Fishing report 29 August 2026

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes. The forecast is calling for rain all day today, although nothing has really started here yet. Tomorrow and Wednesday have chances of rain also, and a bit warmer this week with temps in the low 80s and lows warmer as well as we will be in the 50s most nights. Water temps have dropped considerably, and I have heard most lakes are right around 70 degrees. If we get a good amount of rain today, that will help keep the water temps in check, as they may rise a few degrees if we get the warmer weather. Water levels are still way low all over the place, so even if anglers know the body of water they are on they should use caution as I am hearing reports every week of folks finding rocks or shallow bars they never knew where in the lake!

Musky–The musky bite slowed down a bit over the past week, with anglers having some follows and seeing fish, but not many converting into strikes. Musky are still related to shallower/mid depth weeds and bucktails are still the hot bait. Any faster moving bait such as a bucktail or big spinnerbait will get a ‘skies attention and should trigger bites. Great throwback lures for following fish would be jerkbaits/gliders/pull pause baits.

Northern Pike–Anglers have been catching/seeing pike, mostly on musky baits and smaller crank baits. Look for pike also in and around weeds, both shallow and deep.

Walleye–I have not heard much on a walleye bite, although walleye should be roaming basins or related to deep weed edges or deep rocks/sand. Trolling crank baits along the edges of the deeper structure just into the basins should produce walleye. Jigging minnows and crawlers along deep weed edges can be equally effective.

LMB–Even the bass have seemed to slow down a bit as I have not heard much on an active bite. Plastic rigged worms and baits that work the middle of the water column/weeds should catch bass right now. Look for bass in cover, whether that’s lily pads, cabbage, or even fallen timber.

SMB–Smallies have been active, both up shallow and on deeper edges. Plastics that mimic crawfish and live bait such as nightcrawlers have been catching a fair amount of smallies lately. Some smallies have been up in the weeds as well and anglers should focus anywhere from 4-12 FOW.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–Panfish have been pretty much where they should be and anglers are finding them in and around weedy bays and big weed flats or beds. Crappie have been active and are being caught on jigs/minnows and small jig/spinner combos such as Beetle Spins. Gills have been caught under floats with chunks of crawler or leaf worms and waxies. Perch have been off of the deeper edges and anglers are doing well catching them on minnows as well.

I apologize if the report is not super informative this week. We are kind of in that weird transition where the summer pattern is kind of dragging on, less people are up as kids are back in sports/school and the lakes are way down, which is making the fishing a little different this year. Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg