Esquagamah

[fish]

Last minute trip came up this weekend and I was invited to Esquagamah. I never have fished the lake. Looks like an ok mix of fish from the DNR reports. Anybody fish the lake at all? I am staying around the southwest side of the lake. I want to stay more busy than anything else. Any tip on an area to try for crappies or walleye would really be appreciated. Also, I am with a complete novice fisherwoman and will probably just be slip bobber fishing, is this lake better suited for leech or minnow use when going after the walleye?
Thanks
fish

[fishfearme]

Fish for bluegills and bass. I have never caught a walleye out of this lake and the crappies are paper thin as I remember. The gills are good sized with many in the 1/2 pound range. If you want walleyes fish Round or Wakanabo just east of there.

[Rick]

I have caught some dandy walleyes out of Esquagamah as well as some very nice Bass.

When I first fished it, the lake was loaded with Pike. At that time I could not find any walleyes. Look for sunken islands and especially necked down areas on them for the eyes.

The fishing was very good last time I was there and it is primarily a Bass-Pike lake.

[fish]

Hey Guys
I ended up just helping my gal with baiting the hook, casting, taking fish off. I didn't actually even get to try any type of patterns. She caught a real mixed bag of walleye, northern, crappies, bass and blue gills. It was great to see how excited she was to catch so many fish. We were fishing the weedlines with leeches and jigs. nothing special but had a great time. I will be up again this weekend and hope to get some fishing in too.
Oh yeah...the biting flys are terrible this year. Close to unbearable.

[kalapoika]

How's Esquagamah early ice fishing for walleyes or northerns? I've never fished early ice up there. My grandma had a place up there and when we did fish it in the winter, it was generally not until January and for panfish only. I've got the itch to get out and was thinking I wouldn't mind trying it on Esquagamah early to see what happens this year. If anyone has any ice reports it would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Mike Smith]

kala,
Ice fishing in general is pretty good all winter. The size of the fish is 6-10 inch crappie sunnys from 5 to 8 1/2" lots of small Northern some bass and a walleye or to to boot. best late ice for numbers though. best bet is Gun lake.

[Guest]

Any word on the ice thickness on Squag or Waukenabo after this cold snap?

[kalapoika]

Mike -

Thanks, I think I might have to make the trek from the Cities to give it a try this weekend - I've got the bug bad and am curious to see what it's like early ice there.

Matt

[Finlander]

I have fished Esquagema lake since 1973 and have to say for number of crappies, not size but good eaters this lake is the lake to for a meal!
This is an excellent tip-up lake for pike.
I once caught a 12 pound pike fishing tip-ups with golden shiners. Then 1/2 hour later pulled up a 21 inch, 6 1/2 pound largemouth bass from the same hole. This was in February! This lake is a dark bog stained water lake so the fish bite all day long. I have caught a few walleyes after they stocked them in there. But not a lake to fish for walleye only! Nice bluegills can be had on the north side during the winter next to the weedline and crappies are in the deeper water.
Bood Luck!!!!!
out from there.

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