WI Fishing Guide, Eric Haataja. A Big Fish Guide Service, we are one of the best and most respected Wisconsin fishing guides and Wisconsin fishing Charters in the Midwest.  We offer numerous types of fishing trips with an emphasis on catching “Big Fish” here in Wisconsin! Please click here if you are interested in viewing our latest fish reports, or, click here to visit the client pics section. We're a multi- specie guide service, which basically means that we fish for everything that swims. You can choose where and what you want to fish for, we do the rest. Most of our trips are in the southern part of Wisconsin, However each spring and Fall I fish in Green Bay for trophy walleyes and muskies and even big catfish.

I’m a fulltime Wisconsin fishing guide and great lakes charter captain.   I guide every month of the year on the water of Wisconsin and Green Bay.  We are generally targeting the "hottest" bites at that given time of the year. You can be sure that we'll be able to satisfy whatever type fishing you're looking to do.

I will show you the latest tips and technology to help you catch fish here in Wisconsin and also put more fish in your boat, or from shore. If you're looking to take your family fishing here in Wisconsin, go yourself, or set up corporate trip for customers and clients you've come to the right place.  We run professional guides for corporate outings and big groups to ensure you and your customers have a great day fishing.

WINTER- Dec-Feb
Wisconsin’s World Class Brown Trout Fishing!!!!  Milwaukee Harbor Brown trout!!  Ice fishing Wisconsin.

When some of the smaller marinas and smaller harbors freeze over it’s time for Ice fishing in Wisconsin.  We target several different species in the winter when Ice fishing.  The most popular being big brown trout / rainbow trout through the ice. These fish can reach 30+ lbs and are the best fighting fish you'll ever tangle with through the ice.  A typical day on the ice for trout is about 6-12 brown trout and or steelhead through the ice.  Most of this fishing is done with jig poles in heated ice shelters that we provide.   We supply all the gear and bait!  You get to enjoy the best brown trout fishing in the world open water ot through the ice.       *  Best time for big brown trout  is December- March!

We also fish for brown trout in the winter out of the boat, here in the Milwaukee Harbor all winter the ice in the main harbor comes and goes and most of the winter you can catch Lots and Lots of brown trout in the boat 50+ fish days on spinning tackle are almost normal.  There’s no where in the world that can compete with our fishery here in the Milwaukee Harbor in the winter for brown trout.  It’s that good!  *  Reserve your brown trout or steelhead trips asap we are booked solid every spring!

Lastly, if your looking to get out and fish in mid winter and the harbor is frooze we offer air boat trips for brown trout in Milwaukee.  We use the airboat to get out in the  Milwaukee harbor safely when we can no longer  travel to our spots by boat due to ice flows.  Our airboat can Safely get you to the spot and the fishing begins!  *  Jan and Feb for the airboat.

SPRING- March-April

Starting in late February when the ice starts to melt, I will start to take clients steelhead and brown trout fishing in the rivers and harbors here in Wisconsin. This is all done from shore (usually in waders) or by boat. These fish come in from Lake Michigan and are a blast to catch on lighter tackle and drift rods, which are provided to clients. Steelhead or Rainbows are some of the best fighting fish you'll ever catch and they're fairly easy to catch. If you have not tried steelhead fishing I highly recommend you try it! A ton of fun and usually lots of action with many fish hooked in a day.

Trophy walleyes!

I also guide for big walleyes in the spring on Green Bay.   I will show you how to slip the river, jig fish, anchoring, and even trolling if allowed in the river we fish. Spring is a great time to catch that trophy walleye of a lifetime.   Green Bay also holds some of the states largest predator fish the Northern Pike and April is a great time to target big pike in Green Bay. Also, after the ice is out on the lakes I will fish for Bluegills, Crappies, and Perch. These are some of the best eating fish you can catch. On light tackle they are also very fun and challenging to catch.

SUMMER- May-August
Wisconsin Bass fishing - Summer is also one of my favorite times to fish because there are so many different fish that are active, you can almost never go wrong on a summer trip. I also love to fish for giant largemouth and smallmouth bass. There are several lakes in the area that consistently produce largemouth bass over 20 inches on many fishing trips out, with bass over 5 lbs being common. If your looking how to skip docks, jig fish, drop shot, fish a Carolina Rig,  fish top water, Texas rig, jerk bait, or crank bait them, or fish slop,  I will show you what will work and explain why and how.  Catching big small mouth bass is one of my favorite fish species to fish for here in Wisconsin!  * Best time is May/ June and Ocotber for small mouth bass, and May-September for large mouth bass.

Wisconsin Musky fishing - My love for fishing does not stop at any certain specie of fish, and one of the most challenging freshwater fish is the Musky. I love the challenge of these fish, and there are some very big muskies here in the southern part of Wisconsin. I typically spend a lot of my time fishing the Waukesha county lakes for Muskies Pewaukee Lake, and Ockachee Lake are great lakes for big muskies and good numbers of muskies.  I will help educate you on when, where, and how to use certain muskie baits such as: Top water, Buck tails, Jerk Baits, Glide Baits, Soft Plastics such as swim baits, speed trolling and live bait rigging with big suckers.   If you’re looking for the hardest fish to catch consistently put in the boat and the most challenging then a Muskie is your fish.  * Best time is June- October for the Musky fishing.

Wisconsin Pike fishing- I spend a good portion of my summer taking clients pike fishing here on numerous Wisconsin lakes.  These fish are always feeding and put up a great fight!  These are great fish for kids to catch because they a good sized and usually plentiful.  Northern Pike are also much underrated and are great to eat; we encourage catch and release of Large Northern Pike or muskies. * Best time July-Ocotber.

Wisconsin Walleye Fishing - Summer is a great time to fish for walleyes. If you're looking to learn how to fish with crank baits, plainer boards, or troll snap weights, fish with lead core, live bait rig, slip bobber fish or jig fish, I will show you what works for me.

Big Catfish - One of the most under rated fish in Wisconsin are catfish. If you’re looking for big flatheads or channel catfish, I know lakes and rivers that will consistently produce big fish and numbers of fish. Using live bait, dead bait, stink bait all work for these huge fish.   * Best Time is July -September.

Salmon Fishing Lake Michigan Port of Milwaukee - Salmon fishing really heat ups come July and lasts for about 3 months, then the big 4 year old Chinook salmon migrate up the rivers to spawn. We do morning, half day, and evening trips and full day trips on Lake Michigan for Salmon, and trout. I also guarantee you will catch fish or you do not have to pay!! These fish are the best fighting fish in the state and they will surely test your endurance. The majority of my Salmon fishing is done off the port of Milwaukee.

FALL Fishing in Wisconsin (Sept-Dec) Fall is the time of year where I’m literally fishing for everything with an emphasis on Muskies, Northern Pike, Small Mouth bass, Steelhead and Brown Trout. Another one of my favorite times of year to fish is fall. These fish are now putting on a lot of weight before winter, or "the feed bag". Starting in September when fishing in Wisconsin I will spend a good portion of time guiding on the river for big King Salmon using mainly spinning tackle or bait caster.  I love catch these fish on stand up tackle!   If you have not tangled with one of these fish it's a must to try. Fish over 25 lbs are common with some reaching 30+ lbs. After the kings spawn the Coho Salmon will migrate up river to spawn, followed by Brown Trout and Steelhead. It is a great opportunity to catch multiple species of fish all in the same day, all from shore. I've had days on the rivers where I've caught salmon, trout, pike, small mouth bass s, catfish, and walleyes all from shore, all in the same day.

I also will target smallmouth bass in the fall , and if the timing is right 40+ fish days are not uncommon with several over 18+ inches consistently.

Later in the fall I will spend time fishing for muskies & walleyes, I try to target the bigger fish. There is always potential to catch that 50+ inch muskie or walleye over 10 lbs each fall.

I spend a lot of time on the water throughout the year, and I have confidence that we will have a positive outcome with each trip!

Some of the Wisconsin lakes I fish are:  
Lake Geneva, Pewaukee Lake, Ockachee Lake, Delavan Lake, Lake Michigan, and Lake Mendota are just a few of many lakes I fish.

Testimonials

"It was the best fishing experience of my life!Not only did I catch the biggest steelhead of my life, but I caught 17 fish in 1 day with Eric, that's more than I ever thought possible. You'll catch fish!"
David Vanblasser - Milwaukee, WI

"When Eric called me and told me to fly up for the walleye run I trusted him. It was the best single day of walleye fishing I've ever encountered. We easily caught 75+ walleyes and I caught 2 walleyes over 30 inches (11+ lbs) I was very impressed with Eric's knowledge, and ability to put me on fish where there were no other angler's"
Chad Plum - Madison, WI

Inland Lakes Guided Fishing Rates
6-7 hour Guide Trip - Each additional person is - $50.00 *Cost for Live Bait, if needed, is additional depending on usage	$300.00 (1-2 people)
Lake Michigan Charters in boat – and - Steelhead Trips from shore wading the rivers
5-6 Hour Charter Trip- boat Lake Michigan - Each additional person is - $50.00 6 hour Steelhead trips  from shore river fishing	$300.00 $300.00
Ice fishing trips--  Includes heated ice shacks, bait, and all equipment
8 hour ice fishing trips - Each additional person is - $50.00 up to 4 people. Large Ice fishing groups - (more than 4 people) is 125.00 per person	$350.00 (1-2 people)
Green Bay Fishing Trips
8-10 hour Green Bay Trophy Walleye, Muskie and Catfish trips - Each additional person - 50.00	$450.00 (1-2 people)

Accomplishments

• World Record Line Class holder (steelhead)
• Featured on In- Fisherman Televison 2007 for Big Brown Trout
• Featured in In-Fisherman magazine 2006 and 2007
• Featured regularly on John Gillespie’s Wisconsin Waters and Woods Television
• Featured on Midwest Outdoors  Television and magazine
• Featured on Outdoor Wisconsin television numerous times
• Accomplished Tournament Pro
• Great Lakes Charter Captain
• WABTA Bass Team of the year, and Super Invitational winner
• Featured Seminar speaker through out the Midwest
• One of the largest websites (fishing reports) in the state www.wibigfish.com
• Most importantly husband & father of two (Cal & Hanna)
  
  Other Wisconsin Fishing Guides we recommend:
  Capt. Steve Everetts (Finseekers)   1-847-707-1827   
  Lake Delavan,  Delavan, WI
  Ben Kueng    (Muskies)  414-232-0459 
  Pewaukee Lake,  Pewaukee, WI
  Capt. Jason Wooda (Reel Sensation Charters)   414-384-8096   
  Lake Michigan,  Milwaukee WI.

       Justin Morris (Adventure Fishing) 1-920-319-0439

       www.fishingfoxlake.com

       Fox Lake, WI

Dedicated to my father Wayne who taught me the love, for the great outdoors.