This Weekend

Well gang, it looks like we are back up and running, if only at slow no wake speeds.


Here's what to expect on the water. Each lake is a little different right now. Some of the ones that were very high, still have some dirty water in places, while other lakes have experienced some dramatic weed growth. Water temps are in the mid 70's to low 80's, and can vary substantially even on a single body of water.

Anglers targeting musky have good made use of the slow no wake conditions, and moved out to mid summer trolling depths. Fish are being taken along the weedlines in 12-18 feet of water, but also out over deeper water. Jointed depth raiders have been red hot, as have the Bucher Swimmin' Joes, and deep diving Bagley's. Perch, gold and shad have been the better colors as of late.

Northern continue to be very active on most area lakes. Lots of fish are being caught by anglers targeting bass around shallow weeds, and some nicer pike continue to be caught on slip sinker brigs tipped with small to medium suckers fished along deeper weedlines and off the deep ends of shallow points.

Walleye are biting, but largely on a night bite right now. If you can stand the bugs, you can do well throwing crankbaits and floating stickbaits around weeds or by vertically jigging weedlines along the deep edges of flats.

Bass fishing is starting to come around after the flooding. The smallmouths are using shallow rocks early and late, a solid pier bite has developed for largemouths. A few largemouths are being taken on deep diving cranks or swim baits, but the majority of the fish are being taken shallow on soft plastics, shakey head, wacky worms and skirted grubs.

Bluegills remain in deep spawning grounds. You can find gills in shallow water, especially around sand, but if you want some better catches, you need to look for them in sandy and gravel areas in 12-18 feet of water, as this is where the nice fish are congregating right now. Vertcially fishing with a split shot rig, or dragging a 1/8 ounce lindy rig in the deeper sand is producing some nice catches right now. Nightcrawlers or redworms will work, but panfish plumpers or leeches are better options for the bigger gills in deep water.

Good Luck,
CT