Fishing Report 7-8-09

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven't been dropping in as often as I should. School is keeping me mighty busy these days.

Fishing has been fluctuating with the weather, and the cold fronts have been slowing it down as they pass through. Last night's Big Bass League was a perfect example of that.

Bass fishing has been slow, but steady the past week. The weather changes are effecting the fish. Weedlines and piers are both producing right now, but look for the rockbars and gravel areas to turn on as they crayfish start to molt. Topwater fishing can be productive, and the slop is holding active fish on the sunny days. Deep: try crankbaits, slow rolled spinnerbaits, texas rigs or live bait. Shallow: Tubes, Wacky, jigworms and grubs.

Pike continue to bite, and can provide some consistent fishing despite the weather conditions. Look for them adjacent to deep water and deep weed points. Slipsinker rigs will suckers or large shiners will produce fish of quality size if trolled ever so slowly with you electric motor. Make sure to stay in contact with the weed edge or sand grass and watch for bait schools on your graph.

Musky fishing has been incredible this year, lots of nice low to mid 40's themfish continue to be caught. Lots of anglers are working the weed edges and deep points, but topwater and trolling for suspended fish have also been producing. Oconomowoc, Okauchee and Fowler have all been active the last 15 days.

Panfish continue to bite, but spawning activity is on the downswing. Time to look for them around deeper weeds or suspended off mainlake structure. Night fishing can be dynamite this time of year. Bets bet is to look for fish in 18-22 feet of water and remember that the largest fish in a school will be at the bottom of it. If you're catching smaller fish, try fishing a little deeper, or at least try to get you bait down a little farther.

Good Luck,

CT