Last week two nice walleyes were caught and released, Steve Almberg (Wilmington IL) 29 inch walleye and Joey Novotne (Rochester MN) 28 inch Walleye.  Barry White and myself took a boat into mouse lake yesterday, only one walleye was caught, but it was a touch over 30 and just a huge girth.  That fish was over 10 lbs and probally the second biggest walleye I ever caught.  Al Frankovich and crew went there today in hopes of a 30 plus.  For all you bush hoppers, the boat is there and could be a good pick for next year.  I am not sure why you don't catch many small walleyes in that lake but it sure is nice to hold a brute like that.  July is the time to catch a trophy, out of the 6 walleyes over 30 I have caught, I am pretty sure they all came in July.  After a long rest period from spawning the big females seem to go out on the prowel and feed a bit before the water warms too much.  There were 8 musky's caught last week, but that is only going to get better, we have found active fish in 75 to 79 degree water in the past, the water temps in our musky lakes is about 68 to 70 right now, give it a week or two and things should really start up.  Frank Cavenaugh from Braidwood IL also did extremely well on one of our bass lakes, 50 plus in an evening, which he duplicated 3 times.  All is good here, and we would like to thank all of you for your emails, keep em coming, this has been fun.

 

Your host

 

Dave and Betty

Water is heating up a bit and the muskies are starting.  One party are strictly musky guys and are doing well.  They are beening closed lipped right now with information but I will get filled in tonight before they leave tommorow.  36 and 38's were in the boat early in the week and a couple 43's made it in the last couple of days.  Sm. Bass are very active and walleyes seem to be in transition on many lakes.  I'll be out walleye fishing myself in the next two weeks, looking forward to that, we'll let you know how that turns out.  Have a great day.  Bob Corcoran Had back surgery last week, lets keep him in our thoughts.

I was able to get out and guide for the first time yesterday.  Two gentleman from Illinois had a great day.  Jim Lissy, Art Ninc, and myself boated at least 70 walleyes.  Many of the fish were small but we did manage to boat a couple 23's and quite a few over 20 but 1/2 the fish were under 16.  All the fish caught were in less than 7ft of water.  Chad Drews and company had a great day along with some perch jerkers from chicago who were in the fish house for a while.  The weater is still unseasonably cool, ranging from 58 to 66 degrees.  The shallow active fish are loving the 66 plus water, fathead minnows are spawning now and that is easy prey for the walleyes. We have two musky guys here this week.  Two days two fish but the follows are coming and actually they had two 40 plus fish on yesterday, I'll try and get you a water temp on the musky lakes.  I'll be getting out a little more in the coming weeks and should have some good stuff to talk about. 

Brian Yunker set out to catch a 30 incher yesterday and accomplished just that.  We had sent him to a trophy walleye lake and landed a 30 1/2 inch walleye.  that made his day and actually made the week, although he was able to put up pretty big numbers everyday.  A couple of his buddy 's back home will be a bit jealous.  Fishing today was great everywhere it seemed.  Fish were actively feeded shallow.  Water Temperatures are all over the place, find warmer water (60's) and you'll find active fish.  We had a nice week here, great people, great fun.   

Rain is gone and we are starting to dry out.  Jim and May Bowden from Wis. had a great day on pickerel, many over 18, which is a good problem.  They were catching fish in 10 ft.  By being patient they were able to sit on top of feeding fish and rip em on and off all day.  Patients is the key.  One party can go out and not catch any fish and another rip fish all day.  Once you catch a fish or two stay on them, sometimes (or most of the time) we get in to much of a hurry.  The Sharp/Yunker group have been steadily catching fish but last night a nice Sm.Bass stuck a rapala treble in one of the young guys (Charlie) which lead to a trip to Dryden.  Three hooks three trips to Dryden for customers this year already.  Hey Bob Corcoran, tip of the day, Try and aways have slack in your line when ever working with the lure or hook.  Time for me to get at it.  Great weather good fishing, come up and see us, those big fish will start here pretty soon. July is a grat time to land a 30.

Sorry no updates for a while, full camp, new groups,  my father and Tony Altiery are here, been busy.  I should have been building an ark.  The rain has finally stopped today and temperatures should be rising.  Water temps are still cold (57 average) fish continue to be spotty but everyday a few groups find active fish and just pound them.  New customers Scott Garrey and family did well, they had a 2 hr stint of great walleye fishing, one after another.  Nice to see for some ones first time on the lake.  Brian Yunker from Joliet IL has be able to find fish every day for his group, he might give the walleye master a run for his money.  If and this is a big IF, the water gets up into the 60's over the next few days fishing should get even better.  We actually haven't had three stable days of weather since the opener. (may 17th) 26 inch walleye has been the biggest this week so far and lots of nice small mouths,  Nick altiery caught seven 17 inchers and Brian Yunker caught a real nice 19 incher.  The clear lakes have been good with overcast weather everyday.  Surprising many fish were caught alittle deeper today. (12 to 18 ft)  I've been preaching shallow, looks like I need to get out and fish alittle myself..  Maybe I'll take dad for an hour or two tommorow.  I'll try and update a bit more often.  (Bob Corcoran)  

Every group were catching fish today.  Although they were not all walleyes; bass, perch, northerns and even some crappie were caught.  Weather has been decent, and temps around 70.  Jimmy Hansons group went to a small mouth lake in the morning and did really well, then ended the day with great catches of walleye.  Jack Meurer (8yrs old) caught the biggest at 25 1/2 inches.  The guys who fish windy points / bays with dirty bottoms have been catching walleyes fishing very slow and dragging a jig, stirring up the bottom on the retrieve.  The fish house is busy.  Walleyes in general don't seem to be all over but a few parties find them everyday.  Seem to be alittle early for spinner rigs, you'll catch a few but jigs are still the way to go.  Stick to the jig, and give it time.

Although fishing still is spotty, the big females are starting to bite.  Ken Wicks from Aurora IL caught and released a 30 in walleye yesterday on Pickerel Lake, what a nice fish.  If I can figure out how to post a picture I will do so.  Paul Budden from Platteville WS caught and released a 28 inch walleye from one of our bush lakes.  For three weeks we were only catching males, now that trend seems to be turning around.  After the females have rested from spawning they we come out of the depts and go on a feed for a bit.  Some guys are doing really well everyday and some not so good.  I can't explain why. Water levels remain good with a hard rain coming on Friday, which we can use.  Mayflies will be hatching soon, as the water is starting to heat up.

Hunter's Specialties sent me a DVD of a hunt that was filmed here last year, No making fun of yours truely.  If any one is interest, Pickerel Creeks hunt  is the first hunt on the second disc. ( Primetime Bucks XII )  Guys have all been seening bear moose and deer.  Bob leighty's group seen 7 bear and two moose on the way back from the deer lake rd area. I do have two openings for a whitetail hunt this year and a couple of spots for bear hunting at the north camp this year.  Give me a call if anyone or some one you know is interested. 

The weather has been stable and perfect.  Water is warming and fish were biting yesterday.  The over all area is spotty.  One day a lake is great and the next its just OK.  With that said Steve Bielecky and son from Morris had a fantanstic day. Quality walleyes and even some slot size northerns ( 27.6 to 35.4 inches) along with great numbers, for a bonus he went up thru a creek system to a trout lake and caught fish there, lots of smiles.  The Ray Horvat group all caught nice stringers of walleyes,  Ray horvat himself went bass fishing yesterday which turned out to not be a good pick.  Only three bass.  Bass seem to be off their spring feed and are transitioning for their spawn.  Everyone else in camp did very well with walleyes.  The bears are starting to move.  Bob Leighty and friends seen 7 bears on the way home from the deer lake rd area and Larry Ryanns group seen a monster bear in the same area.  Good news for our August Hunt.  I am actually 4 wheeling a group into baker lake today and take another group fishing to a remote busch lake.  Thanks for reading.

 

Dave

 

 

Walleye are gorging themselves on hellgramites.  Two ways to look at this.  The positive, is the fish are feeding but their stomachs are full.  When fish are in feeding mode they will keep feeding regaurdless.  I have found at this time of year you need to be shallow, fish slow, and most importantly drag your bait.  The jigging up and down motion does not work as well.  The slow presentation and your jig/minnow or jig/leech striring up silt off the bottom works.  When you find fish exhaust the area, don't run and gun.  There are more fish there.  If your not catching walleyes now you are fishing TOO FAST.

 Everyday has gotten better.  Nice stringers of walleyes are coming in everyday.  The guys who are keeping it simple, fishing slow and hard are doing great.  You can't get more simple than a jig/minnow and drag it slow on the bottom.  Trout are still hitting great as well.  Full camp again this week, I hope to have some good stories.   Weather looks good and water temps are reaching 60 dedrees.  Via e-mail I will answer lake specific questions.  Have a great day, Betty and I will, its a beautiful day in Canada. Wish you were here.