Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, fantastic weather the past couple of days should have allowed everyone to get their fireworks shows done. Yesterday was hot, but it stayed dry and the winds were mild. Today looks to be a soaker with rain and thunderstorms off and on all day. The coming week looks to have great weather with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and very little chance of rain until next Friday. Some stable weather should help the fishing, as our current pattern of a few hot days followed up by good amounts of rain has had some species tough to catch.
Musky–The musky bite has been a bit tough lately and I feel it’s mostly due to weather. Bait and forage fish are scattered and musky are as well. Anglers should find fish in and around weeds on most lakes, although some deeper basin lakes may have fish under bait balls or forage out in open water. Bucktails, topwater baits, and dive and rise or glide baits are all good options for casting. Trolling crankbaits through or around schools of bait fish in open water can be an excellent choice as well.
Pike–Pike have still been active and anglers have done well on small crank baits, spinnerbaits and bucktails. Pike are in and around weed beds and in weedy bays.
Walleye–The walleye bite has been pretty good lately and leeches, either jigged or under a float around deeper rocks and weeds are producing fish. Anglers should focus on those transition areas of rock to weeds or soft bottom anywhere from 10-18 FOW depending on the lake.
LMB–The largemouth bite has been solid lately and anglers should have good success using topwater baits such as frogs, prop style baits, and poppers or buzzbaits. Work these baits over or through thick cover such as lily pads and reeds.
SMB–Smallie action has been good and anglers are finding success on both deep presentations and top water presentations. Whopper Ploppers are the staple for topwater baits to throw (in this area anyway) for smallies, and jigs with plastics for live bait are great choices for deep fish. Look for rocky shorelines and work them top to bottom.
Crappie–The crappie bite has been up and down lately, and fish have been scattered. Anglers are having some success finding fish in cabbage weed beds and using small jig/tube combos. Crappie minnows rigged under a float will work also. Look for fish anywhere from 5-12 FOW.
Bluegill/Perch–Bluegill have been up shallow under docks and shoreline structure, and also in and around shallow weeds. Small hooks/jigs tipped with leaf worms or crawlers have been producing some nice panfish.
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July and has a great weekend, and we will talk soon.
Greg