FISHING SEASON IS OPEN!!! MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING RICE LAKE JUNE 2018

JAMES GANG CEO ALEX JAMES HELPS HIS GRANDPARENTS CATCH SOME DELICOUS BLUEGILLS FOR SUPPER

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PRE-SPAWN BASS FISHING IS HERE!

JAMES GANG PRO STAFFER JOHN BEAUDETTE CELEBRATES HIS DAY OFF IN STYLE, HAMMERING BASS ONE AFTER ANOTHER - JUST A WEEK AFTER FILLING HIS DINNER TABLE WITH BIG CRAPPIES

The Wisconsin game fish season finally arrived May 5, 2018 after a long and brutal winter. The ice came off many of the lakes in Northern Wisconsin just days before the opener. Luckily, the weather changed dramatically and allowed the lakes to heat up very quickly, which also created a few feeding binges by the crappies and largemouth bass a few days after opening day. While I had very limited time on the water so far this season (and struggled at best) our James Gang of wildmen had a pretty solid start to their seasons. Kevin Martinek & Doc Gilles got into a few gorgeous largemouth bass on a secret lake in Washburn county on a tough opener. The bite picked up later in the day as the sun heated the lake and they managed a few fish on our new Bootykicker and our Flappin' Jig.

JAMES GANG PRO STAFFER DOC GILLES WITH A SOLID LARGEMOUTH ON THE JAMES GANG FLAPPIN' JIG W/ BOOTYKICKER TRAILER

DOC GILLES WITH ANOTHER LARGEMOUTH CAUGHT ON A "ALBINO BAITFISH" BOOTYKICKER

MAT EICHINGER & KEVIN ROGALSKI competed in the CWBA Chetac Open in Birchwood, WI on May 12. This event is ran by Craig Kloth of Medford and is always a very well ran event and a lot of fun to compete in. 80 anglers battled for 7 payouts + big bass. Although the boys were disappointed in their finish, they placed in the top half of the field with some quality bass and avoided being one of several teams that blanked out at the weigh in. They reported that the bite was much tougher after the cold front moved through the previous day, after having an incredible practice run before the "off-limits" week kicked in. Here are a few pictures below of their awesome practice day, as well as the tournament weigh in from Saturday:

MAT EICHINGER WITH A BEAST 4 LB LARGEMOUTH ON LAKE CHETAC

KEVIN ROGALSKI WITH ANOTHER AWESOME LARGEMOUTH IN PRACTICE

WEIGH IN PREPARATIONS WITH CWBA's CRAIG KLOTH

ON THE SCALES, FINISHING ABOVE 8 LBS FOR 4 FISH ON A TOUGH DAY

MAT EICHINGER & KEVIN ROGALSKI DISPLAY THEIR FISH BEFORE RELEASING THEM BACK INTO THE LAKE

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Alex and his grandparents have found that the bluegills are slowly getting into their prespawn rhythm as they landed 25+ bluegills Saturday night on Red Cedar Lake. They have been keeping only enough to make a fresh meal, and making sure to concentrate on conservation. As the bite will peak out in a week or two, the numbers of older fish will begin showing up and we are careful to not keep too many of the larger fish with the better genetics and more eggs. The fish from the past weekend were running smaller than they do during the prime, but they sure tasted great with our recipe below:

CLICK HERE FOR ALEX JAMES ULTIMATE PANFISH RECIPE

PAPA STEVE cuts up some delicious Red Cedar Lake bluegills for the frying pan. Scaled with skin and bones left on for MAXIMUM FLAVOR!!

JESSE JAMES WITH A BASS CAUGHT ON THE "OSHA RECORDABLE" BASS JERKER

LOCAL ANGLER TREVOR MEEKS SUBMITTED THIS PICTURE OF A FINE LARGEMOUTH CAUGHT ON OUR NEW JAMES GANG BOOTYKICKER SWIMBAIT IN "ALTOONA PERCH"

JAMES GANG FISHING VICE PRESIDENT ANGELA PIONTEK SHOWS A BROOK TROUT SHE CAUGHT RECENTLY, ONE OF MANY SHE LANDED IN THE LOCAL CREEKS

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MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING JUNE 10th RICE LAKE

Our MLF event on June 10th is approaching, and we expect the lake to be at a great stage of the bass season when it takes place. This is a brand new lake to most of us, but what we are hearing is that Rice Lake has an abundant bass population. We have done a little scouting and found heavy vegetation, but also rocky bottoms near several shorelines, and a lot of downed timber. This look looks fantastic as far as cover is concerned! The lake has a heavy stain already, and the shallow bays have some nasty matted slop all over. I got a feeling by tournament Sunday in June, this could be a power fishing, topwater showdown! We should be near a full 20-boat field with a great payout at only a $25 entry fee per angler. Click the link below to RSVP and get your name on the invite list. If invited, you will receive an email from James Gang Fishing with entry fee info and deadlines. 

CLICK HERE FOR RICE LAKE MLF EVENT RSVP

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUGLAS!

DOUGLAS S. CELEBRATES HIS 11th BIRTHDAY WITH A GIANT LARGEMOUTH BASS. DOUGLAS COMPETES IN THE JAMES GANG MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING EVENTS AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A HIGH FINISH IN OUR NEXT EVENT. CONGRATS DOUGLAS!!!