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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | I am looking to move our family to either the Madison or Milwaukee area and I need some information. We currently live 25 minutes from Lake St Clair where there is a real good chance at a 50 inch musky anytime your on the water. Are there musky lakes that have this type of quality in the area for fishing after work?
Thanks
Rich |
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| Not in the same numbers but still great fishing in that area, I would recommend moving to MN, they have lots of 50 inch fish...BR |
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | BrokenWing - 3/10/2010 11:12 PM
I am looking to move our family to either the Madison or Milwaukee area and I need some information. We currently live 25 minutes from Lake St Clair where there is a real good chance at a 50 inch musky anytime your on the water. Are there musky lakes that have this type of quality in the area for fishing after work?
Thanks
Rich I Would say the Madison area better fishing and it gives you a hr. jump to good lakes in northern Wisc. and Minn. If it's fish you whant stay where your at now. Lake St Clair has the best muskie fishing. Marv. |
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Posts: 315
| my dad lives in waunakee, wi about 15min outside of downtown madison.........move there = ) |
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Posts: 47
Location: Bonduel WI | Both lake Mendota and Lake Monona right in Madison offer some good musky fishing from what i have been told. You also have Okauchee just to the east of Mad town which is also very good fishing. If you really feel the need to fish big water, you can always make the 2 and a half hour drive up to Green Bay. |
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Posts: 8823
| If you are looking for a "real good chance at a 50" muskie every time out, central Wisconsin is not exactly a goldmine. Muskie fishing on the Yahara Chain is exceptional for an urban fishery, but it gets fished heavily. I know of less than 5 50" fish caught in that area in the last 7 years. About an hour East you have Oconomowoc, Okauchee, and Pewaukee within a relatively short distance of each other. You'll see a few more 50" class fish there, but not on a regular basis by any means. If I were to move there? I'd try to get right between Madison and Milwaukee, in the Jefferson area. From there you have half a dozen muskie lakes within 45 minutes. |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Move to Madison - great fishing there! Plus, if you become one of the madtown cap city regulars, you'll probably end up fishing in MN more than Wisconsin anyway, just like the rest of them! Ha Ha |
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| for being relatively far south, and being relatively small urban lakes with lots of recreational and fishing pressure, the muskie fishing opportunities in Madison and Milwaukee metro areas are pretty good.
no one expects to catch 50" fish every time out in Madison, but with a 45" minimum size limit there has been a noticeable uptick in the average size fish caught and 40"-45" regularly visit many boats.
here's a couple dinks CCMI members caught last year...
Edited by lambeau 3/11/2010 8:18 AM
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | sledneck68 - 3/11/2010 12:13 AM
Both lake Mendota and Lake Monona right in Madison offer some good musky fishing from what i have been told.
Monona has the muskies. Mendota has not been stocked since the 80s and has very few that would have to migrate upstream from Monona and through a lock. While some do make it through, some are also killed trying (from what I've heard) when they try in the spring. While 50 are not common on either Monona and Waubesa, the fishery is relatively young and has a great couple of year classes coming up that are well into the upper 40 inch range. As Lamboo posted that top picture show amazing girth on these fish. I have also heard that from the PMTT guys that fished here the past two times when talking with them. |
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Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | I wish i had the option to move somewhere based on how good the fishing would be after work.
Heck , Move to Milford, Which is about exactly in the middle of both the areas your looking at and you'll be able to fish both areas. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | JSondag...so true! 
If your choice is between Milw and Madison I'd pick Madison... fishing here is getting better every year but don't expect to see or catch many over 47"...the avg size is going up but 50's are still rare for the number of man hours fished on these waters....
If you really want to be close to 50" waters move to MN...there is probably a house for sale near JSondag! |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | BenR - 3/10/2010 10:14 PM
Not in the same numbers but still great fishing in that area, I would recommend moving to MN, they have lots of 50 inch fish...BR
Yup, MN would be a good place to go...
Kidding, both areas you mention are producing quantity and quality fish. |
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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | Thanks guys. We are doing research right now, heck this weekend we are doing a little recon trip. Any musky stores in the area I should stop by?
Rich |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | In Madison you have Dorn Northgate on the northeast side along with D&S Bait Tackle and Archery on Northport Dr. On the south central side of Madison you have Dorn's on Midvale at the Beltline.
Oh one more, Gander Mount off the 90/94Interstate at HWY 52 in DeForest.
Edited by muskie! nut 3/11/2010 5:39 PM
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Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | Rich,
Okauchee, Oconomowoc, LaBelle, and Pewaukee are just a couple of lakes that are within 20 minutes. Don't forget to look at the great silver fish of Lake Michigan. The new method for catching them is awesome and you don't need a big boat to do it. Muskie stores....you have Smokies on Pewaukee that offers it all or Gander Mountain, Cabellas, Fleet Farm and other small bait stores that have a good selection. Come join the fun plus if you want to watch a ballgame we have the best of both worlds in Milwaukee (open air and nice and dry).
Bruce |
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| I assume since you fish St. Clair that you do a lot of trolling. If that is your preferred method to fish Muskies you may really find yourself disappointed with WI since many lakes prohibit trolling. |
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Posts: 32922
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not where he's planning on moving, they don't; most of the lakes where trolling is prohibited are north of HWY 64. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Madison is a great town outside of the fishing part too. Some great communities with lots to offer and some very good people who know how to have fun and live life to the fullest.
to me there is nothing compelling about milwaukee if madison is an option ... |
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| With Madison and Milwaukee being about one hour apart pick a town in the middle such as Watertown. I would favor the Milwaukee area. There are plenty of suburbs to the west of Milwaukee close to Pewaukee, Okauchee, Oconomowoc, LaBelle yet close enough to Madison. |
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| If you have school aged children I would recommend the Madison area. Wisconsin also has school choice so you can live in Madison close to the lakes and send your kids to one of the neighboring communities. That being said I live on the south side of Madison within 10 minutes of three musky lakes. |
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Posts: 280
| Lake Mills would be a perfect city to access both Milwaukee and Madison area musky waters. About 30-40 mins to any of the landings with the quick access to the interstate. Nice small community with a non-musky lake that offers some good fishing for those other species.
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | I can't believe no one has mentioned Green Bay. That is your best chance at a 50"+ in Wisconsin. It is only in it's infancy being the stocking only started 19 years ago. It is the most similar fishery to St. Clair as well.
You mentioned Madison or Milwaukee, but the Green Bay and Fox Cities area is about equal to the population of the Madison area and it has more industry. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | More 50"+ muskies have been caught and released back into Pewaukee Lake than any other lake in the state over the last 5 years, which can be upsetting to those fishing in the Boulder Junction or Hayward.
Contact Smokey's Muskie Shop which is located on the south shore of the lake for hard numbers, but I understand 38 were registered at Smokies just last year. That is incredible considering the fishing pressure the lake receives.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 3/15/2010 12:14 PM
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Posts: 229
| Have there really been more muskies released on Pewaukee when compared to Green Bay? How many muskies have been caught out of Pewaukee in the last 5 years? Just a rough estimate is good for me.
John |
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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | Guest - 3/12/2010 10:33 AM
I assume since you fish St. Clair that you do a lot of trolling. If that is your preferred method to fish Muskies you may really find yourself disappointed with WI since many lakes prohibit trolling.
Actually there a lot of guys casting for musky in LSC but it is a newer method for that lake. I and my wife cast for musky but thanks a lot for the information.
Green Bay is out of our current area otherwise I would have considered that place also!
Smokey's smaller bait shop near downtown was open but the larger store was closed on Saturday. I guess the owner hurt his foot?
1446 miles from Friday to Sunday, thanks guys! |
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Posts: 229
| Steve Van Lieshout - 3/15/2010 12:13 PM
More 50"+ muskies have been caught and released back into Pewaukee Lake than any other lake in the state over the last 5 years, which can be upsetting to those fishing in the Boulder Junction or Hayward.
Contact Smokey's Muskie Shop which is located on the south shore of the lake for hard numbers, but I understand 38 were registered at Smokies just last year. That is incredible considering the fishing pressure the lake receives.
SVL:
Are you saying there were 38 50 plus inch muskies caught out of Pewaukee last year. I say BS.
John |
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Posts: 285
Location: NE Wisconsin | Not saying Pewaukee isn't a great trophy lake, but of the 4184 muskies registered caught on Pewaukee, in the history of Muskies Inc, 9 have been 50'+
1 84356 10/03/1995 52.50" Bagley DB06 Red Casting 8'
2 193084 07/14/2004 52.50" * 31.76 Bagley DB04 Not Specified Trolling
3 164976 09/22/2002 52.00" * 43.94 Top Raider Black Casting
4 188420 05/29/2004 52.00" Bucher Depth Raider White Trolling 17'
5 50020 05/29/1991 52.00" Slammer Crank Perch Casting 12'
6 235318 10/05/2006 52.00" * 37.44 Bagley DB06 Walleye Casting 4'
7 59752 05/29/1992 51.75" Slammer Crank Perch Casting 12'
8 231785 09/26/2006 51.50" 31.15 Creeper Black Casting 1'
9 96647 05/26/1997 50.00" Homemade Spinner Not Specified Casting
10 214252 10/03/2005 49.75" Rad Dog Black Casting 4'
11 197344 09/04/2004 49.50" * 24.75 Mepps Tandem Black Casting
12 190157 06/25/2004 49.00" Creeper Black Casting 4'
13 89906 06/26/1996 49.00" Boo Tail Black Casting 8'
14 150031 09/15/2001 49.00" Globe Orange Casting 1'
15 282814 11/06/2009 49.00" * 32.40 Sucker Not Specified Drift 8'
16 203586 05/07/2005 48.50" Big Joe Black Casting 3' |
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Posts: 229
| Johnnie,
I believe the info you provided really makes the statement that 38 muskies over 50 inches were caught of of Pewaukee last year look ridiculous. Everybody knows a couple come out of there every year, but 38... LMAO!!!!!
John |
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| there were 10 registered over 50" on North Twin in the last 5 yrs. 4 on Pewaukee.
38 over 50" ? Somebody is smoking some bad weed man. |
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| Madison is closer to Green Bay! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Actually I think MKE is closer to GB...38 over 50" huh what? not a chance....
good lake but it is not cranking out 50s. I would wager there were just as many caught on the Mad Chain last year as Pewaukee.
Edited by BNelson 3/16/2010 2:39 PM
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | And here's where the thread jumped the shark...... |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | slick is just a bitter lurker ... with tell-tail signals.
i remember living on cedar lake in NP having a contest to see who could guess the most iowegians that would be packed into a single john-boat bullhead fishing. winner got the kittie ... |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Somebody is smoking some bad weed man.
No such thing.. Lol jkjk! |
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Posts: 136
| Maybe it was just a typo..maybe is was supposed to be 50 over 38" |
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Posts: 229
| Now 50 over 38" I can believe. 50 over 40" too. 50 over 45", maybe, but probably not. But 38 over 50" that is just a plain outright LIE 
John |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I contacted John Laimon who owns Smokies Musky Shop on the lake for decades.
He confirmed that there had never been a year to match last season.
He confirmed that the number of fish caught & released over 50" last season exceeded 38.
Yes, that is a big number, but Pewaukee receives incredible muskie fishing pressure compared to any other lake. There are days when you could seemingly walk across the lake by stepping from boat to boat. It is a sizable lake with the unique combination of water fertility with a consistant stocking program by both Muskies Inc. and other groups, and it has a huge forage base, as The Pewaukee Lake Study indicated, sponsored by the Milwaukee Chapter of Muskies Inc.
Last year the fishing was insane. Normally the water temps exceed the upper 80's, I never saw the water temperature over 76. The fish were accessable on the weedlines all year.
You can believe it or not. It doesn't matter to me.
It was an incredible extraordinary year on Pewaukee.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 3/18/2010 2:44 PM
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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | I've heard of more than 38-50's kept out of green bay in a year back about 4-5 years ago. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | 38 over 50"...wow, that sure seems like a tall tale....how many visited Mike Koepp or Joel Michels boat?
Edited by BNelson 3/18/2010 4:06 PM
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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | Either way is sounds like the lake is a great lake either way you look at it. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | it is a good lake but I can't think of one guy I know from Madison that trailers down there to fish it when we have Wauby and Monona right here.... |
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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | We just need to be able to get into Chicago once or twice a week for work. So that is why we selected that area. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'd rather get into chicago (the loop) from the north (milwaukee/waukeegan) than from the west (madison) ... |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | jonnysled - 3/18/2010 10:15 PM
i'd rather get into chicago (the loop) from the north (milwaukee/waukeegan) than from the west (madison) ...
Soon enough you'll be able to ride a train. |
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Posts: 229
| Everybody that caught a 50(or multiple) out of Pewaukee last year please come forward... Anybody willing to admit it? I don't argue that Pewaukee is a good lake or that the fishing was great last year, I just don't believe the report of 38 fifties.
John |
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Posts: 136
| Pointerpride102 - 3/18/2010 10:19 PM
Soon enough you'll be able to ride a train.
Wonder if I will be able to take my boat on the train to go musky fishing?  |
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Posts: 32
Location: Manawa Wiscowsin | Don't forget about the upper lakes of the Winnebago chain. The musky fishing has really been coming on in the last few years. In addition there are some big northerns lurking in the weeds. I was trolling for eyes a couple of years ago on Winnebago. I had caught a few nice northerns and two small muskies in that area of the lake before. A white bass hit my lure and a musky hit the white bass close to the boat. That fish jumped three times and headed for Fond Du Lac. I couldn't slow him down with 20lb test. He straightened out the hook and was gone. |
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Posts: 182
Location: musky waters of SE, WI | I got two on pewaukee last year, a 50 and 51, as well as losing a sure 50+ boatside. There were quite a few caught last year but surely not 38 more like 15. It was an awesome year on that lake, alot of big fish caught, i don't know if you'll see it that good again unless its another off year with weird temps.
The pewaukee area has good lakes for muskies- pewaukee, oconomowoc, okauchee, as well as smaller lakes, fowler, la belle. But i think the mad chain is going to be a steller fishery in the next 10 years.
Edited by Ryan_Cotter 3/20/2010 2:21 PM
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Posts: 203
Location: Alexandria, Minnesota | Nice fish Lambeau.........What was the girth on that thing? Looked like a real lard azz. |
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| I believe it was stated at 36 inches, but I cannot confirm that...BR |
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Posts: 283
| on the cap city website it says 47 3/4x28 |
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Posts: 19
| Milwaukee, not mad-town |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | Steve Van Lieshout - 3/15/2010 12:13 PM
More 50"+ muskies have been caught and released back into Pewaukee Lake than any other lake in the state over the last 5 years, which can be upsetting to those fishing in the Boulder Junction or Hayward.
Contact Smokey's Muskie Shop which is located on the south shore of the lake for hard numbers, but I understand 38 were registered at Smokies just last year. That is incredible considering the fishing pressure the lake receives.
Pewaukee is a great lake. One of the best sucker bites I've ever seen and one of the best lakes I've ever fished. I do a majority of my musky fishing in NE Wisconsin and I've never caught legals on back to back casts up there.
You'd also be close to Okauchee, it produces huge fish. The WMT's first 50" was caught out there and so was Dennis Radloff's 52" ( that was closer to 54-55") that was on the Gillespo show.
It can be a fickle mother in the dog days of summer, but so can a majority of lakes.
My Vote is for the Milwaukee area. The fishery here is so diverse. You can musky fish in the morning then head out to Lake Michigan to troll for Salmon then head to the Milwaukee river for Steelhead and Browns....all this in the same day. Madison are doesn't offer that. |
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