Free Fishing Weekend

Just another reminder about free fishing weekend. You don't need a fishing license for this weekend.

I'll be at the shop Saturday afternoon and most of the day on Sunday. Stop by and say hi.

Here's the lowdown if you are heading out this weekend.

Bluegills: The Bluegills are coming up into the shallows to spawn on most lakes. Many lakes already have nesting gills in the shallows. The biggest gills will be found on sand in 8-15 feet of water. Use leeches, waxworms or panfish plumpers.

Crappies: The crappies continue to bite, but have moved deeper over the last week. Look for them over and in shallow weeds. Stick with fuzzy grubs, fatheads or rosie reds. Now is the time for slipbobbers.

Largemouth: The post spawn phase is wrapping up. Lots of fish remain in the shallow areas using the inside weedlines and shallow breaks as forage area. Flats with reeds on them will hold lots of fish throughout the day. Its often a numbers game this time of year, but some big fish can still be caught. If you can't find fish in the shallows, move first to the first drop off, then work successive contor levels until you find active fish. I'd start in 6-8 feet of water and work my way out.

Smallmouth: Smallmouth are moving into the post spawn feed-a-thon that marks the first weeks in June. Look for them on rocky or sandy points, especially early in the morning or later in the day. The next two or three weeks can provide some incredible topwater fishing for smallmouth.

Walleyes: Look for them in 15-25 feet of water along structure. A deep flat with sand grass will have fish on it. I like to drift with lindy rigs or troll bottom bouncers with spinner rigs, moving slowly around secondary points. Early and later bites are usually better than heat of the day fishing, although Walleyes on Lac Labelle can be caught anythime day or night.

Northerns: Pike have become much more active over the last 10 days or so. look for them in the shallow weeds or along any deeper weedlines. Inline spinners with gold blades, traditional R bend spinners and shiners on circle hooks will produce. A buzzbait worked over flats with scattered weed cover can produce some violent strikes.

Musky: The fish are moving into their summer patterns, but some remain in shallow weedy areas, especially where panfish are congregating to spawn. Try bucktails and topwaters in the shallow water, swim baits, bulldogs and jigs in deeper water. If you troll, look for fish suspended just off the first deep breakline.

Good Luck Out There,
CT