DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With the recent warm-up, the run is on, to catch, and many times release, a trophy walleye on the Fox River in De Pere.
On a section of cement at De Pere’s Voyageur Park, is the place where Ed Van den Elzen says he likes to fish.
“I’ve been sitting right here for the last 6 or 7 years, right in this spot right here. It’s your spot? Kind of,” said Ed Van den Elzen, De Pere.
On Monday morning, Van den Elzen was hoping to catch some perch.
“And you got to come out and see if there’s something biting anyway. I got a few minnows left over from ice fishing, so, see if I can use them up,” he said.
Not far away, dozens of boats cruise the waters of the Fox River in search of walleye. The parking lot at Perkofski Boat Launch was a busy place, with anglers hitting the water, some for the first time this year. Every spring the walleye move upstream looking to nest, and with a daily bag limit of one fish, and a minimum size limit of 28 inches, much of the fishing is catch and release. Jarren Wilke and Mac Hayes are home from college. They say they try to make the run every year.
“It’s nice to get out on the boat, and get that itch to get out on the water. There’s nowhere that you can catch walleye, one after another, every cast,” said Jarren Wilke, De Pere.
“It’s just fun to get out there and catch them, because now, down at college, I haven’t been doing much fishing, so it’s nice to get back up to the hometown and do some fishing,” said Mac Hayes, De Pere.
Back at Voyageur Park, Van den Elzen says even though he didn’t catch much, the day was not a total loss.
“I just sit out in the fresh air, sunshine. Can’t beat it,” he said.
Fishermen say the walleye run on the Fox River in De Pere usually lasts until the end of March.
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