The Milwaukee Post

December 24, 2015 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 When looking at the full-month forecast for the area, we shouldn't be expecting ice for at least the month of December. Last year, anglers were enjoying the hard water by now and bait shops were enjoying good sales on live bait. Chin up sportsmen and women, there are some things to do even if ice fishing isn't one of them. For one thing, a person can still fish. Adam Walton, a fishing guide from Edgerton, has kept his boat out and is catching a few walleye on Lake Koshkonong in Jefferson County. "Last year there we were ice fishing at this time," he said. "This year the water temp is a balmy 42 degrees." Rather than cry about it, he hit the lake and tried some trolling. "We fished some of the same spots we fished in spring and caught some walleye and perch." Muskie anglers in particular are happy that the lakes are still open. The warm weather has extended their season by a few weeks and people are doing well when using the correct techniques. Reports have been coming in that, as no surprise, suckers are getting the most action. A few anglers are also using a one-two punch technique where they cast slow- moving baits and dangle a sucker off the side of the boat. The muskie comes in fol- lowing the artificial bait but actually ends up striking the live sucker. It's a good way to cover a lot of water and still have a decent chance of hooking up. Action has been pretty good on Pewaukee, Okauchee and Oconomowoc lakes. Some days they're catching fish on shal- low weedline edges while other days deeper weed flats are producing. You just have to get out there to figure it out. A few panfish and bass anglers are still catching a few fish. Find the warmest water and the greenest weeds to find more aggressive fish. If that's not working, head out to the deepest hole in the lake and jig live bait or cast slow-moving artificials. If fishing has run its course for the year, don't forget there's still some deer hunting left, and this guy plans to take advantage of it. I'm running low on my venison invento- ry and need to replenish it before time runs out. The season ends for bow and crossbow Jan. 3. The rut is over, but hunters could see a small spike in breeding activity around late December. That is if any remaining doe come back into estrus because they weren't bred earlier in the year. I, for one, am not lucky enough to encounter one. But you can't shoot one from the couch either. After the gun deer season, whitetails have become more noctur nal, so don't expect to see a lot of activity in high-day- light times. More than likely, a person's best chance for a kill will be about an hour or less after dawn, or just before dusk. Try to hunt in areas that are close to a bedding area and cut off the deer on its way to a food source. Even in these warmer conditions, the deer know they need to put on weight before winter. All they are think- ing is survival and gaining calories. Another great option is to do some rabbit or squirrel hunting. I started taking my boys a couple years ago and have found both small game tar- gets to be challenging to take down espe- cially with a .22 rimfire and they can be a lot of fun to try and find. Unlike deer hunting you don't have to worry about wind or scent. Nope, you have to be somewhat stealthy, but not nearly to the point as a person is going for whitetail. And if you miss one, it's no big deal. Cottontail rabbit season is open from now until Feb. 29 while squirrel season is open until Jan. 31. That's the beauty of Wisconsin. Even when she pulls a curve ball on us and keeps ice fishing at bay, there are still other options. You just have to have an open mind and be willing to try something different. (Dan Durbin writes an outdoors column for the Post. Call Durbin at 644-7940, or email him at ddurbin@bastdurbin.com if you have a story idea.) Warm winter doesn't mean shortage of outdoor fun DAN DURBIN Hunting still an option OUTDOORS Bud, Bud Light & Michelob Golden Draft Light $ 17 99 T-SHIRT FREE GET A EXCLUDING TOBACCO PRODUCTS $ 17 99 30pk cans BUY A 12 Pk RED STRIPE FREE CAR WASH with $ 50 purchase -Offer Expires 12/31/15. While supplies last. -Offer Expires 12/3/15. While supplies last. -Offer Expires 12/3/15. While supplies last. Labatt Blue $ 10 49 12pk bottles 12oz 12pk bottles Becks $ 9 99 24pk cans 12pk bottles Natty Daddy Busch or Busch Light 30pk Cans 30pk cans Paul's Wine & Liquor Family Owned and Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1990! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Area's Largest Cold Craft Beer Selection. Build Your Own Craft 6 Pack. Your Choice, Any Craft Beer 4415 W. 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