| April, A Love/Hate Relationship by Chris Powell |
April in Wisconsin. Spring is coming into full swing. The ice is going
off of the lakes. Many outdoorsmen are playing the waiting game.
Getting their boats ready for the summer, running water through the
motor, making sure everything is ready for the May opener. Then
there are the outdoorsmen, like myself, who have had their boat in
the water for a whole month already.
off of the lakes. Many outdoorsmen are playing the waiting game.
Getting their boats ready for the summer, running water through the
motor, making sure everything is ready for the May opener. Then
there are the outdoorsmen, like myself, who have had their boat in
the water for a whole month already.
You see, I love to fish the spring
walleye run on the Mighty Mississippi
River, and the months of March and
April are prime months to target
walleye and sauger, on the big river,
and it may also be your best chance at
netting a trophy class walleye. It is not
uncommon to catch 50 plus walleye
and sauger in a day. That’s just the
fishing. So what else draws me?
There is nothing like seeing 25 plus
bald eagles in a day, flying among the
still snow covered bluffs. It is truly a
breathtaking experience. Even if the
fishing isn’t going so great, it is always
worth the trip to me. But since I love
fishing the Mississippi River so much,
you would figure the month of April
would be one of my favorite months,
right? Well, it is…sort of.
walleye run on the Mighty Mississippi
River, and the months of March and
April are prime months to target
walleye and sauger, on the big river,
and it may also be your best chance at
netting a trophy class walleye. It is not
uncommon to catch 50 plus walleye
and sauger in a day. That’s just the
fishing. So what else draws me?
There is nothing like seeing 25 plus
bald eagles in a day, flying among the
still snow covered bluffs. It is truly a
breathtaking experience. Even if the
fishing isn’t going so great, it is always
worth the trip to me. But since I love
fishing the Mississippi River so much,
you would figure the month of April
would be one of my favorite months,
right? Well, it is…sort of.
My biggest problem with the month of April is the fact
that I have to make choices. You see, while I love
fishing on the Mississippi, I also have a fond love of
steelhead fishing. For those of you not familiar with
the sport of steelhead fishing, or the fish itself, let me
explain it to you. A steelhead is a Great Lakes or
ocean run rainbow trout, originally imported to
Wisconsin in 1884. These fish are capable of growing
much larger than inland trout, and offers an intense
fight to stream anglers every spring, when they travel
upstream ( much like salmon) to spawn. Anglers target
steelhead by fly rod, spinners, spawn sacs, and
sometimes even night crawlers. Steelhead are present
in both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior tributaries.
The Bois Brule in Northern Wisconsin is a popular
steelhead destination, and through the efforts of local
clubs and organizations, has remained one of the most
beautiful rivers in all of Wisconsin. This is a cold water
stream, and natural reproduction for trout and salmon
does take place here. You might not catch the
numbers of fish you can on the Lake Michigan tribs,
but as anyone who has fished the Brule knows, it is all
about the experience. But sometimes numbers of
steelhead is exactly what I am after, and for that I will
head east to rivers such as the Root, Sheboygan, and
the Manitowoc. These are also great rivers for the
novice steelhead fisherman to learn on. Usually if one
of these rivers isn’t producing, there is another trib not
too far away. So, here I am left to make a choice
again. North or East? This is tough.
that I have to make choices. You see, while I love
fishing on the Mississippi, I also have a fond love of
steelhead fishing. For those of you not familiar with
the sport of steelhead fishing, or the fish itself, let me
explain it to you. A steelhead is a Great Lakes or
ocean run rainbow trout, originally imported to
Wisconsin in 1884. These fish are capable of growing
much larger than inland trout, and offers an intense
fight to stream anglers every spring, when they travel
upstream ( much like salmon) to spawn. Anglers target
steelhead by fly rod, spinners, spawn sacs, and
sometimes even night crawlers. Steelhead are present
in both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior tributaries.
The Bois Brule in Northern Wisconsin is a popular
steelhead destination, and through the efforts of local
clubs and organizations, has remained one of the most
beautiful rivers in all of Wisconsin. This is a cold water
stream, and natural reproduction for trout and salmon
does take place here. You might not catch the
numbers of fish you can on the Lake Michigan tribs,
but as anyone who has fished the Brule knows, it is all
about the experience. But sometimes numbers of
steelhead is exactly what I am after, and for that I will
head east to rivers such as the Root, Sheboygan, and
the Manitowoc. These are also great rivers for the
novice steelhead fisherman to learn on. Usually if one
of these rivers isn’t producing, there is another trib not
too far away. So, here I am left to make a choice
again. North or East? This is tough.
Let’s not forget about ice out. Bluegills and crappies are now
about to go nuts. They are still pretty firm from the colder
water. This is a good chance to get a good meal. Usually this
time of year I will still chase the gills with waxies under a
bobber. But eventually, I will just HAVE to bust out the fly
rod. I am running out of time to fit everything in.
Probably the easiest form of fishing right now would have to
be for redhorse and sucker , as they are making their spring
spawning runs. Now, when I say easy, I am not just talking
about how easy they are to catch. What I mean is if you have
just an hour of spare time, you can just head right down to
your local river with a box of night crawlers, a fishing pole,
some hooks and sinkers. Doesn’t get much simpler than
that. Also, many fishermen overlook the opportunity at some
of the best catfish and bullhead fishing there is.
What else can you do in April? If you are a turkey hunter, it is
very possible you drew for one of the April seasons. If you
do, you do not want to pass up the chance at bagging a big
tom. If you have an April turkey season, plan on losing a
week out of your April fishing season.
about to go nuts. They are still pretty firm from the colder
water. This is a good chance to get a good meal. Usually this
time of year I will still chase the gills with waxies under a
bobber. But eventually, I will just HAVE to bust out the fly
rod. I am running out of time to fit everything in.
Probably the easiest form of fishing right now would have to
be for redhorse and sucker , as they are making their spring
spawning runs. Now, when I say easy, I am not just talking
about how easy they are to catch. What I mean is if you have
just an hour of spare time, you can just head right down to
your local river with a box of night crawlers, a fishing pole,
some hooks and sinkers. Doesn’t get much simpler than
that. Also, many fishermen overlook the opportunity at some
of the best catfish and bullhead fishing there is.
What else can you do in April? If you are a turkey hunter, it is
very possible you drew for one of the April seasons. If you
do, you do not want to pass up the chance at bagging a big
tom. If you have an April turkey season, plan on losing a
week out of your April fishing season.
What if you want to go get some smelt? The best time to do
that on Lake Superior is right when the ice goes out., whenever
that is, depending on the year. Decisions, decisions…
April in Wisconsin offers early trout season as well (which
begins in March). This is catch and release only, and you may
only use barbless hooks. Many times, however, you will get a
whole stream to yourself. There are some real bruisers ready
to be caught at this time of year if you know where to find them,
too.
And so you see my big dilemma with the month of April. I never
really know what I want to do. But when you really sit down and
think about it, is there really a BETTER dilemma to have? Man,
do I love living in Wisconsin! And the month of April!
Chris Powell- Chief Administrator for Wisconsin Fisherman/O-L-O, and
a licensed Wisconsin Fishing Guide.
Contact Chris at Fat Guy's Guide Service
715-577-9771 or on the web at www.fat-guy.org
that on Lake Superior is right when the ice goes out., whenever
that is, depending on the year. Decisions, decisions…
April in Wisconsin offers early trout season as well (which
begins in March). This is catch and release only, and you may
only use barbless hooks. Many times, however, you will get a
whole stream to yourself. There are some real bruisers ready
to be caught at this time of year if you know where to find them,
too.
And so you see my big dilemma with the month of April. I never
really know what I want to do. But when you really sit down and
think about it, is there really a BETTER dilemma to have? Man,
do I love living in Wisconsin! And the month of April!
Chris Powell- Chief Administrator for Wisconsin Fisherman/O-L-O, and
a licensed Wisconsin Fishing Guide.
Contact Chris at Fat Guy's Guide Service
715-577-9771 or on the web at www.fat-guy.org
