Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, the holiday week looks to bring a mixed bag of weather with good chances of rain on Tuesday and Friday and temps anywhere from the upper 60s to upper 70s. The lakes are still taking their sweet time to warm up and the cool nights we have been having do not help that. Most of what I am hearing and seeing have the lakes still right around the 70 degree mark and the fishing has been reflective of cool water. It seems the fish aren’t really sure where they are supposed to be right now.
Musky–The musky bite has been decent, but anglers have to take advantage of bite windows. Small bucktails are the #1 lure on our board, but I have heard of a lot of follows on those baits and not a lot of hookups. Anglers should throw back to following fish with baits that pull/pause such as suicks or glide baits. A few small topwater baits have made the board as well so that could indicate fish are moving shallow and transitioning to a more mid summer pattern.
Northern pike–Pike have been the most consistent eaters so far this year (which should surprise no one!) and are being caught on everything from crawlers under a float to spinnerbaits to bucktails. Anglers will likely find pike in and around weedy bays and big weed beds anywhere in the lake.
Walleye–The walleye bite has been tricky lately and the daytime bite seems to be better than the evening/dusk bite that many are used to for walleye. Walleye have still been in those areas where shallow weeds and rocky bottoms meet. Live bait such as leeches or minnows jigged on that structure are producing the most fish. As the water warms up walleye should push deep and the bottom bouncing/trolling bite should start to take off.
LMB–Largemouth have been somewhat predictable but haven’t been active on a topwater bite just yet. Fish are still suspended in and around weed beds and plastic worms, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have been working.
SMB–Smallies have been active on most of the same spots as anglers are seeing walleye. They too have not pushed out into deep water and I think it’s a direct reflection of the water staying cool. Look for smallies on those bottom transitions from weed to rock and jig with plastics or live bait.
Crappie–Crappie have been elusive to say the least this spring. Even seasoned anglers are having trouble finding a consistent pattern for crappie so far this year. Anglers should try for crappie in weed beds around 6-10 FOW or around cribs/timber that is in that range. Baits such as beetle spins should work as well as live bait such as crappie minnows.
Bluegill/Perch–Anglers have done well off of docks with crawlers for bluegill and perch have been found out on deep weed lines. Again, there has been no consistency in the bite so anglers should start shallow and work their way to deeper water in search of panfish.
Have a great 4th of July everyone!
Greg