Fishing Report

Good morning, a little bit of rain overnight last night, but nowhere near what we need. Things are very dry and lakes are a little lower than where they should be this time of year. This weekend highs are supposed to only be in the 60s which is good to help moderate that, but temps look to climb back into the upper 70s and low 80s during the week. Not much in the way of precipitation the rest of the week either. The lakes are also very warm already with most lakes in the mid to upper 70s and I have had multiple people tell me the Chip is right around 80 degrees. The fishing has remained pretty solid for most species and my guess would be it will continue with this stable weather.

Musky–The musky bite hasn’t really taken off yet and I think part of that problem is the water got too warm too quick. I was out most of the day Tuesday of last week fishing musky pretty hard and we had no luck. We only saw one fish after throwing a walleye jig out in deeper water. Other than that, we didn’t find any musky where they are “supposed” to be. Such is musky fishing! So switch things up and try to get on a pattern that works, we were working weed beds with bucktails mainly, and then topwaters later in the day.

Northern pike–We crushed the pike while we were out boating 10. Most of the pike came on a small bucktail in about 8 FOW fishing over weed beds. A few of the others came on spinnerbaits in the same areas.

Walleye–The walleye bite has remained pretty good since the fishing opener. The bite right now seems to be fish holding on the deep weed edges and most anglers are catching them on simple set ups such as a jig tipped with a leech or a slip bobber and a leech.

Largemouth bass–We also caught a few largemouth in those same weed beds as the pike, the spinnerbaits doing the work on the bass. I have also had anglers telling me they are doing good on wacky rigs right now as well. Sounds like fish are mostly off of their beds and out in slightly deeper water. I would look for fish in the 3-5 FOW range vs up on the shorelines. With water temps so high, casting topwater baits into lily pads could be a great choice as well.

Smallmouth bass–The smallmouth bite has been good with anglers working structure with ned rigs. Sounds like fish are on hard bottoms that transition into the basins. My guess would be any kind of baits worked close to bottom should be good right now. Drop shots, ned rigs, and even jig heads with tubes on them will all produce.

Crappie–The crappie bite has slowed down quite a bit and fish have spawned and scattered. I’m not sure they are schooled up out in basins yet, but I don’t think they are in shallow weeds anymore either. Anglers may want to start working deeper weeds with jigs and minnows. I haven’t heard a whole lot on anything else as far as crappie lately.

Bluegill/Perch–The panfish bite has been hot lately although you have to weed through a bunch of small fish to get some good ones. Most anglers are doing well on leaf worms for panfish right now. Sounds like a simple hook and worm is the way to go for bluegill and perch. Fish are still in shallow and will be focused on shoreline with structure such as docks/trees/and any other stuff hanging down into the water column.

Not a big change from last week and should give anglers a good starting point if they choose to come up! Mosquitos were slowing down a bit, but with the rain last night they were out in force this morning. Anyway, have a great weekend everyone and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning, the rain has mostly missed us here by the quiet lakes, heard lots of thunder yesterday and it looked threatening, but not a drop by the house or bait shop!  Temps will be warm for the weekend here with another round of rain this afternoon.  Monday is bringing a slight cold front with temps dropping into the 70s for the rest of the week.  Very little chance of rain after today, so I don’t think the cold front will affect the fishing much.  The fishing bite overall has been pretty good for all species and should continue with stable weather.  And although we need rain, hopefully this dry spell will rid some of the mosquitoes from the area, they have been absolutely horrendous and don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.   Anyway enough complaining, it is the North WOODS after all!  Water temps are skyrocketing and I just had a customer tell me he was seeing 78 degree surface temps last night, which is crazy since ice went out just over four weeks ago!  On to the report….

Musky–We only have one musky on the board here at the bait shop and it was caught on opening day.  A perch colored rapala got that fish to eat.  I think most anglers have been having good luck fishing other species so musky haven’t been targeted too much yet.  My guess is they are in a little bit shallower water still chasing gills and crappie and perch.  Focus on weed edges in bays during the day and shallow sandy shorelines at dusk.  Bucktails and larger spinnerbaits are a great choice to cover water and find fish right now.  At dusk I would be throwing top waters (head explosion! since its the first week of june) such as walk the dogs, or buzzers or creepers.

Northern pike–I have not got a whole lot on the pike bite lately, but like the musky bite the pike are probably in shallow water and preying on panfish.  Use spinner baits and crankbaits to trigger strikes.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been steady since opener so its bound to let up soon and have fish going for deeper structure.  Most anglers are finding walleye on the deep weed edge and using leeches under slip bobbers or jigs to entice bites.  The deep weed edges may not be fully developed yet, but with how fast water temps are rising fish where you have found that edge in the past.  On most lakes around here it is in the 10-12 FOW range.

Largemouth bass–Already hearing reports of bass smashing topwater baits like whopper ploppers, lucky 13s, and frogs.  Its honestly crazy as that bite generally happens in late July/August, but like I said before water temps are way up on the surface so it does make sense.  Look for bass on shallow shorelines and around lily pads, and if fishing weed beds that are not lily pads, spinnerbaits and plastic worms will be good choices.

Smallmouth bass–Not much to report on smallies, but they should be relating to deeper rocky bottoms off of points and main lake humps.  Crankbaits, ned rig plastics, tokyo rigs and drop shotting can all be good tactics for smallies.  Even something as simple as a jig/minnow cast out and worked along bottom back to the boat can be great right now.  

Crappie–The crappie bite has been good, but I believe they have spawned out and kind of scattered.  Most fish will still be in the 5-8 FOW range but you may have to work for some nicer fish.  Simple jigs with minnows or plastics works great, as do baits like mimic minnows and beetle spins.  

Bluegill/Perch–The panfish will still be shallow as the weed beds are not fully developed/defined yet.  Fishing off of and around docks should be great right now as well with the water temps where they are at.  Simple set ups, with plain hooks and a chunk of nightcrawler under a bobber is the way to go.  

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Greg