April 28, 2021 at 4:46 p.m.
Fishing season opens Saturday
Area anglers, guides believe fishing opener will be good
Fishing season opens Saturday
"I hope everyone is as excited as I am for the 2021 fishing season," Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries management bureau director Justine Hasz said in a recent press release. "I have my rods ready and I can't wait to hit the water this coming Saturday. 2020 was a great year for anglers and I expect 2021 to be even better."
The DNR warns boat launches, as always on opening weekend, will likely be crowded. But they encourage anglers to continue to practice social distancing and to wear a face covering when they are within six feet of other anglers not in their household.
The department also sent out some safety recommendations. Those include always wearing a life jacket. While it is not mandatory to wear a life jacket in the case of a fishing boat, it is only required to be readily accessible and of good fit for each person on the boat, however, it is always a good idea to wear a life jacket. New this year is the requirement, on Coast Guard patrolled waters, that the driver be tethered to the "kill switch" at all times that the boat is "on plane," or traveling at speed. This regulation only applies to Coast Guard patrolled waters, but is also simply another solid piece of advice for those boats equipped with such a device.
Many tournament anglers and other serious fishermen opt for a gas pedal type device commonly called a "Hot Foot," as another safety device. Should the driver be thrown from the boat, or to any location where he cannot reach the pedal, it will release, bringing the boat back to idle.
The DNR also recommends boating sober and practicing safe boat operation. Staying hydrated and having snacks along is also important when getting back out fishing for the first time after a long winter's break.
Anglers should also remember to purchase their fishing license before heading out. This can be done quickly and easily on the Go Wild system. In many cases, anglers can use their driver's license or state I.D., or their Conservation Card, as their proof of license. Anglers under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license. Those anglers 16 and 17 years old, as well as anglers 65 and over pay only $7 for their reduced-fee fishing license. Anglers born before 1927 do not need a license in the state of Wisconsin. An annual fishing license is $20 for other residents. However, if a resident is a first time buyer, or has not purchased a license for 10 or more years, the fee is reduced to $5. Resident combination licenses, issued to legally married couples, is $31. There are also reduced license fees for disabled residents and disabled veterans. Active members of the military are not charged for their license, including inland trout and Great Lakes salmon stamps.
Anglers should also be aware of regulations on the lake or river on which they will be fishing. Regulations are posted at most launch ramps. The full statewide fishing regulations pamphlet can be downloaded from the DNR website dnr.wi.gov. There is also a feature on the website allowing anglers to search for regulations on their specific lake of interest. Anglers will need to adhere to bag limits and size limits for their targeted species on the waters on which they wish to fish.
AIS
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are a big concern for Northwoods lakes. Some have found their way across the area while others are still contained. Fighting AIS, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), costs millions to billions of dollar per year nationwide, and counties in the Northwoods spend tens of thousands of dollars per year.
The good news about invasive species is humans can help stop the spread. AIS moves from lake to lake with human assistance. These aquatic invaders often "hitch a ride" on boats, trailers and other gear. Some of them can also be found in water left in live wells or bilge areas. Most anglers heading out on opening weekend of fishing will likely encounter a volunteer from a program called Clean Boats Clean Waters. These volunteers have become as much a part of the landscape as pine trees. They interview boaters as they enter and leave a lake and also help to be sure boats, trailers and gear are free of debris, including mud and plant material.
Boaters should remove all debris and vegetation from their boats, trailers and gear before leaving the launch ramp. Cleaning and drying all equipment is also recommended. If possible, gear should be dried for seven days before entering another water body. Knowing which invasive species are in a body of water can help a boater or angler learn for what they should be looking when cleaning their gear and watercraft. Learning to identify invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil or zebra mussels can also help an angler keep from spreading an invasive that could potentially change their favorite fishery.
Local outlook
Jeff Smith at J&J Sports in Lake Tomahawk said with temperatures above 50 degrees this weekend and a good outlook overall for weather, it should be a great weekend to get out and wet a line.
"We've got no ice on the lakes and the weather will be good," he said. "I'm happy about that! The walleyes will be post spawn and should be ready to put on the feedbag."
He said ideally, if the area could have a couple warmer nights before the weekend, that would improve things even more. Water temperatures had been approaching 50 degrees on many lakes during the warmer stretches, but now they had been dipping back into the 40s. So, although ice out was early this year, the cooler temperatures put things back on track for where they normally are for opening weekend.
Smith recommended live bait with a jig and minnow being his first choice. Medium-size baits have been doing really well, he said. But also anglers should not count out leeches. Fish, he said, should be hanging right off the first drop from the shallows and a leech presentation should bring some fish into the boat. Crawlers for perch are always successful as well, he said.
Kurt Justice from Kurt's Island Sports said targeting early weed growth will be helpful in looking for pike and walleye as well. He, too, said the walleye spawn will be done by the opener, so anglers should think more along the lines of what they would do in mid May rather than opening weekend.
Justice also felt the leech bite would be a player opening weekend. A jig and minnow, too, should be in the mix as recovering pike and walleye will be looking to feed after their spawn.
The bays are warming up, Justice said, meaning fish such as largemouth, crappies and bluegills should be coming into the shallows looking for warmer water. Stick baits in the shallows could also bring some fish into the boat, he said.
Overall, opening weekend looks good as far as creature comforts for anglers, and the fishing action should be good on most lakes. Although water temperatures warmed up early, they cooled off again, but should be warming again by the opening day with warmer weather this week.
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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