Went out to Newton last night for a few hours. I would have liked to land a tiger, but I just wanted to enjoy the evening out. It was a nice evening, that is for sure. No wind and plenty of sunshine. The water level at Newton is as high as I have ever seen it. I was out there on April 28 (10 days ago), and the water was still a little stained orange and the temp was 54.6 degrees. Last night, the water had seemed to have lost the orange tint, and was up to 66.7 degrees. I was pretty surprised the temp had risen that much in that little time, especially since there haven’t been too many nice/warm days over the last 10 days. Anyways, it was a nice evening on the water. The ski boats will be out this weekend, I am sure. There was one out last night. So an obvious “heads up for the crazies” if you head out anytime soon, and good luck with the fishing if you do. Catch 'em!
thanks for the update. I’m heading out in the morning to fish from the dam since I don’t have a boat.
Went out last Friday as soon as I was done with my last final and had two follows. One made a serious wake coming after my Zara Spook but it stopped underneath and just watched once it was close.
Here’s to hoping I can entice one into taking a bite this time.
I had 3 follows 10 days ago when I was out there. I hope you get one. It shouldn’t be long before they wake up a little more.
They really need to put an end to the skiers on that pond!!! It sounds like that higher water could make it a little harder to find those muskie?? With all the new trees in the water they could be anywhere.
Couldn’t agree with you more - about the skiers. I actually enjoy the higher water. It was only a few feet shallower last summer when I started fishing from my boat. They were almost everywhere in the fallen trees and branches. That is where I have had my follows this year so far. I might end up seeing chickendude out there tomorrow if I don’t have to go clean up in the smash lab.
Thanks for the report Ben sound like me and the boy need to get up there and try our luck before all the mayhem from the skiers get out of control
Well, while you chased toothy ones I chased whiskery ones. I was really toying with chasing bass somewhere, but . .
I may pop off somewhere Friday morn, then headed down to Willard. I know Jdawg is planning on camping up there this weekend.
Follows is a start!
Good timing on the report, but I wish you brought better tidings 
Yote is right, it is my wife’s birthday as well as mothers day this weekend so she asked if we could go camping. I will probably throw out some cut bait after the muskies, but am mainly going to see if I can find some perch or bass. I will let everyone know how I do. I will be heading there tonight, but probably wont fish until Saturday because tomorrow is her birthday. Might get her out for a few though 
got out there yesterday no more bass cuz these dummys keep eating them all!!!
I hate ski boats on newton!
Nice! I have seen them moving around. I will get my first this year soon enough. Went out there this morning but didn’t launch. The wind was deleted, and with my little boat, that doesn’t make a good combination. So I came home and hung out with the family.
+1000 to everything you said!!
You got that right! I don’t bother with Newton anymore. There used to be tons of big bass but they’re all but gone. Bass can’t outrun sharks! Too bad they’re breeding yet more muskies. No need for any more and don’t want them anywhere else!
Don’t know that I’d agree. I’ve seen some toads pulled up from there, and have had visual witness of some fat-daddy’s that were determined to ignore everything.
Early spring and late fall are my favorite times on that lake. Avoid the powermongers all together, plus - better fishing.
I’ve laid witness to schools and schools of baby basslings. Seems like the standard pyramid - loads of basslings, a few teenagers, then a few pairs of mommas and poppas.
Sometimes they compete with my perch. Not a whole lot of structure, so what there is the school up on.
I know some of the bass-men don’t like the Musky cuz they’ll take, and bite off a nice $5-10 lure.
I always have a certain level of trepidation on bringing one into boat. Toothy bastards indeed!
Have never done great for Crappie there, though I’ve found a few - I’d love to find where they lurk. Maybe the Musky know they are great tasting fish too…
One thing for sure - that launch could use some work. Wouldn’t be bad to have a courtesy dock too, but then they’d probably charge a fee.
So will it take somebody being run over and killed on Newton to change things? I know it’s local, and you get a lot of folks that rely on that lake for their ski/wake adventures. It’s just a damned narrow lake.
Maybe they are starting to change some things out there. Yesterday, they installed two different 2-stall bathrooms (one on the east side and one on the west). Maybe some fees will be coming in the future, which honestly, I wouldn’t mind.
And they did put 100 or so more tiger muskie fry in there at the end of last month.
"And they did put 100 or so more tiger muskie fry in there at the end of last month. "
Just more food for the big boys.
Maybe they are starting to change some things out there. Yesterday, they installed two different 2-stall bathrooms (one on the east side and one on the west).I asked BoR about that and here is the reply:
The restroom project is a Reclamation project. We are also planning another restroom on the west side of the dam over by the primitive camping, as well as improvements to the boat ramp.I like those improvements, but the downside is this will bring even more power squadron members out there. [:p]
Considering those fish were fry and are going to start out on the bottom of the food chain I don’t see many of them ending up on being caught. There are definitely some missing size classes in there currently and it shows. There used to be a overabundance of them and they were doing a really good job munching the bass, crappie and perch but thats definitely not the case anymore.
As for the bass they’ve always been there and as everyone knows there are some biggins and the Tigers are the reason that there are big bass and not a bunch of runts. Over the last few years with better water flows and lower numbers of tigers the bass have definitely rebounded along with the crappie and perch. I’d say newton has a pretty good balance currently. But thats just MHO.
If you only knew how it was.. All good things must come to an end I guess. Not saying there aren’t big bass in there. we were just spoiled I guess in my opinion the muskies in newton aren’t doing what they were put there to do. The perch are small (on average) and the crappies are tiny and stunted. What are all those sharks eating? 2 pound bass is on the top of their list.
I don’t mind muskies or skiers, newton just has to many of each for the size of lake it is.
The one on the west side was in place yesterday, and they were in the process of putting the one in on the east side.
I like those improvements, but the downside is this will bring even more power squadron members out there.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
It was a way better fishery before they drained it years ago. Bass were huge, monster catfish, huge crappie. Everything was perfect. The muskies were even enormous back then. I think their are far to many tigers in their now to have a good fishery again. Don’t get me wrong I love catching the muskies, I just fiend for the days of the huge crappies, cats, bass, and perch as well.