How to Fish Turtle Flambeau Flowage

Turtle Flambeau Flowage fishing FAQ

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 52-62°F. Actively staging on transitional structures between winter and spawning areas, with increased feeding activity as water warms Moving progressively shallower and relating heavily to rock and brush structure as noted in recent fishing success Key locations: Rock and brush-covered ledges in 5-15 foot depth range; Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel substrate; Protected rocky bays with good sun exposure. Best techniques: Ned Rigs worked slowly around brush and rock structure, Drop Shot with small profile baits for pressured fish, Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky transitions. Primary forage: Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy, Small baitfish (smelt and juvenile perch). Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 38-54°F. Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding to build energy reserves, primarily in shallow waters 2-8 feet deep near spawning areas Fish are moving from winter deep-water haunts to shallow bays and tributary areas where ice melts first Key locations: Shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially areas with dark bottoms that warm quickly; Creek mouths and tributary inflows where warmer water enters the system; Gradual sloping flats adjacent to spawning areas. Best techniques: Inline Spinners worked slowly near emerging vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve just above bottom, Trolling Shallow (0-9') along transition areas between spawning bays and deeper water. Primary forage: Perch congregating in pre-spawn areas, Shad schools in warming shallow bays. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 52-62°F. Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to warming shallow bays, actively seeking warmer water temperatures while beginning to stage for spawning Fish are moving along shorelines and utilizing undercut banks and cattails as primary cover, becoming more active during warm afternoon periods Key locations: Cattail beds and undercut banks in protected bays where water warms fastest; Shallow flats adjacent to deeper wintering areas; Dark bottom areas that absorb heat more quickly. Best techniques: Wacky Rigs worked slowly with extended pauses to trigger lethargic fish, Neko Rigs for deeper presentations along transition areas, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around cattails and bank cover. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrating in warming shallow areas, Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 55-65°F. Fish transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, actively defending nesting sites in protected areas Males aggressively guarding nests during daylight hours, particularly responsive to threats to the nest Key locations: Protected shallow bays with mixed rock and gravel bottom in 2-6 feet; Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with scattered rock; Shallow flats near deep water access with boulder or rock structure. Best techniques: Tubes worked slowly along bottom near suspected nest sites, Ned Rigs with subtle presentations around rocky areas, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water to locate active fish. Primary forage: Small crayfish emerging from winter habitats, Young of year perch in shallow areas, Minnows gathering in spawning areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 42-58°F. Post-spawn pike actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shallow bays and backwaters with emerging vegetation Fish transitioning between spawning areas and early summer locations, using weedlines and points as migration routes Aggressive feeding behavior during cooler parts of day, especially on overcast days Key locations: Shallow, weedy bays with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water; Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning bays; Developing weed edges in 4-8 feet of water. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve along weed edges, Inline Spinners near points and channel edges. Primary forage: Young-of-year perch congregating in emerging weed growth, Shad schools moving into warming shallows, Small sunfish in backwater areas. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 54-65°F. Largemouth bass transitioning to spawning areas, staging in pre-spawn locations near shallow flats and protected bays Males actively building and guarding nests in protected areas, while females move between staging and spawning areas Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, followed by territorial behavior during actual spawning Key locations: Protected shallow bays with cattails and matted grass in 2-4 feet of water; Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 4-6 feet; Undercut banks providing shelter from cold fronts. Best techniques: Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds, Wacky Rigs worked slowly in staging areas, Spinnerbaits along weed edges during pre-spawn movements. Primary forage: Bluegill in shallow spawning areas, Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Pink Colors.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting minnows in shallow rocky areas Fish are showing aggressive behavior, willing to chase moving baits like soft jerkbaits and react to dragged presentations Key locations: Shallow rock structures and rip rap in 0-9 foot depth range; Rocky humps and points near spawning bays; Flooded brush adjacent to hard bottom areas. Best techniques: Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves to trigger reaction strikes, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with jigs tipped with soft plastics or live bait, Texas Rigs (Worming) dragged slowly across rocky areas. Primary forage: Minnows - primary forage based on multiple fishing reports, Crawfish - becoming active in rocky areas as water warms. Best bait colors: Pink Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 54-65°F. Post-spawn pike are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad and perch in shallow vegetation zones Fish are making frequent movements between deeper weed edges and shallow ambush points, especially during prime feeding periods Key locations: Weed edges and emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range; Shallow bays with new weed growth in 2-4 feet of water; Points and irregular shoreline features adjacent to spawning areas. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges, Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve, Inline Spinners near emerging vegetation. Primary forage: Yellow Perch congregating near emerging weed growth, Shad schools in warming shallow bays, Small pike and panfish in post-spawn areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding to recover energy, taking advantage of shallow cover and emerging weed growth Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper recovery zones Key locations: Emerging weed edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially near points and bays; Shallow wood cover and undercut banks with nearby deeper water access; Protected cattail edges adjacent to spawning flats. Best techniques: Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation, Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and wood cover, Wacky Rigs pitched to visible cover and transition areas. Primary forage: Bluegills gathering in shallow emerging vegetation, Young of year baitfish starting to appear in warming shallows, Crawfish becoming more active in warming water. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Summer?

Water temp 68-74°F. Active feeding along weed edges, rock structure, and points during early morning and evening, with fish moving deeper during midday heat Utilizing both shallow and deep structure transitions, with most active feeding in 0-9 ft range especially around complex structure Key locations: Weed edges adjacent to deep water drops; Rocky points and island areas with steep contours; Submerged brush piles and wood structure in 5-10 ft. Best techniques: Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock structure and weed edges, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow rolled parallel to structure, Wacky Rigs worked around vegetation edges, Hard Topwater (Walking) early morning and evening over flats. Primary forage: Perch along weed edges, Minnows in open water near structure. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Summer?

Water temp 68-78°F. Pike are actively feeding in shallow, vegetated areas, showing aggressive topwater strikes around matted grass - classic ambush behavior Given the stained water (1.5m Secchi), fish are concentrating in the upper water column (0-9 feet) where visibility is best for hunting Key locations: Matted grass beds in shallow water, especially edges and openings; Weed edges adjacent to deeper water; Complex shoreline areas with irregular features and points. Best techniques: Hard Topwater (Prop) - matches recent success with Berkley Choppo, Spinnerbaits - effective for covering water along weed edges, Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) - mimics primary forage in stained water. Primary forage: Perch - confirmed in lake reports as primary forage, Shad - mentioned in reports as secondary forage base. Best bait colors: Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Summer?

Water temp 65-74°F. Actively feeding in and around dense weed growth and matted grass, particularly during early morning and evening hours Seeking shade and cooler water during midday, often relating to deeper weed edges and woody cover Aggressive feeding behavior during low-light periods, moving shallow to pursue bluegill and other forage Key locations: Dense weed mats and vegetation edges in 4-8 feet of water; Submerged wood cover near deeper weed edges; Shaded pockets in cattail areas with undercut banks. Best techniques: Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around heavy cover and weed edges, Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation, Buzzbaits during low light periods. Primary forage: Bluegill in shallow vegetation, Young of year perch around weed edges, Crayfish in wood cover areas. Best bait colors: Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Fall?

Water temp 58-68°F. Actively feeding on shad in shallow flats with weeds, showing aggressive surface feeding behavior Fish are moving in response to baitfish schools, requiring coverage of large areas Showing selective feeding patterns with fewer but higher quality bites Key locations: Shallow weed flats with active baitfish schools (0-9 feet); Rocky points adjacent to deep water; Steep shoreline breaks near baitfish concentrations. Best techniques: Hard Topwater (Walking) with long casts to cover water, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) matched to shad size, Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges. Primary forage: Shad (primary forage based on recent reports), Perch, Minnows. Best bait colors: Bold Striped Patterns, Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Fall?

Water temp 54-65°F. Pike transitioning to feeding heavily as water cools, following baitfish schools to mid-depth areas and weed edges Aggressive ambush behavior, particularly during low-light periods, targeting shad and perch in the 5-9 foot range Key locations: Weed edges and dying weed beds in 5-9 foot depth range; Points and irregular shoreline features adjacent to deeper water; Shallow bays with remaining vegetation where baitfish schools congregate. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked along weed edges and through dying vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved at varying speeds to match baitfish movement, Trolling Shallow (0-9') parallel to weed edges and points. Primary forage: Shad schooling in larger groups during fall transition, Perch holding near remaining weed edges. Best bait colors: Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Fall?

Water temp 54-65°F. Actively feeding in shoreline areas and following baitfish schools as they migrate to creek arms and bays Moving between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper staging areas as temperatures fluctuate Key locations: Protected bays with remaining vegetation and wood cover; Points and channel swings adjacent to shallow feeding flats; Undercut banks and cattail edges in 2-6 foot depth range. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked parallel to remaining weed edges and through scattered vegetation, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) targeting actively feeding fish around baitfish schools, Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation and wood cover. Primary forage: Bluegill congregating in remaining vegetation, Young-of-year baitfish schooling in bays and creek arms. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Winter?

Water temp 38-54°F. Pike concentrate in shallow flats and weed edges between 3-9 feet due to stained water conditions, actively ambushing prey during low-light periods Fish are feeding opportunistically but less aggressively than peak seasons, typically moving between adjacent deep and shallow areas based on daily temperature changes Key locations: Remaining green weed edges in 5-9 foot depths, especially near points or bay entrances; Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly areas with scattered vegetation or woody debris; Protected bays with remaining vegetation, especially on sunny afternoons when water temperatures rise slightly. Best techniques: Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly along weed edges, Spoons worked with a moderate lifting and falling action in openings between vegetation, Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through shallow flats during warmer periods. Primary forage: Yellow Perch schooling in remaining weed edges, Shad concentrated in protected bays and around structure. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Northern Pike on Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Ice?

Water temp 33-38°F. Pike will be concentrated in shallower bays (4-8 feet) with remaining green weeds, especially near perch schools Most active during early morning and late afternoon, with reduced activity during bright midday periods Aggressive reaction strikes to flashy presentations, particularly during low-light conditions Key locations: Weed edges adjacent to deeper water in 4-8 foot range; Shallow bays with remaining green vegetation; Points and neck-downs where perch schools concentrate. Best techniques: Ice Fishing Tip-Ups with large live bait positioned at varying depths, Ice Fishing Spoons worked aggressively to trigger reaction strikes, Ice Fishing Jigs tipped with minnows for finesse presentation. Primary forage: Yellow Perch schooling in remaining weed edges, Shad concentrated in warmer, shallow bays, Small Pike feeding on abundant juvenile fish. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.