeches seem to be the food patterns for the bass.  A couple of fish
that were in the 19 inch range were kept for the taxidermist this
week.

NORTHERN:  A few northerns were reported  caught on the Chippewa
Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts, with all being very small and not
ending up in the fish house.  Most of the northern were caught while
fishing for other species of fish, using like bait.  The northern
themselves have slowed down, with most seeking deeper, cooler water. 
The Big Chip has plenty of monster northern, if the angler is patient
and truly seeking them out.

PANFISH:  Bluegills are being caught in the shallows of the Chippewa
Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts, where heavy weeds have taken over. 
Most gills are very small, and end up being tossed back.  These gills
are being caught around the fishing boat docks and primarily by
youngsters.  This has provided a tremendous opportunity for our young
folks to have some enjoyment at fishing -- you can hear the screams all
day when another bluegill has been landed.  This kind of fishing is
very hard on dad's new spin rod and reel, and many more hours are spent
putting tackle back together, than actual fishing time by the kids. 

Good-sized bull gills are being caught in deeper water around fishing
cribs and brush piles -- leaf worm, leeches and chunks of crawler,
using a straight down line and fishing directly into the structure work
very well for these bull gills. 

Musky Fishing "Wonderful" on Chippewa Flowage out of Treeland's
Resorts This Week; Walleye also good, but harder to find.
On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:
 

MUSKY we are beginning to see and experience a
wonderful musky fishing event out of Treeland's Resorts on the Chippewa
Flowage. 

During this past week fish have been charted at 34 to 46 inches at
Treelands.  Baits used were Topper Stoppers, Suicks, and various
versions of the bucktail.  It is possible that, because we presently
have a number of folks fishing the musky, that the report is so
favorable.  Fish have been sighted with lazy follows, aggressive
strikes, fish lost at the boat, 6 legals boated, and some swearing can
be heard across the flowage on any given evening --all good signs that
we are into the musky hunt and a mid-summer pattern is pretty well
established.  Deep water to shallow, using divers and ending up with
top water, seems to be the experienced fisherman's approach.  Muskies
seems to be somewhat scattered with a few larger fish becoming
territorial as more than one sighting on large fish in the same area. 
It does not take long for a story to get out on a large fish being
spotted -- boats are covering these areas day and night. 

WALLEYE:
walleyes continue to be the choice of most of our fishermen out of
Treeland's Resorts on the Chippewa Flowage, and with many returning
guests who are familiar with weed walleyes, many good-sized fish are
being taken.  Both deep and shallow weed patterns are successful using
leeches and slip bobbers in the shallows and jigging in the deep water.
Folks are catching 13 to 16 inch walleyes in the heavy weeds just off
the break points to deep river channels.  Deep walleyes are in 16 to 22
feet of water with catches in the same size range -- the only
difference being the shallow walleyes require a great deal of searching
with boat movement to find the fish in any numbers.  Also, an
early-evening -to-dark bite seems to be productive on the shallow water
weed walleyes. 

CRAPPIES
many good numbers of crappies are being caught on the Chippewa Flowage
out of Treeland's Resorts,  but many seem to be too small for most
fisherman to keep and clean.  A few good baskets of crappies were taken
this week and these happy and successful folks reported some terrific
fresh fish dinners.  Crappies are biting on very small minnows, yellow
and purple tube skirts, and worms will attract these same crappies when
it seems the fish have moved out.  Brush piles and fish cribs are
holding good numbers of crappies --fish directly above the structure as
depth for crappies is critical.  If you get too deep into the
structure, you will only lose a great  deal of tackle, and, more
troublesome, is the fish caught are usually small bluegills, rock bass,
and a bonus small walleye.  Some large perch are being caught deep into
the brush however. 

PANFISH
very large numbers of small sunfish, bluegills, and pumpkin seeds are
being caught by families with their youngsters in the warm shallow bays
around Treeland's Resort.  With some sorting, a wonderful small fish
meal can be prepared and all the kids are happy.  Some gills are in the
6 to 8 inch range and if you find one, you will have no problem
catching enough for a dinner.  Leafworms, waxies, poppers on a fly rod,
and chunks of night crawler work the best.  Use very light tackle --
cane pole being the best pole for this little guy. 

NORTHERNS
a few small northerns have been caught with most folks tossing them
back into the lake.  This fish will show up while fishing for most
other game fish -- the musky fisherman, however, may have other
feelings about the northern when it shows up on a 6 inch bait!!! 

BASS
smallmouth bass are being caught in good numbers and sizes seem to be
in the 12 to 17 inch range.  Fish shoreline weed edges, tree falls,
hard bottom areas off weedy points, and all in shallow water.  Look for
warm water back bays and heavy weed cover.  Use small surface baits,
shallow running minnow baits, small spinner baits, and, one fellow
reported a 17 inch smallmouth on a very large Eddie Bait  -- two
minutes later he caught a 35 1/2 inch musky.

Good Selection of Fish Biting on "The Big Chip" out of
Treeland's

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported by Bill Meiser:

MUSKY:  Just a few small, legal fish are being registered right now,
with lots of boils, follows, and short strikes occurring regularly. 
The musky are most active when following deep behind baits.  A number
of 45-plus inch musky have been seen, but the bite is off-and-on. 
Musky hunters are anxiously awaiting the day when all the conditions
will be right for a continuous, not sporadic musky bite.

WALLEYE:  The walleye continue to be active on the Chippewa Flowage out
of Treeland's Resorts, both in the shoreline weed edges at about 6 to
10 feet of water, and on the mud flats/sunken bogs with heavy wood
structure and tall weeds.  Many limits of walleye are being taken in
the 14 to 16 inch range, along with a few over 20 inches plus.  Leeches
are the primary bait, with most walleye coming right off the bottom. 
Anglers are catching walleye at all hours of the day on The Chip --
somewhat unusual for the warm weather.

CRAPPIE:  The crappies are on the fish cribs and brush piles and
they're being caught in abundance.  BUT, absolutely nothing big. 
Forget about any big slabs -- indeed, only a few crappie are even going
into the 10 to 12 inch class, with a VERY occasional one coming in over
that size.  This has been the pattern for the past few years, and
anglers are hoping that the pattern will soon change to larger fish. 
Interestingly, the larger crappies seem to be feeding on the smallest
minnow an angler can find in his bucket.  Slip bobbers, straight down
lines, and using tube skirts with a 1/32 ounce jig seems to work well. 
The critical tip is to fish directly over the fish crib/brush pile --
not into the structure itself.  If you are in 20 feet of water, you may
find fishing at 12 to 13 feet to be the most productive for the
crappie, as they are suspending in that manner.  If you are catching
perch, gills, rock bass, or even a walleye, then you are probably too
deep into the structure for the crappie.

NORTHERN:  A few fair sized northerns are being caught on the Chippewa
Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts, with a few going over 25 inches. 
Many smaller northerns have been caught, providing lots of action and
fun  - even without the size.  Use something flashy such as silver
spoons, silver bladed bucktails and live bait northern suckers.  Weeds,
wood structure, tree falls, river shorelines all seem to provide cover
for the northern and are usually a predictable pattern for the catch.

PANFISH:  Many large numbers of bluegills, sunfish, pumpkin seeds, and
small perch are being caught in the shallows on the Chippewa Flowage
out of Treeland's Resorts.  These fish usually run small and simply
provide a great afternoon of action and fun -- especially for the kids.
The larger panfish have moved into deeper water,  and around fish
cribs and brush piles.  Fishing deep into the structure where you have
caught crappie ABOVE the structure, will provide larger panfish.  Use
small minnows, waxies, chunks of crawler or leaf worms.  Using tube
skirts will also be productive.

PERCH:  Some real nice jumbos are being caught in deep water on the
Chippewa Flowage out of Treeland's Resorts, using the same pattern as
used for the crappie.  Perch going to 12 inches plus are being caught
by walleye anglers.  Fish with leeches, around wood structure, tall
weeds, and mud flats.  The perch are feeding in the same pattern as the
walleye right now -- and that shouldn't be surprising.  They're both
members of the perch family.

BASS:  Smallies are dominant on the east side of the Chip, with many in
the 15 to 17 inch range being caught.  Fish tight to shorelines, around
old remnant stumps, heavy weed cover, tree falls and hard bottoms in
the river and creek areas.  Live bait such as leeches, night crawlers,
and sucker minnows, along with small bucktails, plastic worms, buzz
surface baits, and crawler type artificials are all triggering the
bass. 

Excellent Smallmouth Bass Action on the "Big Chip."  Walleye
Still Hitting.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported:

MUSKY:  On good days, anglers are reporting follows, strikes, and an
occasional hit.  However few musky have been taken.  One day, great
action.  Next day nothing.  So what else is new in musky fishing,
right?  Fish that have been drawn to baits are looking at and at times
following bucktails and surface baits.  Natural colored hair with green
blades seem to trigger these fish while using bucktails.  Surface baits
have been the creeper, small prop surface baits, and even a few jerk
baits.  Keep trying.  The Big Chip is the home of the world record
musky, and there are lots and lots of trophy  musky in its waters. 
You'll get your 50 plus incher, if you're patient.

WALLEYE:  The walleye continue to feed all hours of the day.  Look for
remnants of the mayfly hatch, over mudflats with heavy weeds.  Use slip
bobbers and get directly to the very bottom and into the structure. 
Use a leech!  Weed lines near severe drop offs and casting a small
weedless jig tipped with a leech has been quite productive.  Anglers
are limiting out on 14 to 16 inch walleye, with many smaller fish
tossed back.

CRAPPIE:  Move, search, and adjust depth.  Use a slip bobber, straight
down line, with a tube skirt or small minnow.  AND, if you've got a LOT
of perseverance, you'll get a FEW crappies.  And what you get is very
large.  And the crappie that are in the 14 inch plus range are full of
spawn.  Thus far this year, the crappie bonanza (including huge slabs,
for which the Chip is famous) is middling in success.  The crappies
continue to scatter, and the bite is short when you do find them.  The
sense from savvy Big Chip anglers, is that the crappie will bust loose
big-time with all the hot weather we're getting.  The prediction is a
huge feeding frenzy is at hand.

BASS:  MANY good size smallies (14 to 18 inches) are being caught. 
Small bucktails, surface buzz baits, small spinners and some plastic
have been productive.  Folks are fishing in the rivers, hard bottom,
off of rock ledges and sandy points, as well as around fallen trees and
old brush structure.

PANFISH:  Kids are fishing with cane poles and leaf worms, and are
really having a blast.  Limits are taken fairly easily.  Use only a
SMALL part of the worm, and fish the shallow weeds along south facing
shorelines around tree falls.  Fantastic.  And the nice thing is that
the gills, pumpkin seeds, perch, and sunfish are averaging quite decent
size.  You'll still have to sort, but there'll still be plenty for
filleting in the fish house.  However most of the kids are RELEASING
every one they catch, which is terrific.    The panfish are in the
shallows, because the Flowage is up above normal for this time of year.
It is very easy to catch these panfish over the emerging weeds in
great numbers.

NORTHERN:  The northern are harder to find, and the numbers have
dropped off in recent weeks.  One explanation is that musky are
beginning to emerge as the primary predator, and when that happens, the
northern, like all other species scatter real quick-like.  Best bet is
to start fishing the northern DEEPER (the northern also like to escape
the real warm water and head for deeper, cooler water around this
time), over deep weeds.  You'll still get action, and at times, a nice
lunker.  So keep trying.  The northern have not disappeared, just moved
around.

On the Chippewa Flowage, out of Treeland Resorts, on Wisconsin's
largest wilderness lake, home of the world record musky, the following
is being reported:

MUSKY
Musky have started to move around and
even become active in our area with many musky anglers expressing both
success and frustration with this predator.  It seems the muskies that
have been caught were on right on the 8 to l0 foot weed edges next to
deep water and severe drop-offs to very deep water.  There continue to
be very few established patterns as yet and this could be fish still in
a recovery mode and not committed to establishing a territory -- yet. 
Fish of 34 to 43 l/2 inches have been recorded with 7 fish this week
for our resort.  Bucktails, Suicks, and a few fish caught on surface
baits where folks are tossing baits directly over heavy weed beds have
boated a few muskies.  The musky does not seem to be real active on the
larger bars and some of the most popular spots on the Big Chip, with
fish being caught and spotted in the warmer south-facing bays, weed
edges and next to deeper water. 

WALLEYE:
for the second week, we are in a walleye catch bonanza in our area of
the lake.  The walleyes are in about l0 to l2 feet of water, emerging
grass and weeds, and staying very close to the bottom.  Fishermen are
catching limits of l4 to l6 inch walleyes and allowing those that are
bigger to continue to be the future of our walleye population.  We
witnessed walleyes being released at the docks in the 25 to 28 inch
range with three fish as dinner in a number of boats this week.  It
seems the pattern is on the mud flats where the Mayfly hatch is in
progress.  This should be a good sign to anglers as the walleye are
feeding in these areas and your bait might be what is preferred.  Folks
are using slip bobbers, fishing directly off the bottom, and using only
leeches. 

CRAPPIES
the crappie are beginning to establish themselves in the deep water
around brush piles, fish cribs, old wood structure, and what will soon
be very tall weed growth near severe drop -offs.  Crappies have been
small, and not very many being caught in any one spot.  It will take
some work to search the crappie out, but a hearty meal is there for the
taking.  I would suggest you release the crappies filled with spawn as
they may go back into the shallows for a possible drop of eggs.  It
seems the larger crappies are the ones filled with spawn --it will be
obvious to the fisherman those filled with eggs and the ones to toss
back for another day.  Baits being used are small crappie size minnows,
tube skirts, and "fuzzy" type baits on small jigs.  Yellow and purple
have been the productive colors on the tube skirts. 

BASS:
anglers are doing very well on smallmouth bass with fish reported as
large as l7 inches.  We had many folks fishing primarily for bass and
doing well with a small jig and a leech.  Small bucktails, spinner
baits, and some folks using plastic have been productive.  A number of
bass have been caught just fishing for panfish around tree falls, lily
pads, and exposed brush piles along the shorelines using worms. We have
a few rivers and creeks in our area and guests have caught bass off the
rock edges, rock bars, and rock/sandy points emerging from the
mainland. 

PANFISH:
bull gills are being caught and making many folks very happy with
their success.  The bluegills are in the shallows again, lots of them,
and if you hit it right, one can spend the afternoon having a very good
time on this adventure.  Very light tackle with leafworms or waxies is
the preferred live bait.  Reports of a few gills being chased or
stomped upon by the musky have also been excitement for a few folks
this week.  No reports of anyone catching perch so far and this may be
that this guy is out in the deep water. 
 

Note:  the surface water temperature is getting warmer and folks must
remember to toss some ice in their minnow buckets to keep live bait
moving around and alive.  We see few people with floating minnow
buckets outside the boat because of this warm water surface
temperature.  Do not use a metal minnow bucket as this will fry your
minnows very quickly.  Keep some ice in your leech container
also----keep them in the refrigerator overnight if allowed! 

NORTHERNS:
anytime, anywhere, any bait -- just be out on the lake and you will
catch a northern.  Fish your favorite fish and chances are you will be
into a northern.  You might find that you are doing very well on
panfish and suddenly there are very few bites and fishing has almost
come to a screeching halt --could be a northern about! 

Most walleye catches were made in 8 to 9 feet of water, around weed
edges or between islands just off of structure, particularly on Scott
Lake (part of the Flowage).  Minnows were the bait of choice, with
walleye going to 29 inches - - most a bit smaller.  There was late
ice-out on the Flowage this year, and the walleye are looking for the
shallower, warmer water right now.

You could get some decent sized northern throwing a spinner bait into a
quiet bay, towards shore.  The northern weren't hitting big time, but
you would get some action if you had the patience to work a long
shoreline.  Many anglers were picking up a number of real aggressive
smallies (the season is NOT open for smallies yet, and any caught must
be instantly released), while going for the northern.  The northern
were going up to 7/8 pounds max, with snakes mixed in.

Crappie hunters were reporting success fishing 5 to 8 feet of water
(crappie are just starting to move shallow - - again, a little late
this year), using a minnow.  Best results were to be had over brush
piles and into a lot of "junk," like wood.  Crappies were going up to
14 inches, but most smaller.