Fishing Report 6-8-2017

Hey gang,

I've been out a bunch again this week. Conditions are starting to stabilize on our local lakes. Water temps are in the low to mid 70's. There's been significant weed growth over the last 10 days. Water is still very high, especially on the smaller lakes. A couple have speed restrictions in place, so make sure to check the signs at the launch before you head out.

Bluegills are spawning on most area lakes. There's lots of nests in the shallows, but the better panfish are being caught out of the deeper sand. Look for them shallow, but if you want some better sized keepers, find sand/gravel areas in 8-15 feet, and fish for them vertically with light lindy or split shot rigs baited with panfish leeches.

Crappie are moving out to weedlines. You can find them suspended in the tops of standing green weeds (especially milfoil patches) or along any weedlines you can find.

Bass are starting to settle into their summer patterns, anglers are catching fish both out of both shallow (2-6 FOW) and deep water (10-15 FOW). Docks, rockbars, slop, scattered weeds on flats and the deep weedlines all have (some) active fish. Largemouth have been active around isolated weed clumps in 6-12 feet of water.The topwater bite has been steady, but most topwater fish are being caught before 8am over flat areas adjacent to deep water, especially areas with small patches of weeds. Pop-R's have been producing some nice schooling fish, and grubs, jigworms, jig/chunk combos and wacky worms are all producing shallow...texas rigs and drop shots are turning on deep.

Musky fishing has been very inconsistent. Struggling to find them in shallow water, active fish have come been caught on topwaters around mainlake points and on deep divers and tubes fished along the deepest weed edges you can find.

Walleye action has been about average with the bite fluctuating day to day with the weather shifts.  There was a significant hatch of mayflies this past week, and that always slows the bite some. Jigging and rigging along the 8-12 FOW weedges has been working when the fish are active. Leeches under slip bobbers are catching fish in 8-15 feet, especially around weed/rock transition areas. Suckers fished on a split shot rig have been taking some better fish, especially in the late evenings. Weededges and sand grass are the areas to key on, especially in 10-15 feet of water. If you're fishing after dark, floating rapalas and smaller swimbaits are catch fish out of shallow areas with current.

Pike action has been slow and steady. Fish the weed flats and outside edges with spinners or live bait. Smaller, wide wobbling crankbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits are really producing for the action seekers. Reapers and large jerkbaits are catching some better fish, but the action has been very slow.

Good luck and be safe out there.

Cheers,
CT