Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we have had a few rain showers over the past couple of days but nothing significant.  According to the forecast, we may see some more this afternoon and tomorrow but we should be in the clear after that.  The rest of the week looks great with temps right around 70 degrees.  Lows down into the 40s at night should help bring the water temps down a little bit as well.  The hot, sunny weather to start last week really boosted water temperatures; most lakes are in the upper 60s, and I have even heard of a few areas on some lakes reaching around 74.  That is WAY too hot for mid-September fishing, and that has reflected in the bite.  

Musky–A few anglers have been moving fish on live bait, but artificial baits are still a better choice right now.  Bucktails, jerkbaits, and shallow-running crank/twitch baits would be some baits I would be throwing.  Bait fish will be pushed up into shallow cover, such as weeds/timber/rock, and muskies won’t be far behind them.  

Pike–Pike action has picked up a bit with the warmup and anglers are catching them on live bait, plastics, and top water baits.  Look for pike in and around shallow weeds and target them with any kind of baits mentioned above.  It is getting later in the year, so key in on still green weeds that are holding good oxygen.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been almost nonexistent on the lakes by us, mostly because anglers are focused more on musky right now, but also because walleye are tight to cover and hard to fish out of it right now.  Look for walleye on deep weed edges on certain lakes, and deeper hard to soft bottom transitions on others.  Jigging plastics or walleye suckers are great options right now.  

LMB–The warm weather has bass active, and anglers are doing well catching them on nightcrawlers in and around large weed beds.  Plastic worms and top water baits should still work for largemouth as well right now.  

SMB–Smallies should be set up on rocky points or bars right now.  Work the deep edges of these spots with minnows or plastics.  On some lakes, smallies may be slightly shallower and related more to deep weed edges than rocks.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–I don’t have much on a panfish bite, but again, this warm-up should have fish pushed up shallow and back into cover.  Jigs and minnows worked under a float are great choices for crappie and perch, while chunks of crawlers under a float can be key for gills.  

That is all I have for this week’s report. Downtown Hayward could get busy today with Fall Fest, especially if the weather holds out.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, it is starting to look like fall with all of the color change of the trees, but surely won’t feel like it this weekend as we hit the 70s and 80s!!   The middle and back half of the week look to bring rain and a reality check with temps dropping back down into the low 60s.  The 15 day forecast shows temps holding in those 60s, but time will tell if that forecast holds up.  Water temps have dropped to right around 60 degrees and even with this warm up, they should stay pretty stable at that those temps.  

Musky–The musky bite has picked up a little bit in the past few days.  Skies’ are starting to move in on suckers, and anglers casting are catching fish too.  Working edges of both weeds and rocks with both fast and slow moving baits can be effective.  Keep suckers close, as following fish usually will come in and take the easy meal even when you don’t see them behind your bait.

Northern pike–Pike action has also picked up a bit and they too are eyeing up suckers and faster moving baits.  Pike are typically holding in weeds and weed edges, and can be found anywhere from 3-15 FOW right now.  

Walleye–I have not heard much on a walleye bite lately and that is most likely because the bite has been tough.  With water temps dropping into the low 60s ‘eyes should be pushing towards fall spots and patterns.  On most lakes that would be deep rocks, although some lakes are anomalies and fish hold to shallow weeds all year.  Fathead minnows or suckers should start to outproduce crawlers and edges and bottom transitions are key.  Jigging style presentations with all styles of baits will work as well.  

LMB–Anglers have done really well on largemouth this season, and this warm weather has extended that bite for sure.  It sounds like largemouth have been favoring minnows under bobbers or floats in and around weed beds.  Look for bass anywhere from 3-10 FOW. 

SMB–Smallies should be setting up on the same spots as walleye right now, and as the water continues to cool down.  Deep rocks and deep weed transitions should hold smallmouth right now, and jigs/minnows or plastics would be good choices for baits.  

Crappie–Crappie are all over the place right now, with some fish being found in deep basins, and others pushed tight into cover.  Minnows and small plastics are the hot bite for crappie right now.  Crappie can be anywhere, so if anglers have “history” spots and fish are not on those, make a change and try new locations.

Bluegill/Perch–Panfish are still mostly weed/cover related and holding to where weeds still have good oxygen.  Crawlers/leaf worms may work in some situations, although minnows and plastics are probably a better choice even for big gills.  Look for panfish anywhere you see green weeds, and work basins or deep edges for perch.

That is all I have for this week’s report.  Some folks are out in the woods chasing bear and deer, and some are out on lakes or in fields in blinds trying for some early goose.  Some are out in the woods this weekend for the Chequamegon bike race as well.  No matter your hobby, if it involves the outdoors, it will be a wonderful weekend to be outside.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg