Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, last week was a rough one! Between mid 90 degree heat, and smoke so thick you could cut it with a knife, not a whole lot was going on around the bait shop.  Considerably cooler temps this week and some rain possible on Monday should hopefully bring water temps down to a reasonable number.  I am hearing anywhere between 83-85 degree water on most lakes and the fishing has pretty much shut down aside from bass and panfish.  

Musky–Most anglers stopped targeting musky over this past week as the water is just too warm right now, and for the few anglers that were selective when they targeted them, they didn’t see much.  My guess is the ‘skies have either rooted down into the depths of the cabbage where the water is darker and cooler, or they are pushed out into the basins looking for a thermocline and cooler water.  Bucktails or spinnerbaits around weed beds, or crank baits or rubber baits thrown out in the basins are good choices right now. Like I said in last week’s report, anglers should be mindful of chasing musky right now……be prepared and keep the fish in the water as much as possible!!!!

Pike–The pike bite has been okay and anglers are finding some pike around weeds.  Smaller spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and live bait have had action for pike.  Look for pike anywhere from 3-12 FOW right now and work baits through weed beds.

Walleye–Walleye have become tight lipped in this heat as well as most of the other species.  Deep transitions may be holding some fish, and some fish may be pushed out fully into the basins and chasing balls of baitfish.  Jigs and leeches or crawlers presented vertically on those deep transitions can catch walleye right now, as can trolling crank baits or bottom bouncers rigged with crawlers or leeches in the basins for suspended fish.  Anglers should look for fish anywhere from 10-25 FOW depending on the lake they are on.

LMB–Largemouth have not been as active as I would have guessed with the warmer water, but anglers are finding bass in and around weeds.  Lily pads, cabbage, and bulrushes all seem to be holding fish.  Spinnerbaits, top water baits, and plastics and live bait are all good choices for largemouth right now.  

SMB–Smallies have been active on deep transitions, and anglers are catching them on jig and leech combos worked over these transitions.  Look for smallies in anywhere from 8-15 FOW and on the deep weed edges or where mid lake reefs head into the abyss.

Crappie–The crappie bite has probably been the most consistent in this heat, and anglers are doing well finding crappie in 6-10 FOW in weeds.  Crappie minnows really seem to be working as do baits such as beetle spins, mimic minnows, or other smaller jig/plastic combos.

Bluegill/Perch–Gills and perch can be found in and around weed beds and shorelines as well, and anglers are having luck mostly on leaf worms and crawlers for panfish.  

That is all I have for this week’s report.  I just got an alert on my phone that we may have more air quality issues this weekend, but I don’t think it is supposed to be as bad as it was.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes. Well I wish I could say the fishing has been as hot as the weather…….but it has not.  Water temps have shot back up into the 80s and the fish have either pushed deep or hunkered down into cover and have been quiet since the holiday.  We continue our warm weather trend, seeing near record highs with temps topping out at 93 on both Monday and Tuesday.  I am seeing nothing as far as rain until at least next Sunday and that only sits at a 34% chance.  Might as well leave the rods/reels at home and only bring up the swimsuits and rafts!

Musky–The musky bite pretty much shut down this past week and we only added 3 fish to the board.  Those were all on small baits and those fish were around weeds.  I know I bring it up every year and I hate to be the guy that harps on people, but musky anglers should really limit targeting musky with water temps being so high.  We know musky are a gamefish that is getting harder to catch, as reproduction  rates are low, and our stocking efforts are dismal.  I totally understand if an angler only gets a week or so vacation a year and wants to target and catch musky and I am all for that.  I only ask that those anglers be prepared (have release tools, a good net, camera ready if a pic is needed) and don’t measure the fish if it’s not a PB.  The longer the fish stays in the water and the less stress it has, the better chance it swims another day.  

Northern pike–Even the pike have slowed down a bit, and you know fishing is tough when that happens.  Pike should still be in and around weeds anywhere from 3-12 FOW and will still be chasing spinnerbaits, swimbaits, live bait, and topwater baits.  

Walleye–The walleye have become pretty tight lipped as well, although a midsummer pattern seems to favor that year to year.  Leeches jigged off of deeper transitions, bottom bouncers or crankbaits trolled mid water column, or worm harnesses rolled slow through basins can all be effective.  Look for walleye anywhere from 12-25 FOW or deeper depending on the lake.  

LMB–If there is one species that favors hot water and hot air temps, its the largemouth.  My guess is the bass bite should really pick up, and anglers will find bass in the thickest cover of lily pads, bulrushes, or cabbage or grass.  Top water baits would be my first choice to throw as there is no more exciting way to catch fish!  Scum frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Buzzbaits and baits such as Zara Spooks can all be great choices.  For suspended fish, plastic worms and spinnerbaits are a go-to.  

SMB–Anglers are finding some smallies all over the water column right now.  Deep rocks, up on top of mid lake reefs, and anywhere in between smallies can be caught right now.  Jigs/plastics, topwaters, and live bait worked around these structures can all catch fish.  

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–All of the panfish are in and around weeds or shoreline structures.  Anglers are finding crappie anywhere from 6-10 FOW in and around weed beds and doing well on crappie minnows and plastics.  Bluegill are up shallow around docks and shoreline weeds/structure and anglers are catching them on leaf worms and crawlers.  Perch can be mixed in with crappie, but may be on the deeper edges of the weeds adjacent to the basins.

We are certainly going to be in the summer doldrums with this hot/stable weather.  Have a great weekend, stay cool and we will talk soon.

Greg