Reddy Guide Service Fishing Blog Site

Ice Fishing Season Is Finally Here!

2012-01-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

Our Seasonable weather has finally arrived! Check out my latest report here:

http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/fishing-news/2012/jan/14/ice-anglers-warm-welcome-our-seasonable-weather/

I will be posting a fishing report in the next few days.

Good Luck All!

Capt. John

THE HEAT IS ON-SO IS THE BITE!

2011-07-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Delavan Lake surface temps have reached 83 degrees setting off a great schooling largemouth bass bite. My clients over the weekend reaped the benefits of the bite landing over 15 largemouths 20" with 3 at 21" and 5 3/4 pounds. We did well fishing crawlers and leeches, but tubes, swim baits and wacky rigged Senkos seal the deal. Fishing near the main points on the lake along with deep weed beds paid off. Fish areas such as Browns Channel, the Island or the corner near Lake Lawn Resort and Assembly Park.

The walleyes are holding on the outer weed line out to 22 feet of water. Lindy rigging small suckers, leeches or crawlers have worked well with many in the 16-19" range. West of the Yacht Club, the Island and Browns Channel have been great producers.

Northern pike are still hitting suckers and chubs if you can find them. Fishing in 24-32 feet of water has been the magic depth landing fish on Lindy rigs and clicker reel set-ups. I fished mainly the north shore with our south-southwest winds last week.

Big Bluegill are holding in 12-15 feet of water drop-shotting crawlers or using a Hali spoon fishing vertically. I have also caught many fishing for walleye and bass incidentally. Fish the large flat weed beds near Willow Point, Yacht Club and Assembly Park.

Perch continue to bite along Assembly Park, Community Beach and the Island in 12-20 feet of water.

Crappies have been suspended 10-15 down in 35-45 feet of water. I have caught a few drifting with small jigs in 10-12 feet over weeds on windy days.

Geneva Lake is not too far behind Delavan with surface temps at 79 degrees this morning. The thermo cline seems to be between 25 and 30 feet.

Northern pike have been hitting chubs and suckers, chubs getting the nod. 25-32 feet is a productive range Lindy rigging your offering.

Smallmouth have been caught in 15-30 feet of water. Smallies have been hitting suckers and chubs while fishing pike, but dragging crawlers or drop-shotting has been producing. Back-trolling Senkos or tubes has also produced. Find a pod of fish-work them by casting an area thoroughly.

Blue gills and perch have been caught drifting weeds in 12-15 feet of water with a solid rock bass to go along with them.

The lake trout bite has slowed a bit with the heat, but many fish are suspended in between the thermo clines in 40-60 feet of water the first 2 hours of the day. Trolling blue and nickel spoons have been the ticket. Peanut flies 18-24” behind #0 dodgers have also been working.

Wind Lake in Racine County has been producing largemouth bass and northern pike in 12-18 feet of water. Casting leeches up to the weeds has produced a mixed bag of pan fish and game fish. This past week we landed a nice 5 pound channel cat while fishing for walleyes in the early morning fishing leeches.

Grass Island, Wood Island and the deep east shoreline concentrating on 12-22 feet of water has produced.

Chatter baits, spinner baits and swim jigs have taken northern pike and largemouth bass. Wacky rigged Senkos or Curltail worms have taken nice bass in 6-8 feet of water.

The bite on the Rock River and Koshkonong has softened quite a bit. Not much to report other than wait for the heat wave to move on through. I will report in the next week or so.

Take care this week and stay hydrated and wear light colors if you choose to venture out fishing this week. Make sure to take precautions to stay safe and good fishing!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2011-06-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! I am running a Father's Day Special: $30 off or an extra hour free for a booked trip or a gift certificate purchase by June 30th, 2011. The best fishing is yet to come! I am also putting together a referral program where you can earn a free trip! Thanks All!

Reddy Guide Service Is Your Full-Time Guide Service!

2011-06-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

As June 1, I have been guiding full-time! I will be on the water 300+ days a year, fishing more bodies of water chasing more species of fish and I will have more availability for my clients.

I will have my latest brochure, rate card and my new newsletter, Rod and Reel Times-Lakes Area Fishing Journal on my website home page. Check them out! I can also email them to you, just send me a request.

Fishing Report

2011-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Lake Michigan Report: Cohos are still being caught but many of the fish have moved off shore in as deep as 130 feet of water. A few Kings are showing up in the mix. I will be guiding mostly inland lakes until the mid-July Kings show up around the gaps jigging and casting for them. I will keep you posted on the bite! If you are interested in getting out on the big pond in the near future, I can recommend a few excellent guides for blue water fishing.

Fishing Report

2011-06-03T08:05:00.001-07:00

Wind Lake Report: the large blue-gills have been starting to bite consistently ranging from 8-10" with a few fish over 11". Crappies are biting in the last few hours of the day with many around 8" with fish over 12". Large-mouth have been spawning and are still up in the shallows. A few walleyes have been caught early morning and dusk into night.

Fishing Report

2011-06-03T08:04:00.002-07:00

Geneva lake Report: Geneva has been slow to warm with a surface temp under 60 degrees yet. Rock bass have been biting everywhere with many over 11". Small-mouth have been scattered in 6-20 feet of water. Large-mouth bass have been biting in 6-12 feet of water fishing crawlers drifting or drop-shotting. Walleyes have been biting at night long line trolling cranks in 8-15 feet of water. Nice yellow perch have been biting in 15 feet of water or less. Pumpkinseeds are coming in between bass fishing crawlers with many large fish over 9". Have not caught many sizeable blue-gills but many are suspended over deeper water adjacent to weed flats.

Fishing Report

2011-06-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

Delavan Lake Report: the lake has finally reached 60+ degrees which has seemed to take forever this year. Many of the large-mouth bass have spawned; many are spawning with fish in between. Fishing 6-8 feet of water has been productive. Crappies have been biting excellent with limits coming every day in a matter of minutes it seems......fish every cast. Northern Pike have been biting consistently on large minnows in 12-20 feet of water. Walleyes have been biting in the first and last two hours of the day.....with a few coming during the day fishing anywhere from 3-25 feet of water depending on whether it is sunny or overcast. Small-mouth bass were up spawning on beds a week ago and most of the fish have moved to the first break-line in 12-17 feet of water. Bluegills are staging in 10-20 feet of water full of eggs ready to spawn. As we reach 70 degrees in the shallows the bluegills should be spawning very soon.

Fishing Report

2011-06-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

Rock River Report: the Rock has been producing some numbers and size of fish. Many of the large female walleyes are migrating back into Lake Koskonong from their spawning rituals. Many fish have been over 20" with a few pushing 30" and over. The white bass are still to show up in numbers.....hopefully soon!

2011-06-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

The past few weeks fishing has been a little in consistent with all of the cold weather. The heat is finally showing up! I will post a few pictures ASAP.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! THE 2011 GAMEFISH SEASON OPENS THIS WEEKEND MAY 7! BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY!

2011-05-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

The gamefish opener is this coming weekend Saturday May 7!

My 18 foot Alumacraft 185 Tournament Pro is geared up, rigged, loaded and ready to go!

I am excited to field test many new baits this spring with my clients! Fishing artificials such as plastic soft baits, hard baits such as cranks, jigs, spinners and blade baits are fun and very productive in spring for the opener.

I am excited to get out on the water chasing bass, walleyes, pike and muskies with many new baits from Berkley, Yum, Bomber, Booyah, Smithwick, Kalins, Excalibur, Yo Zuri, Inhaler Lures, Musky Innovations, Strike King and Gamakatsu to name a few!

Openings are still available for the opener!

Drop me a line at www.reddyguideservice@yahoo.com or give me a call at 262-949-3470

Good Fishing! Capt. John

Rock River Walleye Run

2011-05-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

April 2011-Rock River-Fort Atkinson, WI

With changing spring weather the temps have been all over the board this April. The water levels have been changing rapidly making for a daily chore keeping track of the flooding. Most of the water has receded off of the roads and access is not as much of a challenge as earlier in the month.

Most of the larger females in the initial push up river have spawned out. Many of the fish have moved out into Lake Koshkonong or have hunkered down in the river finding slack water to rest after the spawning ritual. Many of the walleyes this spring were nice size with many ranging between 17-23".

Most of the fish caught in my boat slipping the current using 3/8-1/2 oz. Northland Gum Ball Jigs adjusting the weight based on the current. Fishing the jigs tipped with Yum Walleye Grubs, Kalins Grubs, Berkley Gulp! Alive Minnows, Power bait 3" Grubs and Ringworm Grubs just to name a few. We also had success on the tougher days tipping the jigs with magnum fatheads, medium shiners or a half crawler.

The trolling bite should start to heat up running planer boards with cranks and crawler harnesses in the next few weeks. White Bass are starting to show up but are still not in the river in large numbers. The surface temp is approaching the mid-50's which means the White bass run is yet to come.

If you want to get on some great river walleye jigging or trolling drop me a line at reddyguideservice@yahoo.com or give me a call at 262-949-3470. Good Fishing All!

Rock River Walleye Run

2011-05-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

Water has been running very high this year

Slipping the current

John with a Rock River walleye

Dan with a walleye that fell for Northland Gumball Jig/Crawler combo

Dan with a nice "keeper" Sauger

Delavan Lake Crappies and Gills!

2011-05-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

04/12/11 Delavan Lake sunny 58 degrees. Winds 5-10 mph. H20 temp at surface Inlet 54 degrees, main lake 45-49 degrees. Targeting Crappies today we ended up with around 100+ fish in around four hours. Fishing plastics and minnows under floats seemed to do the trick today. The crappies were caught in 4-8 feet of water.

Delavan Lake Crappies and Gills!

2011-05-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ron with a nice crappie

Earl getting in on the bite!

A true Delavan Slab Crappie

Good Morning of Fishing Guys!

A nice mess of fish

Wolf River Run

2011-05-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Had a great time up at the Wolf River this April with a few days on the water fishing New London and Fremont. Caught nice walleyes ranging between 12-18". Too busy reeling in fish to take pictures! Water was between 41-43 degrees with most of the days being 45-55 degrees with calm to 15-20 mph winds. Most of the walleyes were pre-spawn with mostly males showing up. Not many big females were present quite yet.

Wolf River Run

2011-05-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Zach with a couple nice eater Wolf River Eyes

Quick shore lunch in between casts

Wolf River Run

2011-05-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hit the River a bit early this year.....many Ice Flows coming down river!

One of the many "floating fish shanties"

Wolf River Run

2011-05-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Water was high up at New London

Heading to the south

Service with a smile!

Many anglers had the same idea!

The mighty Yamaha

De Pere Walleye Run

2011-05-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

A Nice 22" Eye that fell for a Northland Gum Ball Jig/Berkley Gulp! Alive Minnow combo

A view of the Plant from the water at midnight

Zach with a nice 24" Eye

Line of anglers wearing headlamps along the island

Another nice 23" Eye

PHOTO SCRAPBOOK OF THE 2010-2011 ICE FISHING SEASON!

2011-04-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

City of Delavan Ice 101 Class was a great success!

The Troop!

Many Thanks to HT Enterprises for Outfitting the Class with Take Home Ice Fishing Gear for the Class Participants!

Otter Shelters kept the Troops warm

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks HT Enterprises!

A little salad with your fish.......Nice Lauderdale Chain Pike

Shore Lunch on the Ice!

Smell those Johnsonville's Cookin'

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Base Camp

Captain, Guide, Fisherman.........ummmm chef...not necessarily in that order!

Clients learn to read/fish with a Vexilar with Reddy Guide Service

One of many Sunrises on the ice

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Lots of dashboard time in between lakes!

Fishing Success!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

Nice bass Guys! Winner of the Whitewater Derby!

One of the many sunsets on the ice

Dad you forgot the snacks!

Dedicated little angler!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

A nice Geneva Northern Pike

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Watch out here we come!

Thanks HT Enterprises!

Fishing with Mom!

Some nice Lauderdale Chain Kettle Panfish

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

A nice Kettle Moraine Northern Pike!

What a picture!

Good Job! Catching a Lauderdale Chain Northern pike

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

A nice 28" Lake Lorraine Northern Pike

Family Fun on the Ice!

Kettle Moraine Pike!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Fishing like a Pro!

A nice Lauderdale Chain Pike!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Flag!
Watch that spindle turn! Fish on!

Havin' Fun!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

What a view! Only way to see it is to be out there!

Fishing walleyes on Delavan

Thanks Carl!

Determination!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

A nice Delavan Northern Pike!

A nice true Geneva Bull Pumkinseed!

Great Catch!

The story of a Ice Guide's Life.....Really look forward to seeing it above freezing!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

A nice Slab Crappie caught on Wandawega Lake...A true 14" Crappie! Great Job!

A nice Wandawega Northern Pike

What a catch!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

A nice Kettle Moraine Northern Pike!

Ice Fishing 101

Fish On!

Jigging for Gills!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

A nice Wandawega Pike!

Fish on the Frabill!

Letting the fish "take the bait"

The Frabill Classic!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

The almighty Blue Gill!

Shore Lunch on the Ice with Johnsonville Brats!

How's that Johnsonville!

Ice Fishing 2010-2011

2011-04-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Shore lunch on the Ice!

Busting open old holes!

The Loyola Team!

THANKS TO ALL OF MY CLIENTS AND FRIENDS FOR A GREAT ICE FISHING SEASON!

2011-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

We had a great Ice Fishing season catching fish jigging for panfish on St. Croix and Berkley Lightning Rods outfitted with Cardinal Reels while waiting for our Frabill Tip-ups to fly the flags high. We had a good mix of Blue-Gill, Crappie and Perch caught fishing Delavan, Geneva and the Lauderdale Lake Chain. We had the opportunity to fish other lakes such as Wind, Tichigan, Silver, Browns, Little Muskego Lakes among others. The Lake Trout season was eventful with many fish in the 30-33" class caught using St. Croix Rods outfitted with Cardinal Reels fishing Geneva Lake as soon as the ice was safe. We had the opportunity to fish using the Automatic Fisherman Tip-up in my arsenal this year fishing for Northern Pike, Walleye, Trout and Salmon. The Automatic Fisherman Tip-up is a great tool for any fisherman with an innovative design setting the hook on fish, which with Trout and Salmon is key. We filmed an Outdoor Wisconsin Television Show featuring the Automatic Fisherman on President's Day this past winter which turned out to be a challenging day with 30-40 mph. winds and sleet and rain pelting us in the face. Look for the show on Public Television in 2012! My Otter Outdoor Ice Shelters kept us warm and cozy fishing in the elements using our Vexilar FL 18 and Fl 20 flashers to put fish on the ice. The weather made for challenging conditions with the major lenghty cold snaps we experienced, but all in all I had a great season fishing getting to know my clients and now friends. I had the chance to take out many of my long-term clients sharing memories and stories making new ones on the ice. Thank you to all of my sponsors and thank you to all of you that I have had the pleasure to fish with in the past year, years before. I look forward to a great open water season which has already begun! Thanks for taking time to visit my blog and feel free to drop me a line. Take time to check out my website at http://www.reddyguideservice.com/, and become a fan on facebook! Good Fishing All! Capt. John

Yes! It's time to fish open water

2011-04-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Let's get in a boat and start catching fish!!