Fishing picking up nicely in the Rice Lake area.

We're having a pretty good start to the fishing season in our Rice Lake area.

Walleye action is decent. You'll want to fish either shallow, or deep. Walleye are locating in both areas. Fish mornings and towards evening for best results, but you can get some action throughout the day. Fish 6 to 7 feet off emerging weeds, or 20 to 25 feet over bars and at drop offs. Use a jig and either a big fathead or a leech. Both are working.

Largemouth bass are hitting well (check the "zone" or particular water you're on to see if it's catch-and-release. Indeed, we recommend releasing all bass, regardless). Fish shallow, where the bass are either on their beds or right off. Good areas include thick weeds (if you can find them, muck or stump areas). Use a Tube or Senko, with darker coloration best.

Crappies are roaming, and they're tough to find. I'd suggest you start out shallow, around their spawning beds, and work your way out, as the crappies are just starting to move out. Use a Cubby, tube jig, or small minnow.

Bluegills are in shallow weeds. Use a waxie, worm or chunk of crawler.

Not much to report on northern yet! But you can certainly try for these toothy predators by fishing off of and on top of emerging weeds in 4 to 8 feet of water. Toss a good sized northern sucker minnow, or a spinner bait. Northern action will steadily improve.

Want to remind all "musky hunters" about our great Wisconsin Musky Tour Tournament which will be held on Rice Lake itself (great musky water!), Saturday, June 10. Call us at Rainbow Home Center, 715-234-8116; or the Rice Lake Tourism & Economic Development Commission at 800-523-6318, for further details and entry information.

(This report for the Rice Lake Tourism Commission based on Creative Brilliance interview with Andrew Thome of Rainbow Home Center in Rice Lake).

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Rice Lake offers much to do, indoors and outdoors, year-round, with many beautiful area parks, live theater, community events, the lakes and woods, the unique geologic formations of the nearby Blue Hills; the UW-Barron campus; and many other area attractions, activities, and recreation. The Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary just outside of Rice Lake offers all kinds of nature opportunities, special lectures, and classes, year-round. There's ATVing, fishing, and car races. Rice Lake has "The best drinking water in Wisconsin," and ranks in the top five in the WORLD for "Best Municipal Drinking Water!"

Upcoming events of note in the Rice Lake area:

-- Sat., June 10, 2006: Great Wisconsin Musky Tour Tournament; on Rice Lake.
For details and entry information, call Frank Zumpf at Rainbow Home
Center, 715-234-8116; or the Rice Lake Tourism & Economic Development Commission at 800-523-6318.

* J.C. Bear Paw Company: 715-236-7300; e-mail: bearpaw@chibardun.net

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Report compiled, written & distributed by Creative Brilliance. ©2006. All rights reserved.  Naomi K. Shapiro or Ray Smith, Creative Brilliance 608-827-6483; 800-975-5474 (media). e-mail: cre8vads@cheqnet.net