Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, it looks like we are in for a wet week.  Chances of rain Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday.  Temperatures look to be in the upper 60s and mid to low 70s moving forward which should help bring water temps up.  Water temps have been holding in the low to mid 60s from what I am hearing.  The fishing has been pretty good lately, but some warmer water will definitely help some species to get more predictable as far as a bite pattern goes.  

Musky–The musky bite has been pretty slow to start the season to be honest.  Lots of fish being seen, but a lot of lazy follows and neutral fish that aren’t aggressive towards baits.  If the water temps warm up just a few degrees we should see fish getting more active and more patterned.  Musky should be in and around shallow weeds chasing baitfish, and lures such as bucktails, glide baits, and dive and rise jerkbaits are good choices to throw right now.  

Northern Pike–Hammer handle pike have been eating everything thrown in the water over the last couple of weeks and that probably won’t change.  Anglers should do well throwing small inline spinners, hairpin style spinnerbaits, smaller crankbaits, and live bait such as walleye suckers in and around weedy bays or weed beds.  Look for pike anywhere from 3-12 FOW in these areas.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been kind of hit or miss so far this season for many anglers, although we should start to see early summer patterns taking shape for walleye.  Leeches may start to work better than say walleye suckers or minnows, but any live bait is a good choice.  Anglers should find walleye off of deeper rocks or weed edges adjacent to deep water basins.  

LMB–Largemouth have been somewhat active, but they too should get very active with warmer water temps.  Right now anglers are finding largemouth in and around weed beds and catching fish suspended.  Once the water warms up we should see topwater action take over and the bass bite get very good.  Spinner baits, live bait such as nightcrawlers and minnows, and plastic worms are all great choices for largemouth right now.

SMB–Smallies have been active for anglers, and most of what I am hearing is that fish are off of deeper rock.  Whether that be main lake reefs or points, anywhere weeds transition to rocks, or shorelines drop off to deep water from rocks seem to be holding fish.  JIgging with leeches, and minnows or slip bobbering close to the bottom has been working best from what I understand.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–All of the panfish species seem to be holding to cover yet, mostly weeds on the lakes in our area.  Some lakes may have shallower timber or deadfall that can hold panfish as well.  Small jigs, tipped with waxies/plastics, chunks of nightcrawler, or crappie minnows can all work great right now.  Run jig setups cast out alone and reeled back in or under a float.  Look for fish anywhere from 3-10 FOW and fish in and around the structure.

Nothing too exciting going on as far as fishing goes right now, but that could change if the water warms up.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, looks like another warm weekend and another big cold front coming in on Tuesday, with a good chance of rain and then average temps through next weekend.  Water temps are slowly climbing back up to where they were a couple of weeks ago and I am hearing reports of water temps in the low 60s right now.  The fishing has started to pick back up a bit and anglers are finding fish in pretty normal places for this time of year.

Musky–I wouldn’t say the musky bite has been on fire, but it has been pretty good and anglers are catching them on a wide range of baits from small bucktails up to 12″ suicks.  Fish are up pretty shallow anywhere from 4-12 FOW off of points, weed beds, and shallow bays.  

Northern pike–The pike bite has been hot lately, and pike are eating anything and everything.  Small spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and live bait are all helping anglers to catch pike.  Anglers should target pike in and around shallow weedy bays or shallower weed beds that top out off of reefs or points.  

Walleye–The walleye bite has picked back up with these warmer temps we are seeing and should be good through the weekend.  Anglers are finding some walleye in shallow water along weed/rock edges and others off of deeper rocks.  Vertical jigging with minnows has been working, but leeches should also start producing very soon.  

LMB–Anglers have reported seeing bass on beds, but still staying somewhat neutral when sending baits there way.  Sounds like they have started staging for spawning but may not have yet?  I know a couple of weeks ago they were fired up with the warming water temps, but I think the cold front we had really messed with them.  Anglers should try nightcrawlers, plastic worms rigged in any style, and even spinnerbaits or chatterbaits thrown into slightly shallower water or inside weed edges.

SMB–I have not heard too much about smallies as of late, and even the guys doing well on walleye did not say anything about seeing smallies mixed in or near the walleye.  They may also be in shallow water either spawning or just at post spawn depending on the lake.  Anglers may find them on shallow rocky bottom areas of the lake.

Crappie–The crappie bite has picked back up a little bit as well.  Anglers are finding them in weed beds anywhere from 6-10 FOW right now.  Crappie minnows and small plastics on jig heads either cast out or set up under a float seem to be working best.  

Perch–Anglers are finding some perch mixed in with the crappie, although mainly on the deeper edge of the weeds and not so much in the weeds.  Minnows and plastics have been the ticket for perch as well.

Bluegill–I helped put in some docks yesterday and saw a bunch of smaller beds on the sandy shoreline we were working near.  My guess is the gills’ are setting up beds to spawn, but they should definitely be in a pre spawn yet as we haven’t had consistently warm water temps yet.  Anglers should find gills’ in the weeds near those spawning areas, and throw chunks of nightcrawlers, redworms, or even waxies to catch them.  

Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg