Then again, some folks see charm and challenge in that short roster of lakes and those restrictive seasons. And they especially take pride in pursuing a fish others ignore. Two such anglers are Nick Hutchinson of Racine, and Howard “Hobby” Jackson, 18, who runs his North Woods Outdoor Guide Service from the family’s resort – Jackson’s Lakeside Cottages – on Little St. Germain Lake.

Jackson, who also answers to “Haji” when working nights at a nearby restaurant, agreed to let me tag along Aug. 3 when he and Hutchinson went jigging for lakers. Jackson took up laker fishing as a personal challenge two or three years ago, rather than joining the crowds of walleye, bass and muskie fisherman.

“I like those fish, too, but everyone’s after them,” he said. “Very few people go after lakers because they hang out in deep water and they’re hard to find. And when you do find them, it’s usually a long time between strikes.”

Harder yet is catching a North Woods laker that meets the region’s 30-inch size limit. (Lakers caught in southern Wisconsin can be kept at 17 inches.) Jackson said he’s caught only two lake trout the past two seasons longer than 30 inches. He kept one, but doubts he’ll take another one home. He considers them too special to eat.