Fishing Report

Good morning, some cooler weather on tap for this weekend with a slight chance of rain.  Temps look good through next week, low to mid 70s and only a few chances of rain.  The better news are the lows at night which look to be in the 40s and 50s.  That should help get the water temps back down to where we can target big fish without putting too much strain on them while handling them!  Fishing overall has been pretty solid lately, muskies still very active, crappie out deep where you would expect them, and bass and northern still willing  to cooperate.

Musky–Musky action has STILL been good on smaller bucktails and faster moving baits.  Mepps Musky killers and Mepps #5s have been solid all year and still continue to be right now.  I still have people coming into the bait shop saying they are working these baits over the weeds and seeing fish.  Lots of follows and a fair amount of people hooking up and catching fish on them as well.  I thought the cold front that came in last week would have changed up the pattern a bit, but that did not seem to happen.  Start with fast moving baits over and around weed beds/edges and slow down if that is not working.  

Northern pike–Northern pike seem to still be very active as well, hitting these same bucktails and spinner baits.  Work these same weed beds/edges where you would target musky and likely you will find pike.  You can also try smaller baits such as Rapala Shad Raps, bass sized chatter baits, and even beetle spins will entice pike to eat.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been a bit tougher lately, however I have heard a lot on the crappie being out in the basin, so my guess is walleye will be schooling up out in the depths as well.  Slip bobbers with jigs and live bait seems one of the best ways to target deep walleye right now.  Rocky deep points that lead out to the basin is a good place to start your search.  In some lakes jigging raps worked aggressively can work well, as can just jigging live bait along bottom.

Largemouth bass–The largemouth bite has still been pretty good, mainly on spinner baits worked through vegetation in shallow bays.  Swim jigs worked through cover has been good as well, and live bait seems to always catch as well.

Smallmouth bass– Smallies are being caught on deeper parts of the lake with structure (wood,rocks,cribs) and most are coming on finesse plastics worked near bottom.  Drop shotting and wacky rigged worms are working from what I am told.  My guess is you may run into a walleye or two fishing this way also so it never hurts to try new things.  

Crappie–Most of the crappie have moved into deeper water and are more active when relating close to bottom.  If the crappie are suspended they may not be feeding heavily, but if they are relating to bottom they will be more apt to take the bait.  Mimic minnows and beetle spins cast out and worked towards bottom has been working well to catch fish, and I would bet small jigs tipped with crappie minnows under slip bobbers would be great to pick apart the schools of crappie.

Bluegill/perch–Not much to say in the way of bluegill and perch, both species can be caught shallow mainly off of piers and docks.  Nightcrawlers under a bobber or small hair jigs tipped with waxies always work well to catch panfish.  

Have a great weekend everyone!

Greg

Good morning, it is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend weather wise!!  Not sure what this cold front will do to the fishing, but cooling water temps should help overall.  Current water temps are in the low to mid 70s from what I am hearing.  The bite in general has been pretty good, if you can stay on the spots you are fishing.  The wind has been blowing pretty hard consistently all week, but it looks like it will calm down a bit after the holiday weekend. 

Musky–The musky bite is still pretty hot, with fish going on the board every few days around here.  The last dozen fish have been taken on small bucktails, spinnerbaits, and/or top water baits.  Fish should still be relating to shallower weeds/structure and fishing with fast moving baits is the best way to target them.  With the cold front that is happening this weekend it may be wise to switch it up and slow down if the bucktails stop working.  Suicks, Warlocks, Phantoms or any other pause/pull baits can be excellent post frontal choices.  

Northern pike–Pike are still crushing Mepps 5s and spinnerbaits in the 1/2oz and 3/4oz size.  Work both of these baits over and through vegetation as pike will be in cover looking for a meal.  There is really no wrong way to fish for pike, however they seem to be related pretty heavily to weed cover this time of year so fish through any weed bed you come across.

Walleye–I am not hearing anything consistent on a walleye bite as of right now.  I am hearing of some big walleye being caught in non-traditional ways……3 on Suicks so far this year and good sized fish on a…..you guessed it…..a Mepps 5!  With that being said, I would probably start with crank baits and work deep weed edges and rocky shore lines and points.  Try to find aggressive fish with the bigger/louder baits and if you are not having luck switch it up to a more modest/finesse approach.  For that I would go lindy rigs, bottom bouncers and slow death rigs with nightcrawlers.  

Largemouth bass–The bass bite on spinner baits has still been strong lately with live bait (mainly nightcrawlers) under floats also working.  Working baits through cover and edges of weeds/weed beds are where largemouth are hiding.  On warm calm nights working frogs over lily pads this time of year is a fun way to catch largemouth, and one of the most exciting.

Smallmouth bass–Not sure many guys/gals are targeting smallies right now as I am not hearing much about catching them.  Working the same crankbaits in the same locations you would for walleye this time of year would make the most sense.  If they are not hitting crankbaits slow down and go finesse with tube jigs, ned rigs, drop shots, and even live bait.  Start on deeper structure and work points/humps with rock or submerged wood that are adjacent to deeper sections of the lake.

Crappie–Big crappie seem to be pushing out into the basins a little bit I’m being told.  Slip bobbers rigged with plain hooks or small jig heads tipped with crappie minnows are catching these suspended fish.  Catching fish still relating to weeds will work this way as will casting baits like small beetle spins or 

Bluegill/Perch–The gill/perch bite has still been good, lots of fish being caught in shallow bays with weeds, shorelines with sand and as always off of docks/piers.  Small jigs tipped with chunks of nightcrawlers or waxies are working.  

Everyone have a great holiday weekend!!

Greg