Fishing Report

Good morning from the Northwoods. Cooler temps than last week should help for the gun deer season which gets underway TODAY!! Not making ice yet on the lakes but looks to start by the end of the week with highs right around freezing and some lows down into the low teens. From what I am hearing from anglers water temps are right around the 40 degree mark.

Musky–The musky bite will stay good until ice prevents us from fishing for them. Some big fish are being caught on live bait on sharp breaks that head off into deeper water. Slow moving artificial baits and big suckers are the ticket.

Northern pike–No report on Northern pike right now. My best guess would be to fish weed edges that are adjacent to deep water.

Walleye–A few anglers are targeting them but not much on the how or where they are catching them. All I can say is they were buying walleye suckers so live bait is again what is working. Suckers fished on jig heads tossed out and worked back to the boat is how I am guessing they are working the bait. Anglers should see walleye pushing up into shallower water chasing baitfish.

LMB/SMB–Still no report on either species of bass.

Crappie–Crappie should also be pushing up into shallow water as we get closer to first ice. Fish deep edges that used to hold vegetation. Crappie minnows on jig heads or under a bobber will still catch fish.

Bluegill/Perch–Fish weeds for panfish right now as they should still be in shallow water. Look for weeds that still have some life. Even dead vegetation will hold fish this time of year as they are still holding in spots with good oxygen. Small jigs and minnows or plastics will catch fish.

That’s all I got for this weeks’ report. Most outdoorsman/women will be in the woods heavy this week so not much to report on the fish. Good luck to anyone heading out into the woods for gun season, stay safe and enjoy the hunt!

Greg

Good morning, the weather looks unseasonably warm next week with temps in the 50s everyday and very little to no chance of rain. Fishing should be great right now, not sure what this warmup will do. Most lakes’ water temps are low to mid 40s right now.

Musky–The musky bite has still been good, mostly all fish coming on live bait. Fish have been caught on weed edges, rocky points adjacent to deep water.

Northern pike–No report on a pike bite, but they too should be relating to weed edges in both live and dead vegetation. Smaller suckers or crankbaits should be great baits to try for northern pike right now.

Walleye–I have not had many anglers in the bait shop that are targeting walleye right now so where they are and how to catch them is only an educated guess. I would be using live bait on jigs and pitching them deep and working them slowly back to the boat.

LMB–No report.

SMB–No report.

Crappie–I would have to think crappie may still be in the basins too. Again, I have had no anglers in the bait shop targeting them so I cannot give an accurate report. My guess is with water temps where they are fish may still be schooled up out there or starting to push a little shallow as we get closer to ice. Its 50/50 though with this warm front coming, it’s a major change and looks like it will last for at least a week. Surely that will move fish around as seasonally they are expecting water temps to continually cool until ice arrives. I would again go to live bait and not use flashy stuff. Simple set ups to catch neutral/negative fish.

Bluegill/Perch–Panfish should still be in weed beds and around shallow structures to hide from big fish. I would use simple set ups to target them as well.

Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg