Fishing Report

Good afternoon from the Quiet Lakes, cool nights and some strong winds have brought lake temps down considerably. I was seeing 62 most of the day today and have heard reports of some spots down to 60 on some nearby lakes.  Another windy day with possible rain and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon, with winds out of the South from 20-30mph with guts up to 45mph.  That is going to make fishing specific spots tough no doubt.  Fishing is still in a late summer pattern, however with lake temps dropping the fall feed should start very soon.  Lakes will also be turning over shortly which could make fishing tough.  

Musky–The musky bite has picked up some, mostly fish on live bait actively.  We had 5 follows today on bucktails, but fish turning off as soon as they see the boat.  We did find those fish in shallow weeds and that is where the fish seem to be relating for both artificial and live bait bites.  I have heard reports of other fish hitting glide baits and dive and rise baits right now as well.  

Northern pike–We did manage to put three small pike in the boat today, all of those fish came on a small bucktail in shallow weeds.  

Walleye–The walleye bite has been tough lately and I honestly do not have much to report on any significant bite.  A few anglers are finding walleye in deeper water and jigging blade baits or Rippin Raps on deep rock ledges.  Deep is relative from lake to lake and fish could be anywhere from 12 to 30 FOW.

LMB–Live bait such as fathead minnows or walleye suckers are doing a good job of catching largemouth right now.  Look for those fish in 8-10 FOW and fish weed edges.  

SMB–Anglers that are finding the walleye on deep rocks are also finding smallies in those same areas.  Look for fish on deep rock ledges and use baits that get down to the bottom and are jigged aggressively.  

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–Not much to report on any kind of panfish bite.  A few anglers are still using crawlers and leaf worms because the temps have been so warm, but I have not gotten word on any kind of bite.  My best guess is fish are still shallow, as I have seen there are still very green weeds yet in the lakes.  

Lots going on this weekend with the Muskies Inc tournament, Cranberry Fest in Stone Lake and I think Apple Fest up in Bayfield.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, late summer weather is holding out as long as it can, and really it’s going to stay pretty warm for as long as the forecast shows.  The weekend shows upper 70s and a decent cold front comes in on Tuesday, however we stay in the mid to upper 60s from then on.  The weather also looks very dry throughout that forecast too which is not helping things.  Water temps are dropping into the mid 60s overnight and up to near 70 in the afternoons.  Water levels are okay on some lakes and down on others so be mindful of lower units and props when on the water! Those are going to hold for a while with this weather pattern, and it has been tough fishing because of it. 

Musky–The musky bite has slowed way down and this weather pattern is the main cause.  Lots of anglers trying, lots of fish lazily following baits and not eating.  Only a few fish on live bait right now also.  The few fish I have heard of being caught came right at dusk on bucktails.  Anglers should work weed edges and weed beds.  

Northern pike–You know fishing is slow if pike aren’t biting, and I have not heard of much action from them lately either.  They too should be hitting pretty much anything thrown their way (including any size musky suckers) but just have not been aggressive lately.  Look for pike in and around weed beds and weed edges.

Walleye–Anglers have seen smaller walleye up in shallow weed beds and catching them on jigs and minnows or jigs and plastic combos.  Water temps should be holding larger fish in deeper water but I don’t have much to go by on that as far as caught fish right now.  For shallow fish, I would look in the 4-8 FOW range and for deeper fish I would start in 15-20 FOW.  

LMB–Some largemouth action on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.  Nothing crazy just some fish being caught.  Work weed beds and vary your retrieve speeds to trigger fish.

SMB–The smallie bite has been solid lately and fish are aggressive.  Anglers are seeing nice smallmouth on deep weed edges in 10-15 FOW and are catching them on Ned rigs, jigs/plastics and crankbaits.  

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–The panfish bite has kind of been all over, as the fish seem confused as to where they should be in the water column.  Water temps are telling them to be in a certain spot while light conditions are telling them something else.  I have heard crappie in particular are shallow on some lakes and deep on others.  Minnows under a bobber on a jighead seem to be the best choice right now for crappie and perch.

That is all I have for this weeks report, tough times on the water for anything other than pleasure boating!!  Next weeks report will come in Friday night as I am fishing the Muskies Inc. tournament next weekend and will be out early Saturday.  And that report will probably be musky heavy and not much of anything else because after all, every other fish is just bait😉!  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon!

Greg