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Posts: 46
| Im based out of St Louis and mostly fish kinkaid or go up to leech. A friend here is asking me to take him pike fishing as he has never caught one. Can anyone recommend something say south of the Dells where I can 1. use my 17.5 fishhawk and 2. get some actual pike in the boat (trophies not needed)?
He is making this tougher as he wants to go in July, so Im thinking a nice weedy lake where we can chase 24" fish maybe with spinnerbaits. Im not against dragging up to the minnoqua area but I also dont want to drag any farther than I need to. Minoqua is 8-9 hours from me, dells is 6, madison is around 5 or so.
Reccomendations with places to stay are appreciated. |
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Posts: 25
Location: Union Grove, WI | Try Delavan... Mendota would probably be a good choice as well. Prepare for a lot of boating traffic in July though. |
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Posts: 177
| Mendota is managed for pike since there are no muskies. 40" min size limit. Brofessor is right it will be busy in July. |
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Posts: 46
| Thanks, both of those were on my list. Boat traffic I can deal with, come down south sometime in the summer lol. Is it a deeper bite on those lakes? like 14+ foot or can you still get some shallow weed fishing in? Part of me is telling myself to suck it up and just drive the additional 3 hours and hit the minoqua area. |
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Posts: 452
| Spring Lake South supposedly has some very nice Pike for Illinois. |
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Posts: 176
| Both of the suggestions you got were good. I fish Mendota and my plan for fishing any metro lake is arrive like I'm going deer hunting, meaning be on the water at least a half hour before sunup, (not arriving at the landing at that time, but on the water), you have "legal deer hunting hours at that time, if it were season, which means functional light", and we fish until we see the first Jet ski or water skier which is usually about 9:00 a. m.
You will get a solid 4 hours of fishing in and be on the water at some of the best times of the day.
My evening fishing time is the same, head out about two hours before sunset and fish up to an hour or so after sunset. I haven't caught many pike after sunset, but you will be rewarded with other species and it's still pleasant to be out there.
In the evening just watch out for the "party barge's" meaning the boats that have been drinking, out in the sun, and partying all day. They won't be all that alert at times, so rather than be upset with them, just keep your lights on and stay out of the main traffic areas. Have a sense of humor at the boat landings, you may find it better than going to the comedy club that evening! I've helped more than one group put their boat back on the trailer for that reason.
Nomad
Edited by Nomadmusky 2/6/2019 8:04 AM
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Posts: 25
Location: Union Grove, WI | I have not fished Mendota, but know from other posts, magazine articles, pics, etc. that Mendota is managed for trophy pike so that's why I suggested that one. I've only been on Delavan once, but did manage to catch a few pike relatively easy using a safety pin style spinning lure fishing the outer weed edge. You can go on Lake Link for another point of reference and find some more info about Delavan and Mendota if you so choose. |
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Posts: 770
Location: Delavan, WI | I have not fished it yet, but plan on it this season since im 5 minutes from it- no muskie in there unfortunately reason I have not fished it yet is I just moved to the area recently - look up Whitewater lake near Delavan its suppose to be loaded with hammer handles there was a post on Lake Link where some guy claimed to have caught just under a 100 in a day spoonplugging seems like a casting presentation should get some too if they are that plentiful im sure an occasional 30+ incher is caught as well, but if youre looking for action that's the lake id be hitting- suppose to be excellent for LM Bass too ive heard of a few pushing 7-8 lbs to come from there I know you need an annual Wisconsin state park sticker to launch and use parking facility, but they do sell a day pass think its like $8 or $10 all that info should be available online
Edited by muskymartin67 2/6/2019 12:24 PM
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Posts: 1023
| I fished Delavan twice. For pike and bass. Got some really nice ones of both species. Weedline runs deep there, we were on the edge in about 20-23 fow. Put down two down rods with suckers on them. Put two slip bobbers behind us about half way down. Caught some 18-20 inch bass, couple of nice walleyes and really couldn't keep those northerns off of the suckers. Bet we got 20 in 3-4 hours.
We didn't cast for them...just used that live bait as it was so effective. If you want a pike and a shot at a nice bass...hit that lake! I enjoyed my time out there! |
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | chasintails - 2/6/2019 7:55 AM
Spring Lake South supposedly has some very nice Pike for Illinois.
25hp limit very shallow and weed choked by the end of April. Illinois discontinued its Pike program so what's in there is all that's left. Hoping they will convert it to a musky lake like north.
Edited by ToddM 2/6/2019 1:24 PM
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | I sent you a message. |
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Posts: 731
| Another quiet big pike gem is Lake Kegonsa. Basically a big bowl, but find the deep weedlines, find the fish. But like the others have mentioned, July will be tough. Talk your buddy into going in October! Kdawg |
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Posts: 46
| What about mendota in late may early june? Avoid the boat traffic a bit more? When does the spring bite start/stop on that lake? |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | okauchee lake.. avoid it in july though. may/june is usually pretty good. |
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Posts: 176
| @muskymartin
You don't need a state park sticker if you don't use the State Park landing. Mendota has several very good city landings with lots of parking, that require a yearly or daily fee, but no state park fee.
Mendota has many good landings, like Marshall Park or Warner Park. Here's a link to the landings.
http://www.lake-link.com/wisconsin-lakes/dane-county/lake-mendota/b...
Nomad
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Posts: 770
Location: Delavan, WI | Hey Nomad Sorry for any confusion, but I was talking about Whitewater lake near Delavan, not Mendota. |
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Posts: 46
| Godd information, keep up the recommendations |
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Location: Eagle Lake Vermilion Bay, Ontario | growing up kegonsa was my back yard lake. the lake rt now has alot of pike 21"-35" with much bigger there.
if it's mid-late july and water is warm (70-80+) a key to very consistant and big avg. size pike (pike are caught every season 15-20#even + ) and the occasional musky is fishing the shallow spring holes and the several spring fed creek mouths that flow in especially just before sunrise to 9 or so. topwaters, buzz baits spinner baits and in lines, jerkbaits, and livebaits on quicksets with floats typically account for a % of the bigger fish. 6-10" suckers and chubs, bluegills,small sheep head,and bullheads were always deadly.
when trolling suspended walleyes may,june in the basin we get bite quite often by pike so im sure there is always some out there in july-aug as well as the deeper edges of williams point and the couliday point bars and deeper weed edges/cribs but if you want a chance at a big one where in a small area(s) one of the bigger fish in the lake has a realistic chance at finding your bait try the spring holes. this pattern is also available on waubesa.
herbie
Edited by Andy Myers Lodge 2/13/2019 3:47 PM
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Posts: 556
| MENDOTA has no Musky ???? |
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Location: Hayward WI | esox911 - 2/15/2019 9:24 AM
MENDOTA has no Musky ????
Not enough to specifically target. No stocking , a few surely have made it through the boat lock, but you’re truly looking for the needle if your goal is catching one |
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Posts: 556
| OK on no Musky in Mendota !!! Please everyone--- stay away from this lake if looking for Musky...… I like that |
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Posts: 319
Location: Tomahawk,Wis | Years back Big Cedar was the place to catch some nice pike.. |
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Posts: 14
Location: chicago | don't forget the "2nd largest lake in WI" Castle Rock! |
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