Seasonal Fishing Trends
Fishing Opener
General - First Saturday in May
Bass - Catch & Release Only, until 3rd Saturday in June
Musky - 4th Saturday in May
Spring Fishing Trends
 Fishing is best for walleye in the early part of the season - in the first two weeks of May. Walleye fishing on certain lakes will stay good through mid June or slightly later. Best lakes - Namakagon, Owen, Clam Lakes.
Trout fishing is good usually through May/early June. Stocked lakes and stream fishing are the best - Perch Lake, Silverthorn Lake, Pole Lake, Marengo River to name a few.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are good from mid May throughout the year, especially good at the beginning of June. Bass are spawning and catches are good. Most lakes are good for bass.
Crappie, bluegill, and perch fishing is best while these pan fish are spawning - usually mid May through mid June. Nearly all lakes provide good fishing for these critters.
Musky and Northern - Musky season does not open until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Spring fishing for musky and northern is best during the month of June. Fish lakes known for musky - Clam Lakes, Namakagon, Day Lake, Twin, Mineral, English, Spider, Moquah.
Summer Fishing Trends
 Walleye fishing later in the season becomes more difficult and most fish are caught early in the morning or late in the evening. The exception is cloudy, rainy days. July-August, early September are tough. Recommended large deep lakes or river fishing. Best Lakes - Namakagon, Owen, Clam Lakes, English - Chippewa River.
Trout fishing gets progressively harder as the weather warms. Stick with streams and rivers.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass stay good throughout the year. Fishing heavy cover in July and August can be very productive.
Crappie, bluegill, and perch stay good throughout July and August. Fly fishing can be fun at this time. Fish heavy cover.
Musky and Northern - Musky and northern fishing stays pretty consistent through the first three weeks of July and then becomes sporadic through August and early September. The weather will dictate the good and bad fishing days.
Fall Fishing Trends
Walleye fishing from mid September on is on the rise with the best walleye fishing taking place from mid to late October and sometimes in early November, too.
Trout fishing improves as walleye fishing does.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass stay good throughout September. From October on is not the best time to fish bass.
Crappie, bluegill, and perch fishing becomes difficult in September because the fish go into a transitional phase. However, in late September the fish usually hold up in deep water schools and fishing for crappie can become exceptionally good. Fish big lakes known for crappie - water from 12 to 30 feet deep.
Musky and Northern - Musky and northern fishing is at its best from about the third week of September on. October and early November are the overall period of the year.
Winter Fishing Trends
 Fishing action can be fast and furious when winter seals the lakes under ice. Best of all, there are no bugs to pester you! In Wisconsin, bluegill, perch, walleye and northern pike are the most sought after species in winter. Bluegill and perch are the most commonly caught.
For Bluegills, try fishing in shallow bays where the water is about four to eight feet deep. For bait, try a teardrop lure tipped with live insect larvae. Gently jig the lure up and down.
Jig for perch at 35 feet. For bait, try small, live minnows or weighted ice flies and insect larvae. For northern pike, Fish shallow bays with large live minnows on a tip-up in four to 12 feet of water.
Walleye are found along the shorelines and in shallow bays. As with northern pike, tip-ups rigged with minnows are the best technique.
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