Fishing Report

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

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we got about an inch and a half of rain between Wednesday and Thursday.  No damage from any storms or anything, just some good soaking rains.  The rains dropped the water temps in a big way, but I actually think it helped the fishing a little bit.   Water temps started the week around 80 degrees and yesterday on the same lake I saw 69-71 degrees depending on the spot we were in.  Other anglers have told me the fishing got better after the first round of rain as well.  

Musky–The musky bite has picked up some, and it sounds like small, bright colored bucktails are working best right now.  Marabou tails seem to favor bucktail or tinsel.  Weed beds seem to be the structure fish are holding too.  Look for ‘skies anywhere from 4-12 FOW.

Pike–PIke have been active, and we caught 5 yesterday and all were in weed beds or shallow weedy bays.  They mostly ate spinnerbaits for us, although one did manage to eat my musky lure that was half his size.  

Walleye–The walleye bite has gotten better from what I am hearing and mostly live bait (either leeches or minnows) are working best.  Fish are sort of where anglers should expect them around deeper weed/rock transitions anywhere from 8-14 FOW or deeper depending on the lake.  

LMB–Bass are up in the thick stuff around lily pads and other submerged or emergent weeds.  Spinnerbaits and topwater prop baits or frogs are solid choices to throw right now.  

SMB–We caught a nice smallie off of a rocky point yesterday, and he was up shallower than I would have expected.  Deep rocks should be holding fish, and jigs/leeches jigs/minnows or plastics are good choices.  Deep running crank baits bounced off of rocks can also work well.  Look for fish on these spots in 12-20 FOW.

Crappie–The crappie bite picked up a little bit over the past week, and anglers are doing well with crappie minnows rigged under floats in weed beds.  Look for crappie in 5-10 FOW and work/drift through weed beds.  Or pick spots and cast floats into those areas.

Bluegill/Perch–I have not heard to much on a gill or perch bite, but they too should be holding to cover pretty tightly.  Gills should be up shallow around docks and fallen timber or sunken timber in shallow water, while perch may be holding to the deeper weed edge near main lake basins.  Crawlers and leaf worms are good choices for gills, while minnows and small leeches are great for perch.

That is all I have for this weeks report.  Looks like we may see more rain tonight and then chances on the 3rd and 4th.  Air temps warm up a little bit, with highs right around 80 all week.  Have a great week and an excellent 4th of July and we will talk soon!

Greg