Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, looks like we are in for a pleasant week of weather in the Northwoods. We will top out at almost 60 degrees tomorrow and the rest of the week looks like it will hold in the low 50s. Overnight lows stay above freezing so water temps will probably not cool too much this week. Lakes are way down (some to draw down, others because we have not had significant rain) and most are right around the 50 degree mark for water temp. Most lakes are at some point of the turnover or just getting into post turnover. Fishing has been pretty good and should only get better as we continue into late fall.

Musky–The musky bite is picking up and most anglers are seeing fish on live bait. Musky are starting to push off of the deeper edges of weeds and rocks in 8-15 FOW. Casting baits like Suicks, Warlocks, and bigger rubber baits such as tubes or bulldawgs or medussas will produce fish as well.

Pike–Pike are hitting musky baits and smaller musky suckers in and around still green weeds. I was out Wednesday of last week and we managed a nice pike off of a rocky point in about 10 FOW. That fish hit a musky bait right in the first turn of the figure 8.

Walleye–Anglers are doing well walleye fishing trolling crankbaits. We caught 3 last night trolling #5 Flicker shads down to about 15′ and I have heard other reports of anglers doing well trolling right now. Fish the deeper rocky points/reefs and run baits 12-18′ down.

LMB–No report on a largemouth bite and probably won’t be until ice starts to form!

SMB–I have not heard much on a smallmouth bite either, but smallies should be on deep rocks and using jigs and walleye suckers or minnows are good bait choices right now. Look for smallies anywhere from 12-20 FOW right now.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–Panfish are starting to push into deeper water and school up. Minnows are the best choice for bait rigged on a slip bobber or jigged over the side of the boat. Look for most panfish anywhere from 8-15 FOW.

That is all I have for this week’s report. Not a ton going on right now and will probably get slower from here until ice up. although I think we have some time left before that happens! Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good evening from the Quiet Lakes, coming at ya with an early report as we will be down in Rice Lake early tomorrow morning, so Bryce can finish up his hunter’s safety course.  It looks like the weather will start to dip into more fall-like temperatures as the week progresses, and we will have some lows below 32 degrees for a few nights as well.  Water temps are cooling down with most lakes in the mid-50s, and cold nights will help that trend continue. We did get a little bit of rain the last few days, but we need way more to get the lakes back up to normal.  Most lakes in the area are down close to a couple of feet, so if you are not familiar with the lake you are on, make sure to use caution.  Fishing has been pretty good for the species anglers are targeting.

Musky–The musky bite has been pretty good, and the live bait bite is really starting to heat up.  Suckers, dive and rise, glide baits, and big rubber baits with a pull/pause retrieve are catching fish.  Work still green weeds, both on the shallow and deep edges.  Fish will most likely be slightly deeper to start, but come in shallow to feed in low light conditions.

Pike–Pike have been active in and around shallow weeds as well.  Working bucktails, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and live bait such as small musky suckers, northern suckers, or even walleye suckers can produce pike right now.

Walleye–The walleye bite has still been pretty tough, but with falling water temps, walleye should start to move into fall transition areas of the lake, such as deeper rocks, deep weed edges, and other structures adjacent to the deep basins of the lake.  Jigs tipped with fathead minnows or walleye suckers would be great live bait choices, while jig and plastic combos should produce for artificial baits.

LMB–I have no report on a largemouth bite right now, as very few, if any, anglers are targeting them.  Most likely, bass will still be related to weed beds, and using spinnerbaits or slowing down crankbait retrieves can be effective.

SMB–Not many anglers are targeting smallies right now, although walleye anglers may have success using the same baits and fishing the same locations for smallies.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–Anglers are finding panfish schooled up in fall transition areas right off of deep weed edges in anywhere from 10-15 FOW depending on the lake and basin structure.  Minnows on small jigs or under a bobber are a good choice for catching panfish right now.  Small artificial baits such as beetle spins or mimic minnows cast out into these schools of fish can be effective, too.

That is all I have for this week’s report.  It looks like fall temps may start to creep in over the next 15 days, although it still appears to be quite a mild fall moving forward.  Have a great weekend, and we will talk soon.

Greg