BE A MULTI-SPECIES ANGLER

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Being a multi-species angler can provide unlimited opportunities for the northern Wisconsin angler. Let me take you through the year from January through December. In this scribbling you will find my thoughts reflecting on my experiences over the past several years while guiding and fishing with friends and relatives. You will also note some pictures of fishermen and various species of fish, some caught by me, others caught by my fishing partners. The photos reflect the joys of the experience whether caught by me or others. I guess there is much to the C.P.R. theory (Catch, Photograph, Release), at least there is for me.

Well, jumping into the January fishing, you will find some fair walleye action and good to excellent trout, northern and panfishing. This, of course, is done through the ice and continues until the game fish season ends. Panfishing continues until ice out in April. Late fishing for panfish is generally outstanding. Ice fishermen should dress appropriately and be well aware of changing ice conditions.

Where to go, when to go, and what to do is another story. Any decent sport shop such as Eagle Sports will gladly point you in the right direction.

In April we get into the open water with some fantastic perch action. Just across the border in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the stream fishing for brook and brown trout kicks off along with a steelhead run that can be outstanding. May is walleye and trout time in the Eagle River area. In fact, in some years the walleye fishing can be unreal well into the month of June.

Late May and June brings a basket full of fishing as the bass fishing turns on as does the panfishing for bluegills and crappies as they enter their spawning runs. Musky action also begins at this time and continues to improve all summer long. July and August are fair to good walleye and bass months depending on the weather conditions. Fly fishermen in pursuit of trout and panfish during the mid to late summer period often enjoy great success.

September and October bring with them the fall pattern. Walleye action begins to pick up and many of the bigger fish of the season are caught during this time frame. Musky activity also increases and continues to improve right up to freeze-up. It is also during this period that the weather conditions can present a real challenge to those hardy souls out on the water.

Late November and December put us back on the ice where walleye and panfishing are excellent. Limits of panfish are common and walleye fishing, if the weather cooperates, can be a most rewarding experience. Some say this is the best fishing period of the entire year.

If one is a big water fisherman Lake Superior is but a long hour's drive from Eagle River and provides some excellent fishing for trout, salmon, walleyes, bass and northerns. Ihave fished the big lake many times using downriggers, spinning tackle and fly rods from April to October. One thing you cannot count on is the weather. You might not get out on the big lake for days at a time due to the weather so staying here in Eagle River and fishing our inland lakes and sneaking up t o Lake Superior when the weather permits is a real bonus.

You know, I have been asked many times, "When is the best time to go fishing?". My answer is always, "Whenever you can go." Of course there no guarantees...... and that's what makes catching a fish so special. Remember, any fish is a good fish.

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