Fishing Blog

On April 28, day of full moon, I was lucky enough to have the chance to put some eighty plus muskies in the net… Fyke net that is. Northeastern Wisconsin Fisheries Manager David Rowe was looking for some public volunteers to assist in muskie netting on the Lower Fox River in the town of DePere, WI. I quickly made a call to sign up to assist in the activities.

Our day started at 8:30am with many people on hand to take part in the netting, DNA sampling, data recording, with egg and milt stripping from the fruits of many peoples labor.

The activities consisted of removing eight or so muskies at a time from the nets, and place them in a holding take aboard the jon boat. From there each fish was measured, weighed, checked for PIT Tags via electronic scanner for previous capture, and then some of which eggs and sperm were collected. With the care of biologist and their hopes, some 4,000 muskies will be made.

The fish ranged in size from about 38” to 48.5”. Although no monsters were captured, the average size was about 45.5”, for sure a healthy fishery.

I just wanted to share with everyone this unique experience at Wisconsin’s premier fishery.

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Hey everybody. I just wanted to share about my first outing in the boat for 2010. On Friday the 19^th February I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon in the boat with renowned Wisconsin Charter Captain Eric Haataja. Known for his pioneering casting, trolling, and ice fishing tactics for trophy Browns, Steelhead, Coho, and Lake Trout in and around the Milwaukee area. You may have seen Eric in the past on fishing shows such as In-Fisherman, John Gilliespie, and Babe Winkelman.

Our outing was nothing short of exceptional to say the least. In a period of about 4 ½ hours we managed to boat some thirty plus Brown Trout and Lake Trout! Most of which were caught casting plastics on leadheads. Many of which were over the 10lb mark, not to mention several double headers!

So, a big thanks goes out to Eric for a great time on the Big Lake. Here are some pics of our outing together. For those of you who haven’t tried this exciting early season experience, Eric would be happy to show you how it’s done. Visit his website at http://www.wibigfish.com/. If he is filled up, I can also show you this interesting bite that is one of the most unique fisheries in the world.

Lee

Tired of hanging your muskie bait on your line guides or that worthless tiny wire hook hanger above the handle? Well, this tip is for you.

1. Using a small drill bit, mark the center point where you wish the hole to be. Start drilling just into trigger slightly for pilot hole.
2. Next take a 9/64” bit and line up to pilot hole, then slowly drill through trigger. You may need to lightly sand smooth where drill bit exited the other side.

Another benefit of hanging you bait here is that it will help keep your sharp hooks off your line when bouncing across the lake. Now go fishing!

Well, the fishing season has come to another end and we still did not break that elusive Minnesota State Record muskie. We did however come in contact with a couple fish that could have broken and one for sure that would have shattered such an animal. But just not lucky enough to put them in the boat. There is always next year… wish that would come faster.

Now that it’s bait building and show season, I have a few new things to be excited about. Like the upcoming debut of my new Lee Lures Water Chopper HD. A bait that has been in the works since 2005, I have finally perfected this most anticipated larger version of my original Water Chopper. Same Chopper sound wrapped up in a larger profile! Since “bigger is better” right? This lure will make it’s first appearance at the Chicago Tri-Esox show in January.

I have also stepped up production of last years hit bait for Lee Lures, the Tidal Wave. With lots of great reports of big fish being taken, I thought it only appropriate to make a few more. And in some new colors, so keep an eye out for those.

Also, it wouldn’t be show season for Lee Lures without showcasing some new custom colored Water Choppers and Top H2O’s. Included are colors like Orange Tiger Muskie, Pearl White/Chart Muskie, Leopard Frog, Natural Perch, and Firetiger Muskie to name a few. All of which will be available at the sport shows.

I will also have some new full zip and pullover hoodies that will be pretty sweet in addition to all the new bait options. Certaintly to be stylin’ for the cooler months.

I am also working on an exciting new facet of my professional fishing guide service that I will be offering in 2010! Can’t let the cat out of the bag quite yet so check back right before the Chicago show. It is sure to be a new spin over what is offered in muskie guiding today.

That is about all for now. If any of you have any stories to share or pictures to send of fish caught on my baits, please do so and I can get them on my site. Or is you have any Lee Lures that are in need of a tune up or fixing, this is the time to get them to me.

Thanks for looking and I will see many of you soon!

Lee

Hey everybody. I thought I would make one more post as we begin my favorite time of year to catch a monster muskie! We have put blood, sweat, and tears into chasing the state record fish on Lake Mille Lacs for the past five years. We have come close to this feat but not close enough. THE fish is out there, I am certain.

What makes this time so special? Well, on the trophy waters of Minnesota where I concentrate my efforts now is spawning time for the muskies main forage… whitefish and ciscoes. Typically this takes place late October through mid-November when the water temperatures reach the lower forties. This is one of the prime times when some of the largest fish in the lake follow their food shallow. Which of course makes them more accessible to anglers.

Our late fall techniques are pretty streamlined with not a lot of different baits. Casting rubber jerbaits such as Shack Attack Curley Sues and Dunwright Baitfish in extra large sizes. Also in recent years we have done well on Dunwright 10” Lifelike Perch, which is a rubber crankbait that swims like a real fish.

If you happen to get out between now and the end of the season, while retrieving your favorite late fall baits be sure to keep your presentations non-mechanical and incorporate several pauses during your cast. This will for sure increase your success.

Good luck, dress warm, and be safe out there this fall. Hopefully I will get back to you with the new Minnesota State Record!

See ya!

Hi. I just wanted to share the results our boat in the 42^nd Annual Frank Schneider, Jr. Memorial Muskies Inc. Tournament September 11-13. The tournament waters consist of some twenty-one different lakes in northern Minnesota. All proceeds go towards muskie stocking. Pretty cool.

Most muskie tournaments are team based, however this is designed as an individual event for total inches of legal fish.

I had the pleasure of fishing with a new friend Dwight Labrosse from the state of PA. Dwight being quite the hockey stick, had spent the previous 14 or so days muskie fishing the area lakes with only one bite from a mid 50” fish only to loose it after jumping and throwing the bait free. So a pretty tough stretch of bad luck huh?

Things can only get better right? Well they did in fact. On our first day, I was able to land a 48.25” fish on a Boogerman buzzbait. What a rush! That evening Dwight was able to break the cold streak with a 53” monster that ate a loon colored Lee Lures Top H2O!

Day two was pretty slow. We both managed to loose two lower 40” class fish.

On day three we only had four hours to get it done. At 8:30 on the third twitch of my Phantom Softail jerkbait I hooked a beautiful 49” fish that made it into the net. Not long after that Dwight was burning in a Rabid Squirell bucktail when we watched a 47.5”er eat it ten feet from the boat. Moments later, Dwight’s twin brother Clay landed his personal best in the boat next to us, a 52.5” fatty!

Either of us just needed one more 40” plus fish to win. That would not be in the cards that day. In the last seven minutes of the event I had a close call with a mid-forty inch fish that I was not able to get hooks into. That’s fishing.

Had it been a team event, we would have taken the cake. We had to settle for 3^rd and 4^th and big fish of the tournament. Not too bad for some weekend fun.

Welcome to my Fishing Blog! I thought this would be an interesting way for me to share information, tips, and even a few stories that may be of interest to fellow fishermen. Not sure exactly what frequency I will update this but, I promise to do so timely enough to make it worth a couple of minutes of your day. So, take it for what it’s worth and have fun!

Captain Lee Tauchen
Today’s Angler Guide Service
Lee Lures Surface Baits