Portage Lake
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Portage Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Portage Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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HrmfishingusaBronze AmbassadorSpecies
WalleyeTechniqueIce Fishing SpoonsSeasonIceStructureHumpsJigging in about 30 feet of water.
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Popping)SeasonSummerStructureLily PadsSlow reeling
Mpierce1128Bronze AmbassadorSpecies
Largemouth BassTechniqueMedium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')SeasonSummerStructureOpen Water/Basin6’-7’ open water sparse weeds, custom painted white pre Rapala Mag wart stop and go retrieve. Nice chunky fish 20” 4.60 lbs was the best out of five over 15”
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueFrogs/ToadsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureSubmerged VegetationWater temps were sitting around 65° when we hit the water and there was a decently brisk 10-15mph wind coming from the south. We immediately hit the flats on the south end of the lake with poppers/top water and caught several quality fish (for the lake). We continued around the south point and the flats for a while and tried to target some of the spawners as well with no luck. We later moved into the pads on the north end of the lake and caught some better quality bass on frogs. As the wind picked up past 20mph things cooled off pretty significantly. Struck out for a long time while trying to fish the wind and switched over to some spinner baits. We targeted the edge of the drop offs on the south side of the lake and managed to put several more quality bass in the boat.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSummerStructureSubmerged Vegetation
Bass were holding at about 15' deep and the edges of weedlines. Lake was treated the prior week, so a TON of dead grass and a lot of lethargic bass. We had some luck with Ned's and dropshot, but overall very lackluster trip.
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSummerStructureFlooded BrushVery warm morning, blue bird sky's, and no wind. During the week we had gotten ~5" of rain so everything was flooded. Water was an easy 2' high. There was a bass tournament going on during our panfish tournament so it was rather crowded as well. We decided to buck the trend and fished the flooded areas. We were basically fishing in peoples yards. The kids loaded up on gills and placed 1st and 2nd. I placed first for big bass w/ a 2.5lb'er. If we had been in the bass tournament, we would have had around 10lbs and easily won based on their numbers Started off picking up some bass on a Kaera with a follow up wacky for the ones that missed. Picked up a few more on some micro poppers on the BFS rig and a micro panfish jig as well. Kids were putting some decent red ear's and bluegills in the boat with worms. Picked up our first decent bass on a cutter worm. We moved into one of the flooded resort areas and picked up a few more gills but decided to head back to the flooded area on the east side of the lake. Picked up several more bass on wacky rig and the kaera. Finally got the 2.5 up in somebodies yard under a small cedar tree that was flooded. Each kid managed to catch a decent keeper (for the lake) as well. Lesson learned...fish are curious, go fish the flooded brush/timber.
- Species
Panfish / BluegillTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureOpen Water/BasinGills were popping at the surface a lot. Lake is mostly choked out with weeds so it took some effort to find Bluegill beds. It was mostly just getting the kids used to the lake for a future tournament. The bass were cruising around the gill beds and caught a number of them on BFS poppers as well.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Had a late start, water temp was around 60-62°F, wind was 3-5 mph. Water was amazingly clear for Portage Lake. Probably a solid 5-6' visibility. Had a hard start getting a pattern going. Early catch on a Ned and then a nice keeper in the shallows on a red Berkley Power Blade. Eventually got further out of the shallows (6-10') of water and got a few short strikes on a Shad Fillet Stunna. The bites were coming when I let the bait sit for 3-4 seconds. After 3 fish on short strikes I switched to a Hankie Pankie and the bass really started to hit that one hard. I had another 20 or so in the next hour with about 2/3 keepers. Pretty much all of them were after a short 3/4 second pause coming out of the shallower water.
