Fishing Report

Greetings! Here is the current fishing report...

August 19, 2007:
Northern, musky, bass and smaller walleye all providing a strong bite, with good action for crappies, bluegills and perch in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
The fishing in the Eagle River area remains very good.

Northern are hitting everything in the Eagle River area, but spinnerbaits and Johnson Silver Minnows are particularly productive. Northern sizes are generally maxing out at about 30 inches. Fish the weeds in 4 to 12 feet of water; or find a hanging tree, over real shallow water (two to four feet).

The northern camp under those trees for shade.

In the Eagle River area, there's good musky action. During the day, anglers are getting musky to hit, suspending 12 to 16 feet in 40 feet of water. Bulldawgs and Suzy Suckers are working very well. In the early morning or evening hours, the musky are shallower, moving along weedlines ranging from 4 to 8 feet or deeper (depends on the water temperature).

Tallywhackers and Top Raiders are doing best. The muskies are maxing out in the mid 40s.
Bass are all over the Eagle River area, and hitting strong. Both smallies and largemouth are often being found together. In the morning hours the bass will hang around lily pads, weeds and shallower structure, like drowned wood. A Chatterbait or imitation night crawler will provide action. During the day, the bass move out to deeper humps, or rocky ledges and outcroppings (10 feet or more). Anglers are getting good action jigging with a leech.

The Eagle River Chain of 28 lakes (the largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world) is providing a particularly good bass bite.

Lots of action for smaller walleye in the Eagle River area. In the morning and evening, fish the weed edges in 5 to 6 feet of water. Use a Rapala X Rap, or a leech on a slip bobber. During the day, fish deeper weeds (12 feet or so), using a slip bobber or jig, tipped with a leech or crawler.
There are a few larger walleye being caught, but mainly they're small. Still a lot of fun!
Good all around action for panfish in the Eagle River area. Crappies are suspending around structure in 8 to 12 feet of water. Find a crib, drowned wood, or brush pile. Best crappie action is coming on Berkley Gulp! Perch are in the weeds, just off the bottom, with the big jumbos hanging with the walleyes in the deeper weeds (albeit, providing less action than the shallower perch). Use a crawler for the perch. Bluegills are in the weeds.

Fish 4 to 8 feet, and use a leech. For some big bull gills target clear water lakes and fish areas of drowned trees. The bulls are hanging in these areas, in about 12 feet of water - -again, you'll get less action for the bigger gills than the shallower fish.

Hunters should start preparing to get up to Eagle River for the unmatched fall hunting opportunities, including black bear, deer, waterfowl, geese and grouse. Get your equipment tuned up, apply for your permits, and make your reservations to come up to Eagle River. And don't forget that fall up in Eagle River means trophy musky and great walleye fishing. Now's the time to make your plans and join us in Eagle River for the wonderful fall season.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance interview with the staff of Guides Choice Pro Shop).