Good morning, it was a pleasant week weather wise after those big storms last Sunday night. Rain is forecasted for today and tomorrow but the rest of the week looks like great weather. Fishing has picked up nicely and the musky bite has been hot this past week. I managed to get out with a few friends Thursday morning and we had lots of action on bucktails and spinnerbaits. We managed to get a Musky in the net, 6 northern pike and a few largemouth, one being 18″ and almost 5 lbs! We also had 4 more follows from musky but none committed….all in all a great morning on the water!
Musky–Musky fishing has been hot the last week or so, lots of fish being caught on fast moving bucktails/spinnerbaits being worked through weed beds. Look for good cabbage and work over pockets of milfoil.
Northern pike–The pike bite is pretty much mirroring the musky bite. Small bucktails and bass/musky/northern sized spinner baits are all working to catch fish. Work the same weed beds where you are targeting musky and you will find pike as well.
Walleye–The walleye bite has not been as good as the Esox, as the walleye are just not showing themselves as frequently as the others. A buddy and myself did manage to find a walleye on the deep edge of a milfoil weed bed, but the fish was very small and the only one we saw. Locating fish this time of year is key, however can be difficult if you don’t have electronics. The walleye should be pushing out into deeper points with rocks/sand and be relating to more of a late summer bite. Leeches/crawlers on lindy rigs or other bottom relating approaches to catching them.
Largemouth bass–Lots of largemouth being caught on spinner baits in the same weed beds where you will find musky and pike. Look for fish in the 6-10 FOW range and work baits through the weeds.
Smallmouth bass–I have not gotten much on the smallmouth bite lately, but summertime patterns would be a good place to start. Deeper water with rocks/sand/wood and any kind of structure in the 12-20 feet of water range should have smallmouth on it. Jigging with plastics or live bait works well as does crashing crank baits off of bottom and structure.
Crappie–The crappie bite has been pretty good in the weeds still on small hair jigs tipped with waxies or fished plain. Depending on the body of water some fish may still be relating to weeds and some may be schooling up out in the basin. Basin and weed relating fish can be picked off using slip bobbers with minnows underneath them, and small jigs tipped with waxies.
Bluegill–Some good bluegill were being found with the crappie this past week in the weeds on the same jig and waxie combo. Crawlers on plain hooks off of the docks is also working well for panfish as the kids were catching good numbers and good sizes of them with this approach.
Perch–The perch can be found and caught in the same areas that the crappie and bluegill are relating to. Some perch were being found in the same weed beds where the crappie were being caught and some smaller fish were found around the docks.
Have a great weekend and stay dry!!
Greg