Fishing Report 9-19-14

Well gang the Musky are biting and the days are getting short. It is fall.

Water temps are in the mid 60's. The weeds are still very green, and thick on most lakes. Fishing  is picking up as the water cools.

Bass and pike continue to relate to shallow weeds. Weeds on shallow flats are being used by active fish a couple times a day to feed and as ambush points. There's lots of baitfish  swimming in the 3-8 foot depths, and the bass are feeding heavily. Floating minnow baits, grubs, jigworms or lipless crankbaits are catching these fish. On cooler, cloudy days, fishing tight to the weed clumps with shallow crankbaits, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits can be very good. Bigger fish can be caught flipping and pitching jigs to weed edges, around docks with deep water or near wood laydowns.

Musky are moving from the deeper water and are holding on the weedlines, an a great place to connect with a fish is an area where you find the combination of weeds and rock, near where deep and shallow water converge (ie points and bars that stretch out to deep water) Some nice fish are being moved off very shallow along rocks, especially later in the afternoons. As the daytime temps continue to cool down, expect the action to pick up dramatically. Gliders, swimbaits, bucktails and suckers on a quick strike rig have all been producing.

Bluegills are starting to pile up in weedy areas in 6-12 feet of water. Plastics tipped with wax worms are your best bets. Be ready to move in or out depending on conditions, but keepers will be a couple feet above the edges of deep structure. Expect the crappie to move in as the water temperature continues to drop, if the weather gets cool this week, areas with current will see some schools of nice crappies move in.

Walleye  are moving shallow in the morning and the evenings. Minnowbaits, shiners or suckers, or spinner harnesses have been producing. Look for the most active fish to be in 6-12 FOW early in the mornings and in 10-15 FOW during the day.