Friday, 19 November 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – End of Year 2021

Dear 2021, I sincerely hope a season like you never comes around again in the future. You gave me headache, heartache, anger and frustration. The bad days of fishing outnumbered the good. I should never come home from the lake feeling lost and helpless.

There aren’t too many positives right now. First ice is now happening on smaller ponds and lakes. Winter sucks.

The one positive, I don’t have to fish anywhere again until April.

My year ended on October 31st.

Cheers to 2021 and your own winterizations.

This last installment of 2021 is a belated report from late October, and a year-end summary.

Since my last report and newsletter from second week of October, smallmouth were still in pre-turnover. Now, they are all wintering.

This fall, I bass fished more than muskie fished. I come from the philosophy of taking what the weather and conditions are giving you. With the warm water temps, and very slow turnover, everything was favoring smallmouth more than muskies. This was the first autumn of my life I didn’t catch a single muskie on live suckers.

I made the right decision, as smallmouth were very reliable in October. I’m glad we did a few more bass trips during end of month

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The Last Fishing Report

Below was a summary from the last week of October, 2021. This was our final week of bass fishing for the year.

Since mid week last week, I’ve hit some rivers and a few lakes.

Rivers are low, dry, and not many fish are holing up in their systems. Water temps on them 49-52. It’s been a rough year for river fish of all species. On Thursday I hole hopped for about 5 hours, only catching 3 fish. Each of them 20 inchers. Nowhere near good, as typically these holes can give up 10-20-30 fish or more during a good afternoon until they migrate out from the system. Depths that are commonly 6 to 10 ft are now 3 to 6 ft. No good.

On the lakes, I’ve attempted hitting some leftover pre-turnover waters. This bite is now officially over with.

On Saturday, October 23, I scored big with a 25 fish morning from 57 degree and clear water. Smallmouth were suicidal. Then the next day, back again at the same water with Rick Reese, temps had fallen overnight by almost 2 degrees and that same water turned into a cloudy and green tinted sea that produced only two dinks for us. We jumped to a second lake for the afternoon, visiting a deep and cold water that doesn’t stratify. We were able to jump some humps and wintering holes when winds allowed us to, catching 4 on blade bait, 2 on AR neds, and 2 more on Lindy Rigs. Not much concentrating and heavy schooling yet. 57 registered on this lake.

Water temps during the week fell quickly, almost too fast.

My tackle box closed just as quick. I was no longer carrying several St. Croix Rods in the locker. Also been eliminating more boxes of tackle that isn’t practical for post-turnover. During our last days, I was carrying ONLY cold water baits that included paddletails, football jigs, tubes, blade baits, lipless cranks, deep divers, anything that sinks quickly, and live minnow rigs. In late fall, less is more.

Last Video Report of the Year

Video Report – First Week of November, 2021
** End of year fishing report
** Fall bass bling
** New rods NOW AVAILABLE at St. Croix Rods
** This season’s final evaluation
** 2022 trips and ideas
Got questions? Or your own recent successes (and failures) to share? Please add below!
www.northwoodsbass.com
Posted by Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures on Monday, November 8, 2021

What’s Happening Now

Winter has arrived. Ice is forming. Most boats now winterized. Winter sucks.

Thank You Customers

It wasn’t the year many of us anticipated or expected. Many of your fishing seasons weren’t made either. The struggles of present will make us great in the future.

Thank you customers for entrusting me for your bass fishing and northwoods fishing success! I appreciate your business and friendships. I also enjoy staying in touch with you all during the season and winter off-season, whether chatting by phone, texting, or replying to emails and questions.

Each day of fishing in my boat brings high expectations and very high standards. My objectives are for you to catch, and for me to navigate the boat, put YOU on spots, instruct and educate. Whether or not you caught a giant bass with me that day, I’m sure you returned home with a new outlook on bass fishing, information you can apply on your own, and acquired more knowledge and intellect that will make you a better angler for years to come.

What I learned during 2021 futility……. It’s NOT always about the catching.

It never has been.

While this is a results driven occupation, the learning, adventure and customer experiences always come first.

It always has been that way.

50-something bass trips happened. It was a severely down year in terms of numbers and sizes. Big fish were not abundant like seasons prior. On action fisheries, we couldn’t catch the action either. Hopefully it was a fluke year and won’t be a continuing downward trend. 2021 was worse than the down year of 2020. I have lots to discuss about this, and perhaps a winter video session will be the best place for it.

Our biggest fish of the year were only a handful of 5 pounders. This September and October, we did get two nearing #6. Despite the lack of big fish, we did manage a nice collection of photos that are 18″ and bigger.

2021 Biggest Fish of the Year Awards

Biggest Smallmouth – 21 inch, Jamie Odekirk, October 2021

Biggest Largemouth – 22″ and 22.5″, Andrew Ragas, September and October, 2021

Heaviest Bass – #5.5 Jamie Odekirk, October 2021

New Customer PB’s – 8

Nice going, you all!

Winter Schedule and Seminars

Right now I am back at my desk job. Did you guys know I am self employed, and run my own business from home as a website & graphic designer? I also offer other services such as web management and marketing too – for all businesses and industries. If you think your company is looking to improve its web and internet presence, give me a hollar. www.ragasmedia.com

Lots of New / Lightly Used Gear For Sale This Winter

I will have a lot of prior-used rods and off-brand rods available for sale. These will all be Quantum PT’s. 9 or 10 Vapor rods, and some others, each under warranty. Some other stuff. Haven’t prepped any of it yet. Be on the lookout.

Seminars and Events

None scheduled yet.

I have reached out to 5 clubs and groups in the Northern IL and Southeast WI regions. I am waiting to hear back from them all. Standby until further notice.

Seems like $$$ and lack of social engagements could be the issue.

Sport Shows

These shows are too expensive for me to exhibit at, and require too much time out of my weekends to be at. But the only one I will be attending for sure is the Schaumburg Fishing Show January 27th to 30th, 2022. I will be sitting in with St. Germain Lodge.

Online Guide Service in 2022

In the coming few weeks I am going to begin creating online services available ONLY thru my website….. Virtual guide service sessions….. Consultations….. Personalized guide maps for purchase…… Subscriber and/or Pay-per-view content….. Hoping to launch all in winter, 2022.

Now Booking 2022 Dates

All repeat customers from 2019-2021 get first priority booking starting December 1st. I am only scheduling May and June months at this time due to family planning and not wanting to get divorced like 99% of other fishing guides. I am not accepting July or August dates at this time, or until we see what 2022 fishing pressure and conditions are like first.

Choose your dates, and give me a call or e-mail.

After January 1st, 2022, dates are open to everyone.

All deposits due after January 1st, 2022.

Visit my rates page

For those of you planning early for next year, please contact me for 2022 trips, instruction, and fishing opportunities.

All dates I will be fishing, or plan to, are visibly shown on my online calendar.

The only dates I will be able to host trips and guide are listed in GREEN on my online calendar. If it’s not in green, I will not be available.

Thank you to my loyal customers for making our fishing year what it was.

Andrew Ragas
Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures, LLC
Licensed and Insured
Specializing in Northern Wisconsin inland bass fishing

tel: 708-256-2201
email: andrew@northwoodsbass.com
web: www.northwoodsbass.com

NORTHERN WISCONSIN BASS FISHING GUIDE - MINOCQUA, WI