As the fishing season opens for walleye, northerns, largemouth bass and trout Saturday May 4, anglers can expect warming temperatures, but lake water levels are lower than normal in the Sawyer County area.
Max Wolter, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources senior fisheries biologist, said “Weather forecasts call for warming temperatures and a fair amount of precipitation as thE fishing opener approaches. Those conditions should generally be good for fish activity, but anglers may need to break out the ponchos.
“Most walleye and northern pike spawning activity should be wrapped up by then and fish will be moving into post-spawn areas and behaviors,” Wolter said. “For walleye and pike that will likely mean new emerging weed beds in warming areas or edges of drop-offs.
“Panfish are already moving shallow, but they are still a ways from actually spawning as of the time of this writing,” Wolter added. “Look for large mixed schools of crappie and bluegill in shallow, wind-protected bays. Panfish may be spooky and they may move in and out of shallow areas until water temperatures rise further.”
Water levels: “The lack of snow over winter leaves many of our lakes at a lower level than usual for this time of year,” Wolter said. “Most noticeably, the water level on the Chippewa Flowage is likely to be two-three feet low as opener approaches. However, we can confirm that some of the Chippewa Flowage’s DNR landings are usable and navigation into most areas is still possible under these conditions. “Anglers looking to access the Chip will need to choose their access point carefully based on the size of their watercraft and be extra mindful of boating hazards. Traveling at a lower speed may is wisest.
“River levels are also on the low end. Trout anglers will find the Namekagon to still be very fishable. The Chippewa and Flambeau should be navigable with canoes or drift boats, provided you are okay with scraping a rock here and there.
Angling regulation changes: “There are a number of new angling regulations taking effect in 2024 that anglers need to be aware of,” Wolter adds. “The daily bag limit for northern pike has been increased to 10 for the Chippewa Flowage, Lac Courte Oreilles (including Little Lac Courte Oreilles), the Spider Chain, and the Tiger Cat Chain. Anglers can now harvest up to 10 pike per day. However, the statewide possession limit for northern pike is also 10 per day. This effectively means that anglers can harvest more pike (up to 10 per day) from these waters in any given day of fishing but will need to clear them from their possession limit by eating or donating them before more pike can be harvested from these or other waterbodies.
“Osprey Lake and Island Lake now have year-round special panfish regulations of 15 panfish per day, no more than five of any one species. Previously that regulation was only in effect on those two waterbodies in the months of May and June.
“Lastly, Moose Lake now has a unique panfish regulation aimed at boosting size of crappie with the goal of creating an exceptional fishery. The new panfish regulation for Moose Lake is: five panfish per day (all species combined), only one of which may be over 12 inches. New regulation signs for all species have been posted at the boat ramps for these lakes.
“There are no other changes to area fishing regulations other than the ones mentioned above.
“Local Fisheries Survey Basic Results: The Hayward DNR Fish Team has been on the water since early March surveying local fish populations. The walleye spawn has been very drawn out, with spawning occurring over a 3-4 week span and female walleye depositing eggs sporadically.
“Still, catch rate for walleye was good in our surveys of Barber and Spider Lakes. Large walleye were also captured in Lac Courte Oreilles, with most females being over 20 inches and most males in the high teens.
“Despite cold water temperatures thus far, muskellunge have been very active. Several hundred muskellunge have already been captured by the Hayward Team, Spooner Hatchery Team, and the Spooner Research Team on Lac Courte Oreilles, Spider, Sand, and Barber Lakes. Crappie catch has been steady in Lac Courte Oreilles and the Chippewa Flowage, with nice size observed in both.
“Survey efforts will now shift to bluegill and bass as lakes continue to warm. Survey reports are typically available by mid-summer.
“Pike Harvest Initiatives: Managing abundance of introduced northern pike in our muskellunge waters has become a major effort in the area. Angling harvest represents one of the most viable means to control northern pike abundance, which can benefit other species like muskellunge and may improve the average size of northern pike as well.
“To be effective, anglers need to harvest even the smallest pike they capture (15-20 inch pike in particular). Bag limits have been increased on several lakes to accommodate more pike harvest. Programs to incentivize harvest of pike are in place on the Chippewa Flowage, Spider Chain, and Tiger Cat Chain. Stop into local bait shops and resorts to learn more about how to participate.
“Similar programs are also being developed for Lac Courte Oreilles, Moose Lake, and the Winter Area Lakes. Northern pike represent a great harvest opportunity for anglers based on their catchability, harvest-oriented regulations, and great taste” said Wolter.
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