Nekoosa, Wisconsin welcomes you for Walleye Days fishing
The annual Walleye Days fishing week in Nekoosa, Wisconsin ended a with snow storm and cold temperatures. Those that did brave the frigid temperatures faced long periods with little action except from tugs from their flask or swigs from their beer.
We talked to the employee at Sunrise bait shop in Nekoosa, and he said that the only fish caught were too big to keep and those were few and far between. Those words were prescient as the only two walleyes we caught over the whole weekend were over 20 inches. You can only keep fish between 15-20 inches, which is a good rule as the 20 inch variety are usually females full of eggs.
I arrived on the shores of Lake Arrowhead to low morale. The four fellow fisherman had all been skunked on Friday. The only thing keeping spirits up was the copious amounts of spirits imbibed. Although they did not score on the fishing field, they succeeded in having a good time anyway at the local watering hole after the fish won the daily battle.
Getting our minnow fix at Sunrise bait shop last year
I was not fazed by the lack of success. I had hope that the next day would be the day the walleyes would begin to bite. The walleyes swim up to the dam in Nekoosa and spawn, so there are a ton of fish concentrated in one spot. The warmth of the river water triggers them to be more active and this year that had not yet happened as it has been a cold spring in central Wisconsin.
Warm days like this from last year help trigger the walleye run, but it has not happened yet
According to the United States Geological Survey’s water resource page, the Wisconsin River water gauge closest to Nekoosa at the Wisconsin Dells indicates that the water has not been warmer than 41 degrees since April 1, and it currently is at an icy 34 degrees. I am not sure what the optimal temperature is for catching fish, but in contrast, last year’s average was in the lower to mid 50s.
I arrived at the river bank and found what looked like a suitable spot. Two years ago a veteran of the fishing days gave me some advice after a long day with no fish. He said to work the quiet water for the big walleyes. He told me they like to swim in the eddies and rest in order to get out of the strong current. The spot I chose had sufficient quiet water.
Getting some advice from a veteran of Walleye Days and fishing
On my first cast I lost my minnow. I was using a ¼ oz Mr. Twister jig head with a live minnow. It was an inauspicious start. Fortunately, my luck would change dramatically. On my fifth cast just as I was about to take the jig out of the water, BANG!.
Success with a nice walleye
At first I thought I was stuck on the edge of the bank, but then my poled started to wiggle, and I knew a fish was on. My friends grabbed the net, and I pulled in a 20 inch plus walleye. It was just over the limit, so it had to be released back into the river, but I was happy to be off the walleye snide. This was the first time I ever said “darn, the fish is too big.” It is rare to be penalized for a fish too big, but it was a female full of eggs, so returning it to the river was the right thing to do.
According to the walleye board, the fish is barely too big to be a keeper
Releasing a walleye full of eggs to help keep the fish population healthy
I did not catch any fish two years ago, and I only caught striped bass last year, so I was ecstatic. Plus, I learned later I won $30 as everyone anted in $5.00 in a pot to go to the fisherman with the first fish. I win.
So many carp haters out there, so I am giving a little love to the one I caught
I then set about to catch more. I soon had another whopper, but it turned out to be an enormous carp. It was a fun fight, but walleye fishermen shun the bottom feeding carp.
My friend Jim scored an even bigger walleye a couple of hours later and another fisherman, Frank caught a nice northern. That was it folks for the fish.
Fish on
Jim providing one of the few exciting moments of the afternoon
Jim showing off the beautiful 28 inch walleye
Frank checking out how the northern fared on the scale
I caught one walleye on one of my first casts and that was it. I admit I got a little distracted by the beers, the cold temperatures, and a short nap on the banks of the Wisconsin, but I did put in a lot of effort for only one walleye, but at least I was not shut out again.
I know it seems this author is constantly on the go, but sometimes you need a little nap
We then hit the local pub and had half pound burgers, Point beers, and pool. After several hours warming up in the bar, we did things that grown men do when out of town on a fishing trip, but for that part of the story, what happens at Walleye Days stays in Nekoosa.
Winter wonderland in spring in Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Next morning we awoke to a winter wonderland. I should have brought my skis as the Sunday storm derailed hopes of getting a few more casts in before heading home.
Walleye Days Fishing tips-
- Like the veteran of many Walleye Days told me, fish the eddies along the shore down from the dam
- Check the USGS website for water temperature data and if possible, be flexible when you come up to fish. Come when the water temperature is up over 50 degrees F
- Stop by Foley’s Nitabrew for good beer, company, and good hamburgers after fishing
- Make sure you are astute on the Walleye Day rules and have a current fishing license. Wisconsin DNR game wardens regularly check the shoreline and will measure your fish and check licenses
TT
The goal of Traveling Ted is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then enter your email in the box to get email notifications for each new entry. Daily travel photos are excluded from your email in order to not flood you with posts. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).
Great pics and interesting read. I cannot BELIEVE how the Midwest is in such a deep freeze this Spring. Actually, the temperature isn’t bad for it being February 72nd.
Every spring is different up there. We do this trip every spring and some years the weather is perfect, some years it is too warm, and too often it is too cold. This was the coldest though and with snow on the ground and ice still on the lakes it shows these past couple of days were not a fluke.
That’s a pretty impressive catch!!!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures recently posted..Andi’s Pick: Elbow Beach, Bermuda
It is kind of shameful I am writing a blog glorifying one caught fish, but conditions were horrible this year, so I will take it.
Congrats on catching the first one! Too bad it got snowed out but the photo of the snow on the river is beautiful!
Jeremy Branham recently posted..My next destination: a Pittsburgh Renaissance
I should have brought my skis.
Big win – and a congrats in order. I can totally relate to your deep freeze. We were almost in spring again – and then another snow storm hit on Saturday. The last two weekends have been snowy. I didn’t go fishing but had a dinner party and everyone came that was invited – which never happens – because no one is out playing in the mountains right now.
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Thanks for the congrats. I have not fared too well fishing the last couple of years at this event, so I was thankful to catch at least one nice fish, especially when many people caught nothing.
Love your dedication. Sort of like when it rains on the golf course and every golfer swears “this is gonna pass right over.” At least you landed a few though, although there’s nothing worse than catching a fish that was too big. I landed a beautiful monster redfish about a year ago and it just broke my heart to send her back…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Gloria Estefan’s Costa d’Este Resort – Picture of the Week
Thanks Deej,
I did not mind letting it go. It was too cold to bother cleaning it, and we did not have enough to have a meal, so it would have been a waste. I was happy to have a couple photos.
So funny that day one looked like spring was there and then there was snow! I have only been ice fishing, unsuccessfully, but I would like to try fishing this year. Especially, because it seems to go hand in hand with beer drinking. I could definitely deal with that. 😉
The World Wanderer recently posted..The Girl’s Guide for Looking Good Outdoors: Spring.
Sometimes it goes too well with beer drinking and fishing just becomes drinking, but there is nothing wrong with that.
¼ pound Mr. Twister jig head? Ted, you always seem to teach me about things that I never knew existed. Are you sure you just didn’t make that up?
Leah Travels recently posted..Creative Cocktails at Prague’s Black Angel’s Bar
That is because it does not exist. It should have been 1/4 oz. Mr. Twister jig head. Thanks for the correction.
I don’t know a lot about fishing….my sister was the fisher person growing up, but it still looks like a fun weekend with friends. Love the photo of you taking a nap….I think that would be me, especially if there was some nice sun or warm blankets involved!
Anita Mac recently posted..French Quarter Bike Tours – two wheeling it through New Orleans
There was very minimal sun and no blankets involved, but I found a way anyway.
Can’t say I enjoy much of the outdoors, but the one thing I do like is fishing.. the few times I got to try it. LOL. But I must say, beers and a nap sounds like fun.. not the cold. Hehe
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..How We Stay: Hostels, Hotels and Apartments
It is more fun when it warms up a bit, but once it gets too hot then the fishing is not very good.
every year, the fifth grade class in our school district takes an overnight trip to a local campsite to do things like “fish” and “kayak” and “sleep in cabins.” the entire thing is bullshit, frankly, because we never took any trips to see nsync in concert or stay in a luxury hotel, but whatever. i played along.
WELL, the year that MY class went, one of my fellow classmates tripped and fell while carrying his fishing pole and the FISHHOOK WENT 100% THROUGH HIS THUMB.
and thus ended my short-lived fishing career… but now that i know beer-drinking is encouraged, who knows? maybe i’ll make a comeback?
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Got to be careful with those fish hooks. I was on a trip in the middle of the Minnesota wilderness and a fish hook was randomly hanging on a small pine tree. Our friend brushed against it accidentally and the hook went through his thigh.
What transpired after that was an 8 hour canoe ambulance ride to get him to a doctor and then an hour ride into town to get it removed. Amazingly, he made it back to the campfire that night to drink shots around the campfire.
5th time’s a charm!! 😉 nice kissy fishy face too!!
lola recently posted..One Day Stay: Kennebunkport, Maine
It certainly looks like a good time – I am sure the apres-fishing was the best part! And I had never heard of a walleye. Learned something today. I can close the Internet session for the day!
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Looks like you did pretty well in spite if the weather!
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The old fisherman probably gave you some great advice. It makes sense that some fish variety would be led away from the strong current for a rest from time to time.
The old fisherman advised me to have a PBR beer 🙂 Great advice.