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St. Germain Area Fishing Specials & Packages

St. Germain Fishing Reports

 

Hunting, fishing, trapping and other 2013-2014 license and harvest permits for fish and wildlife activities in Wisconsin went on sale March 7, 2013. Visit the DNR website for more information. Licenses and permits for 2012-2013 expired March 31, 2013.

 

Wisconsin Fishing Season Dates

Recreational Safety Education Classes are now being offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check out the ATV, boating, hunting and snowmobile safety classes being offered in the area.

2012 Greater Wisconsin Muskie Tournament Highlights

Click here to review questions, new guidelines, and links about Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Information.

Shortly after the ice melts on area lakes, fishermen head to St. Germain for panfishing. Crappies, bluegill and perch are all common in St. Germain’s lakes. In spring, look for shallow, warm water, particularly in protected bays, and fish with small jigs and baits. As spring moves on, catch & release bass fishing becomes popular. For the earliest bass action, target shallow, structure-rich lakes with stained waters and dark bottoms.

Summer is the quintessential Northwoods fishing seasons for many anglers. Panfishing gets increasingly better as the year progresses. Muskies become active shortly after their spawn in late spring. Early in the season, target areas just off prominent points and mid-lake humps adjacent to deeper water and fish smaller baits. As the summer progresses, increase the speed of your retrieves and the size of your baits.

St. Germain’s lakes are full of walleyes. Your chances of locating walleyes are greatly increased when you keep an eye on weather conditions, water temperatures and light conditions. Walleye tend to be shallower in low-light periods—such as sunrise, sunset and under cloudy skies—and move deeper during the day. Target mid-lake humps and deep weedlines.

Smallmouth and largemouth bass action is excellent on St. Germain’s lakes. Largemouth bass tend to hold tight to thick weed cover and structure for most of the summer and provide excellent action. Smallmouth are found deeper, generally around deep rocks and deep weedlines. Often when the walleye aren't cooperating, there’s great bass fishing to be had, so be prepared for both species and you'll improve your chances of getting into some great fishing action.

As the days grow shorter towards fall, many of St. Germain's fish species increase their feeding—which makes for great angling. Fall is the best time of year for catching behemoth trophy musky in St. Germain, with really tremendous-sized fish being caught right up until the lakes freeze over. Walleye action often increases as well, as does smallmouth fishing in the early part of fall.

For many fishermen, the real fishing starts when the lakes freeze over. St. Germain is a favorite destination for ice fishermen. Some of the best walleye and northern pike fishing can be had through the ice. The most popular technique for winter walleyes is jigging or using tip-ups with small to medium sized minnows. By far the most popular technique in St. Germain for winter pike is using a tip-up baited with large shiners or other live minnows. Crappies, bluegill and perch are also ice fishing favorites. If you’re looking for a great ice fishing getaway, check out the St. Germain resorts that specially cater to ice fishermen, with shanties and amenities ready when you arrive.

 

St. Germain 2013 Fishing Report

Pete Stoltman Report ~ Updated 05/23/2013

Here’s the latest information for fishing in the St. Germain area. Our cool

spring has conditions at least a couple weeks behind normal. Walleye have completed spawning in most of the lakes. They are still being caught in shallow water. Walleye fishing has been good but most anglers are working to catch their fish. Revised walleye bag limits after tribal spearing have just been announced by the DNR but you will need to check postings at boat landings for the most up to date information.

Bass fishing has been quite good and smallmouth are building beds right now. Remember that these fish are quite vulnerable when bedding and I encourage fishermen to handle them carefully and pinch down the barbs on your hooks to make release easier and less damaging to the fish. Bass are still under the protected “catch and release” season until June 15.

Fishing for crappies has been a little hit and miss. Fish seem to be moving in and out of traditional early season haunts quickly. If your timing is right you can really clean up. Be prepared to be mobile as cold fronts move these fish out rapidly.

Musky season opens this Saturday. Some muskies have already completed spawning but there is still some spawning activity occurring. I’ve had a lot of reports of incidental hook-ups with muskies by both bass and walleye fishermen. If you’re going to target the toothy critters this weekend I suspect that fishermen throwing smaller lures resembling minnow types will be seeing the most action.

Bluegill and perch action has been fair to good. Not many anglers targeting these species at this time but I suspect as the water temps warm we will see a good increase in bluegill activity very soon.

Pike have been hitting well in the shallows and like the muskies they are picking up minnows offered by walleye and crappie fishermen. At this time a #5 Mepps or a small Rapala or similar lures will certainly get the attention of a good share of Northerns.

This Memorial Day weekend as always we will see a lot of people recreating and sharing the lakes. Remember to be patient and tolerant on the water (no matter how weird it gets). Good luck this weekend and play safe out there!

Pete Stoltman

Regular Fishin' for Regular Guys Guide Service

715-614-4142

www.rfrgoutdoors.com
rfrgoutdoors2@gmail.com

St. Germain 2013 Fishing Report

Rob Manthei Report ~ Updated 05/31/2013

Water temps are beginning to rise everywhere. Some lakes are as warm as 65-66 (that I've been on)..and some are still 53-54.

This is going to change again after Saturdays big cold front and cool down.

Walleyes are going strong on lakes that have emerging weeds coming up and still hanging around gravel/rock spawning areas on some larger lakes. Look for wind blown bays and shorelines for feeding walleye activity.

Minnow (dace, fatheads, redtails) have been working the best, although leeches are starting to pick up some fish too.

Crappies are still in the shallows and getting slaughtered....if you can't find and catch 'em, I'm sorry.

Smallmouth and Largemouth are moving shallow to nest on most lakes...look for rocky shorelines and gravel flats for SMB's, and wooded, darker areas for LMB's...remember the season is CPR, so be careful with these guys...

Muskies are still spawning on the larger lakes, and starting to feed on the smaller ones. I witnessed several large females this past week paired up with their partner in the shallows on lakes as small as 500 acres...one more week and these guys will really turn on!


Good Luck!

Rob Manthei

Rob Manthei's Fishing Guide Service

715-477-2042

www.robmanthei.com
robmanthei@msn.com

 

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St. Germain Area Fishing Guides

Interesting Fishing Related Articles

Help control VHS in Wisconsin waters

The Department of Natural Resources has detected a virus affecting fish in the Lake Winnebago system called viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS for short.

The DNR reported that this virus is not harmful to humans and that it is completely safe to handle and eat fish caught in Wisconsin waters. It is important to note that VHS is a deadly virus to fish and spreads easily among a variety of fish populations. The DNR is actively responding to contain this threat and has issued the following recommendations that should be practiced on all Wisconsin waterways:

  • Put your catch on ice and do not move live fish and unused bait minnows away from the landing or shore.
  • Drain all water from bilges, bait buckets, live wells and other containers when leaving the landing or shore.
  • Use live minnows purchased only from registered bait dealers in Wisconsin or catch it yourself in the same water you fish.
  • Clean plants and debris from your boat before leaving the landing.

To learn more about VHS, visit the DNR VHS page or the DNR Preventing VHS page.

Below are some PDF files & links pertaining to VHS:

Out-of-State Firewood Regulations