Good morning, the middle of the week looks to be soggy with chances of rain Tuesday and Wednesday. Temps are still tolerable/even nice for fishing with highs in the low 50s and upper 40s. By mid week the overnight lows look to be just below freezing and that will surely start to turnover the lakes that haven’t yet. I have heard some reports that some of the lakes are in turnover now. Despite that, the fishing has been pretty good.
Musky–The musky bite has stayed solid with most fish coming on live bait. Dragging suckers along deep weed lines seems to be the ticket for ‘skies right now. Some anglers are throwing baits such as jerk baits, gliders, and bigger rubber baits such as Medussas and Bulldawgs.
Northern pike–Not much to report on a pike bite as I am just not hearing anything on that right now.
Walleye–It sounds like walleye are still sitting in deeper water in the lakes around here. Look for fish in 16-20 FOW, rig up a walleye sized sucker on a jig and get the bait down to them. It doesn’t sound like fish are too finicky now so you can work water fast to find fish.
LMB–I just don’t have anglers targeting either bass species right now so not a whole lot to go by. I would be working spinnerbaits/chatterbaits through cover for bass yet and look for fish in that 6-10 FOW range.
SMB–Again not much for angling intel on smallies, but I would look for them near the walleye. Deeper points, transitions in bottom and rocks should be holding fish. Jigs and minnows or plastics should entice smallies right now.
Crappie–The crappie were still schooled up and holding in deeper water the past couple of weeks, but with water turning over they may or may not be there anymore. Once turnover happens most fish try to find cover to hide from predators. Look for crappie in weed beds that still have some oxygen left in them and target them with a jig and a minnow under a bobber.
Bluegill/Perch–Bluegill and perch will be in these same weedy areas that still have some life. Chunks of nightcrawlers and crappie minnows rigged up on a jig tightlined or under a bobber should catch some fish.
That is all I got for this week. Its hard to say what the fish are going to do during the turnover period, but generally it is not great fishing during that time frame. I hope everyone has a great weekend and we will talk soon.
Greg