Fishing report 07/02/2022

Good morning, an excellent weather weekend on tap for the holiday weekend!  Potential rain on Monday, but today and Sunday look great.  Fishing overall has been pretty good with the musky action heating up a bit.  Water temps should start creeping up to where a good topwater bite should start happening for both largemouth and musky.

Musky–The musky bite has been picking up a bit over the last week and with more consistent weather in the next week should continue to get better.  Although good numbers of fish are being caught most of them are still on the smallest musky sized baits or larger bass baits.  In line spinners and bigger spinner baits are getting the job done as well as smaller musky crank baits worked over mid lake humps and points.  Focus still more on structure vs open water basins at this point in the season as musky are still feeding on the bluegill/crappie/perch and other bait fish still relating to weeds/structure.
Northern Pike–The pike bite has been good as they are eating anything and everything pretty much anywhere in the lake.  Spinner baits, crank baits, spoons and crappie/walleye set ups are all catching northern.  A great way to get kids into a little bit bigger fish is to tie on a smaller leader to a bass rod/reel set up and cast spinner baits in and around weeds.  The leader will prevent bite offs and you can get a lot of action from pike that way.
Walleye–The walleye bite has slowed down a bit with some fish moving deeper and or burying themselves in the thick stuff.  Slip bobbers with leeches are still a good choice around deep weeds, while basin fish will be hitting on lindy rigs or crawler/leech harnesses while trolling or drifting.
Largemouth bass–Largemouth action has been pretty consistent all year so far with good numbers and good sizes of fish being caught.  Most fish have been caught with night crawlers underneath bobbers, however the topwater bite should start to pick up as emergent weeds are hitting the surface and the water temps heat up.  Working frogs over lily pads and over emergent weed beds is a great way to target big bass.  Plastic worms and drop shot/ned rigs work great for bass relating more to deep structure as well.
Smallmouth bass–Lots of smallies being caught on slip bobber set ups with leeches on deep weed edges and deep structure.  Ned rigs/drop shots will work well on deep rocky breaks and main lake structure as well.
Crappie–Crappie are starting to move deeper towards the basins of the lakes.  Deep weed edges is a good place to start and if you find schools on your electronics out in basins fish there.  Crappie minnows on slip bobbers out deep or small hair jigs or small jigs/plastics such as tattle tails, cubbies and crappie scrubs will all catch fish.
Bluegill–Bluegills will be off their beds now and moving a little bit deeper into the weeds to hide from predators. Leaf worms and nightcrawlers still work well and fishing off of the docks will always produce fish.  If you want to target bigger gills though try the inside weed edge on bigger weed beds or fish cribs in deeper water.
Perch–Lots of perch still being caught while crappie fishing from what I hear and a majority of those fish coming on crappie minnows under bobbers.  Perch are mostly relating in and around shallow weeds/weed beds.
Happy 4th everyone and tight lines if you are out fishing!
Greg

Fishing report 25 June 2022

Good morning, here is this weeks fishing report……

Musky–Musky fishing has still been pretty slow and a majority of the fish being caught are on smaller musky baits.  Mostly inline spinners such as Mepps and Showgirls and bucktails in that smaller size range.  Those baits move fast and cover water which is good to locate fish this time of year.  If you get followed up on a bait like this and the fish doesn’t commit, come back at a later time and slow down and pick the area apart.
Northern pike–Haven’t heard much in the way of targeting northern but some are still being caught.  Mostly smaller fish hitting walleye and bass rigs in and around the weed beds.  Small crankbaits such as Rapalas, spinnerbaits, and just about any kind of live bait can work for catching northern.
Walleye–The walleye bite has slowed down big time, with fish scattering and not being in the same place twice.  My guess would be fish are starting to push deeper towards summer basins as the water warms, or they are piling up in the thickest of weeds to hide from predators.  Live bait is still the primary choice to target them with jumbo leeches under slip bobbers mainly getting the nod this time of year.  Fatheads can still be productive as well, although they do not last too long in this warmer water.
Largemouth bass–The largemouth bite has still been pretty good with a lot of fish still coming on nightcrawlers underneath a bobber.  With the water temps being where they are now, a topwater bite for largemouth should start happening very soon.  Weedless frogs worked over and through lily pads is a great way to catch big largemouth and also one of the most exciting ways to fish for any species.
Smallmouth bass–The smallmouth bite has slowed down as well, and smallies should be pushing to deeper rocks and wood/structure off of main lake points or humps.  Drop shotting or jigging with live bait are good choices.
Crappie–Crappie have scattered and most likely schooled back up in the deeper basins.  Some smaller fish have still been caught in the weeds using bobbers and plain hooks tipped with crappie minnows.  Don’t be afraid to move around to find crappie, and if you do find them spend some time weeding through the smaller fish to catch nicer ones.
Perch–The perch bite has been pretty good with a lot of folks catching piles of perch while crappie fishing.  Look for weed beds and fish in the 7-10 FOW range with bobbers and miinnows to find nice perch.
Bluegill–Fish shore lines with sandy bottoms or shore lines with downed trees or weeds up tight to find nice bluegill.  Chunks of nightcrawlers or leaf worms work well as well as waxies on small jigs underneath a bobber.
Greg