Fishing Report 6-10-11

Wow...this weather is something else. 

Conditions: Right now most lakes are in the low to mid 70's. Weed growth is still behind, but is picking up, especially the milfoil. Water remains high on most lakes, and with cooler temps moving through, these conditions will continue. Be sure to double check boards at the launch for possible slow-no-wake restrictions, especially on smaller lakes.

Bluegills are on their beds. Current areas and spawning areas (like sandy or gravel areas) will hold the most fish. Smaller gills spawn up shallow, but if you're looking for nice gills, try 8-12 feet of water. Leeches on a split short rig are the best way to chase these larger pannies, but Waxworms, butterworms, redworms and plastics are taking fish. (Try Okauchee, Garvin, Golden Nagawicka, Forest, Middle Genessee, Ashipunn, Pretty and Lower Nashotah)

Crappie fishing has been hit or miss. A few crappies are being caught over deeper water near mainlake structure, and you can still find a few spawning crappies are in shallow bays near weeds, wood laydowns or reeds. Minnows, hooked through the tail on a small hook (#8 or #10), waxworms and plastics have all been taking fish. . (Try: Okauchee, Garvin, Moose, Kessus, Nagawicka, Golden and Pine.)

Largemouth Bass  are in the full-on post spawn period. A few fish are still spawning, but not many. The weather extremes this week really shut down the fishing. Topwaters (Pop R, Redfins and #11 Floating Rapalas) and crankbaits (Norman Baby N's, wiggle warts and rattletraps) are catching fish over open water areas, especially weed patches on the mid-depth flats in 6-12 feet of water. With the cold, the fish have moved tighter to cover in 3-8 feet of water. Plastics: Texas rigged lizards, tube jigs skirted grubs, and wacky worms are all cartching fish, as always, if the bite is tough, try a jigworm. Live bait on slip sinker rigs are catching a few fish for anglers making solid drifts over productive areas. (Try: Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Pine, Kessus, Nagawicka, Moose, Silver, School Section, Pretty, Golden or Emily)

Smallmouth Bass was still slow as fish finish their post-spawn pattern. Minnowbaits, like size 11 or 13 floating rapalas are actually a great way to catch these fish. Keep it simple, black and silver or chartruese and white are the best. If it warms up this weekend and the early part of next week, look for them on sand/rock transition areas and  target them with tubes, skirted grubs or twister tails. (Try: Oconomwoc, Pine, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, Beaver or the Bark and Oconomwoc Rivers.)

Walleye fishing went south with the weather this week. Fish are still using shallow weeds and weed edges in 6-12 feet. Slip Bobbers, jigging with live bait or drifting with lindy rigs have been productive, especially when using small suckers or leeches for bait. In the evening, a few anglers are still catching fish by working rapala minnow baits over isolated weed clumps on mainlake points and humps, but this bite also dropped off with the weather changes this past week. (Try: Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, North, Pine and Fox)

Northern Pike fishing was steady, and pike seem to be a using water that's a little deeper this season. The best way to catch pike is a small sucker or medium to large shiner on a slip sinker rig with a flourocarbon leader. Drift along the deeper edges of the weeds you can find in 6-12 feet and you'll find some fish. Lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits and spinner baits are also producing. (Try: Okauchee, Kessus, Garvin, Nagawicka, Pine, Moose, Fowler, Golden, School Section, Emily)

Musky fishing was very slow. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so figure eights are an absolute necessity, and having a sucker out on a quick strike rig is always a good idea. (Try: Okauchee, North, Pewaukee, Fowler and Lac Labelle)

Around the area: Fishing on the Rock River, anglers are still catching some whitebass, walleyes and catfish between the Jefferson Dam in and the mouth at the Indianford Dam.

Trout fishing in the stocked lakes and ponds continues to be a great way to catch some keepers. The local ponds, Lower Genessee, Ottawa and Lower Nashotah continue to give up fish.

As always, if you'd like to talk about some specific tips or want an up to date report, just email me.



Cheers,
CT

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Just FYI, I have added the settings for mobile devices, in case you ever need to check in while on the go.

Cheers,
CT

Oconomowoc Lake 6-5-11

Out today looking for bass 5am-11:30am.

Struggled for the first hour. Tried some topwaters and raised several nice fish over a point, but struck out on getting any in the boat. Switched to plastics and started picking a few off about a half hour after sunrise.

Worked obvious structural stuff, then moved to secondary spots, and really got on a hot pattern.
Ended with more than 25 bass, 8 of which were smallmouth. Incredible fishing today, but very precise approach was required for the bigger fish. Saw five musky in 8-10 feet and a couple more in the river.

Gills have moved up to spawn, lots of bass in the shallows chasing bait, and when the wind was down and we could see into the deep water, we saw walleyes all over the deeper sandy points. Lake flies still hatching out, but getting towards the end of that madness. Weeds starting, but way behind for early June. Baitfish everywhere.