Good morning, lots of chances of rain have turned into lots of rain and looks to continue through the weekend. Looks like from now until mid week will/could be wet. Temperatures are also coming down a bit from where they were which will be great for fishing. Water temps are hovering right around the low to mid 60s right now. The bite overall has been pretty good with anglers finding all species of fish lately.
Musky–The musky bite has picked up again after that heat wave over labor day weekend. Artificial baits on the smaller side are still producing fish, and the livebait bite is heating up as well. Fish are all over the place, I am hearing some fish up shallow and others suspended off of structure.
Northern pike–I have had quite a few anglers in this past week that are catching northern pike on spinner baits, bucktails and other fast moving baits that cover a lot of water. PIke are in pretty shallow water right now and related to weed beds or structures with weeds on it.
Walleye–Anglers are finding walleye a bit better than they have the past couple of weeks. Most are finding walleye in deeper water on transitions from hard to soft bottom. That will vary from lake to lake, but I am hearing anglers finding fish anywhere from 10-12 FOW to 18-25 FOW depending on the lake. Tightlining jigs or slip bobbers with walleye suckers or fatheads underneath them are working for ‘eyes right now.
LMB–The largemouth bite has been good lately and anglers are catching them with multiple fishing styles. Spinner baits are working for fish not relating to shore lines, while topwater baits such as whopper ploppers are working for bass that are still up in shallow weeds.
SMB–Not a great report on smallies, but they probably haven’t moved much from where they have been the last week or so. Water temps should be cooling down with the rain and cooler temps coming so smallies will most likely push a little deeper over the next week or so. Crank baits, jigs/minnows, and even ned rigged plastics worked down to where the fish are at will trigger strikes.
Crappie–From the reports I am getting, the crappie are hanging in deeper water right now. Look for fish around 20 FOW and drop jigs tipped with crappie minnows to get down to them.
Bluegill/Perch–Haven’t heard a whole lot on the panfish bite lately, but anglers should focus on still green weed beds for perch and bluegill. Leaf worms or waxies rigged underneath a bobber drifted through weed beds will still put some fish in the live well.
Have a great weekend everyone and we will talk soon.
Greg