Good morning, a good soaker rain here this morning. Looks like only chances of rain are this morning and tomorrow with the rest of the week staying dry and 70s. Hopefully this front will get fish moving, as the bite went into lockdown last week compared to the last couple.
Musky–The musky bite has slowed down a bit this past week, but this weather front and the moon phase should help it out for early in the week. Stable weather after that should keep it good for the foreseeable future. Lots of following fish on faster moving baits high in the water column but not a lot committing. If you get a follow, be sure to cast back with another bait such as a dive/rise or a glide bait. Something you can work slower to try to make them mad enough to eat it. Suicks, phantoms and even a creeper or topwater worked slow will entice fish. We are also in that time of year were bigger suspending baits will start to work better than burning bucktails, so be sure to mix it up if you aren’t seeing fish with what you are using.
Northern pike–The pike bite has still been consistent on spinner baits and bucktails. Work these baits through weed beds anywhere from 3-10 FOW and you will come across some pike action. Ticking the tips of weeds with crankbaits and letting the baits rise a bit can also be a great way to catch northern pike.
Walleye–The walleye have all but disappeared from what I am hearing. I have not been out fishing for them myself…..I have this little sickness called musky fever that tends to take over whenever I am in the boat!! But I have not been hearing good reports on the walleye bite at all from anybody. Most walleye will be relating to basins this time of year on bigger/deeper lakes and trolling crankbaits/slow death rigs and even drifting lindy rigs towards bottom will be effective. For weed related walleye, jigs with fluke style plastics worked into pockets of thick cover will work well. Johnson beetle spins in the larger sizes will work as well.
Largemouth bass–The largemouth bite has still been pretty good and it seems spinnerbaits are still working the best to catch bigger fish. Loads of mid size largemouth have still been caught on nightcrawlers under a bobber in and around weeds. Swim jigs worked through thick cover can also be a great way to target largemouths this time of year.
Smallmouth bass–Not a whole bunch to report on the smallie bite either…..Not sure if there is just not a lot being caught or just not getting told about them being caught. Work deep rocks/points or anywhere there is a hard bottom structure deeper in the lake. Deeper is relative so focus more on structure than depth. In some lakes it could be 10-15 FOW and other lakes it could be 20-25 FOW. Jigs with plastics, drop shots, ned rigs are all good ways to get down to deeper water and target smallmouth.
Crappie–The crappie bite has been a little bit tougher this week, but some guys/gals were having luck on crappie minnows worked over shallow bars that dropped off into main lake basins. Small jigs under a bobber tipped with crappie minnows was the ticket for them. Small jigs tipped with plastics should work just as well.
Bluegill/perch–Nightcrawlers on small hooks worked over and through weed beds will always find you catching bluegill and perch. They are also great to fish from docks/piers and even from sandy shore lines and bank fishing. A bonus to fishing this way for little fish is that most of the time you can catch bigger fish just by being on good spots and offering an easy meal!!
If you are out on the lakes, you may want to start scoping out spots to put duck blinds up as waterfowl season is fast approaching! Early goose, teal and mourning dove seasons open on September 1st! Have a great weekend!
Greg