Waukesha County Fishing HotSpots Thread

[keith]

For the big fishing stories, see our Fishing! FishOn! Wisconsin Fishing Forums.

This thread is the place to click "Post Reply" and tell us where the fish are biting in Waukesha County!

You can also announce tournaments and such in this county here in this thread. (The main fishing forums recommended for that as well).

Please post this kind of information:

Subject Line: Lake or river name and what kind of fish are hitting

In the text: Please tell us whatever you can, including:

- where on the Lake / River
- what depth
- time of day
- bait / lure / presentation / colors
- boat access (and cost)

and anything else about the area like local bait shops, water hazards, alternative species and tackle in case the main stuff isn't happening, local places to stay, guide services, etc.

If it is an advertisement, put it in the classifieds; otherwise, hope you'll share some info for all. Just click "Post Reply".

Regards,
Keith

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[AlumniClub]

Big Muskego and Bass Bay lakes are a “work in progress,” so to speak. Sue Beyler, area DNR fisheries biologist at Eagle, says these two lakes were drawn down in 1995 and chemically treated to get rid of the abundant carp. They’ve since been restocked extensively with Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye and panfish, and the plantings seem to have taken hold. But, except for the panfish, it’ll be a little while before there’s a good population of desirable-size fish here. Beyler says there’ll be “legal” Northern Pike during the winter of 1998-99. But it’ll be the year 2000 before there’s much in the way of good-size Bass, and the wait will be about the same for good-size Walleye. Meanwhile, content yourself with some decent panfish – 8-inch Bluegills and 9-inch Perch. At 2,260 acres, Big Muskego is fair-size water. And it offers special problems for the angler. First, according to Beyler, is the dense Chara beds. The Chara, she says, grow close to the surface and can really wrap themselves around your prop; you can screw up your outboard pretty good if you’re not careful. Then the lake is a maze of cattails and floating islands. It’s really easy to get lost, she says. Erv Wyrowski of the Sport Shack, South 75 West 17374 Janesville Road, Muskego (414) 679-1030, agrees with her assessment. “You almost need an airboat” to cope with the weedbeds, he says. And he recommends GPS for all who plan to venture out onto this big water. Fortunately, navigating Big Muskego is made a bit easier by the channels that have been worn through the weeds by other anglers. “You can follow them pretty well,” says Wyrowski; “they’re like snowmobile trails on water.” Currently, Wyrowski says, the “trails” will lead you straight to the best fishing areas for the Perch and ‘gills. Those “hot spots” are toward the big lake’s southern end, where three artificial islands have been constructed of material dredged out from around them. The resulting 8- to 10-foot holes hold good numbers of panfish now and will be the places to go for Walleyes and Northerns in a year or two. Fish the channel edges in Big Muskego for Bass. In Bass Bay, meanwhile, you’ll find deeper water at 20 feet. Wyrowski says you’ll find some nice weedbeds here to fish for Bass and Northerns. At this writing, there was an 18-inch, 1-bag Bass limit on these two lakes. The minimum length for panfish was 8 inches, with a total bag of 15. You’ll want to check current regs, of course, before fishing.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

At 46 feet, 250-acre Golden Lake is a bit deeper than you’d expect for a lake its size. And you can say the same about the fishery. Pat Mahaney, owner of Pat’s Pro Shop & Guide Service, 355 West Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc (414) 567-3467, says you’ll find some nice Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass here, along with pretty fair Crappies and ‘gills and some stocked Walleyes The water is fairly clear, but the lake develops heavy weed growth, so you’ll be fishing clear spots for all species. The concrete rhinoceros in someone's lawn marks “Rhino Point” on the west side; you’ll find Bass, Northerns and Walleyes there; fish deeper for Walleyes than for the Northerns, etc. The weedy flats on the north end are good panfishing grounds; watch the ice there in winter, though: no shortcuts or you’ll get wet.


GB2

[AlumniClub]

On a busy day, Pewaukee Lake in Waukesha County is only an hour away from downtown Milwaukee and half a tank of gas from Chicago. Accordingly, its shores are virtually all developed, and its waters can sometimes be whipped up into a froth of boat wakes and waterbike roostertails. It is, in fact, the third-busiest lake in the state, says John F. Laimon, owner of Smokey’s Muskellunge and Bait Shops in Pewaukee (414) 691-9659. But that doesn’t make it a “dead sea.” Or even a lake in which the fish have all been driven deep by the myriads of buzzing props over their heads. To be sure, says Laimon, Pewaukee produces the most fish per acre of any lake in Wisconsin. And good numbers of those are well worth catching. Topping the list of “catchables” is Muskie. There’s a good population here, with numbers bolstered by DNR stocking. In addition, you’ll find good numbers of stocked Walleyes, some of them running pretty large. And there are some monster Bass here, too: Largemouth running up to 8 pounds or more and 6-pound Smallies. Too, there are Black Crappies topping 10 inches and a good crop of 8- to 9-inch ‘gills. Laimon suggests working the developing weedbed in Taylors Bay on the lake’s north shore early for Muskies. Throw a #5 Mepps, bucktail or small jerkbait. Then, as the water warms, troll the north shoreline in the western third of the lake with Dipsy Divers. Or, throw into the slot and deep weed edge about 300 feet out from Rocky Point on the north shore. For Walleyes, try live bait off the steeply dropping north shore, just west of Rocky Point. And the slot and deep weed edge off Auer Park on the south side is another Walleye hotspot. For Bass and panfish, don’t miss the weedbeds off the north shore, between Taylors Bay and the small island near the east end of the lake. There are some nice weedbeds, as well, around Chester Island and in the cove behind the point to the island’s south. Pewaukee’s public access site is nice, with four good ramps, parking, loading pier, and toilets. In case the parking lot is full, you can get on at the private launch sites for a small fee.

GB2

[AlumniClub]

Special thanks to Sue Beyler, area DNR fisheries biologist at Eagle, Erv Wyrowski of the Sport Shack, South 75 West 17374 Janesville Road, Muskego (414) 679-1030,Pat Mahaney, owner of Pat’s Pro Shop & Guide Service, 355 West Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc (414) 567-3467, John F. Laimon, owner of Smokey’s Muskellunge and Bait Shops in Pewaukee (414) 691-9659 for the info provided. Information was provided from Sportsman Connection Map Guide Book


GB2