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Posts: 1283
| Spend about 10 days a year on Big St Germain and a bunch of time fishing it with NO luck on that body of water. I normally head to Manitowish Waters chain while Im there and have much better luck. However its not the type of luck that will keep a newcomer like the GF interested or my brother that tries his ass off but has never caught a Ski. He has seen me and friends catch fish on the chain though and at least he will still try all day and night every year, but so far he has never hooked one. Im feeling he might give up soon.
This year Im bringing my own boat which opens us up to any lake we can launch at in the area. Im looking for help on smaller high population lakes in the area. Not looking for a trophy just to get them each a fish.
Any suggestions would be great for all of us. We are CPR people and would never dream of taking a fish to mount or eat. PMs or post here would make our yearly trips that much better. I feel if they dont catch something soon they will totally just think Im nuts and even though I am, having family and the GF with me really means a lot.
Thanks in advance,
Mike |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/musky/WisconsinMuskellung...
Look for A2 lakes, tons to choose from in that area. |
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Posts: 257
Location: Valpo IN | Fish wildcat lake just north of Boulder Junction one afternoon you`ll catch them a few for sure.. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Wildcat is a good slump-buster = agree |
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Posts: 1283
| Thank you for the link and suggestions,
I will def give Wildcat a shot. |
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Posts: 566
Location: Elgin, IL | achotrod - 12/11/2013 11:35 AM
Thank you for the link and suggestions,
I will def give Wildcat a shot.
Nice ramp, easy to get to. Close to Gooch's for a pizza. |
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Posts: 1283
| Looks easy to get to. Just take 51 to M and the public launch is on the SE side of the lake. |
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Posts: 8834
| Wildcat gets a fair amount of pressure, but if you're looking for numbers, it's a good bet. TONS of lakes in that area to choose from. |
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Posts: 1283
| I really dont even care if I catch a fish. I just want to get my brother a fish and get the GF one so she gets into it more. None of my friends muskie fish so I need to get her more interested/excited in going with me. My brother has been trying for close to 30yrs and has never caught one. Not sure why though. He is on the same boat, uses similar lures but the fish just dont like him or something. lol |
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Posts: 119
| Wildcat is a good one with density , high and fish trap are right in the same vicinity. Both of those seem to have good numbers with some quality fish in the mix as well. The bonus with high and fish trap is that they are connected via a culvert and are very different bodies of water. It has been my experience that when one is off usually the other is on. Fish see a lot of lures on these lakes and it usually pays to try something different. |
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Posts: 194
Location: Lincolnshire, IL | Haven't fished it in a few years but what about Ballard...always seemed to have a lot of action/follows there... |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | June is a better time for numbers in my experience. |
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Posts: 1039
| Wildcat. Palmer. Ballard. All good numbers lakes. Wildcat, IMHO, probably has the smallest fish of the bunch.
I would also try the Eagle River Chain if I were you. Tons of fish in that thing. They love topwater and early mornings are money. PM me if you go there and I'll give you an old, but awesome "milk run" of mine. |
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Posts: 275
| Yes to Wildcat and Ballard. Had great luck on Ballard on Topraiders, and Wildcat has mostly produced on Hawg Wobblers or small bucktails.
Jaimy |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI | Snipe Lake. Best lake ever. |
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Posts: 1283
| Thanks for all the ideas! Its one of those things where without your own boat you never try all these lakes since you cant get on them. When you do start trying to figure it out its quite overwhelming. |
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Posts: 422
| You could hire a guide for a day or even a half a day. That would probably be your best bet at getting on some fish or learning some areas that produce for the rest of the trip. |
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Posts: 1283
| That may be an option. Any recommendations on some good guides in the area? Only issue I see with that is would it be possible to take 3 people? I would hate for 1 person to have to stay back. |
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Posts: 77
| Jeff Van Remortel had a good year huntin skis in that area both size and numbers. Try giving him a shout. I'm sure he can accommodate 3 people.
http://wisconsinmuskyfishingguide.com |
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Posts: 1283
| Thanks,
Ive watched a few of his vids. Seems like a cool guy to fish with. We will be up there mid august. Ill see if we can work something out with him. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i second jeff … he works really hard and is always dialed in no matter what season, jeff is on the water or in the woods daily putting people on muskies or calling ducks in for them to shoot. |
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Posts: 251
| I have not fished with Jeff but I know he catches fish. Very knowledgeable and a good guy to have a beer with and learn a thing or two. |
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Posts: 1039
| Rob Manthei. He can take 3 guys in his Lund and no one knows the area better than him. 715 477 2042
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Posts: 1283
| AndrewR - 12/11/2013 11:35 PM
Snipe Lake. Best lake ever.
Ha I thought this was a joke like "snipe hunting" until I looked up the lake. |
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Posts: 77
| Jeff smoked 'em over in Vilas last year.
Edited by Langkamp's Guide Svc 12/19/2013 4:02 PM
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Posts: 1283
| I sent Jeff a email last night so we will see how it plays out. |
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Location: Minocqua, WI | Thanks guys! Best of luck this ice fishing season! |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | Wildcat is good, the Arbor Vitaes can be good (personally I've not done that well there past couple years but could be a fluke). Spinners are a good choice, generally perch is the forage so anything perch, green or white on those. My uncle likes Ballard, I've never been there though. |
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Posts: 1283
| Will be going out with Jeff. Hoping for a Ski but Im sure it will be a blast and a learning experience either way. |
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Posts: 470
| vegas492 - 12/19/2013 10:27 AM
Rob Manthei. He can take 3 guys in his Lund and no one knows the area better than him. 715 477 2042
Second this...
Went out over the summer (June 30th) to get my 12 y.o. daughter her first muskie with Rob. Absolute terrible Muskie fishing conditions: Flat Calm, Sunny, not a cloud in the sky and Hot. Figured we were wasting our time, but Rob not only knew where they were he knew what they wanted. A good dozen follows, two in the Frabill and my daughter's first. We would have gotten more, except for our newbie lack of skills that Rob patiently corrected. If the guy can get those results in adverse conditions, I'd love to get out with him on a perfect muskie day...
He's not the cheapest but he knows his 'skis. Highly recommended.
Oh, We worked Wildcat in the AM and Little Arbor Vita in the Afternoon.
HTH,
RandalB
Edited by RandalB 1/6/2014 5:24 PM
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St Germain/Vilas Co WI