Anyone here fish Rhinelander WI?

[slonezp]

Thinking of heading there opening weekend for a multi species trip. More specifically the Boom Lake Flowage. Is it worth the trip that time of year? Other lakes in the area that I might be better off going to? OR would I be better off going a little later in the year?

[Scott F]

Everything depends on the weather and ice out. I spend two weeks in that area (Minocqua) every spring generally starting the week after opening weekend. A couple of years ago, there was still ice covering all the lakes on opening weekend. Last year, the ice went out on schedule and things were warming up nicely then it got cold again and shut things down for a couple of weeks. I fish for smallies and largemouth and the last week of May has been great pretty much every year. Earlier than that has been a crap shoot. There are so many lakes within an hours drive of Rhinelander, if the weather cooperates, all of them can produce. Boom, being a part of the Wisconsin River can be great for every specie. If you can stay flexible with your timing, you can be there during great fishing. Musky season doesn't open till later in May anyway if you're into them.

If you delay your trip by a week. I'd like to meet up and have a beer with you. 

[slonezp]

Scott, How's your back?

 

They front loaded the tournament season on the fox chain this year with tourneys every weekend(sometimes 2 tourneys) from the second week of April thru mid-June. Plus I'll be in Sturgeon Bay 1 or 2 long weekends in May/June. So, my timing is either at the season opener or late summer/fall. Not planning on any musky fishing but up for anything else that bites including some meat for the freezer. Right now I'm thinking heading up with a buddy on Friday afternoon and heading back on Tuesday. Pick up my son and dad and then head up to Sturgeon on Wednesday come back Saturday so were home for Mothers Day. This would be my first ever trip up there. I was thinking I'd be better off on a flowage than a land locked lake, but I could be wrong. Looks as if Boom lake has a healthy amount of crappies and walleyes from what I'm reading.   

[Scott F]

My back is OK as long as I continue to do what I've been doing for the last few months which is basically nothing. With your busy fishing schedule, when do you find time to go to work?  

I don't walleye fish, but I can't catch much of anything else up there until the water heats up to the upper 40s at least. I have done OK on opening weekend but haven't fished it for about 6 or 7 years. 

4 more months to wait to find out what Mother Nature has in store for us. 

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

My back is OK as long as I continue to do what I've been doing for the last few months which is basically nothing. With your busy fishing schedule, when do you find time to go to work?  

I don't walleye fish, but I can't catch much of anything else up there until the water heats up to the upper 40s at least. I have done OK on opening weekend but haven't fished it for about 6 or 7 years. 

4 more months to wait to find out what Mother Nature has in store for us. 

It's called 4 weeks of PTO. One of the benefits of getting out of the trades and into the office. 

[Scott F]

I got a total of 6 weeks off when I was still working. Took me 25 years to get that much. I have a 20 something year old niece that just started a new job. She gets 5 weeks off a year already! 

[slonezp]

It kills me the only guy who has fished the area is from IL

[Scott F]

I'm not surprised. I seldom see any of the locals bass fishing. Since this is a bass fishing forum, few locals will visit this site.

[slonezp]

One of the guys I work with fishes the flowage every year but has never fished for anything but musky. He was absolutely no help.

[BassGirl71]

I live in Rhinelander and usually wait until later in the year to fish Boom.  It can be tough in the spring.  But there are so many other lakes around - some of my favorites are Nokomis and Mohawksin in Tomahawk.  The Minocqua chain usually has a ton of boat traffic later in the year (which you probably know if you spend any time up here), but it can be fun early in the year before all of the pleasure boaters get out there.  You might even want to try some of the smaller lakes near Rhinelander like Crescent or Squash, west of town or Lake George east of town.  There are so many options - if one's not working out, just head to another lake.

[slonezp]

Good to know. I'm looking for crappie and walleye if that matters. I was reading up on Lake George last night. Also Moen. I've never fished the area so I'm open to anything.

[Beckie Gaskill]

George and the Moen chain are both good and they have a variety of species from northern and musky to bass, walleye and crappie. Both also have good launch ramps, which is not always the case up here.

[slonezp]

Thats good to know. Hadnt even thought about the ramps.

[Further North]

I'm a ways west and a little south of Rhinelander...opening weekend fishing this far north can be a challenge.

 

Between water temps and the "amateur day" atmosphere of opening day, I'd be tempted to try further south, or more remote water.

 

I'm not familiar with Boom Lake Flowage, but you will have more success with shallow water that warms up faster.  I certainly wouldn't get all wrapped up in getting out on the water at first light unless we get a very early and warm spring.

[Beckie Gaskill]

I agree about trying to get out there on opening day.  Depending on the weather, sometimes first thing in the morning is best (if it's warm enough out and there's no ice!). If you can get off the water by 11 or noon at the latest, you usually miss most of the "amateur hour" antics at the boat ramp, at least.

[Fredcombs]

nor Rhinelander but i fish the St. Germain area.  If you are willing to lake hop there are always some smallmouth lakes that are hot at different times of the year.  Big St. Germain has some hogs in it as well as Upper and Lower Buckatabon