Good morning from the Quiet Lakes. We saw some snow in the area Thursday night and the lows have been just below freezing. That is great news for all anglers, as fish should really start to bulk up for the winter months. It looks like the highs for the next week will reach the 40s and 50s, so it will be a while before we see any ice building up on the lakes. I was fishing on Whitefish Lake last Sunday, and we still had water temps of 55.5 degrees. The musky bite has been okay as of late, but fish still seem to be shallower than you would think for the season. We were still seeing green weeds and had a few follows in about 8 FOW. We tried trolling out in about 15-25 FOW and saw nothing. We did catch two pike that day, one trolling a large crankbait and one casting a twitch bait. I have not heard much of a bite for anything else lately, but falling water temps should push fish out deeper and onto those first-ice wintering spots. Walleye and smallies should be pushing deeper off of edges and more just into basins with shallow water close by. Jigging with minnows or throwing deep jerkbaits or trolling crankbaits can be good options right now until we see some ice. Nobody is really targeting largemouth right now, although anglers may still find some in any remaining green weeds they can find. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits may still catch largemouth out of pockets of weeds. Panfish should be pushing out into basins as well, especially crappie and perch. Jigs and minnows or even ice fishing spoons should start to fool panfish and get them into the net. I would focus on water in anywhere from 10-20 feet deep to target panfish right now. Bluegill, like the largemouth, will most likely be hanging onto the last remaining weeds in the lake that are still holding some kind of life. Waxies or plastics on small jigs can get the job done for catching some late-fall ‘gills.
If trail cams are any indication, it does seem like the woods are heating up! I have seen a few nice deer, both does and bucks, more in the daylight hours than over the past few weeks. I did hear quite a few shots last weekend when I was fishing, and I am guessing the duck guys are getting into some good action as well. I know it’s not a great fishing report, but the angling has slowed down quite a bit, and I have not been able to get out. Have a great weekend, and we will talk soon!
Greg