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Posts: 1220
| Now that (waited till 66) I finally have a place up North on the water, I find that there's a boat in front of my pier almost all the time. As you might predict, the guy who had the place before me dragged a bunch of stuff onto the ice and created a "fish crib" (A.K.A.) " a bunch of trash tied together and sunk under water." The little fish hide in there and the big fish wait for them to come out to play. There's a similar pile of crap in front of most of the neighbors too, I presume, so their Grandkids can catch fish off the dock. As long as this is not a threat to navigation, I don't care. I might question those who might think the pier, itself, is the only attraction, not giving credit to the crib. And, it's a whole lot better than actual prop-height concrete blocks on Pewaukee Lake some of the nicer owners have placed to keep the fishermen away!! Mostly, I don't think anybody knows more about what's good or bad for musky fishing on Pewaukee than Mike Koepp, and if he thinks it's a good idea to put these cribs west of the divide....I'm fine with it! |
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | My experience is that cribs can make a good spot better. But, to place 4 cribs in a large, featureless area... and in 15-16 feet of water... I wouldn't expect them to become your next hotspot. Certainly not a CONSISTENT hotspot anyway. Good luck with them... if they happen. |
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Posts: 102
| I think there's pros and cons to the cribs on Pewaukee. I think a lot of what was mentioned will be interesting to see play out...boats anchoring on top of each other...musky guys tossing huge baits around a panfish/walleye fisherman anchored on the cribs...ice fishing shanties sitting on top of each other over them...baits getting hung up...etc... But, that stuff happens on community spots right now for the most part, so not sure it's really going to be all that different.
I think adding any wooded structure into any body of water provides benefits...but each water may not NEED them. I think Pewaukee falls into the category that doesn't need them from a lake biology perspective, but most likely isn't going to hurt anything either. I do think rock and gravel reefs (as mentioned previous) would be a much better habitat improvement for the system. And, also mentioned previous, cleaning the incoming creeks would be the best habitat improvement for the long term health of the fishery.
One of my biggest concerns is that a Game Warden proposed the idea to WFT. This is not his job. His job is to enforce the laws of the fishery. We have a biologist, and while I know our biologist was engaged to grant the permits to put these cribs in, indicating he was "for them", I find it a bit mixed up that the biologist was not the one to approach local fishing groups about habitat improvement.
Also, curious why WFT didn't contact either of the local musky groups for their help or input on them before they were planned and placed? I know there would've been some that would've helped out. Also, this conversation happening right here would've gone on before they were placed, and maybe this could've helped lessen some of the negativity some have towards it. Maybe not, but would've at least been attempted to get all those that do work for the betterment of the fishery to be on the same page. I always tell folks we have a great bunch of groups, where musky groups get along with each other, and get along with the walleye groups. Not to many parts of the state where musky and walleye groups get along, but we're lucky that we do. I think it's time to take it one step further, and team up on habitat improvements. All groups have money and people, and those are the two things every project needs. As a large group working towards one goal, we can definitely get more done than if we do things individually.
I like our biologist, and have defended him on many instances. But, Jim pointed out something I thought when I first heard of these as well....the science behind it somewhat contradicts other science reasons we've received from our biologist. Everyone on here has agreed we have a panfish overpopulation, and as a result stunted panfish. So, when WFT began the initiative to get walleyes to take hold a few years back, that was great news, as they are great panfish predators. Then, that wasn't enough for our local biologist, and the DNR began dumping in 2 pike fingerling/acre each fall for the past few years. The science reason was that pike have a metabolism twice that of musky, thus they will take out more panfish per predator. I could live with that....until I heard about the cribs, then I got very confused why we're creating more cover when we're trying to thin out the forage.
For the record, I'm not anti-walleye stocking, anti-pike stocking, or anti-crib. I'm fine with all of them, I'm just struggling to connect the dots on each effort, as they seem to contradict each other a bit.
And, yes...you will see me casting towards them throughout the season. |
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Posts: 2311
Location: SE, WI. | ^^^^^^^ NO WAY LUMPY^^^^^^ I was on the CRIB FIRST!!!! ^^^^^^^^  LOL OH Shoot!!! I'm Stuck!!! Get the lure retriever out...:( jD
Edited by jdsplasher 3/1/2017 2:29 PM
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I don't have an opinion on the cribs one way or another, but come on guys. It's 4, four, (fore for you golfers) cribs. It's not like they littered the entire rocky point area with cribs. They put 4 out. 4 cribs are not going to attract the entire population of Pewee gills, or walleyes, or bass, or..... you get the point. I'm sure a few people will sit on them and get walleyes or smallies, or whatever, but that's why we also have size and bag limits. If they need adjusting, the DNR can do that.
Jim, don't worry, I'll get your baits out when they get stuck. I'll keep my scuba gear handy. 
Edited by tuffy1 3/1/2017 2:54 PM
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Posts: 25
| Pewaukee Lake 2493 Acres + 43,560 sq. ft. per acre= 108,595,080sq. ft.... 4 cribs at 8'x8'= 256 SQ. FT. Seems a relatively harmless venture. Now if we could just do something about those pesky 6 lb bass eating musky lures. |
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Location: SE, WI. | love you Joel!!! I could use a personal scuba diver!!! Probably have a few creature spins on those puppies...know you like them! Cutting edge outdoors had a spokes person on for WFT...he said the project called for 30 cribs over the next 3-4 years... JD
Edited by jdsplasher 3/1/2017 4:11 PM
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Posts: 20253
Location: oswego, il | There is already a reality show called cribs, so cashing in on that isnt happening. |
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Posts: 102
| Agreed 4 cribs aren't a big deal Joel. There were some talks of 30 some at one point, so that's where I started to scratch my head, as the lake surely isn't lacking enough cover to throw that many on one half of the lake. If that's what happens, so be it, I'll fish them, no doubt about that.
ROCKS. ROCKS. GRAVEL. GRAVEL. ROCKS. ROCKS. And cleaning up the inlets. That's where I feel our habitat improvements should be focused. |
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Location: MN | This is the first I've heard of pike being introduced to fix a stunted panfish problem. From what I gather here, the lake has good walleye, musky and bass populations. Seems to me the last thing you'd want to do is start dumping pike in it. If the pike get big it will certainly help but it is pretty tough to grow big pike and keep the hammer handles from running rampant in a lake that gets a lot of fishing pressure and it sounds like Pewaukee gets plenty of pressure. I don't know a whole lot about the lake and I'm no biologist so maybe I'm missing something? Just seemed like a backwards idea to me.
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Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Marcus is our Game Warden, not the biologist or fisheries manager.
Ben H is out biologist and fisheries manager and works with our club in everything we do. I have not talked to Ben about this but he was the guy WFT worked with to get the info on permits and rules of cribs. So, Ben knew about every detail before these cribs were even started. Surprised he didn't voice any concerns or objections to this idea if they were such a negative thing for the lake.
Both of these guys can be found with a simple Google search and asked about their stance on this cribs issue if your in question about it. |
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Location: Racine, Wi | Lumpy - 3/1/2017 3:59 PM
Agreed 4 cribs aren't a big deal Joel. There were some talks of 30 some at one point, so that's where I started to scratch my head, as the lake surely isn't lacking enough cover to throw that many on one half of the lake. If that's what happens, so be it, I'll fish them, no doubt about that.
ROCKS. ROCKS. GRAVEL. GRAVEL. ROCKS. ROCKS. And cleaning up the inlets. That's where I feel our habitat improvements should be focused.
Jim and Brian, I agree, 30 would be a little overkill. As I mentioned, I'm impartial to the cribs. If they're there, I'll fish them, if not, I'll still fish just as I have over the years. It would be cool to have some rock bars or gravel bars in that area, but off shore. There is quite a bit of rock in the lake, but as we know, most is shallow. Perhaps it's something MCMI and WFT could partner up on to get a compromise? That reminds me, I think my membership lapsed lol. |
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Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Please drop the "30 cribs over the next 3-4 years". That will never happen. That was radio talk or conversation. There is not any plan for that or was it ever discussed in detail.
Rock bars will never happen due to navigational hazards. Stream restoration is the big picture. Mainly the river that flows in from the southeast by the Sports Doc. That was always a great spawning river back when I was a kid. WFT is working hard to get that project going in the next year or two. Backing by the musky clubs will be something I hope to see on this project.
A few groups of cribs was the first idea. They were to be places in areas not frequently trolled by most since it was structure less areas between the weeds and the drop offs. The flats west of the narrows and a small area on the western end. These were the target areas discussed.
No cribs in any water deeper than 20ft and no less than 16ft of water was the recommendation to WFT. This only leaves the two areas. The cribs were also places far enough apart so people could fish each one without any issues from others fishing the cribs. If you could see the locations and spacing you will agree that these cribs are not going to hurt anything.
Yes, they will hold fish and be a stop for migrating fish from the weeds to deeper water in a otherwise mud flat with zero structure. This is just a test and everyone will see how it plays out. If it's a bad thing we don't do any more. If it's a good thing we may add a few each year. To me it's just another place to fish and target when the time is rite for the fish I am after.
The WFT Spring netting will be going on in the next month and I will personally talk to Ben H. (our fisheries biologist) about issues that come up with the crib idea. Any good or bad feedback from this will be noted and asked.
Edited by Mikes Extreme 3/2/2017 7:31 AM
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Posts: 238
| More spots to fish on a pressured lake seems like a good idea to me |
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Posts: 102
| Thanks for clarifying the 30+ cribs stuff Mike. I can keep track of 4, or even 10, but I was picturing me having the boat get off course a bit too often and getting hung up if there were 30+ dotted along...and also was picturing a bunch of issues from people who aren't familiar with the lake. I think a handful like this are fine. Everyone will learn their exact location soon enough, so lure loss won't be bad, and if people want to avoid any potential crowding, go fish somewhere else on the lake, plenty of spots.
I'm loving the stream improvement stuff. I'll be in touch about opportunities with that.
The lake is in great overall shape, and the future is looking pretty bright. |
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Posts: 105
Location: Florida | ToddM - 2/27/2017 5:03 PM
As long as everyone knows they exist and can find them, no problem. Being able to put structure in a public lake for personal benefit, not cool.
I agree 100%. |
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Posts: 79
| Depends on the lake, I know on the 2 local lakes here 90-95% of the cribs out there don't really hold alot of fish. Every once in awhile you will find one that is loaded with crappies or bluegills. Open water or ice fishing. |
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Posts: 8834
| In our little area of "Up North" paradise, it's not uncommon for folks to drop their own brush piles out in front of their properties so the grand kids can catch fish off the dock. The more sophisticated of those folks will cut trees creating some nice lay downs, and even drop a pile of boulders down the ice hole all winter. As long as you're paying your property taxes, HOA fees, and lake association dues, and the lake association approves it (they all fish those areas as well) I don't see any harm. Anybody with a GPS and a set of eyes can find the stuff and fish it. If the great unwashed public is unable or unwilling to find those areas on their own, is it the responsibility of the riparian landowners to show them where to fish? |
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| esoxaddict - 3/2/2017 8:51 PM
In our little area of "Up North" paradise, it's not uncommon for folks to drop their own brush piles out in front of their properties so the grand kids can catch fish off the dock. The more sophisticated of those folks will cut trees creating some nice lay downs, and even drop a pile of boulders down the ice hole all winter. As long as you're paying your property taxes, HOA fees, and lake association dues, and the lake association approves it (they all fish those areas as well) I don't see any harm. Anybody with a GPS and a set of eyes can find the stuff and fish it. If the great unwashed public is unable or unwilling to find those areas on their own, is it the responsibility of the riparian landowners to show them where to fish?
Interesting, have never seen or even heard of that on the chain where I live. I do know the lake association put out a news blurb about leaving trees in the water if they blow down/fall down in the lake and don't create a problem. That was advice from the DNR. There are not a lot but one big wind storm put three or four big trees in the lake, uprooting them and the property owners left them. Great cover for pan fish and guys catch bass from around them as well. Where my dock is, because of how shallow it is, I would be creating a navigation hazard for myself ;>). |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Here is a picture of one of our cribs. I hope it loads.
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 WFTcrib1.jpg (30KB - 814 downloads)
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Couple more pics and spacing of cribs.
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WFtspacing.jpg (21KB - 564 downloads)
WFTcrib.jpg (21KB - 637 downloads)
WFTcribs.jpg (18KB - 547 downloads)
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Posts: 102
| Thanks Mike. I like how those are spaced, location seems about perfect given the DNR requirements on where they could be placed. Nice work WFT. |
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Posts: 2311
Location: SE, WI. | Back in March 2017, there was some discussion on Cribs being placed in Pewaukee. My #4 reason for Not having cribs was the Collection of Baits, Lines, and anchor ropes accumulating on these structures, and having problems with this garbage getting in peoples lower units...Ect... Was hoping it wasn't me, BUT unfortunately it was. About 2 weeks ago, was trolling past a crib, approximately 20-30ft. away as one of my drags started slipping. Stppped to see if it was a fish, BUT NO, snagged up. Proceeded to retrieve my other lines, as I noticed all were tangled in the Mess. Ever try to go in reverse with 3 lines snagged??? My lines were tangled in the superBraids, Not the anchor rope...BUT, the anchor rope caused the problem. Took about 25 minutes to get my baits back, 150 feet of super lines tangled in the anchor rope, and a anchor rope used to hang clothes from a clothes line was used :( . Needless to say, what a mess. On top of that, it happened 15 minutes prior to moon rise :(....PLEASE, NO MORE GARBAGE IN LAKE! Going to contact the DNR on this Issue...Hopefully they see the light!!! JD
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Posts: 358
| I don't have a dog in this fight and I have no idea how all lakes work, but i know of two lakes in particular where cribs were a definite success.
Upper Red Lake in MN used cribs to help foster what was maybe the biggest crappie boom ever seen, which in turn led to the rebuilding of the walleye program.
Lake Havasu in AZ. Went from basically a bathtub to one of the West's top fishing destinations after a LARGE scale habitat restructure program. It was a really cool project and a quick google search will tell you all about it. |
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Posts: 19
| Cribs are cheating. Like baiting deer. |
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Posts: 20253
Location: oswego, il | Cribs are great for lakes that lack cover. Pewaukee is not one of those lakes. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Moon Boy - 8/22/2019 8:05 AM
Cribs are cheating. Like baiting deer.
So if cribs are placed for fisheries management, no one should fish them? |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | On a good note, you cleaned out a bunch of zebra muscles Jim! |
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Location: MN | RJ_692 - 8/22/2019 7:51 AM
I don't have a dog in this fight and I have no idea how all lakes work, but i know of two lakes in particular where cribs were a definite success.
Upper Red Lake in MN used cribs to help foster what was maybe the biggest crappie boom ever seen, which in turn led to the rebuilding of the walleye program.
it.
The cribs had nothing to do with the URL crappie boom. I’m sure they were good fishing spots during the boom but it did not contribute to the population exploding. Lots of other factors made that happen.
We don’t have many in MN. Most I know of were not placed by MN dnr and most likely placed illegally. Kinda glad we don’t have them. No need to congregate fish and fisherman, if you’re a good fisherman, in my opinion. |
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Posts: 8834
| Do "good fishermen" fish downed timber, or is that cheating? What about casting around piers, bpat houses, boat lifts, etc.? |
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