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Norm Wild Chat

Category: chat

 Jan 11th, 2006 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Jan 11th, 2006 at 12:00 AM

Slamr: MuskieFIRST Welcomes Pro-Staffer Norm Wild to the Chat Room, thanks for making yourself available at such short notice! Norm_Wild: Thanks for the invite Slamr: lets ask some interesting, thought provoking questions! Steve_Worrall: Norm, what is your favorite water? ToddM: How long is your boat? Norm_Wild: I fish alot of water in the Rhinelander area, of course Pelican is my baby Norm_Wild: Todd, you would have to ask Steve to get the correct answer Steve_Worrall: Is pelican your favorite all year long? Slamr: why do you focus on Pelican? I know there are a lot of waters near you to chose from? tuffdaddy: What’s your favorite spring bite on Pelican? Norm_Wild: I spend alot of time fishing moving water in the spring, Moens, three lakes etc. Norm_Wild: Really concentrate hard on Pelican from the 4th of July on’ ToddM: Are there times when a lake like pelican is off and what lakes types do you look for when that happens? jlong: Is current really a factor on those waters, Norm? Norm_Wild: Pelican has a lot of water, and a great history for big fish…that history is returning now too, but more on that later jlong: If so, how? Norm_Wild: J, I concentrate hard on current in the spring, any current whether it be wind or natural. It really concentrates the food, and therefore the fish too. Slamr: how do you FIND that current, beyond finding a creek inlet jlong: Why so much in the spring? tuffdaddy: Does that put you shallower, or do you find any deeper current outside of the rivers and inlets that hold fish. Norm_Wild: I fish a bunch of neckdowns in Chains, and some really goofy looking areas that most musky fishermen shake their heads at just because of the current’ sorno: Not being familiar w/ the area myself, what is the main forage in Pelican? Norm_Wild: In a chain all neckdown areas will contain some current Norm_Wild: some areas natural currents others winds jlong: What is the connection to SPRING for those areas? Aren’t they good areas all season? Norm_Wild: Most of my best current areas in ultra shallow water. I know the trend in Musky fishing now seems to be to head deeper, but most of my best fish still come out of skinny water Steve_Worrall: and Norm, to answer the Q asked earlier, your boat is 18’11” Norm_Wild: Sorno, largely a perch and sucker base. It had a great bullhead base years ago but the prop assoc. netted them all out. They are starting to show back up again in large numbers bnelson: do you think the bullheads coming back is why more big fish are showing up or more C&R related? Kid_Derringer: Why did they remove the bullheads? Slamr: how has the lake changed, with the forage base? sorno: they were able to get all the bullheads w/ nets? Norm_Wild: J, they are good areas all year long, but I tend to shift my lake focus away from the chains once the water starts to warm more. Mostly a boat traffic issue ghoti: Norm, got to love the resurgence in bullheads, great muskt candy! Norm_Wild: I think the bullheads make for a real fat fish, but it is not the only reason for more big fish showing themselves. Catch and release is the biggest reason, and new size limits would be best Steve_Worrall: sorno, the lake association handed out long handled minnow nets, took out yoy for several years Norm_Wild: The locals were convinced that the bullhead were destroying the fishery Norm_Wild: and what Steve said tuffdaddy: They think EVERYTHING destroys the fisheries. sheesh sorno: ok, got it Slamr: how do you adjust, with the adjustment in the forage base? sorno: lake associations destroy fisheries… Norm_Wild: The last couple of years there are more and more of them showing back up in the lake. As resilient as Bullhead are you can’t keep them down long jlong has left the room. sorno: do you then fish it differently now with a shift in forage (i.e., resurgence in bullhead numbers)? buddyS: Our L. Ass. decided to manage for bluegills and not the walleye and muskie base it now has. ToddM: you can’t keep a good bullhead down! Slamr: do you use baits that mimic the bullheads, or just throw the usual, and find the bullheads? tuffdaddy: so what types of baits do you tend to focus on with the bullhead bite. Low and slow, or doesn’t it seem to make a big difference tuffdaddy: jinx Norm_Wild: The forage base and the rusties in Pelican changed the way I fished it hugely. I left the weedy bays alone for a long time, and concentrated hard on rock structures. Now that the bullhead are back Norm_Wild: and the rusties are under control, I still fish rock more than week Norm_Wild: weeds Norm_Wild: I have grown very fond of fishing stones for musky Kid_Derringer: : ) ToddM: what is the main wee in pelican? ToddM: weed Norm_Wild: Lots of cabbage Norm_Wild: acres and acres and acres Slamr: after July, what conditions push you off of Pelican as your lake choice, and onto other waters? and what waters do different conditions move you to? ToddM: would if be safe to say the stones you are fishing have cabbage around it and that makes that are more diverse? Norm_Wild: Cold fronts and Pelican don’t seem to get along very well, neither do real big winds Norm_Wild: pelican can get extremely rough in big winds, then I hit all Worrall’s little lakes! Pointerpride102: wind on pelican….thats every time I’m on it tuffdaddy: What’s the clarity like on Pelican? Steve_Worrall: little lakes, hehehe Norm_Wild: Todd, not at all. Most of the rock structures I am fishing are mid lake reefs and humps. They hold suckers perch and walleyes off the breaks…muskies won’t be far behind Merckid: wind on pelican this summer, ya right, not like other years Kid_Derringer: How deep them rocks hold? Norm_Wild: tuff, it varies greatly throughout the year, in the spring clear, as it warms it takes on a tint , and it blooms with the best of them in August and September and back to clear again in the fall ghoti: Norm, this summer I encountered some nice fish over strictly mud bottoms, quite a ways off any weed structure. Do you supposed this was aresult of an increase in the bullhear forage or just happenst? Norm_Wild: Kid I fish rocks anywhere from 1′ – 25’foot, mostly in the 3-12 range Kid_Derringer: Cool! ToddM: to append to what ghoti just asked, I seen this too but I figurted it was due to bad weed conditions due to the really hot summer, did you see that at all? Kid_Derringer: Good stuff to had about any time around them rocks. Norm_Wild: I think mud holds more fish than we realize, alot of little critters live in mud that perch, suckers , crappie, etc. like Norm_Wild: The muskies will follow them there but its a hateful way to fish Norm_Wild: no rhyme or reason some days Steve_Worrall: What is your favorite lure for early season, Norm? Norm_Wild: I am a big bucktail fan if weather conditions are right. I always have a Mepps of some sort on a rod Norm_Wild: Twitch baits during colder periods Merckid: any certain colors perferred Slamr: using bucktails, when are you increasing or decreasing your speeds? Steve_Worrall: straight retrieve? Norm_Wild: I straight retrieve my bucktails at a pretty fast pace, If I see a fish chasing I will flare it (give the real a couple quick cranks) buddyS: Norm, your wisdom needed — Late Aug. Early September on 900 acre stained water, 16 ft max, some mid lake humps, cabbage dying – can’t find many fish. Where’d they go? Pointerpride102: what do you consider “right weathor conditions Pointerpride102: for bucktails Norm_Wild: That really makes the tail come alive and usually ends in a hookup[ Norm_Wild: Bucktails are good stable or warming weather baits Norm_Wild: this weather puts the fish in more of a positive mood and they react very favorably to a speed presentation ToddM: Norm, what do you look for in picking a lake when pelican is not “on” Norm_Wild: This allows you to cover more water efficiently and contact more active fish for your time on the water sorno: and along w/ Todd’s question, How long do you give Pelican before you decide it’s not ‘on’? Norm_Wild: Like I said, I fish the Three Lakes Chain a lot because it is a good compliment to Pelican. It has very stained water and current and isn’t as affected by weather patterns Norm_Wild: the Moen’s Chain fishes the same way bnelson: have you seen any correlation in the spring with a rising or falling barometer to activity levels of fish up there? Norm_Wild: Any of yo familiar with the Moen’s Chain understand it’s Uniqueness in its unbelievably dark water ghoti: How’s the nite bite on Pelican…say 2-4 hours past sundown? Norm_Wild: Sorno, hard to say, if weather conditions are right I will keep hitting good spots on Pelican all day. ToddM: Why do they call it three lakes when there are like 15 of them? Shouldn’t the moen chain be called three lakes since there are only three lakes? Pointerpride102: Norm do you guide on Pelican at all….I’ve been fishing it since I was a kid and since my grandpa died before he had a chance to teach me how to musky fish Pelican, So I am totally lost when fishing Norm_Wild: You have to have faith in your ability and your areas, I don’t like to ababndon them to quick Slamr: beyond Pelican, if a person had a day in the area, and needed a new, easy to fish lake, where would you head? Norm_Wild: I don’t pay much attntion to the barometer. I am going to fish regardless, so I just haven’t tracked it much bnelson: when pelican has “clear” water does it have a good nite bite? if yes, more cranks on rock or topwaters/tails over weeds? Norm_Wild: Pelican has an oustanding dusk bite. Awesome topwater in some real skinny water Norm_Wild: This carries over until after dark also, but I haven’t pulled too many all nighters out there’ tuffdaddy: So Norm, do you only throw Mepps, or are there other tails you like as well, or even spinnerbaits? Norm_Wild: Yes Pointer I do guide Pelican alot. The lake is my bread and butter Pointerpride102: Ok, do you have a web site/what are your rates? ToddM: Norm, I think algae blooms should be adressed in constitutional law, what do you do differently when pelican algae blooms? Norm_Wild: Slamr, hard to say. There are so many great lakes around there. I love Crescent, George, Thompson, Manson, and a whole bunch of others Norm_Wild: Tuff for bucktails almost exclusively Mepps bucktails or marabous I throw a bunch of different spinnerbaits, Grinders, Ace, Violent Strike Rad Dogs etc. Steve_Worrall: Norm, how would one reach you to set up a guide day? tuffdaddy: When would you choose a bucktail over a spinner bait? Norm_Wild: Todd almost nothing. People get afraid of the bloom and I can’t figure out why. The fish are still there and they still eat, it just messes with your confidence Norm_Wild: Steve they contact me via my website at www.wildmusky.com or call me at 715-627-4759 Steve_Worrall: Thanks, sir Pointerpride102: thanks Norm_Wild: Tuff I like bucktails any time I have clean water to work them through. If I have to get down in the weeds, spinnerbaits are king Norm_Wild: This summer though there was a spinnerbait bite like I’ve never seen before….by the way thanks for those blades Steve Pointerpride102: Do you fish Young’s bay around Norway point much? Norm_Wild: Pointer I fish the entire lake, and yes that is an area I fish ToddM: Norm, I noticed a slow drag and drop spinnerbait bite very late in the year, any success in water temps under 40? Norm_Wild: its a natural highway for fish moving around that area Slamr: Norm, you fish LOTWs for your summer “vacation”…..how do you approach this bigger water, versus the more compact bodies you fish for your “business”? ghoti: Pointerpride102: yup,that’s me Norm_Wild: I don’t use blade baits much after turnover, not because they don’t work, I have just had more success on cranks and gliders then ToddM: Norm I actually noticed it at night in late fall to amend what i just said. Norm_Wild: Slamr, fishing LOTW is a whole lot like fishing Pelican actually. That’s probably why I have been fairly successful up thee Slamr: can you explain then the approach you take? Norm_Wild: You have to take little bites at a time though, its a huge pond ghoti: Pointerpride102: give me a call sometime Norm_Wild: Take a section of the map that has a couple of areas in it that you would lable can’t miss Norm_Wild: then really break down everything in between those spots, you will find a whole bunch of water in there that nobody else is fishing because it doesn’t look as “sexy” on the map Norm_Wild: Every section of LOTW has musky in it, don’t try to fish it all in one day…little bites Steve_Worrall: fish it and learn it? Pointerpride102: Norm I will be sending you an email soon! sorno: You fish gliders much on Pelican? Kid_Derringer: Have fun while learning it. Norm_Wild: You bet Steve, too many people fish a spot for a couple minutes and then fire up the motor and head ten miles away up there. They are missing a lot of great water Slamr: you’re a big Mepps fan, other than them being a local company, any specific reason you’re such a big fan? Norm_Wild: You have to have faith in your ability to read the water, I don’t care where you chase them there the same fish every where ToddM: Will mepps ever make a spinnerbait? Reef_Hawg: Did you notice alot of lip hooked bucktail fish on LOTW this summer? Nippers seem more common than usual? Kid_Derringer: No mention of Topwaters? Why? Steve_Worrall: Gliders don’t hardly work on Pelican much, do they? ToddM: RH, that’s because you fish with your shirt off! Norm_Wild: Slamr, two reasons, number one the blade always spins on them. You never have to “jump start”them. They have a very unique clevice that makes them work. Number two is there verrsatility. saint1: Reef Hawg You are dead on a ton of nippers this last summer on LOTW Norm_Wild: because of the split ring you can mix and match blades and tails Merckid: Toddm, they had spinnerbaits at one time, but it came down to not being able to sell them Norm_Wild: I am a topwater freak Norm_Wild: I catch a large number of fish on topwater every year saint1: Norm Topraiders anyone BFH: favorite topwater? Kid_Derringer: Same areas or set up and work differently? Norm_Wild: The Top Raiders come out right away in the year and keep churining until turnover ToddM: Norm ,how late in the year do you go with a topwater and what style? bnelson: you dont throw any slow moving topwaters like a hawg wobbler after turnover? Norm_Wild: I only fish a few different top waters. I love the Top Raider, The Recon by H2O is a great walk the dog bait, and the Weagle is pretty awesome too Pointerpride102: Norm, what is your go to color for bucktails….hair and blade? Norm_Wild: I usually put them away at turnover though Norm_Wild: Before that there is usually one going in my boat at all times Norm_Wild: I fish a whole bunch of natural colors. Black, Perch are probably my two favorites although red was probably tops this last year Norm_Wild: Kid it all depends on light conditions Reef_Hawg: Dang, I’d better get you a creepin wobbler for that 48-52 fall Pely water! Norm_Wild: I set up deeper on brighter days and can get stupid shallow when you have lowlight Reef_Hawg: red and copper? bnelson: no doubt…i agree reef hawg…48-50 can be gold on top! Norm_Wild: That is one thing I really have to stress, when you have any kind of lowlight conditions those fish will get ridiculously shallow ToddM: Norm ,have you tried the H20 DA RAT? Norm_Wild: SOme of my best fish the last three years have come out of 1-4′ Steve_Worrall: define shallow, please Norm Kid_Derringer: I know what ya mean. //0 Steve_Worrall: thanks Steve_Worrall: hahaha sorno: are the water levels there reasonably stable? Norm_Wild: Steve, my three best spots on Pelican nobody else fishes because they are sssooooooooo shallow Norm_Wild: Yes todd, I like the Bait but I can’t get anything to go on it yet. Next year, the bait looks to good not to get chewed on Norm_Wild: Last year we had the lowest water levels in many years up here Norm_Wild: at the end of the summer it was getting tough to launch a boat on pelican Pointerpride102: I couldnt get my boat off the our lift this year due to water levels ToddM: Norm, mine gets chewed, every fish has both hooks in it’s mouth. if you are in chi this weekend i will tell you about one Norm_Wild: The fish didn’t seem to be very affected by it, they still hung in the same spot Norm_Wild: It doesn’t fluctuate like a reservoir though Pointerpride102: Norm do you think the levels will be up after ice off? Norm_Wild: They started coming up in the fall with all the rain. We could use some more snow to help us out though Norm_Wild: This spring will tell the big story sorno: so the 1-4′ of water you fish earlier in the year will still be roughly 1-4′ later… Norm_Wild: I always expect normal water levels ghoti: By the way, how’s the back doing? Norm_Wild: yep sorno Pointerpride102: otherwise I wont be able to get our boat out Norm_Wild: Backs not too bad, today it hurt like heck, but that’s to be expected some days I guess Norm_Wild: I will be better than everin ’06 Steve_Worrall: You mentioned the big fish in Pelican, what’s the future look like there? Slamr: 10 minutes left, more questions for Norm? Norm_Wild: Good question Pointerpride102: What are the best times to hire you for Pelican? Norm_Wild: With the help of Mr Worrall and Mike Roberts, we have Pelican on the spring hearings this year to be increased to a 50″ limit ToddM: Norm will you be in chicago this weekend? bnelson: think it will pass? Norm_Wild: we need all your help to get it done, get out and vote at the spring hearings this year’ Pointerpride102: Where are the spring hearings at? sorno: management by popular vote? Kid_Derringer: Good luck shooting for 50″ limit. Kid_Derringer: Cool Norm_Wild: we have huge lake association support, Steve gave them an excellent presentation. That will heplp us a lot. If we pass the vote in Langlade and Oneida counties it should fly ghoti: Will all counties have it on the ballot? Reef_Hawg: i will bring it up here in Wood county for sure Norm and we’ll get’er done !! I might bring 40” pike limit for the WI river down here too, not sure yet. Put the YES in the box if you see it please.! Norm_Wild: Remember, you don’t have to be a resident of Oneida or Langlade to vote there Slamr: If you had three bits of information to pass on to all muskie fisherman, what would they be? Norm_Wild: I’ll buy beer and BBQ’s after the hearings……..come up and vote sorno: probably have to be a resident of wisconsin tho…LOL Steve_Worrall: hint big time Norm_Wild: actually sorno you dont ToddM: sorno, nope, you can be from anywhere Kid_Derringer: Sounds lke a line from the 30’s. sorno: get me a ballot! ToddM: Norm, what glidebaits do you like? Norm_Wild: We need help to get it through, but we already jumped a couple really big hurdles ghoti: Sounds like a party this spring!!! BigMo: I’ll make it up there for the vote Norm_Wild: Slamr, learn your water, then, and I stole this from Doug Johnson, fish good baits over good spots Norm_Wild: its that easy Norm_Wild: learning to identify the good spots is the tough part Reef_Hawg: is it up for a rule change or a first time resolution? Were you able to skip the BSand get it right on the ballot? Norm_Wild: Because of our lake association support it went directly to the rule change BigMo: Anybody in particular working against your effort Norm? i.e. can you count on the lake association support 100% Norm_Wild: Todd, I don’t fish a lot of glide baits. I think they are inefficient and poor hookers, when the time is right though….reef hawgs, hellhounds, and I absolutely love H2O’s X Glide Reef_Hawg has left the room. dougj: Wisconsin conservation seems too political to be very effective! Pointerpride102: Norm are you booked solid for the season yet or do you have openings? BigMo: poor “system” too, Doug sorno: yeah, change would be at a glacial pace Norm_Wild: Yes the lake association is already behind us, some of the tournaments could make it messy, especially the transport tourneys Norm_Wild: Yes I have openings throughout the year Steve_Worrall: One more time, Norm, how would one reach you to book a day on the water? Norm_Wild: www.wildmusky.com or 1-715-627-4759 ToddM: Norm will you be in chicago for the musky show? Pointerpride102: Norm are you located on Pelican? Norm_Wild: You bet, Mepps booth, I’ll see you as soon as you walk in Slamr: MuskieFIRST wants to say thanks again to Norm Wild, sounds like there was some great questions asked, and some great information passed around! Its 9 and if you all want to stay, please do! Kid_Derringer: Thanks Norm sorno: thanks Norm Mark_Gostisha: Thanks Norm, I learned a ton Norm_Wild: thank you Kid Norm_Wild: Thanks guys