Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company in De Pere, May 1, 2024 PC: Fox 11 Online
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The inland lakes sportfishing season begins Saturday.
At Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company in De Pere, store manager Pam Van Erem says the sport fishing season is always a busy time. Anglers are stocking up on supplies and gear Wednesday morning.
“A lot of people think fly fishing is only for trout. But, we also fly fish for smallmouth bass, musky, pike, pretty much anything that you can catch with regular spinning gear, you can catch on a fly rod,” said Pam Van Erem, Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company.
Van Erem says many will be testing their luck on Saturday.
As fishermen, and women head out for opening day, DNR Fisheries Management Program Bureau Director Justine Hasz says the trout population is relatively strong across Wisconsin.
“The brook and brown trout, populations that we have out there, are supported both by habitat restoration, rehabilitation, and protection, as well as natural reproduction. And this has been leading us to have overall trout numbers across the state at some of the highest levels we’ve seen in recent years,” said Justine Hasz, DNR Fisheries Management Program.
Those who like to pursue trout, like Pam Van Erem, agree.
“This is a very active way to fish. You’re usually standing in a stream. You’re looking at pockets where the fish might hold. And you’re constantly casting. You’re thinking. You’re moving your flies in either a way that’s going to entice a strike, Something that that fish looking at says, this could be food. And I’m going to eat it,” she said.
Van Erem says it’s also helpful to brush up on the current fishing regulations, because bag limits and size restrictions may vary from water to water.
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