Fishing report for 04 June 2022

Good day, fishing has still been pretty good for crappie/walleye.  Musky have been pretty slow with only 2 being registered on our chart here at the bait shop.  Good stable weather should help next week though!!

Musky–Smaller baits and slowing down presentations can help this time of year.  Bass sized spinner baits, small inline bucktails, and swimbaits on jig heads can all help put muskies in the net in spring.  Shallow warm bays with growing weeds is the places to look for as the musky will be in those areas feeding on baitfish.
Walleye–The walleye bite has been pretty solid  and continues to be from what I am hearing.  Fatheads rigged on jigheads cast out and worked along bottom seem to be the norm for catching.  Leeches are starting to make their way into the mix as the water is starting to warm up a little bit.  Shallower weed edges are still holding fish as the current water temps are still on the cool side.
Northern Pike–The pike bite has been consistent with lots of the walleye guys catching pike on their set ups.  Lots also being caught on bass set ups such as spinner baits and chatterbaits.  There is really no wrong way to fish for pike as they will eat just about anything and everything.  Any water from shallow weedy bays to sandy/rocky shorelines will all hold fish.
Largemouth bass–Chatter baits seem to be pretty hot right now for big largemouth bass.  Colors in green pumpkin, black/blue and white/chartreuse are all solid choices.  Big nightcrawlers under a float on jig/hook also works well for bass.
Smallmouth bass–I haven’t been hearing too much on the smallmouth bite as far as what is working to catch fish, but some nice fish are being caught.  Rocky points that transition out into the basin is a good place to start.  Jig heads with plastics that imitate crawfish, small crankbaits bouncing off of the rocks and livebait such as fatheads on a jighead all will work.
Crappie–The crappie bite has slowed down a little bit as the water temps have been hovering just above the 60 degree mark.  I am hearing the shallow weed bite on crappie minnows is still a pretty good bet, but you have to pick through some fish to get onto bigger ones.
Bluegill–Leaf worms/crawlers under floats on sandy shorelines will catch plenty of bluegill.  Small spinners with plastic grubs such as beetle spins will also catch some nice gils.  Haven’t heard of any records but they are abundant in all of the lakes in the area.  Bluegill should be starting to make beds as they get ready for spawn, and will be aggressive in protecting their beds.
Perch–Perch are in and around between the crappie and bluegill stealing minnows at will.  Shallow weed beds will hold perch and if you want to target them, its best to just fish through them until you get some nicer size to keep.  Crappie minnows on snell hooks underneath floats is probably the most common way to catch perch in the spring.
Tight lines, and good luck!
Greg

Fishing report for 28 May 2022

Good morning, up and down weather for this weekend (it is currently raining). The weather looks to even out by mid week and stay pretty consistent after that.  The fishing has been good overall, with plenty of crappie limits being caught and nice walleye being found.  The musky season starts today and that bite should be good as well.  I have heard multiple reports around the quiet lakes/spider lake chain of inadvertent musky catches and plenty of big fish hitting crappie as they were being pulled to the boat.  Thats telling me fish are active and probably will be until they get pressured.

Musky–Musky fishing is upon us and all other fish are just bait at this point!!  I kid, I kid…Musky fishing should be pretty good and you will find active fish pretty shallow in and around weeds feeding on the baitfish that are all going to be spawning soon if they haven’t already.  Smaller bucktails, smaller musky sized swim baits, and spinnerbaits will all work well this time of year.  Heck, even Walleye set ups can catch musky, which is proven every spring……
Northern Pike–A lot of pike are being caught on walleye set ups as well.  Pike will be in and around the weeds as well, and bass spinnerbaits, chatter baits, any kind of Rapala or crankbaits will work.  Pike are abundant in a lot of the lakes in the area and overall pretty easy to catch.
Walleye–The walleye report is good, with lots of fish being caught.  Lots of cookie cutter 14-15″ fish with some 20″+ fish in the mix.  Fish are still pretty shallow and hitting jigs tipped with fatheads and leeches.  Look for shallow sandy shorelines that are adjacent to weed beds and basins.  I would start in 3-5 FOW and work deeper until you find them.
Largemouth Bass–I have not heard a whole lot on the largemouth bite, but if you are targeting them, warm shallow bays is a good start.  Spinnerbaits, soft plastic swimbait bodies on jig heads fished quickly are good.  Not quite the time to finesse fish bass yet, but nightcrawlers in weeds and plastic worms rigged weedless always seem to catch fish.
Smallmouth Bass–Some very nice smallies are being caught right now, although I have not been told where or how.  My guess would be the same jigs tipped with fatheads, or plastics or whatever guys are using to target walleye.  I’m not sure the smallmouth would be in the same spots as the walleye until later into summer, but you never know until you get out on the water!
Crappie–The crappie bite has been hot, except for the day after the cold front and rain last week.  I’ve been told the crappie are still way up shallow around weeds and shorelines and pounding baits like tattle tails, crappie scrubs, plain hooks tipped with minnows and small spinner rigs like beetle spins.
Perch–I haven’t heard much about the perch bite, but they are always common to be caught while crappie fishing.  Plain hooks underneath floats tipped with crappie minnows is a very good way to catch perch.  Fish in the weeds in 5-10 FOW and there is a good chance you will run into them.
Bluegill–Nightcrawlers underneath floats in and around docks, shorelines and sandy beaches are prime areas for bluegill.  Keeping it simple is the best way to approach bluegill and dropping baits on spawning beds will fire them up and make them aggressive.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend!!
Greg