Wisconsin’s statewide fishing and hunting report on Nov. 22, 2024 – Outdoor News
There was quite a bit of fishing activity in many parts of the state through last week. But once the wind rolled in and temperatures started to drop, it’s probably safe to assume that the open-water fishing season has officially ended.
It’s expected to stay cold for an extended stretch as well, which has many anglers and bait shop owners excited for a potential start to the ice-fishing season in the not-too-distant future. The firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 23, and will continue through Sunday, Dec. 1.
The muzzleloader season will then run Dec. 2-11. The Northern Duck Zone closed Nov. 19, but the Southern Duck Zone season runs through Dec. 1. The Open Water Duck Zone runs through Dec. 10. It sounds as though hunters are having a good duck season so far.
Wisconsin
ASHLAND AREA
Dandy cohos are being caught – the rains have drawn lots of active fish into the streams. The bass have been active, also. But the cold weather is coming so get boats winterized because the ice fishing season should be coming soon. Archery hunters have been seeing better deer numbers. Hopefully that holds true during the gun deer season. Happy Thanksgiving.
Angler’s All, (715) 682-5754
River Rock, (715) 682-3232
EAGLE RIVER AREA
Water temps throughout the area remain at the 40-degree level, but should drop with recent colder weather. We’re all starting to think about ice fishing. Walleye fishing has been very good in the last few weeks. The Eagle River Chain has produced good walleye fishing in the deeper holes, and not just for numbers. On the larger lakes off the chain, the fishing has been good along drop-offs and deeper up to the 30-plus foot range. Use larger minnows like sucker minnows on those lakes for best results.
Northern pike are feeding aggressively in the weeds – shallow or deep. Muskie fishing remains in high gear, with some better action lately. Trolling lures or suckers has been productive.
Eagle Sports Center,
(715) 479-8804
GREEN BAY/APPLETON AREA
Most of the recent reports are coming from the anglers fishing the Fox River. The water remains low and very dirty, a contributing factor as to why the walleye action has been spotty most days. Some anglers are reporting hair jigs and blade baits are catching walleyes on the flats north of Hwy. 172. A few anglers trolling that area with Flicker Minnows are also reporting catching a few fish. Anglers casting crank baits like Flicker Shads and Berkley Hit Sticks at the dam in De Pere are reporting catching some walleyes each trip. The best action seems to be morning and evening. Muskie anglers trolling the lower bay near the mouth of the Fox and the river edges all report slow activity. There are reports of perch being caught in Dead Horse Bay and by the west side of the Hwy. 172 bridge on the Fox River.
Smokey’s on the Bay Bait, Tackle and Guide Service, (920) 593 1749
HAYWARD AREA
Muskie anglers should target 5 to 15 feet with Bull Dawgs, Medussas, bucktails, glide baits, and crankbaits. A few fish in deep basins are chasing crappies and walleyes. Suckers and Red October tubes fished vertically work well in deep water. Walleyes are deep and shallow. When shallow, run suckers and small swimbaits. For deep fish, run live bait rigs on the bottom or slowly pull drop-shot rigs with plastics. Northern pike are moving into weedlines and cover in shallow bays. Crappies are basin bound, wandering deep water in search of food. Look for fish in 15 to 35 feet. In this early cold water, basin fish should be near bottom where oxygen is still plentiful.
Hayward Bait, (715) 634-2921
LAKE MICHIGAN/METRO AREA LAKES
Muskie action was best in 8 to 12 feet of water. Fishing in deeper structure produced as well, especially for big fish. Casting lures triggered following muskies that then hit suckers on a quick-strike rigs. Soak one sucker boatside and suspend the other, under a slip bobber, over deeper structure.
Anglers fishing the Rock River reported a few walleyes. This is a great place to wet a line from shore. Walleyes were on the edges of deeper holes. Smallmouth action was the best along breaks or rock bars with a sucker or golden shiner fished on a slip-sinker rig. Largemouth bass were active in 5 to 15 feet of water on crankbaits and swim jigs, or a golden shiner or sucker on a circle or octopus hook suspended under a bobber. Walleye fishing was best during low light conditions where they were found on weeds or rocks in 4 to 8 feet of water. Soaking a golden shiner or sucker on a No. 4 hook fished under a lighted bobber has produced fish.
Smokey’s Bait Shop, (262) 691-0360
Dick Smith’s Bait, (262) 646 2218
MADISON AREA
Lake temps were at 53 degrees late last week, with most fish hanging in shallow water on weeds or shallow shoreline breaks. Bluegills are being found in Monona Bay in good numbers, with lighter numbers of crappies on weed edges. The bite has been good off the Monona Terrace wall at night. Largemouths are hitting in the shallows on live bait while smallmouths are mostly on rocky shoreline breaks in 10 to 15 feet, but they’re also shallower at times. Don’t be surprised to find some walleyes mixed in. The muskie bite has been good and should improve as water temperatures drop.
D&S Bait and Tackle,
(608) 244-3474.
MINOCQUA/WOODRUFF/ LAKE TOMAHAWK AREA
The extended run of nice weather ended with some biting winds taking a toll on the fun. Reading on lakes ranged from 42 to 46 degrees, but that will be the last we will see of temps hitting 40 degrees for a while. Muskie action has been good, with the strongest bite coming on suckers. It’s still worth casting gliders and twitch baits to draw attention. Perch action is also good along 10- to 12-foot weed edges using small minnows. Some nice northern pike into the mid-30-inch range are hitting suckers meant for muskies. The muskie season remains open through December, but anglers can only legally fish open water from shore or a boat (no tip-up fishing).While deer season in the Northwoods has not been what it used to be, some trail camera pics of nice bucks have been reported this fall.
Signs of rutting continued into last week, so despite a late gun season opener, deer hunters are hopeful for some good success.
Island Sport Shop, (715) 356-4797.
PRICE COUNTY AREA
Interest in walleye and muskie fishing has lightened now that weather conditions have become more winter-like, but for those who are still banging away out there, muskie anglers might try running suckers on the inside edges of any green weeds they can find before moving to deeper water. Most of the walleye luck has come by jigging suckers or shiners over shallower ledges or gravel areas under low light. Crappies and perch will be around shallow weeds, but then start moving deeper as the water cools and the hours of daylight shorten. Minnows on jigs should work for both. For bluegills, use waxies and plastics on small jigs.
St. Croix Rods, Park Falls,
(715) 762-3226
Ross’s Sport Shop, Phillips,
(715) 339-3625
Michigan
ESCANABA AREA
Yellow perch anglers reported good fishing on Little Bay de Noc. Minnows on perch rigs have produced good results across from Kipling, in The Narrows, and by the Days River. Walleye anglers reported mixed results. Those who had the most success trolled crankbaits after dark. The rut is on and the firearms season should be good.
Bay View Bait, (906) 786-1488.
L’ANSE AREA
Fishing has been slow on Keweenaw Bay. A few lake trout have been caught in the bay off the Huron Islands and in Union Bay. A few kings and cohos have been caught in the Falls, Silver, and Huron rivers. The archery deer season was fair with a lot of warm, windy days. The firearms season should be good. The rut is on and bucks are chasing does.
Indian Country Sports,
(906) 524-6518
IRON RIVER AREA
Trout fishing has been good on some of the bigger lakes in Iron County, including Chicagon, Ottawa, Golden and others. Anglers report catching good numbers of rainbows, brookies, splake, and lakers. Archery deer season was decent with several nice bucks being reported.
Luckey’s Sport Shop,
(906) 265-0151
Minnesota
DULUTH AREA
With the exception of the ongoing deer season, there hasn’t been much outdoors-related activity in the area. Fishing reports have been nonexistent for nearly two weeks, and skim ice is expected to develop on some ponds and bays, possibly as early as this weekend, if the cold weather persists.
Chalstrom’s Bait (218) 726-0094
LAKE OF THE WOODS
The primary focus for many people last week has been the ongoing deer-hunting season. Those who are fishing continue to catch walleyes, sauger, and jumbo perch along the south shore with a vertically-presented jig and frozen emerald shiner in 22 to 28 feet. There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the Rainy River and that’s fueled a good walleye bite in 10 to 25 feet. Sturgeon fishing remains strong, as well.
Lake Of The Woods Tourism Bureau, (800) 382-Fish
LEECH LAKE
Just a handful of anglers were on the lake during the past week – perch and walleye anglers mostly – so fishing reports have been minimal. With cold weather moving in early this week, that will likely remain the case until walkable ice has formed.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
RED WING AREA
Walleye and sauger action has slowed since last week on the Mississippi River. While there seemed to be more fish moving into the river from Lake Pepin last week, and they were somewhat active, the bite below the dam and throughout the river was extremely tough early this week.
Four Seasons Sports, (651) 388-4334
