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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Although I have been somewhat fortunate to fish for muskies away from SE Wi lately
Some of the best muskie fishermen that I know have been claiming that recently Pewaukee Lake has been tough fishing.
Water temps are upper 60's, there have been few monster cold fronts passing through lately.
We know that the fish are there.
Why should the fishing be so tough, or has it been good for you? |
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | Toughest spring in a very long time for me. Just can't put any kind if pattern together. Switched to bass on Thursday just to catch some fish (7)....... Ouch!
Only thing Different I notice is that water is dirtier than what it haps been the last few years and weeds still seem low.
Saw 72° water temp on Thursday. 70° Has always been magic for me on that lake. I'm hoping the feeding switch us about to flip on. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Been tough for me but I haven't been out with very good conditions. The water east of rocky point has been really dirty. Last time out I lost one and had 3 follows, which was a vast improvement over the previous trips. |
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Posts: 2270
Location: SE, WI. | I've see this slow period on and off for 30 years for this late May time of year. These fish are either post spawn, or never even came in to spawn. I think with the cold spring, many fish stayed deep. Believe it or not, But Usually a strong thunderstorm , with some big winds, start to trigger their feed. I think it will be slow for another week or so before they start to show up in numbers. This quick jump in water temps will help them recover quicker from the spawn,BUT a quick bump up in water temps never seemed to turn fish on instantly on this body of water. Don't panic yet!!! Usually when it is slow now, means there will be a hell of a bite at some point later:) Guiding Pewaukee Musky, JD
Edited by jdsplasher 5/30/2014 9:31 PM
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Posts: 365
| ----- havent seen a musky yet ---- ??? ----- |
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | Thanks Jim,
Agree with the post spawn conditions and the thunderstorm theory. Not sure about the deep fish. Have spent a lot of time idling around deep water with side scan (new toy) without seeing much life.
Yes, still very off color east if narrows.
Jim was that you I saw trolling the east end with clients the other day? Thought about doing the same thing but was alone and didn't want the psi of constantly pulling weeds off when I was alone. I was the guy casting similar areas.
Been trying primarily bucktails and gliders. Lazy follows if you can see em and a short hit. Any suggestions on what you are using?
Another question to the knowledge on here. How do you handle the weed cutters. I avoid them like the plaque. Do you? And if so, for how long?
Great conversation with great sticks. Still say that my notes say fish get active at low 70° degree water. Do you agree? Didn't really think it wad that quick as you mention. I thought I saw gradual then 2-3 jump. |
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Posts: 144
| I fish Pewaukee lake a lot, and to me every May/spring is tough. I had decent action when the water was cooler with the glider/ live bait combo. The last fish I caught was on the east end in 66-67 degree water on a phantom. Now that the water is warmer I have put that stuff away and gone to bigger faster baits. In three outings, including some late night fishing, have not done anything but follows. It will turn around. If you need to go muskie fishing like I do, try a jig or crankbait. Make contact with the cover, weeds or the bottom. This always gets me out of a slump. That is what I am going to do. Or, you might just need to throw a bucktail all day. You never know. Good luck. |
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Posts: 383
Location: SE Wisc and Vilas County | Guess I feel a little better now after hearing how everyone else has been doing. Been out a few times as well with nothing to show for it. Its gotta turn on one of these days. From what I can see the weeds on the west end seem behind as well. Some spots they look good others they look like there just starting to come up. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | 3 times for me out there has been a bust as well.. i would say in about 2 weeks things will be much different. as long as the water temp doesn't shoot up to danger zone. |
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Posts: 365
| ---- might sound crazy ,, but I'm gonna break out the Suick ---- 9" weighted "Bronze Perch" color pattern ---- jim |
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Posts: 2270
Location: SE, WI. |
Dennis, Not me guiding. I push as many of my customers well into the season so when I am guiding, all the MUSKIES are at the dinner table, and I am usually locked in to patterns. Early in the season, just a small percentage are actively feeding. Boated only 5 small musky so far. had several chances at some better fish, but they just seem to zig when I zag :). Pete619, above poster, knows his stuff, and has boated dbl what I caught. Pete mentions jigs. Jig and creature was fantastic last spring. had a bunch of pickups on some 40" ski's and some dandy largemouths. BUT this spring, even the jigs are not working. Water clarity seemed suspect, and somewhat murky. Think about what happened the past 2 seasons. We had matted weeds on the east ends where the water was not even viewable, just brown weeds sticking out 4 inches above the surface. Then we have a wicked winter where the ice was 40" thick. Can you imagine the lack of oxygen on the east side as all those matted weeds died off!!! Interesting to know if the fish made their way to deeper west basin. I've had some good Mays,But usually when we have a spring. Again, we go from winter to summer. Water temps bump up from 56-72 in a week. 16 degree difference is a big change in a short time. When we get some stability, they will eat. Just keep pushing forward and hope the bite picks up. JD
Edited by jdsplasher 5/31/2014 5:54 PM
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | Thanks Jim and Pete. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Hang in there boys. Cold springs make for slow May muskie fishing. This year we have multiple issues causing the slow bite.
Dying weeds on east end has negative effect with oxygen for sure. Not even the carp are acting normal on that end.
Fast increase in water temps bring up surface temps quickly but only a few feet down its still cold. This gives anglers a false sence of where the lake is at temps wise.
Water clarity is bad on east end also. Dirty water will warm up quickly and keep the weed growth down a little. Hang in there. The east end will explode after a few days of strong west winds.
Normally the memorial day weekend is the time I start talking out clients on a regular basis. I don't like to guide when its tuff to boat fish. I talk to my clients and explain where the lake is at and what's happening on the water each season. Then let them choose the dates that best suit what they are looking for.
Taking people out on guided trips just to see a few fish will not impress anyone. But if they want to learn the spots and patterns that will be rockin soon that's up to them.
Only guided 5 half days in May. Tried to talk them into later dates but 3 trips were people here on buisness and just wanted to get on the water. The others wanted to learn the sweet spots.
Monster prespawn bass for sure this spring. Muskies were active prespawn also(opener).
Now muskies are post spawn by about two weeks.
Its all going to start getting good this week or weekend. Nothing unusual this year but a very late spring and spawn. |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Cold spring has a bunch of muskie nuts struggling. Live bait, surface gliders, subsurface gliders, and crank baits are all very good baits to stick post spawn muskies.
Remember most fish are in the areas they always are but they are just not active. Give them an easy meal and some will eat. Do not run and gun. Slow and beat the sweet spots with multiple casts.
I know of two giant fish that are hanging out in areas that are fished by many. Only two other anglers I know have seen these big girls. Don't bother asking. I don't share second hand info.
The only strange thing this year is the lack if muskies and big bass out of the eastern half of Pewaukee lake. Weeds that died this winter have something to do with it. Not real sure exactly what itis but im sure it has something to do with the oxygen levels.
After a few windy days and some good rains it will start rockin.
Dead-Sea?
Hardly.
Smallmouth-up to 9#
Largemouth-over 7#
Muskies-a few up to 47-inches released already with a hand full of low 40's caught recently.
Slow start?
Yes and no. Depends on how your looking at it. Post spawn muskies are never easy. Slow down and trust the areas your fishing. They are there and just about ready to start eating again. This could be a great year for casting all season. Maybe we can fish all season without taking a hot water break this late July/early August. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | smallies to 9#? Sign me up for those! We used to have world class smallie fishing on the WI river right here, 25 fish over 18" common in 1989-1995. Not so much now after years of harvest and nobody being interested in protecting the trophy fishery whenever we'd bring a resolution or idea to the table. Just nice to know there are trophy fisheries peaking all over WI in other locations. |
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Posts: 1037
| Prior to yesterday I launched the boat three times and was fortunate enough to be on fish three times, boating three and missing three others.
Went out before the front last night...nothing. Was quite surprised. I went north for a week and a half, and water temps soared 10+degrees on me.
I'm guessing that quick rise has something to do with less action. I see cooler weather is coming, and certainly the rain has hit, so maybe that takes the water temps down a little.
It may be the dead sea right now, but sooner or later they will turn back on. There are some excellent sticks that have posted on the thread and I know they will be dialed in soon enough.
And I'm totally going to take a few bass trips out there. |
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Posts: 238
| Been out there 3 times this season.
First time 2 weeks ago saw 2 small fish but got skunked
was out Friday got 2 small ones 1- 30" on a Rizzo wiz and a 32" on a mx6 no other follows
went again yesterday morning got a 38" on a mx6 buddy got a 40" on a 7" suick we
saw 8 others |
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Posts: 1037
| Ah, you got in on some of of that pre-frontal action! I was hoping it would hold off until late afternoon. Oh well.
Congrats on the action yesterday! |
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Posts: 240
Location: Oconomowc, WI | Talk about Dead Sea.... I've never seen so many dead panfish out there! Didn't seem to bother the ski's though. Had a bit of action in the few hours I was out today. Boated a psycho 32 incher and contacted a few more. It's starting to turn on. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | fished 3:30 til 8pm tonite.. dead sea still the headline. two little 28-30 inch torpedoes chased around the major tonite and that was it. i will agree with greenhyena, dead bloogs, crappies, and a few carp everywhere out there. water is still pretty cloudy as well. surface temps are getting up there also. |
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Posts: 2270
Location: SE, WI. | Heh SVL: Before the storms last Sunday I ran a wire up 30,000 ft. To one of our thunderheads, then submerged the wire to 7 main arteries beneath the surface of pewaukee. The intense lightning seemed to shock the lake, and now there is a pulse. NOT a strong one, but there seems to be some life. 
Boated 6 musky this past week, largest 45". Grab your purple slammer, go to Pewaukee, and start jerking your favorite lure.:) At least we don't have the big green slime balls floating around this year. Good luck!
JD
Edited by jdsplasher 6/8/2014 11:12 PM
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Posts: 94
Location: Pewaukee | I was out today in the wind all morning. Fishing was awful. We did not even raise one. however, any day on the water is a good day in my book. I saw a few dead panfish and the usual mess of floating weeds. Water clarity was bad, but I am sure that the whitecaps were not helping much either. |
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