Wissota Aug 11

Warm day on the backyard gem today!

One of the things I've promised myself that I'd do this year is think outside of the box on Wissota. I've settled into a comfortable routine that I can count on to produce, but the only way to become a more complete angler is to step outside of that box, even if that means catching fewer fish than you might otherwise.

Here are some results from today's trip "outside of the box".

First, a Wissota bass double....a smallie and an uncommon (for me, at least) Wissota largie. These were my first two fish of the day, and came on consecutive casts. I boxed up the largie for a photo op before sticking the smallie. Once I had them both in the boat, it was time for a quick snap before getting back to work.

The next two casts....two more cookie cutter smallies, just like the one in the photo.

Hayward Lakes update

More cool water in the northland has kept good numbers of gamefish in the shallows, rather than pushing them deep.

I arrived in the Hayward Area on Friday night and found water temps of 67 degrees. August 7, and 67 degrees. Unbelievable.

Over two days and two nights, we found walleyes and smallies during low light periods, and abundant largemouth during the day, prowling the inside edge of well-developed cabbage beds. A sample of our catch is shown below. Casting SSR7s by night and soaking leeches under corks by day kept fish coming to the net.

Boating is getting tricky in the area. All sorts of interesting gravel beds, which are now shallow enough to be in play, will be giving the area prop shops their own version of a stimulus package. Trim up and go slow!

Wissota Aug. 5

August is smallmouth time on the backyard gem!

I was joined by dyed-in-the-wool bass angler Dan Meyer, manager of Skeeter Boat Center, for an afternoon multispecies adventure today. We caught our fair share of walleyes today but probably caught twice as many smallies. This "pie plate with fins" was our largest for the trip.

Water temperatures are surprisingly low for early August, and I'm sure those cool temps contributed to a less-than-torrid smallmouth bite today. I think that will change soon with predicted highs in the 90s this weekend. So, get out and enjoy some terrific late summer fishing on the backyard gem! If you're looking for a care-free multispecies trip this August, please shoot me an e-mail. I do have some availability for Wissota smallmouth (and walleye!) adventures.

Wissota update

Back-to-back guide trips today made for 4 happy clients of Jason Halfen Outdoors, and one sleepy fishing guide!

My morning trip was two brothers, Tom and George, from Menomonie. Tom's wife and George's wife bought them a fully guided walleye trip on Wissota for Father's Day. In the afternoon, I was joined by Fred and Fr. Brian from Eau Claire. Fred was the winner of the Chippewa Rod and Gun club raffle for a trip out on Wissota with me for some great multi-species action. I was happy to donate a trip to the Rod and Gun Club in support of their activities last year, and am doing so again this year.

Kooky weather made for an interesting bite, but we ground it out and enjoyed steady success all day. Shown here are some pics including Tom with an over walleye and a 12" crappie, followed by Fr. Brian with an over walleye, followed by Fr. Brian and Fred with a 31", 13 lb 6 oz channel cat.

Our totals for the day were 21 walleye, 11 cats, 4 smallies, and one nice crappie. Thanks George, Tom, Fred and Fr. Brian for a great day on the water with Jason Halfen Outdoors. For now, off to sleep before more guiding tomorrow.