$2.00 off admission to Deer & Turkey Expo

The 2010 Wisconsin Deer & Turkey Expo runs April 9th – 11th this year at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. This show has something for just about everyone- even those who are not hunters themselves. The weekend schedule is packed with seminars, demonstrations, and contests. In between events you can browse a wide variety of unique displays and even try out several interactive shooting ranges.

We look forward to being at the show again this year with a booth and invite you to stop by and say hello. We’ve been provided with $2.00 off admission coupons which we would like to pass on to customers and friends. We will send you the coupon by email which you can print off as many times as you like and take to the show with you. Just send an email to jcf@myoakpro.com and include “$2.00 OFF” in the subject line and we’ll reply with the coupon attached. This is an absolutely free offer – no strings attached. You just have to let us know that you want a coupon.

We hope to hear from you and also see you at the Deer & Turkey Expo.

Jay Frazier - Broker
Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin, llc

Spring Turkey Permits Still Available

While you are waiting for the spring walleye fishing to come back, you can still get out and buy an extra permit for your spring turkey hunting. Leftover permits went on sale last week and there are still many available.

The state is divided into 7 Turkey management zones and we live in Zone 1. All of the extra permits are for the later seasons. There are 1,600 left for Period D, from May 5 – 9. Period E from May 12 – 16 has over 9,000 permits left and the last Period, F, has over 11,000 left and runs from May 19 – 23.

Don’t think that it’s too late to get a bird in those late periods either. The easiest bird I ever got was in the 5th time period. You don’t hear as much gobbling but you also don’t have as many real hens to compete with when you do get an active gobbler. You can buy one permit a day at $10 each, until they are gone.

Dan Bomkamp - Author & host of "How's Fishing"

Hunting Land For Sale

Walleyes are Scattered

High water and wide open gates at the dams have scattered the walleyes. Fishermen are having a hard time to locate any fish right now. The few that do find fish are finding them up in the willows along the railroad tracks on the Mississippi. On the Wisconsin it’s the same story, high water and fast current.

Adding to the problem is the water temperature. With the cold nights we’ve been having the water is in the low 40’s yet and not warming up very fast. Walleyes like to spawn when the water gets up to about 52 degrees, so we have a way to go.

Be patient. The water will go down and the temperature will come up and the fishing will improve. But for now, don’t plan on a big day of catching fish.

Dan Bomkamp - Author and Host of "How's Fishing"



http://www.myoakpro.com/

Dead Deer Walking

COUGARS
I recently got a picture from a friend in Arizona that is an AMAZING photo taken with a Trail Cam. It’s of a small whitetail buck passing the camera and about three feet behind him a cougar is stalking the deer. Both animals were caught in the picture. This gives us a lot of insight to the incredible stealth these creatures use when stalking their prey. My friend titled it, “Dead Deer Walking".  (The photo is displayed at the end of this post.) Cougars are very rare in Wisconsin, but once in awhile you'll hear of a confirmed sighting.

WALLEYE FISHING
Even with high water conditions slowing down the success, walleye fishermen are still on the water. The Mississippi is about four feet higher than it was when the ice went out and that has scattered the fish. Die-hard walleye anglers will not give up. It may take all day to find a school of fish but if you do, you’ll cash in.

Dan Bomkamp - Author & Host of "How's Fishing"
 
 

"Dead Deer Walking"

http://www.myoakpro.com/

High Water Trouble

As usual about the time the walleye fishing gets going strong, the water comes up and they raise the gates at the dams. Last week the fishing was very good but late in the week the water started rising and the gates came up, blowing all the fish out of the area. The water has risen about 4 feet this week.

What can you do? Move down river and find places where there are current breaks. Look behind islands, around wingdams, or anyplace that breaks the current and gives the fish a place to rest. Also go shallow. The fish will move right up into the willows and brush along the RR tracks and islands, so you often will find them in very shallow water.

The fish are still there. You just have to find where they are and then catching them isn’t very hard. They will bite if you find their new homes.

Dan Bomkamp - Author & Host of "How's Fishing"

At Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin, we do things a little bit differently and our clients love it.  See what they have to say about us.  Client Quotes

Spring is Here!

How do you tell when Spring has truly arrived?  Most people take a look at the weather.  Does it "feel" like Spring?  At Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin we use the "Ranger" method.  And we're VERY happy that the Rangers are rolling again.  The snow is gone and most places it's dry enough to show properties with a Polaris Ranger.  Our buyer clients love this as it saves them time and they don't end up worn out from hiking around 100 acres for several hours.  Welcome Spring! - and we welcome you to come ride a Ranger with us this year.

Time For Walleyes

The ice is out and the boats are on the water. All of the dams on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers are open for fishing. Warm weather and good water conditions will make for some great days on the water. Small male walleyes and sauger are the main catch right now. They migrate to the dams early, waiting for the females to show up when the water gets a little warmer.

You might be able to get some better sized fish by fishing in shallower water. The females and larger more experienced males will be in shallow water looking for spawning sites. In my many years of walleye fishing I found that I caught the best fish in less than 12 feet of water.

You may catch less fish but overall they will be larger. Don’t forget to work your bait very slowly. That water is still cold and the fish won’t bother trying for a meal that goes past them too quickly. Slow down and go shallow and you’ll be in good shape.

 
Dan Bomkamp-Author & Host of How's Fishing
 
 
Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin is your foremost authority on outdoor lifestyle properties across Southwest Wisconsin. If you’re looking for a place close to the action, take a look at http://www.myoakpro.com/

Get Out There and Go For Walleyes!

The ice is gone and the boats are heading for open water. Warm temperatures and rain this past week has taken the ice out below the dams and the spring walleye run is on. The majority of the fish are small male walleyes and sauger but occasionally a larger male or a female will be caught. As the water warms there will be more and more females showing up.

Vertical jigging is the fishing method of choice. Many anglers use minnows on their jigs but a twister tail will often work just as well. One addition to the rig is a stinger hook to catch the notoriously short-striking fish in the cold water conditions. It’s essential to work your jig very slowly. The fish are cold and sluggish and if your jig is too active, they won’t waste the effort of chasing it. A slow presentation will result in many more hits.

There will be a lot of boats on the water so everyone needs to be patient and courteous. Landings are congested so getting your boat ready before you back down to the water will keep things moving and give everyone a chance to launch without a long wait.

 
Dan Bomkamp - Author & Host of "How's Fishing"
 
 
Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin is the foremost real estate brokerage for outdoor lifestyle properties.  If you're looking for a place to fit your rural lifestyle, you'll narrow the search by visiting http://www.myoakpro.com/.

Journal-Sentinel Sports Show

Look for us at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wednesday (today) through Sunday. This show is centered around everything to do with outdoor sports. You can watch competitions, view exhibits, and listen to seminars. Subjects include fishing, boating, hunting, camping, travel, resorts, lodges, outfitters, wildlife art, docks and piers, archery, taxidermy, ATVs, and of course real estate! This gives us a great chance to talk face to face with potential buyers and help our sellers reach their goals.

The show is held at State Fair Park in the Wisconsin Exposition Center, West Allis, WI. If you plan to attend, stop by our booth for a visit. We’d like to hear from our followers.

REALTOR Dean Tainter Comes on Board

Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin is pleased to announce the addition of REALTOR Dean Tainter to our team. Dean brings a wealth of experience in agriculture, business management, and retail customer service to his real estate clients. He is committed to earning your confidence through integrity and top notch service. Of course, we enthusiastically applaud this commitment which creates satisfied clients. Best wishes for great success Dean!

More About Dean Tainter

Walley Fishing Has Started

The ice went out at Lynxville dam on the Mississippi on Friday, March 5th. By afternoon there were about 35 boats out fishing for spring walleyes. Action was good but most of the fish are small sauger and walleyes.

The males show up first and wait for the females to show up to spawn. This time of year the vast majority of fish at the dams are males. They provided a lot of action and if you’re patient, you can sort through them and take home some nice eating-size fish.

There are quite a few catfish being caught also. While not usually thought of as a jig eating fish, catfish are very aggressive in the spring and will grab a jig with great enthusiasm. Often you think you’ve got a keeper walleye and your “walleye” turns out to have whiskers.

The water is very cold yet, so work your jig slowly and make sure to wear your life vest. That vest does you no good lying in the bottom of the boat if you happen to fall out or tip over.

Dan Bomkamp - Author & Host of "How's Fishing"
 
 

http://www.waterfront-property-wisconsin.com/

Don't Worry About the Ice

As soon as we have a couple of days when it gets above freezing a lot of people begin asking if the ice is still safe for fishing. The answer is definitely YES. We had our first ice in early November so there was a lot of time for it to thicken and harden. In many places there is enough ice to drive a truck across, so a few fishermen will not be in any danger.

The only thing to remember is that if you’re fishing someplace where you have to cross running water you may want to be very careful. Take an ice spud along and let one person go ahead and check with the spud. Many years ago my fishing buddies and I almost drove across the Ambro Slough at Prairie du Chien but decided to check the ice first. About half way across the spud went through and we were surprised to find about two inches of ice. Had we driven out as planned, it would have been a real bad thing.

So, use your head and think before you start out across an unknown place and you’ll be fine. These next few weeks could produce some great fishing. After the winter we had, it would be a shame to miss it.

Dan Bomkamp - Author & Host of "How's Fishing"


Southwest Wisconsin is blessed with lots of rivers, so if you're a fishing fanatic and want to live close to the action, you have a lot of options.  From the very start of Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin, we have helped clients buy and sell waterfront properties.  From lots on the Mighty Mississippi to large acreages with the Grant River running through, we've handled a variety of riverfront properties.  For a free list of waterfront properties currently for sale in Southwest Wisconsin, visit our website at:  http://www.waterfront-property-wisconsin.com/

Lake Home & Cabin Show

Tomorrow we’re off to the Lake Home & Cabin Show which is held this weekend at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Chicago, IL. At this show you can find everything for your getaway home. Second homes and recreational properties are a big part of our business, so we’re manning a booth again this year. Look for Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin. If you’ll be at the show, stop in and say “Hi”.

Jay Frazier - Broker
Mossy Oak Properties of Wisconsin - Muscoda

Look for Springs

Many of the Wisconsin river bottom sloughs have springs bubbling up in them. Sometimes the springs are out in the lake somewhere and sometimes they are near the high bank. If you know a slough with springs, take a look near those springs as a place to try ice fishing. Even though springs are known for cold water, the water coming from them is warmer than the lake water, and the warmer water will attract fish.

Another thing that has made fishing slow is the low oxygen levels in the sloughs. Spring water has more oxygen than the other lake water, and this will also be an attractant to fish.

Often if you fish near these springs, you’ll find better concentrations of fish and more active fish. Do be careful though because the ice may look good on top, but underneath, it usually is much thinner than the surrounding ice. Get a little too close and you may get a wet foot….or worse.

Dan Bomkamp - Author and Host of "How's Fishing"

Southwest Wisconsin Land For Sale