By Jed “Big Musky” Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports and Nature Editor
Now is the perfect time to get the kids out and interested in sport of fishing as the panfish bite has been really good on Tomahawk area flowages.
Last Wednesday we took three youngsters to fish from shore below a Tomahawk area dam and the action was nonstop as the perch bite was really going strong. We started around noon using a simple hook and sinker with a chunk of nigthtcrawler and the action was constant throughout the day. Pretty much every cast would produce a bite and sometimes a fish. The youngsters would catch a fish or two before getting distracted by the clams and other outdoor wonders that would catch their attention.
Not all the perch were jumbos and plenty of sorting was needed, but we did manage to keep a few that were taken home and will make for a tasty fish fry. Surprisingly, the perch we were catching had not spawned out yet, so most the females with the big bellies were put back to finish spawning.
Over the weekend before the rain fell, we took advantage of the warmer weather getting the boat out to hit a favorite bite on a Tomahawk area flowage. Post-spawn fish really put on the feedbag as an assortment can be caught in only a few feet of water where the weeds are starting to grow.
This bite can also be a lot of fun for the kiddos. Big perch and walleye were the main target, but it isn’t uncommon to catch plenty of smallmouth bass, pike and plenty of sunfish and crappies that are getting ready to spawn. The only difference than fishing below the dam is that when fishing shallow water we incorporate a slip bobber.
On Saturday we targeted shallow water in a weedy bay and as expected found an assortment of fish. Some nice perch were caught as well as a bunch of hard fighting smallmouth bass. One walleye caught was just under the legal limit. As the bite slowed we moved to the shoreline to try and put a few more in the live well to make for a nice fish fry and some active fish were found.
Sunfish up on the beds made for some fun battles and a few were kept to make for a nice meal. Even a few nice bluegills were caught and kept and others were put back to catch again someday.
This shallow bite will continue strong heading into this Memorial Day weekend. Good luck to everyone heading out and enjoy your Northwoods water time.