The 2015 Opener and Fishing Report for 5-1-15

There's under 12 hours until the opener...here's my last minute post.

Check out my Scouting Report from yesterday, my annual preview post here or the local highlights of the 2015 fishing report from the DNR.


Water is in the low to mid 50 on most lakes. Mainlake areas can be sub 50 degrees, with shallow, dark bottom bays pushing 60 degrees, especially before the rain moves through Sunday.

 Panfish are moving into the shallows in groups. There's still plenty of fish hanging off the breaks suspended, especially the larger crappies, but you can get onto some decent sized fish in the 4-8 FOW range.  Areas with green weeds will hold the most panfish, but look for them around laydowns and docks that reach deeper water. Batches of nice gills are schooled up around deeper docks right now.  Keep it simple, small bobbers and small bait. Minnows for the crappies, but otherwise plastics tipped with waxies or spikes. Remember the biggest panfish are on the bottom of the school, so get that bait down to them. (Okauchee, Kessus, Ashippun, Lower Nehmabin, Fowler, Nagawicka, Pine, Golden, Middle Genessee and Forest (for shore fishing)

Bass fishing will be on fire this weekend, but will come in flurries of action as you make contact with schooled up fish on the forage run. The fishing should be fantastic for at least the next 10 days/two weeks. Very few fish are up on the beds, but most are still chasing bait and craws at the last major structural elements outside of the spawning areas. Jig and pig, wacky, floating worms, soft jerkbaits, grubs, drop shot minnows and lipless crankbaits will produce depending on the day. Lindy rigs with leeches fished around shallow weed clumps will catch fish, as will split shotting nightcrawlers along shallow rock to weed transitions. Now is the time to catch your biggest bass of the year. (Okauchee, Silver, Golden, Kessus, Moose, Oconomowoc, Pine, North, Nagawicka, School Section or Pretty.)







Pike fishing should start steady. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or lipless crankbaits fished over/around shallow weeds or in marshy areas can really produce this time of year. If you're catching small pike, move out to a deeper depth contour in the same area.

Musky will be shallow.Try downsizing and throwing baits in natural patterns, or bucktails with a black skirt and some flash (Like These from Muskie Metal)

Walleye fishing should be hot for the opener, especially on the inland lakes. Look for active fish on the ends of the points (with sand) in 6-12FOW. Backtrolling or drfiting with slip sinker or split shot rigs and live bait.

Best of luck this week.

Cheers,
CT