Houghton Lake Fishing Report: July 5,2012

Crappie while trolling at Reedsburg Dam

Fishing conditions have been less than optimal (to say the least) over the past few weeks. High winds have made the waters murky as well as making it difficult to stay in one spot even when using two anchors. The temperatures have been very high lately causing the fishing to be erratic especially during the day.

In these conditions I have one word "trolling". Trolling is simply moving your bait through the water behind a boat at a slow speed, using a specialized electric or small gas motor. This works two fold in that the fish tend to be agitated by the moving bait, much the same as casting and retrieving, and you can cover a large area increasing your chances of success.

Largemouth trolling at Reedsburg Dam

If you have never tried it or tried it unsuccessfully I would give it a try. I do not recommend using a   regular boat engine, at least not for an extended period of time. The engine uses a shaft driven water pump and at very slow speeds may not pump enough water to keep the engine cool and could cause engine damage. Possibly even seize the engine. Nothing can ruin a day on the lake like hoping for someone to give you a tow back to the boat launch or dock. I know this from personal experience.

Rock Bass at Backus lake

Best fishing: late evening (an hour before sunset) or, in the early morning after the water has had a chance to cool. If your set on fishing during the day try the deeper water off the south DNR boat launch (site of the Tip Up Town USA). The south weed bed runs along this area and usually produces walleye, perch, bluegill and northern pike.


Best bait: anything that works. I've caught bluegill, bass, crappie and perch on nightcrawlers and on plastics. I had a fellow next me on the Cut river catch a 16" largemouth using a chub (think very large minnow). Some swear by leeches for walleye especially trolling in the summer.


There's a new bait shop in town, Angelo's on old 27 (formerly Dead Stream Party Store). Actually they're a party store with bait. They have snacks and hope to have a beer license soon. Just a short ride from the Reedsburg Dam campground and boat launch. If you need some bait or some goodies  you don't have to drive into town.


That's all for now. Hope to see you on the lake.


Ken S

Houghton Lake Memorial Weekend 2012 Fishing Report

Sunfish at Reedsburg Dam

There's good news and bad news.

Good news first.

The Walleye and Bluegill are biting on Houghton and Higgins Lakes. I'm not positive but I've heard the Bluegill are biting on St Helen lake also.

In Houghton Lake: Best places are near the weed beds along the south shore, west shore and the middle weed bed. Also fishing should be good in the East Bay near Harveys Marine. The North Bay holds some nice sized Northern Pike and Walleye.

In Higgins Lake: Rock Bass, Perch and Bluegills are being reported along the west/south shoreline in 15-20 ft of water.

Nice size Crappie at Reedsburg Dam

In St Helen: Some of the best Bluegill fishing in the state is near the weed bed off Artesia beach (near the west end.

Bad news.

The fish were biting at the Cut River but have slowed considerably. Best times for fishing would be late morning/early evening.

Reedsburg Dam flooding side

Reedsburg Dam also had great fishing on the low side but the water level has dropped considerably in the past week. Fishing has dropped off BUT fishing on the flooding side of the dam has started to pick up for Bass and Bluegill. So Reedsburg is a toss up for this weekend.

Backus Lake no report due to high winds but Bluegills and Perch plus some Northern Pike and Bass are always possible. Try near weed beds along shore or in the middle.

Backus Dam off M-18 fishing has been poor due to high fast moving water but could improve over the weekend.

Rock Bass at Reedsburg Dam

Weather forecast is for plenty of sunshine and high temperatures in the 80's. Great for sunbathing not so much for fishing. Also wind predictions are between 10-15 mph. So mornings and evenings should be optimal with lower temps and less wind. Fishing should be good all day.

Best Bait I have been getting hits on both live bait and plastics. Check with your local bait shop for which is working best for what your after.

Fishing Dead Stream Flooding Mar 20,2012

Crappie near Reedsburg Dam

I had a pretty successful day of fishing on Dead Stream Flooding by the Reedsburg Dam. I went out around 2 in the afternoon and worked my way around from the boat launch to the dam and back before finally finding a spot with the fish biting. I'm not sure if it was the spot or the time as it was near 5 before I tried the last spot where I finally had a bite.

First catch was a small (maybe 18" Northern Pike), then a Largemouth Bass. A short move to get away from the wind brought me to an area of dried cattails and clumps of vegetation. It was also a hot spot for Sunfish and Crappie most bigger than 8".

I was fishing nightcrawlers on a 1/32 oz orange jighead about 12" below a weighted orange bobber. Seems I had a bite in each direction I cast my line.

The water levels are high right now from winter runoff so the area I was in may not be accessible in the summer when water levels are low. I know the area is filled with tree stumps that are easily seen from shore in the summer.

Backus Creek Spring 2012

I plan to try kayak fishing this year to reach several areas around Houghton Lake that are not accessible by boat in the summer. Fish are pretty much undisturbed in these areas so I expect the fishing to be very good to excellent.

One area is near a Backus Creek dam. It was a busy area last summer with many people fishing from the shore. The water level was low last year and some people were walking out on what is normally water covered vegetation. In the evenings fish can be seen breaking the surface just outside of casting range. If the fish won't come to me, I'll go to them.

I have already had a great deal of success catching Northerns, Largemouths, Sunfish, Bluegill, Crappie and Dogfish (Bowfin). I believe this to be a great year of fishing. If you haven't been fishing in awhile this could be a good year to take it up again. Dust off the old fishing rod and grab some friends and get out to the water, drop a line in and relax. Introduce a youngster to fishing this year.

Backus Lake Update: Logging is still going on near Backus Lake and the heavy equipment is taking it's toll on the dirt roads. Though their adding dirt and grading there are still some areas you won't be able to get a camper past. Hopefully by May they'll be finished and have the road back to an accessible level for campers.

Come up and see us soon.

Ken S