Portage Lake
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Portage Lake Fishing Reports
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Hrmfishingusa
Bronze Ambassador
1/20/24
Species
WalleyeSeason
Ice
Technique
Ice Fishing Spoons
Structure
Humps
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
32°
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Frogs/Toads
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
65°
Water temps were sitting around 65° when we hit the water and there was a decently brisk 10-15mph wind coming from the south. We immediately hit the flats on the south end of the lake with poppers/top water and caught several quality fish (for the lake). We continued around the south point and the flats for a while and tried to target some of the spawners as well with no luck. We later moved into the pads on the north end of the lake and caught some better quality bass on frogs. As the wind picked up past 20mph things cooled off pretty significantly. Struck out for a long time while trying to fish the wind and switched over to some spinner baits. We targeted the edge of the drop offs on the south side of the lake and managed to put several more quality bass in the boat.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
61°
Had a late start, water temp was around 60-62°F, wind was 3-5 mph. Water was amazingly clear for Portage Lake. Probably a solid 5-6' visibility. Had a hard start getting a pattern going. Early catch on a Ned and then a nice keeper in the shallows on a red Berkley Power Blade. Eventually got further out of the shallows (6-10') of water and got a few short strikes on a Shad Fillet Stunna. The bites were coming when I let the bait sit for 3-4 seconds. After 3 fish on short strikes I switched to a Hankie Pankie and the bass really started to hit that one hard. I had another 20 or so in the next hour with about 2/3 keepers. Pretty much all of them were after a short 3/4 second pause coming out of the shallower water.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Bass were holding at about 15' deep and the edges of weedlines. Lake was treated the prior week, so a TON of dead grass and a lot of lethargic bass. We had some luck with Ned's and dropshot, but overall very lackluster trip.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Flooded Brush
Forage
Insects
Water Temperature
78°
Very warm morning, blue bird sky's, and no wind. During the week we had gotten ~5" of rain so everything was flooded. Water was an easy 2' high. There was a bass tournament going on during our panfish tournament so it was rather crowded as well. We decided to buck the trend and fished the flooded areas. We were basically fishing in peoples yards. The kids loaded up on gills and placed 1st and 2nd. I placed first for big bass w/ a 2.5lb'er. If we had been in the bass tournament, we would have had around 10lbs and easily won based on their numbers Started off picking up some bass on a Kaera with a follow up wacky for the ones that missed. Picked up a few more on some micro poppers on the BFS rig and a micro panfish jig as well. Kids were putting some decent red ear's and bluegills in the boat with worms. Picked up our first decent bass on a cutter worm. We moved into one of the flooded resort areas and picked up a few more gills but decided to head back to the flooded area on the east side of the lake. Picked up several more bass on wacky rig and the kaera. Finally got the 2.5 up in somebodies yard under a small cedar tree that was flooded. Each kid managed to catch a decent keeper (for the lake) as well. Lesson learned...fish are curious, go fish the flooded brush/timber.
Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel - EOL 2500 / 6.0:1
Out of Stock
Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel - EOL 1000 / 5.1:1
Out of Stock
Species
Panfish / BluegillSeason
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Insects
Water Temperature
79°
Gills were popping at the surface a lot. Lake is mostly choked out with weeds so it took some effort to find Bluegill beds. It was mostly just getting the kids used to the lake for a future tournament. The bass were cruising around the gill beds and caught a number of them on BFS poppers as well.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Docks
Forage
Shad
Windy day fishing 5-6 feet
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Topwater Popping
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Crappie
Water Temperature
73°
Water temps around 73, and little to no wind. Big storm system coming in. We had a top water bite going most of the night that went off pretty decent for numbers but sizes weren't great. It was all in all a night of junk fishing though and we couldn't get a pattern going. Put them in the boat on a wacky, spro e-pop, dropshot, and a chatterbait.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Topwater Popping
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
73°
Lake was treated one week prior. Temp was right around 73, and no wind when we hit the water. Baitfish were popping everywhere. No luck just east of the ramp in the shallows. We moved north to the thick stuff and immediately got into a good top water bite on poppers and a couple on wacky's. Missed several on frogs. Bass were just sucking at the surface and not really exploding. Moved to the docks by Klines and picked up a few on worms and a good one on a frog, and a few more smaller as we moved down the coast. Overall decent numbers but sizes were underwhelming. Bring a small child, makes all the fish look bigger.
