Get Ready for Open Water

Every year at this time anglers start to get a twitch in their casting arms and many begin organizing their fishing tackle for the annual spring opener! And we who live up north are so lucky to have numerous lakes and streams right in our backyards.

Area Lakes

The Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland region, for example, is very right in highly productive lakes for anglers of all ages and abilities to ply their skills. The most popular bodies of water include Plum, Star, Razorback, Laura, Ballard, and Irving Lakes in Sayner-Star Lake area and the lakes of Pickeral, Muskellunge, Snipe and Boot can be found in the Cloverland area. All of these lakes contain excellent populations of walleye, musky, bass, and pike, plus all species of native pan-fish and can be easily accessed at well-maintained public launch sites. Lake maps are available at most sport shops.

Fishing in Solitude

Another plus for anglers searching for a peaceful and quiet environment in which to fish is the fact that over eighty percent of the Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland area is public land owned by the state or Vilas County. For those anglers who enjoy a wilderness experience, several of the area’s smaller lakes are restricted to electric motors only and/or are walk-in or portage-in lakes with undeveloped shorelines.

Check your map for small lakes with names such as Salsich, Frank, Lone Tree, Pallette, Alva, and Dorothy Dunn.

Purists, who enjoy fishing for native brook trout, and don’t mind donning waders or hip boots, can fish a delightful stream to wade and also enjoy a perfect, peaceful setting where rarely another angler is encountered, especially if you visit Plum Creek during weekdays.

So oil those reels, check out the boat trailer and boat, and get ready! Opening day will be upon us before you know it, and remember to “keep castin’!”

Written by: Andy “Buckshot” Anderson, local outdoor adventure, fishing & hunting tales author.