Fishing Report

Good evening from the Quiet Lakes, we got some much-needed rain and even a dusting of the white stuff for Halloween. The weather looks to be nice tomorrow, with a sunny high of 53 and then more rain from Sunday through Tuesday. I don’t really see the lakes cooling down quickly as most of our high temps for the next 15 days look to be in the upper 40s and low 50s, and overnights at or above freezing. Water temps are still hovering around the 50-degree mark, and I hate to say it, but at this rate, we won’t be ice fishing until Xmas. The bite has slowed way down, and most anglers are struggling to get fish to bite.

Musky–Musky anglers are struggling to get fish in the bag even on live bait, as I have been hearing reports of musky in super shallow water and wanting nothing to do with any offerings of bait, be it artificial or live. I’m not really sure what to say about that other than try anything and everything. Personally I would be throwing dive and rise, glide baits, or bigger rubber baits and dragging a sucker off of the back of the boat. I would try to find still green weeds and work the inside edges, and work my way out to deeper water.

Northern pike–PIke should be in these same areas and eating most of the same baits. I have not heard anything on a specific “pike” bite, but if I were to target them it would be using the same tactics to try and catch musky.

Walleye–We have had almost no anglers in fishing walleye right now, but walleye should be on deep edges given the water temps. Jigging walleye suckers or fathead minnows on these deep ledges would be the first method to try. Around dusk fish may move up into shallow water and anglers could find them on the top of ledges or shallow sandy shorelines.

LMB/SMB–No report on largemouth or smallmouth right now.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–Honestly, not much on a panfish bite either and I would guess they are still in pretty shallow and around weeds. Crappie and perch should start to move deep as the water cools down and we lose daylight. Simple crappie minnows on a jig should work for all panfish right now, although small jigs and waxies or plastics would be best for ‘gills.

This fall pattern has been a confusing one to say the least, and looks to stay that way until these water temps come down. It sounds like most of the public boat launch docks have been removed on area lakes as well so be mindful of that if you are traveling to fish. Have a great weekend and we will talk soon!

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, looks to be fantastic weather this weekend and the first part of the week.  Mid to upper 70s to start with a big cold front coming Wednesday with a high of 48 and then 50s after that.  I am not seeing any rain in the forecast, although we could use some desperately. Water levels are down on most lakes by probably a foot or more.  The last I heard on the Chip was almost 3 feet down so be careful if you are fishing new waters.  Water temps are staying in the low 50s and that shouldn’t change too much even with the warmer weather.  It appears turnover has started on some lakes as well.  Fishing has been pretty good and fish are definitely in a fall pattern now. 

Musky–Musky action has been good, mostly on suckers fished through shallow weeds.  Suicks, glide baits, and pull/pause or twitch baits have been working too.  Look for fish anywhere from 5-10 FOW and take time fishing through areas.

Northern pike–Pike have been hitting musky baits as well, and those fish are in the same areas you would see musky.  Shallow weed beds or weedy bays are great spots to start.

Walleye–The walleye bite has picked up some, with anglers finding them on deeper weed edges.  Look for fish in 8-12 FOW depending on the lake and edge type.  Walleye suckers cast out lightly and jigged back to the boat seems to be the ticket right now.

LMB–No report on a largemouth bite, although with these warmer days anglers could probably find fish using spinnerbaits or smaller crankbaits in and around weed beds.

SMB–Some anglers are finding smallies on deep edges in similar areas as the walleye.  Work those same depths using jigs/plastics, suckers or baits like jigging raps, rippin raps, or any other vertical jigging bait.

Crappie–The last I have heard on a crappie bite was that they were still in shallower weed beds or on mid lake humps topped out with weeds.  Look for fish anywhere from 4-8 FOW and use crappie minnows or plastics.  As the water cools or turnsover, fish should stay shallow until we see some ice.

Bluegill/Perch–I have not had many anglers focusing on a panfish bite, but those fish should still too be up in shallow weeds.  There is still good oxygen in the weeds and that will hold food for panfish and keep them there.  

Have a great weekend and we will talk soon!

Greg