Fishing Report

Good morning, lots of chances of rain have turned into lots of rain and looks to continue through the weekend.  Looks like from now until mid week will/could be wet.  Temperatures are also coming down a bit from where they were which will be great for fishing.   Water temps are hovering right around the low to mid 60s right now.  The bite overall has been pretty good with anglers finding all species of fish lately.

Musky–The musky bite has picked up again after that heat wave over labor day weekend.  Artificial baits on the smaller side are still producing fish, and the livebait bite is heating up as well.  Fish are all over the place, I am hearing some fish up shallow and others suspended off of structure.

Northern pike–I have had quite a few anglers in this past week that are catching northern pike on spinner baits, bucktails and other fast moving baits that cover a lot of water.  PIke are in pretty shallow water right now and related to weed beds or structures with weeds on it. 

Walleye–Anglers are finding walleye a bit better than they have the past couple of weeks.  Most are finding walleye in deeper water on transitions from hard to soft bottom.  That will vary from lake to lake, but I am hearing anglers finding fish anywhere from 10-12 FOW to 18-25 FOW depending on the lake.  Tightlining jigs or slip bobbers with walleye suckers or fatheads underneath them are working for ‘eyes right now.

LMB–The largemouth bite has been good lately and anglers are catching them with multiple fishing styles.  Spinner baits are working for fish not relating to shore lines, while topwater baits such as whopper ploppers are working for bass that are still up in shallow weeds.

SMB–Not a great report on smallies, but they probably haven’t moved much from where they have been the last week or so.  Water temps should be cooling down with the rain and cooler temps coming so smallies will most likely push a little deeper over the next week or so.  Crank baits, jigs/minnows, and even ned rigged plastics worked down to where the fish are at will trigger strikes.

Crappie–From the reports I am getting, the crappie are hanging in deeper water right now.  Look for fish around 20 FOW and drop jigs tipped with crappie minnows to get down to them.  

Bluegill/Perch–Haven’t heard a whole lot on the panfish bite lately, but anglers should focus on still green weed beds for perch and bluegill.  Leaf worms or waxies rigged underneath a bobber drifted through weed beds will still put some fish in the live well.  

Have a great weekend everyone and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning, air temps look mild this week with a little warm up mid week.  Lows still in the 40s and 50s so that should help keep the water temps where we want them.  Not calling for rain really until next weekend and the first part of next week, but that’s a little far out to trust just yet.  I am hearing the water temps have dipped down into the mid to low 60s which should be a good thing for fishing.  The bite has been tough, but fish should start to feel this change and really start putting the feed bag on in the next week or so. 

Musky–The musky bite has slowed down quite a bit at least around here.  Less anglers are fishing right now, but the ones I have talked to aren’t seeing a whole lot of fish.  Anglers should still be fishing weed edges, rocks and other key structures.  Slowing down and throwing bigger baits should really start to trigger bites with the water temps dropping.  Dragging suckers in and around weed beds, rocks and bars should really start putting fish in the boat right now.

Northern pike–It has been a couple of weeks since I have heard of anyone catching any kind of northern pike big or small.  PIke should be holding tight in cover roaming weed beds, shallow flats, and any shallow structure that is holding panfish.  Smaller baits such as spinnerbaits, small bucktails, and swimbaits will all still catch fish.  Walleye and musky suckers should produce fish as well.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been a tough one since the big heat wave over labor day weekend.  Fish have pushed deep and been negative for a lot of anglers.  Most fish anglers are finding are in 16-20 FOW but just aren’t hitting any baits well.  Lots of reports of fish on graphs/sonar but not alot getting into the net.  Bottom bouncers, jigs tipped with fatheads or walleye suckers, and slow trolling crankbaits are all good places to start to try to put a few walleye in the boat.

LMB–Anglers are still catching decent numbers of largemouth, most are coming on minnows (crappie or fatheads) while fishing other species.  I have had a few anglers say they are doing well on Texas rigged worms in and around weed beds too.

SMB–I don’t have much of a report on smallmouth right now.  From other guys I have scouted on the internet they are finding fish on shallow rocks.  I would target fish in the afternoons after those rocks warm up a bit  and fish push shallow.

Crappie–The crappie bite has picked back up and anglers are doing well catching them in deeper water close to bottom.  Most of what I am hearing fish are holding in about 20 FOW and hitting jigs/plastics or jigs/minnows right near the bottom.  Slip bobbers with jigs under them are working as well.

Bluegill/Perch–Nightcrawlers are still selling, but I don’t get a lot of reporting on the panfish bite.  Fish should be pushing into shallow weeds as there is still good oxygen there.  Lower light/less light as we are getting into fall means less weed growth and fish will stick to weed beds that are still green and healthy.  Small jigs or bare hooks tipped with nightcrawlers or waxies should still catch fish.

Archery season starts today so some guys/gals will be hitting the woods.  Bear season has been under way and I have heard of a few being harvested.  Fall is here and getting into full swing!  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg