And the season is taking off...

[Tom L]

Hello all, just thought I would pass this along. A couple things wrap up this month while new seasons are opening soon. Time to drown some worms, leeches and lures...

Key 2026-2027 Wisconsin Fishing Season Dates

• General Inland Fishing: May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027.
• Early Inland Trout (Catch & Release): Jan. 3 – April 3, 2026.
• General Inland Trout: April 4 – Oct. 15, 2026.
• Muskellunge Harvest: May 2 – Dec. 31, 2026.
• Largemouth Bass (Northern Zone): May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027.
• Smallmouth Bass (Northern Zone): June 20, 2026 – March 7, 2027 (approximate; regulations vary by zone).

 

[Indigo22]

I'm seeing a lot of fishermen down fishing along the Rock River in Jefferson. Apparently they are catching Walleyes.

 

[Cracker57]

I stopped and talked to some fisherman in Jefferson about 2 weeks ago. They weren't getting walleyes but some were getting sheepshead, most being snagged.

 

[white eagle]

yeah I don't get why the walleye and sheephead float together
but they do fight fairly well

 

[Cracker57]

they are fun to catch, not fun to eat.

 

[Tom L]

I'm seeing a lot of fishermen down fishing along the Rock River in Jefferson. Apparently they are catching Walleyes.

When I was a teen we used to go to the dam in Stoughton and snag Carp on big old treble hooks and river sinkers. You had to get them in before they headed over the dam because you could sell them for $5 to groups at the top of the park. They would gut them and throw them right of the grill for their picnic. Those were the days...

 

[Indigo22]

Growing up my dad would turn the carp I caught into garden fertilizer. Neighbors down the road were from Eastern Bloc Europe who would put them in their smokehouse and turn them into a delicacy. My dad would do that with lake superior redhorse suckers but he felt that the carp were to boney for his liking. For me smoked fish were great no matter what kind of fish it was. I kind of expected to find a bone or two and I just kept eating. On the other hand if my wife finds a bone she is done. We don't have fish often at my house. She likes to cook I like to eat, we work together on this. If I go fishing it is usually catch and release.

 

[Tabby]

Growing up my dad would turn the carp I caught into garden fertilizer. Neighbors down the road were from Eastern Bloc Europe who would put them in their smokehouse and turn them into a delicacy. My dad would do that with lake superior redhorse suckers but he felt that the carp were to boney for his liking. For me smoked fish were great no matter what kind of fish it was. I kind of expected to find a bone or two and I just kept eating. On the other hand if my wife finds a bone she is done. We don't have fish often at my house. She likes to cook I like to eat, we work together on this. If I go fishing it is usually catch and release.

As a kid I used to spear or bow hunt carp, then turn them into fertilizer in the garden. I tried eating one once, way to greasy for my taste buds. Didn't have a reel and line on the arrows. Had to get close and drive the arrow through them and into the lake bottom. Lost an arrow or two that way, but it was a lot of fun.

 

[Cracker57]

In worked with a guy with the last name of Vlasic and his pickled sucker was to die for. You had to catch them in early April when the water was still cold and the meat was firm.

 

[Tom L]

Time to get some waders on and head to the rivers for some Walleye fishing. I hear that the Winnebago has done well this year so far, especially the Fox and Wolf rivers. Now if I can just figure out how to take my O2 concentrator in with me. The backpack is not quite high enough. A buddy tells me we can just hit the river side and he'll go in after things as needed. May have to consider that.

 

[Tabby]

Actually I have found the Winnebago chain to pretty much always have good Walleye fishing, or for that matter a good place to go fishing in general. Over the past several years most of my fishing has been on the Wolf River and Lake Winneconne, during the week. Weekends are usually just as crazy there as it is on other bodies of water when the other recreational boaters come out to play. Since I sold my boat I have gone out with a guide on Winnebago a few times. Lots of Walleye caught, a lot of catch and release as well as limiting out on larger fish. I like to keep the larger ones simply because their filets are bigger. Fresh Walleye, simply pan fried in butter is hard to beat. In years past when trout fishing I would often bring a small grill along and do shore lunch back at the parking areas. I'm not sure which is better, fresh Walleye or fresh Trout. In either case they are delicious.