Supplement to 8/17 fishing report

I neglected to mention the graph that is on the report page. The graph demonstrates the flow/unstable challenges of the Flambeau for the summer. What a wild ride!!!

Fishing report 8/17/10

It may be too soon to tell, but the weather is looking a bit more stable for the next 10 days. The rivers are still high, but they are starting to drop and become more fishable. The Flambeau is going to be high for a while, as they are dropping the lake level in the Turtle-Flambeau flowage. The Chippewa is coming down, but it may take a few days to normalize. The Namekagon is still a little high, but the bass fishing has been very good. The Namekagon north of Hayward has been cooling the past couple of days and the trout fishing could pick up again. Not much for hatches, but streamers and attractors could be the ticket. Strange summer, but we're delighted to have water...

Fishing report 8/5/10

Our rivers are holding their water very well, and the fishing has been good. The fish have been VERY tight to the cover, so casting accuracy is essential to success. We are finding that the fish are spread out a bit, but if one is willing to experiment a bit, the fish are active. The Flambeau weeds are alive and well, so be prepared to pick weeds off your flies. The fish are using the weeds as additional structure, so, fish accordingly. The Chippewa flows are higher than the historic averages, but it is fishing really well. Water temps in the Namekagon approach 80 degrees every day, so chub fishing has been very good--trout fishing not so much...

Fishing report 7/20/10

Well, last week was a beauty. Hayward got slammed last Wednesday with 98 mph straight-line winds and 5 inches of rain. The rivers went up, but they are still fishable. River flows are above historic averages and we seemingly need to re-learn how to fish them. The fish don't react well to unstable conditions and that has been the norm for this season. We're finding fish in rather curious locations compared to previous years, but we are finding them. Poppers and hair bugs are ruling the day, with streamers a close second. Musky fishing has been spotty, but we're still finding them as well. Call or email if you're going to be in the area and we'll give you the up-to-the-minute scoop on conditions...Larry

Fishing report 7/1/10

Good news--The high water of last week is coming back down toward normal. More good news--we have several more options for fishing as a result of the higher water. Fishing has been pretty good but will just get better as water conditions and weather conditions stabilize. Water temps are approaching 80 degrees, so trout fishing is risky.

Fishing report 6/26/10

After six years plus of dealing with low water, we are finally dealing with the other end of the spectrum. Our rivers are at dangerously high flows right now. The Flambeau, Chippewa and West Fork of the Chippewa are unfishable. They are all up several feet over normal and floating them isn't safe. The Namekagon is high but fishable. It's going to take some time for the fish to re-locate and for the water to stabilize. North of Hayward, the Namekagon is fishable, but water temps are mid-upper 70's, so the trout are stressed. As the weather warms, the fishing will be even tougher. The Brule is high but fishing good with the Hex hatch beginning. The White is blown out and unfishable...

Fishing report 5/25/10

Well, it finally got warm and so did the Namekagon. Yesterday's water temperature North of Seeley exceeded 80 degrees and only cooled off overnight to 70. Trout fishing will be tough from here on out. Bass fishing has been very good and the conditions are mid-summer conditions. The bass are responding to poppers and streamers. Musky opener is this weekend and fishing should be terrific. See you out there...

Fishing report 5/18/10

We finally got some rain last week, so the rivers have a bit more water than they have had. However, May has been chilly and we even had some snow, which we didn't have in either March or April. Overnight temps have been chilly as well, so the unstable weather has taken a bit of a toll on the fishing--a lot of hit or miss days. The sulphurs have started hatching and the caddis have been hatching for the past couple of weeks, so there is dry fly fishing to be had. The crazy May weather has caused the bass fishing to suffer a bit. They start to spawn, then back off when the water cools, then start again etc. We're looking at 10 days of stable, warm weather, so the fishing will likely pick up dramatically in the short term.

Fishing report 4/12/10

The Hendrickson hatch has arrived on the Namekagon. A few bugs were spotted last week, but the past weekend the hatch was in full swing. Remarkably, the stonefly hatch is still going after more than a month. Yesterday there were lots of bugs and few rising fish, but the action was good with soft-hackles swinging down and across. Frank Pratt informed us last week that the pike and walleye spawn was complete and the muskies are in mid-spawn last week. Crappies and bluegills are moving toward the beds as are the smallmouth. Those spring events are a month to 6 weeks early. Unless we have a dramatic weather relapse, the May fishing should be terrific. See you on the river...

Fishing report 4/2/10

A couple of interesting days on the Namekagon. I fished for a few hours on Wednesday 3/31 and 4/1. The days were carbon copies of each other...mid 70's and water temps of 58-62. Wednesday found the stoneflies thick and all over the water and many, many fish were rising to them. All the fish were caught on dries (parachute Adams) and the fish were from 9-19". Great outing. Thursday the stoneflies were again all over the water and hardly any fish up to them. Caught a few on dries just fishing the water to no particular fish. Best action came on a streamer swung down and across. The fly of choice was an olive meatwhistle. I saw no Hendricksons, but they can't be far off with the water temps reaching into the 60's. Good reports from the fishermen on the Brule, but because of the warm Spring, the best fishing may be over around April 15. Many reports of the fish caught being spawned out females. Weather should be fine, so get out and wet a line...Larry

Fishing report 3/6/10

Well, the season is on!! The catch and release opener found conditions near perfect. It was 47 degrees and sunny. Water temps were 38-42, depending on the area fished. The black stoneflies made an appearance mid afternoon and a couple of rising fish were spotted. Fishing was generally pretty slow, but we were fishing, nonetheless. Lots of open water from Hayward up to north of Seeley. The water is low and very clear and plenty of snow in the woods and on the banks. Hopefully we'll get a nice, slow melt and keep some water in the river for a while.

End of Season Report 2009

Our fly fishing season has ended for 2009, but it didn't go quietly. November's weather was very cooperative and we got to fish right to the end of the musky season, November 30. October's weather was more like a normal November, but we had many good fishing days, if not good weather days in October. With all the moisture we got in October, the river flows were better than we had enjoyed most of the summer and early fall. The musky fishing was very good in October, with both numbers of fish and big fish highlighting the month. November cooled a bit, but the fishing got hotter, with numbers of fish caught and released and ended with a beautiful 45", 36# beauty. The boats are resting after a big season and we're already pining for next season to get under way. Happy Holidays and we'll look forward to seeing you next season...

Fishing report 10/30/09

Apologies for the tardiness in updating the fishing report. Guiding has been pretty furious. September gave us Summer-like weather and spotty fishing. The bass departed mid-September, even though the water temps were still warm. We have been occupied with muskies since then. Musky fishing has been terrific at times and totally frustrating at other times, but always a hoot. Fly choices have been extremely varied with some days lighter colored flies being productive and other days dark flies being the apparent preference. Size of flies has varied as well, with smaller-than-you-think flies outshining the big flies. As always, we believe the key is just to keep casting and focus on the task at hand. Too many fish have eluded capture by a temporary lapse in focus. Murphy's Law has risen to bite us too many times. Yet, lots of quality fish have been brought to net. Best overall colors for us have been black/orange, black/purple, pink/red and gray/white. November fishing should be terrific. There's no such thing as bad weather-just bad gear. So, dress properly and get in on the late musky bite...Larry

Fishing report 8/2/09

Well, as I arrived at the shop at 7 a.m. the outside temperature was a crisp 42 degrees. It continues to be chilly overnight and only mid-70's during the day, which creates some challenging conditions for the fishing. Our rivers are still very low and water temps vary greatly during the day. Bass and musky fishing has been good, but it seems we have to figure out a new approach every day. There hasn't been much consistency in the successful flies, but the fish are still there and need to eat. Crayfish and minnows for the bass, with an occasional popper day thrown in and bigger patterns for the muskies. Streamers, divers and big poppers have been good for the muskies. As the forage base grows during the season, so does the size of our flies. Trout fishing in the Namekagon has all but ended. The fish have pretty much cleared out in search of colder water.

Fishing report 7/4/09

Unseasonably cool weather has changed our expectations just a bit. All our rivers saw a big drop in water temps last week and are just now rebounding. The bass and musky fishing has been good, but not great. We have had a few "sterling" days, but no consistency. The bass are into a serious crayfish bite, but will eat a popper with gusto. We're finding muskies on an assortment of flies with mid-size streamers and deer hair flies being the best. As the water warms up, hard-bodied poppers fished noisily will be effective.

Trout fishing is extremely tough. Prior to last week's cool down, the water temps had been as high as 84 degrees north of Seeley. Arrgh!

Water levels are very low and pushing the boat has become the every day norm.

Fishing report 6/11/09

Sorry to be slacking on the fishing report. Fishing has been OK, but not spectacular, due primarily to the crazy weather we've been having. The water on the Namekagon had been dropping to record low flows until we got some rain early this week. It's still low, but fishable. Water temps have been 50's into the mid 60's. March browns, sulphurs and caddis are the staples, with the brown drakes just beginning. Nymphs and streamers seem to carry most days.

Bass and musky fishing has been good, but not spectacular, as well. The water has just not gotten warm enough for the bass to get really active, but we're starting to turn the corner on that issue. Muskies are muskies and we've been catching them pretty regularly since the opener, including some big fish. We're fighting low water pretty much everywhere, but the rivers are still floatable...

Fishing report 4/17/09

I am delighted to report that the Hendricksons are finally here. The early stoneflies are still around (#12/14 and a smaller #18). The first Hendricksons were spotted yesterday, so the hatch has just begun. Nymphing has been the preferred method of catching the fish. The fish are healthy and happy. See you on the river...

New Season 2009

We've survived another Winter and another fishing season is upon us. We were at the Great Waters Expo this past weekend and missed opening day last Saturday, but we have our "people" providing us with the latest conditions. I have been out checking for open water and water temps, but haven't been fishing yet. From early reports, the usual suspects are working just fine...stoneflies, big and small, prince nymphs and soft hackled nymphs. A fishing pal spotted 2 adult stoneflies on the snow at Larsen bridge on Monday. Tuesday marked a dramatic decline in temperatures and we got 4 inches of snow Tues/Wed followed by very cold temps. This weekend promises temperatures in the 40's, so the fishing ought to be good. Plenty of open water and the early stoneflies are just around the corner...Larry

End of Season Report

Well, another season is over, at least for guiding. Water levels are low, water is clear and water temps are at or below 40 degrees. The muskies are still on the bite and with any break in the cold weather, we'll be chasing them. For us, the best late season pattern was white and flashy. Lots of flashabou seemed to be the key. Reflecting on the season brings back memories of many big fish encounters and several big fish to the boat. We even caught some big smallmouth in late October as we floated the West Fork down to the Flowage. Pleasant surprises to be sure. Throughout October we had great hatches of little blue winged olives on the Flambeau and Chippewa--blanket hatches, but unfortunately wasted on the muskies. We're already looking forward to trout season...Have a great Winter--see you at the Expos...

Fishing report 9/28/08

Well, another bass season is almost past us. As the water cools, the smallmouth start moving toward their winter homes. We have caught a few over the last couple of weeks and they have been big, but the numbers just aren't there. It was a great season, however. The muskies and pike have been very active with some very sizable fish up and at 'em. Fishing will just continue to improve over the next couple of months. We're primarily catching them on streamers and occasionally on big poppers. Flambeau has just gotten almost unfishable due to the weeds breaking loose. "Coleslaw Soup" will hinder the fishing for a bit. We're going to need some rain in order to fish the West Fork. Chippewa is low but stable. The Namekagon is low and very clear. Good luck this Fall!!