Fishing Report 8-14-09

Summer decided to show up finally. Here's a quick rundown on what to expect when you hit the water this weekend.

Water temps in the mid to high 70's. Many lakes have a sizable bloom going on right now. Baitfish are schooled up in deeper water, but will come to windy banks, on days with a consistent solid breeze.

Panfish have been biting, but the best bite has been in deeper water. Gills and crappies are suspending 12-18 feet down over deeper water, or are relating to deep weeds in 16-25 feet. Deep water fish attractors are also concentrating schools of pannies. Vertical fishing while drifting during the day, or fishing the deep weed edges with lighted slipbobbers on mainlake points at night should be a solid pattern for a few weeks.

Bass fishing has been slow, but steady. The fish can be caught shallow or deep, but some days, especially the high pressure/bright sunny days, the bite can be slow and the strike zone small. Fish vertical baits, like jigs, wacky worms, texas rigs or grubs around piers, or on inside weed edge turns. Slop fishing has also been turning on. Slipsinker rigs with a small sucker, or a splitshot rig with a nightcrawler or large leech will work on the outside weededges in 12-18 feet of water.

Northern pike are biting agressively. Trolling with wide wobbling crankbaits or spinners has been producing some decent fishing. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are catching fish in 8-15 feet of water around isolated weed clumps, especially in the morning.

Musky fishing has been very good this entire season. Many fish are being taken early casting jerkbaits or gliders around deep weed edges or mainlake points. Trolling crankbaits has been effective during the day, especially longlining mid depth divers in the deepest water.

Good Luck.
CT