Good day, fishing has still been pretty good for crappie/walleye. Musky have been pretty slow with only 2 being registered on our chart here at the bait shop. Good stable weather should help next week though!!
Musky–Smaller baits and slowing down presentations can help this time of year. Bass sized spinner baits, small inline bucktails, and swimbaits on jig heads can all help put muskies in the net in spring. Shallow warm bays with growing weeds is the places to look for as the musky will be in those areas feeding on baitfish.
Walleye–The walleye bite has been pretty solid and continues to be from what I am hearing. Fatheads rigged on jigheads cast out and worked along bottom seem to be the norm for catching. Leeches are starting to make their way into the mix as the water is starting to warm up a little bit. Shallower weed edges are still holding fish as the current water temps are still on the cool side.
Northern Pike–The pike bite has been consistent with lots of the walleye guys catching pike on their set ups. Lots also being caught on bass set ups such as spinner baits and chatterbaits. There is really no wrong way to fish for pike as they will eat just about anything and everything. Any water from shallow weedy bays to sandy/rocky shorelines will all hold fish.
Largemouth bass–Chatter baits seem to be pretty hot right now for big largemouth bass. Colors in green pumpkin, black/blue and white/chartreuse are all solid choices. Big nightcrawlers under a float on jig/hook also works well for bass.
Smallmouth bass–I haven’t been hearing too much on the smallmouth bite as far as what is working to catch fish, but some nice fish are being caught. Rocky points that transition out into the basin is a good place to start. Jig heads with plastics that imitate crawfish, small crankbaits bouncing off of the rocks and livebait such as fatheads on a jighead all will work.
Crappie–The crappie bite has slowed down a little bit as the water temps have been hovering just above the 60 degree mark. I am hearing the shallow weed bite on crappie minnows is still a pretty good bet, but you have to pick through some fish to get onto bigger ones.
Bluegill–Leaf worms/crawlers under floats on sandy shorelines will catch plenty of bluegill. Small spinners with plastic grubs such as beetle spins will also catch some nice gils. Haven’t heard of any records but they are abundant in all of the lakes in the area. Bluegill should be starting to make beds as they get ready for spawn, and will be aggressive in protecting their beds.
Perch–Perch are in and around between the crappie and bluegill stealing minnows at will. Shallow weed beds will hold perch and if you want to target them, its best to just fish through them until you get some nicer size to keep. Crappie minnows on snell hooks underneath floats is probably the most common way to catch perch in the spring.
Tight lines, and good luck!
Greg