First, a reminder about Musky Mikes Northern Pike Tournament on Sunday on Okauchee. Information is available here.
Fishing is picking up as the cooler weather has set in. I have done a bunch of trips over the last 10 days and the gamefish activity is getting much better. The best bites are the early and late feeding periods, but with a little work, you can have steady action all day long. It's been a tough year in terms of bigger fish, but the last couple of trips we've really been catching some nice fish, in addition to solid numbers of smaller ones.
Panfish activity is still happening in the deep water. Look for them in 20+ FOW, and suspended about half way down. Areas where a deep weedline touches a deeper drop-off (like a deep point for example) are really holding some nice schools of fish. Tightlining with live bait, or slip bobbers is you best approach, and night fishing with lighted slip bobbers has really been a solid (but not to often talked about) way to get a limit of nice keepers. Plastics tipped with live bait, leeches or leafworms all seem to be the meat the bluegills are after. Crappies are suspending over deep structure, live cribs, and slip bobbers with tailed hooked minnows is producing.
Largemouth bass action has gotten red hot over the last two weeks, but there is hot and cold streaks throughout the day. Look for feeding periods from just before sun-up until about 9:30, and then again from about 4pm to just after dark. The fish are actively chasing bait during these periods, and can be caught on grubs, ringworms, flapper grubs, and jigworms. Topwater action can be had, but the bait they are chasing is on the small side, so go with a small pop-r, skitter pop or something similar. After the initial feeding, look for fish to get tight to shallow cover, docks or weed edges, and then chase them down with wacky, tubes, and jig/craw combos. On bright sunny days, the slop bite has been producing, but personally I'm only catching smaller fish out of the slop right now. Best bite has been on shallow weedflats with scattered cover, where you can visibly see baitfish schooled up and swimming around. Today I caught fish at essentially every depth between 18 inches and 22 feet.
Smallmouth action has been a little slower by most reports. They are still biting, but like the largemouths there's periods of time during the day f active feeding. The crayfish are not in full molt yet, and when that starts expect the smallie action to go gangbusters for 10 days-2weeks. Right now you can catch some smallies on the flats and mainlake structure, especially along the drop-off edges, or suspended off the breaks in deep water. Tubes, wacky, grubs and soft jerkbaits are all producing the shallow fish, while suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits are catching the deeper fish.
Northern action has been slow, but I haven't been actively targeting them, so take that with a grain of salt. Look for them on deep weedlines, or suspended in very deep water. If you're fishing the tournament, I'd go with a slip sinker rig, with a florocarbon leader, and drag sucker or big shiners (the biggest you can find) along the first break off the deep weedline.
Musky action has been slow and steady, and the best action has been on Oconomowoc and Fowler. Look for fish to be in 15-22 foot of water. A few fish are foraging and eating juvenile perch, especially in the morning, and shallow rockbars, points or shorelines with easy access to deep water have some fish making feeding runs.
Good Luck,
Cheers.
CT
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Fishing Report 8-4-2011
Its a nice cool morning as I write this today. If this weather stabilizes some, expect fish activity to pick up. Right now water temp is as high as 87 degrees, practically a stir fry. The hot days we've been having mean that mornings and evenings, have been the periods of time of active fish feeding.
Anglers are still catching a mixed bag of largemouths, and there were some monsters taken in the Okauchee tournament on Sunday. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, deep sand flats in 22-28 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish at various points during the day. I'm not saying its gospel, but I would fish shallow early, and then move out to deeper structure as the sun gets up.
Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are your best options for catching the deeper fish. 10 inch power worms in black, red-shad and motoroil have been very good, as has swimming a heavy jig. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms, tubes, grubs and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. Flipping the slop on florida rigged plastic craws isn't catching many fish, but the ones coming in have been top end for size. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flapper grubs fished over mid-depth weedflats in 8-12 FOW, including more than 30 caught in three hours in a little free fishing time after a guide trip this week.
Smallmouth are definitely suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. As the crayfish begin to molt over the next 15 days, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, continue to fish a bit deeper, using tubes, wacky, skirted grubs and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season, and was a solid producer for me the last week.
Musky fishing slowed down with the last batch of hot weather. And let's not lie about it, this has been a tough season for musky overall. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits is still the primary pattern producing fish, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive. Speed trolling with shortlines has been catching a few smaller (35-40inch) fish that have moved in on the shallow weedlines.
Walleye fishing has been very tough. I'd go with slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weed edges or deep sand flats with grass. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healthy sandgrass. Longlining spinner harnesses around structure at the depth of the thermocline will also usually produce both day an night. You might find fish as deep as 35 FOW. For now, I'd continue to target other fish, but if the days cool off, the activity should pick up quickly.
Bluegills are in summer patterns. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option. I caught several keepers this week out of weed clumps at the end of mainlake structure.
Okauchee: If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Pike have been very active in 15-22 FOW.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet or suspended around the springs in the deep part of the basin. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike, bass have biting on leeches and large fatheads under bobbers, or on slip sinker rigs.
Oconomowoc: Mornings have been best, but a steady bite has been going all day. Fish are deeper than normal for this time of year. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike are coming for those anglers who are back or slow trolling with slip sinkers baited with small suckers. No report on Musky, which means the fishing was dead during the last stretch of hot weather.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines, a few trout were caught over the main part of the basin.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing was slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Lots of fish are suspending about 15-18 feet down over the deepest water. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin, and fishing was at a standstill for them. Smallmouth have been active in the sand and rock areas in 6-10 and 15-22 FOW.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been best in the morning. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water will produce if plastics or spinnerbaits aren't working.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike has been steady action. Concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 15-18 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been on a deeper weedline bite. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on buzzbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW. Water is very warm, and surprisingly cloudy with a heavy algae bloom right now.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee:Musky fishing is picking up, especially for the guides who have been trolling. Bass fishing has been very good.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
Anglers are still catching a mixed bag of largemouths, and there were some monsters taken in the Okauchee tournament on Sunday. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, deep sand flats in 22-28 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish at various points during the day. I'm not saying its gospel, but I would fish shallow early, and then move out to deeper structure as the sun gets up.
Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are your best options for catching the deeper fish. 10 inch power worms in black, red-shad and motoroil have been very good, as has swimming a heavy jig. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms, tubes, grubs and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. Flipping the slop on florida rigged plastic craws isn't catching many fish, but the ones coming in have been top end for size. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flapper grubs fished over mid-depth weedflats in 8-12 FOW, including more than 30 caught in three hours in a little free fishing time after a guide trip this week.
Smallmouth are definitely suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. As the crayfish begin to molt over the next 15 days, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, continue to fish a bit deeper, using tubes, wacky, skirted grubs and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season, and was a solid producer for me the last week.
Musky fishing slowed down with the last batch of hot weather. And let's not lie about it, this has been a tough season for musky overall. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits is still the primary pattern producing fish, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive. Speed trolling with shortlines has been catching a few smaller (35-40inch) fish that have moved in on the shallow weedlines.
Walleye fishing has been very tough. I'd go with slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weed edges or deep sand flats with grass. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healthy sandgrass. Longlining spinner harnesses around structure at the depth of the thermocline will also usually produce both day an night. You might find fish as deep as 35 FOW. For now, I'd continue to target other fish, but if the days cool off, the activity should pick up quickly.
Bluegills are in summer patterns. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option. I caught several keepers this week out of weed clumps at the end of mainlake structure.
Okauchee: If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Pike have been very active in 15-22 FOW.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet or suspended around the springs in the deep part of the basin. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike, bass have biting on leeches and large fatheads under bobbers, or on slip sinker rigs.
Oconomowoc: Mornings have been best, but a steady bite has been going all day. Fish are deeper than normal for this time of year. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike are coming for those anglers who are back or slow trolling with slip sinkers baited with small suckers. No report on Musky, which means the fishing was dead during the last stretch of hot weather.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines, a few trout were caught over the main part of the basin.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing was slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Lots of fish are suspending about 15-18 feet down over the deepest water. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin, and fishing was at a standstill for them. Smallmouth have been active in the sand and rock areas in 6-10 and 15-22 FOW.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been best in the morning. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water will produce if plastics or spinnerbaits aren't working.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike has been steady action. Concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 15-18 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been on a deeper weedline bite. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on buzzbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW. Water is very warm, and surprisingly cloudy with a heavy algae bloom right now.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee:Musky fishing is picking up, especially for the guides who have been trolling. Bass fishing has been very good.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Fishing Report 7-28-11
Well gang, as the weather has stabilized, so has the fishing. If you're heading out, you can expect the fishing to be fairly typical for summertime on our area lakes.
A couple of activity notes: This weekend is the Okauchee Lake Tie-up (Saturday) and there's a bass tournament on Sunday.
As for the fishing, morning and evenings, not surprisingly, have been the best times to be on the water. Anglers are catching a mixed bag of largemouths. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish. Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are catching the deeper fish. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. A few nice fish have come out of the smaller lakes flipping (rather than topwater fishing) the slop on florida rigged plastic craws. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flappers fished over/in holes on mid-depth weedflats in 6-8 FOW.
Smallmouth fishing has been slow and steady this season. I think the warm temperatures have pushed the baitfish out, and many smallmouth are suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. As the crayfish begin to molt, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, fish just a bit deeper than normal, using tubes, wacky and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season.
Musky fishing has been on fire since the weather cooled off. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits has been the primary pattern, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive.
Walleye fishing has remained slow since the oppresive heat we've been experiencing started. Slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weeds is usually a pretty good daytime presentation this time of year,. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healty sandgrass. Longlining spinner harnesses around structure at the depth of the thermocline will also usually produce both day an night. For now, I'd target other fish.
Bluegills are doing their summer thing. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option. I've continued to catch some quality gills in the 8-15 feet depth on a couple of the smaller lakes. (See Below)
-----
Okauchee: Boats, Boats and more boats will be the story on Okauchee this weekend. If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike.
Oconomowoc: Mornings and evenings have been best. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike has been better than average for anglers with small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was picking up, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish over the tops of weeds chasing juvenile gills.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing was steady, but a little slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. White bass have been stealing lots of bait from walleye and panfisherman.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been good. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been good. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 18 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been biting best on q deeper weedline bite. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee:Musky fishing is picking up, especially for the guides who have been trolling. Bass fishing has been very good.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
A couple of activity notes: This weekend is the Okauchee Lake Tie-up (Saturday) and there's a bass tournament on Sunday.
As for the fishing, morning and evenings, not surprisingly, have been the best times to be on the water. Anglers are catching a mixed bag of largemouths. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish. Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are catching the deeper fish. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. A few nice fish have come out of the smaller lakes flipping (rather than topwater fishing) the slop on florida rigged plastic craws. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flappers fished over/in holes on mid-depth weedflats in 6-8 FOW.
Smallmouth fishing has been slow and steady this season. I think the warm temperatures have pushed the baitfish out, and many smallmouth are suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. As the crayfish begin to molt, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, fish just a bit deeper than normal, using tubes, wacky and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season.
Musky fishing has been on fire since the weather cooled off. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits has been the primary pattern, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive.
Walleye fishing has remained slow since the oppresive heat we've been experiencing started. Slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weeds is usually a pretty good daytime presentation this time of year,. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healty sandgrass. Longlining spinner harnesses around structure at the depth of the thermocline will also usually produce both day an night. For now, I'd target other fish.
Bluegills are doing their summer thing. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option. I've continued to catch some quality gills in the 8-15 feet depth on a couple of the smaller lakes. (See Below)
-----
Okauchee: Boats, Boats and more boats will be the story on Okauchee this weekend. If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike.
Oconomowoc: Mornings and evenings have been best. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike has been better than average for anglers with small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was picking up, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish over the tops of weeds chasing juvenile gills.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing was steady, but a little slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. White bass have been stealing lots of bait from walleye and panfisherman.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been good. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been good. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 18 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been biting best on q deeper weedline bite. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee:Musky fishing is picking up, especially for the guides who have been trolling. Bass fishing has been very good.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
Musky Mikes Okauchee Lake Pike Tournament
Musky Mikes is having a Northern Pike Tournament on Okauchee Lake
This is something many people have asked about doing over the years.
Rules and entry form here.
This is something many people have asked about doing over the years.
Rules and entry form here.
Friday, July 22, 2011
My friends at Viking Outposts have some openings
If you have the opportunity to go fishing in Ontario, I highly recommend the fly-in experience. It will be a week you won't forget.
If you're looking for a great outfitter, Viking Outposts (www.vikingoutpost.com) gets a recommendation from me.
I have fished their outposts over the years, and every time is a trip to remember. You leave from Red Lake, and spend a week fishing a lake for walleye, perch and pike by yourself. On one trip, my dad and I caught more than 1000 gamefish in a week of fishing.
They have some late season openings, starting today.
If you're looking for a great outfitter, Viking Outposts (www.vikingoutpost.com) gets a recommendation from me.
I have fished their outposts over the years, and every time is a trip to remember. You leave from Red Lake, and spend a week fishing a lake for walleye, perch and pike by yourself. On one trip, my dad and I caught more than 1000 gamefish in a week of fishing.
They have some late season openings, starting today.
Domain Lake July 22-29
Viking Island July 23-30
Viking Island July 23-30
Rheaume Lake July 21- August 4
Dolphin Lake August 6- 13
Telescope Lake August 12-19
Contact them:
Dolphin Lake August 6- 13
Telescope Lake August 12-19
Contact them:
Craig and Roseanne 1-807-727-3461 Hugh 1-807-727-2262 Enid 1-807-727-0321
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Fishing Report:7-22-11
Hope you survived the heatwave intact. That was a rough run.
Despite the heat, bass fishing has remained fairly consistent. There's an early bite happening on most lakes up until about 9:30am. The fish are then moving into the weeds, under piers or into the slop. They can be targeted around overhanging cover or weededges adjacent to deeper water.
The bite is picking up again around 3:30 and remains fairly consistent until dark. Fish are being taken in shallow water on wacky worms, (white has been a hot color) tubes, skirted grubs and shakey head worms. Deeper fish are coming on jigworms, texas rigged plastics or jigs with a craw or chunk trailer. Live bait, chubs, leeches or crawlers on a slip sinker or lindy rig have also been catching some fish as deep as 25 FOW on the clear water lakes.
Northern pike continue to bite. As is typical for this point in the season, shallow fish are still being caught on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits around shallow weed clumps on the flats in 5-10FOW. Deeper fish are being taken using live bait, chubs and/or shiners, long lined on slip-sinker rigs. Trolling deep-diving crankbaits in natural or metalic (ie shiny) patterns like the rapala DT, hot n tots, or wiggle warts around the weed edges has also been producing some fish. 18-22 FOW seems to be the hot zone for pike right now.
Walleye fishing has dropped off substantially with the heat, expect the bite to pick back up as the sun gives way to some clouds, and more importantly, some wind. The heat and sunshine are one thing, but the lack of wind during this hot streak has really pushed the walleye to low light activity cycles, and people's catch rates have dropped off. If you're going to look for them, I'd start by trolling small minnow baits around the ends of deep points and midlake bars trying to find some suspended fish, or back troll (slowly) around deep weededges in 18-22 fow with live bait.
Catfishing on the Rock and Fox has been very good, but most of the fish that are being caught are a little smaller. You want a meal...its a great option, if you're looking to do battle with a monster, you might want to wait a bit. Cutbait has been outproducing stink bait or nightcrawlers according to my sources.
Musky fishing has picked up a bit, especially early and late when people have been putting in the time. Most of the fish are being caught while trolling deep edges and over deep flat structure in 22-45 fow, but a few are still coming on topwater during low light periods, especially very early in the morning. Look for them around deep water structure, especially the deep end of long points.
Good Luck.
Cheers,
CT
Despite the heat, bass fishing has remained fairly consistent. There's an early bite happening on most lakes up until about 9:30am. The fish are then moving into the weeds, under piers or into the slop. They can be targeted around overhanging cover or weededges adjacent to deeper water.
The bite is picking up again around 3:30 and remains fairly consistent until dark. Fish are being taken in shallow water on wacky worms, (white has been a hot color) tubes, skirted grubs and shakey head worms. Deeper fish are coming on jigworms, texas rigged plastics or jigs with a craw or chunk trailer. Live bait, chubs, leeches or crawlers on a slip sinker or lindy rig have also been catching some fish as deep as 25 FOW on the clear water lakes.
Northern pike continue to bite. As is typical for this point in the season, shallow fish are still being caught on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits around shallow weed clumps on the flats in 5-10FOW. Deeper fish are being taken using live bait, chubs and/or shiners, long lined on slip-sinker rigs. Trolling deep-diving crankbaits in natural or metalic (ie shiny) patterns like the rapala DT, hot n tots, or wiggle warts around the weed edges has also been producing some fish. 18-22 FOW seems to be the hot zone for pike right now.
Walleye fishing has dropped off substantially with the heat, expect the bite to pick back up as the sun gives way to some clouds, and more importantly, some wind. The heat and sunshine are one thing, but the lack of wind during this hot streak has really pushed the walleye to low light activity cycles, and people's catch rates have dropped off. If you're going to look for them, I'd start by trolling small minnow baits around the ends of deep points and midlake bars trying to find some suspended fish, or back troll (slowly) around deep weededges in 18-22 fow with live bait.
Catfishing on the Rock and Fox has been very good, but most of the fish that are being caught are a little smaller. You want a meal...its a great option, if you're looking to do battle with a monster, you might want to wait a bit. Cutbait has been outproducing stink bait or nightcrawlers according to my sources.
Musky fishing has picked up a bit, especially early and late when people have been putting in the time. Most of the fish are being caught while trolling deep edges and over deep flat structure in 22-45 fow, but a few are still coming on topwater during low light periods, especially very early in the morning. Look for them around deep water structure, especially the deep end of long points.
Good Luck.
Cheers,
CT
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Fishing Report 7-15-2011
Hey gang, the fishing has been tough with the warmer weather, but better on the cooler and cloudy days. Its the time of the year where early morning fishing is usually the best. Traditional mid-summer patterns are what's happening on the lakes right now.
Panfish have moved to deep water. They can be a little tricky to find, but if you can get on some, you won't believe the size and quantity of panfish you can pull out of deeper water. My best suggestion for you is to drive slowly just off the weedlines and the deep edges of points with your electronics on. Panfish typically school up over 18-28 FOW and about 6-12 feet down. They'll look like a cloud on your graph. Use slip bobbers or tightline vertically with leeches, plastics tipped with waxies/spikes or pieces of nightcrawler to target these fish on a drift.
Largemouth Bass are running three of their usual summer patterns. On sunny, warmer days the piers and the slop are producing. Smoke colored flappers are catching tons of fish either skipped or worked slowly along the weedlines Wacky worms, tubes and shakey heads are producing around the piers, while rats, scum frogs, strike king or zoom frogs are pulling them out of the slop. Deeper fish have schooled up on the weedlines and the end of points. Texas rigs, drop shots, crankbaits and swim baits are catching these fish. The fish on the weed flats are being taken on topwater, especially early in the evening as the sun sets. Buzzbaits, poppers and spooks are all catching fish.
Smallmouth bass have been a little harder to come by since the heat wave. Look for the fish that have been holding deeper to move to shallow rocky areas on cooler mornings and just before dark. Skirted grubs, tubes, grubs and jigworms. Having trouble finding fish? Use crankbaits (lipless or shallow divers) as search baits to find schools of fish. Silver and blue or gold with a black back will be the best color combo for the next little bit.
Walleye fishing is slow but steady. Fish are using weeds in 18-22 feet on most lakes. Jigs tipped with live bait or lindy rigs are catching fish, but the better fish are coming at night by anglers trolling with stickbaits, shad raps or bottom bouncers.
Northern pike fishing has been great on the weedflats and target larger fish with live bait along the deep weedlines. Lots of smaller pike can be caught throwing spinner or buzzbaits around clumps of shallow weeds, while the bigger fish are coming on shiners or suckers on slip sinker rigged trolled very slowly on the outside edges.
Musky fishing has been tied to the weather recently. The cloudy days are producing, the hot sunny days have been slower. Some fish are being caught off deep structure or while trolling. A few are being caught on topwaters near the deep weed edges on the larger flats. Crankbaits are producing the trolling fish, jerkbaits and soft plastics are catching the casting fish. Walk the dog and prop baits have been the better topwater options lately.
If you're looking for info on a specific lake, feel free to email me.
Good Luck,
CT
Panfish have moved to deep water. They can be a little tricky to find, but if you can get on some, you won't believe the size and quantity of panfish you can pull out of deeper water. My best suggestion for you is to drive slowly just off the weedlines and the deep edges of points with your electronics on. Panfish typically school up over 18-28 FOW and about 6-12 feet down. They'll look like a cloud on your graph. Use slip bobbers or tightline vertically with leeches, plastics tipped with waxies/spikes or pieces of nightcrawler to target these fish on a drift.
Largemouth Bass are running three of their usual summer patterns. On sunny, warmer days the piers and the slop are producing. Smoke colored flappers are catching tons of fish either skipped or worked slowly along the weedlines Wacky worms, tubes and shakey heads are producing around the piers, while rats, scum frogs, strike king or zoom frogs are pulling them out of the slop. Deeper fish have schooled up on the weedlines and the end of points. Texas rigs, drop shots, crankbaits and swim baits are catching these fish. The fish on the weed flats are being taken on topwater, especially early in the evening as the sun sets. Buzzbaits, poppers and spooks are all catching fish.
Smallmouth bass have been a little harder to come by since the heat wave. Look for the fish that have been holding deeper to move to shallow rocky areas on cooler mornings and just before dark. Skirted grubs, tubes, grubs and jigworms. Having trouble finding fish? Use crankbaits (lipless or shallow divers) as search baits to find schools of fish. Silver and blue or gold with a black back will be the best color combo for the next little bit.
Walleye fishing is slow but steady. Fish are using weeds in 18-22 feet on most lakes. Jigs tipped with live bait or lindy rigs are catching fish, but the better fish are coming at night by anglers trolling with stickbaits, shad raps or bottom bouncers.
Northern pike fishing has been great on the weedflats and target larger fish with live bait along the deep weedlines. Lots of smaller pike can be caught throwing spinner or buzzbaits around clumps of shallow weeds, while the bigger fish are coming on shiners or suckers on slip sinker rigged trolled very slowly on the outside edges.
Musky fishing has been tied to the weather recently. The cloudy days are producing, the hot sunny days have been slower. Some fish are being caught off deep structure or while trolling. A few are being caught on topwaters near the deep weed edges on the larger flats. Crankbaits are producing the trolling fish, jerkbaits and soft plastics are catching the casting fish. Walk the dog and prop baits have been the better topwater options lately.
If you're looking for info on a specific lake, feel free to email me.
Good Luck,
CT
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Fishing Report: July 7, 2011
Hey gang,
The holiday weekend and the hot weather has slowed fishing down substantially the last week to 10 days. As temperatures cool off, expect the activity from both anglers and fish to pick up. Remember, the photo cycle is shrinking, but that the sun is at its most direct over the next couple of weeks. You can really increase your success by fishing early mornings, evenings and if you can stand the bugs, at night.
Panfish Looking for action? Small panfish can be caught in shallow water using a small hook, bobber and live bait, especially around docks or swim platforms. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water by anglers drifting and fishing vertically. Look for gills to be suspending about 10-12 feet down over 18-25 FOW or 12-18 over 30-45 FOW. If you're on a deep school, but not catching keepers, get your bait down a little deeper. Crappie are suspending over deep water, and along weed edges, and the activity has been steady by anglers who find the schools.
Largemouth bass continue to run traditional summer patterns. Look for them in inside weed edges in 4-6 FOW and the outside edges in 8-15 FOW. These fish can be caught on a variety of tackle, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged wacky Worms, Shakey heads, skirted grubs and tubes. Piers are holding more fish with the hot sunny days, and the slop has been pretty good. Looking for some real fun? Topwaters are still catching fish over the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently before and at first light, and the topwater bite drops off substantially by 8am.
Smallmouth bass fishing was pretty average this past week. Fish are using rocky points and bars especially early and later in the day. Most fish are holding on the deep side of breaks or suspending off mainlake structure, coming in briefly to forage. Skirted grubs, twister tails, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits or floating rapalas are your best tackle options, but live bait like leeches and small suckers has been working for the people backtrolling deep sand in 18-25 feet.
Walleye fishing has been very slow with the heat. Anglers putting in time are catching a few fish. Fish continue to be caught along outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Slip bobbers or split shot rigs with live bait or suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish. Fishing over the tops of weed clumps near breaklines with floating rapala minnows is grabbing a few as well.
Pike fishing has been a little below average with lots of smaller pike being reported. Active fish are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small baitfish, including a massive bloom in juvenile panfish. Fish with willow leaf spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits tight to scattered weedclumps in 4-8 FOW. Larger pike were hard to come by according to most reports, but if you want to chase them, try the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig or troll with deep diving crankbaits as close to the weedline as you can without getting hung up.
Musky fishing remains slow overall, on the bright sunny days, target suspended fish out over deeper on smaller lipless crankbaits, gliders and bucktails. A few fish have been caught off the weedline on larger swimbaits. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so keep a sucker out.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Boats, Boats and more boats was the major report this week. Bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Nothing substantial to report on panfish, but look for them over deeper water.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish lately with some nice keepers. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Musky are still using the treeline break and suspending off the south drop. Based on my advice, a 47 incher was caught last week. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end. Pike are on the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike. Lots of pressure as anglers moved to non-motorized waters for the holiday.
Oconomowoc: Fishing has slowed down with the bright sun and heat. Mornings and evenings have been best. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Northern pike and walleye fishing has been best for anglers using small suckers catching the majority of the fish, pike was better than walleye during the day. Musky fishing was slow, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish in shallow water chasing juvenile gills.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines. No report on Musky.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. White bass have been stealing lots of bait from walleye and panfisherman. Expect traffic to be heavy the next couple weeks as John Gillespie's TV show was on the lake this past week.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been unbelievable by most reports. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions. Mornings have been better according to my source.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, and the action is close to average for this time of year. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics.
Golden: Bluegills are moving out to deeper water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges adjacent to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning, but a deeper weedline bite has been picking up. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 12-18 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. One report has the gills still spawning, but in the deeper sand. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee: Boats, Boats Boats and surface weeds. Not much fishing news due to the holiday. Give in a week or two.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms has been very good for both bass and panfish. Night fishing is really picking up on Middle.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been slow at night. Trollers on Lake Koshkonong are catching walleyes and pike pulling harnesses or shad raps around 1.6-2.2 mph. Whites are biting in the main lake, but on trollers going much faster. Perch are in the deepest part of the basin, and some nice ones are being caught.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
The holiday weekend and the hot weather has slowed fishing down substantially the last week to 10 days. As temperatures cool off, expect the activity from both anglers and fish to pick up. Remember, the photo cycle is shrinking, but that the sun is at its most direct over the next couple of weeks. You can really increase your success by fishing early mornings, evenings and if you can stand the bugs, at night.
Panfish Looking for action? Small panfish can be caught in shallow water using a small hook, bobber and live bait, especially around docks or swim platforms. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water by anglers drifting and fishing vertically. Look for gills to be suspending about 10-12 feet down over 18-25 FOW or 12-18 over 30-45 FOW. If you're on a deep school, but not catching keepers, get your bait down a little deeper. Crappie are suspending over deep water, and along weed edges, and the activity has been steady by anglers who find the schools.
Largemouth bass continue to run traditional summer patterns. Look for them in inside weed edges in 4-6 FOW and the outside edges in 8-15 FOW. These fish can be caught on a variety of tackle, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged wacky Worms, Shakey heads, skirted grubs and tubes. Piers are holding more fish with the hot sunny days, and the slop has been pretty good. Looking for some real fun? Topwaters are still catching fish over the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently before and at first light, and the topwater bite drops off substantially by 8am.
Smallmouth bass fishing was pretty average this past week. Fish are using rocky points and bars especially early and later in the day. Most fish are holding on the deep side of breaks or suspending off mainlake structure, coming in briefly to forage. Skirted grubs, twister tails, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits or floating rapalas are your best tackle options, but live bait like leeches and small suckers has been working for the people backtrolling deep sand in 18-25 feet.
Walleye fishing has been very slow with the heat. Anglers putting in time are catching a few fish. Fish continue to be caught along outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Slip bobbers or split shot rigs with live bait or suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish. Fishing over the tops of weed clumps near breaklines with floating rapala minnows is grabbing a few as well.
Pike fishing has been a little below average with lots of smaller pike being reported. Active fish are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small baitfish, including a massive bloom in juvenile panfish. Fish with willow leaf spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits tight to scattered weedclumps in 4-8 FOW. Larger pike were hard to come by according to most reports, but if you want to chase them, try the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig or troll with deep diving crankbaits as close to the weedline as you can without getting hung up.
Musky fishing remains slow overall, on the bright sunny days, target suspended fish out over deeper on smaller lipless crankbaits, gliders and bucktails. A few fish have been caught off the weedline on larger swimbaits. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so keep a sucker out.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Boats, Boats and more boats was the major report this week. Bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Nothing substantial to report on panfish, but look for them over deeper water.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish lately with some nice keepers. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Musky are still using the treeline break and suspending off the south drop. Based on my advice, a 47 incher was caught last week. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end. Pike are on the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike. Lots of pressure as anglers moved to non-motorized waters for the holiday.
Oconomowoc: Fishing has slowed down with the bright sun and heat. Mornings and evenings have been best. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Northern pike and walleye fishing has been best for anglers using small suckers catching the majority of the fish, pike was better than walleye during the day. Musky fishing was slow, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish in shallow water chasing juvenile gills.
Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines. No report on Musky.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. White bass have been stealing lots of bait from walleye and panfisherman. Expect traffic to be heavy the next couple weeks as John Gillespie's TV show was on the lake this past week.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been unbelievable by most reports. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions. Mornings have been better according to my source.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, and the action is close to average for this time of year. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics.
Golden: Bluegills are moving out to deeper water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges adjacent to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning, but a deeper weedline bite has been picking up. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 12-18 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. One report has the gills still spawning, but in the deeper sand. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. No report on walleyes.
Pewaukee: Boats, Boats Boats and surface weeds. Not much fishing news due to the holiday. Give in a week or two.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms has been very good for both bass and panfish. Night fishing is really picking up on Middle.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been slow at night. Trollers on Lake Koshkonong are catching walleyes and pike pulling harnesses or shad raps around 1.6-2.2 mph. Whites are biting in the main lake, but on trollers going much faster. Perch are in the deepest part of the basin, and some nice ones are being caught.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Thanks to OFC
Just gave a fun talk to members of the Okauchee Fishing Club. I wanted to take a minute and say thanks to the members for having me.
If you want more info on the club or their upcoming meetings check out their website: OFCFISH.com
Cheers,
CT
If you want more info on the club or their upcoming meetings check out their website: OFCFISH.com
Cheers,
CT
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Holiday Weekend Fishing Report-2011
The big 4th of July weekend is here. Expect lots and lots of boats to be on the water.Your best bet during weekends like this is to get an early start as you can get some serious fishing in before most of the ski boats and pleasure craft hit the water.
A few of the smaller area lakes have been slow no wake due to high water. Make sure to check the signs at the launches for the latest restriction notices.
Panfish have moved to their summer patterns. If you want to entertain the kids, plenty of small panfish can be caught in shallow water using a small hook, bobber and live bait, especially around docks or swim platforms. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water, where they are suspending about 10-12 feet down over 18-25 feet of water.
Largemouth bass are relating to the weed edges in both 4-6 (inside edge) and 8-15 feet (outside edge). Morning and evening fishing has been much better than daytime, and with the hot temperatures this weekend, that will be doubly true. Fish can be caught on a variety of tackle, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged wacky Worms, Shakey heads, skirted grubs and tubes. Topwater poppers, spooks and buzzbaits are catching fish over the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently before and at first light, and the topwater bite drops off substantially by 7:30am.
Smallmouth bass fishing has stayed slow this past week, but there are lots of fish using rocky points and bars especially early and later in the day. Most fish are holding on the deep side of breaks or suspending off mainlake structure, coming in briefly to forage. Skirted grubs, twister tails, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits or floating rapalas are your best tackle options, but live bait like leeches and small suckers might be the ticket this weekend.
Walleye fishing has been slow during the daytime this past week, but anglers putting in time in the very early mornings or late evenings are catching a few fish. Fish continue to be caught along outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Slip bobbers or split shot rigs with live bait or suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish.Fishing over the tops of weed clumps near breaklines with floating rapala minnows is grabbing a few as well.
Pike fishing has been average. Smaller pike are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small minnows and fry. Fish with spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits tight to scattered weedclumps in 4-10 FOW. Looking for something bigger? Move out to the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig or troll with deep diving crankbaits as close to the weedline as you can without getting hung up.
Musky fishing is still slow overall, but there have been some positive reports of some very large fish, including two 50+ inchers (One on Okauchee and one on La Belle) in the last ten days. On the bright sunny days, target suspended fish out over deeper on smaller lipless crankbaits and bucktails. A few fish have been caught off the weedline on larger swimbaits. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth has finally caught up. Bass are working regular summer patterns. A few larger fish are still feeding on juvenile bluegills in 2-6 and 8-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been good, with most fish still being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet, and a handful using shallow weed/rock transition areas.
Garvin: Great spot to get away from the Okauchee boats this weekend. Lots of panfish are holding on the shelves with sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Musky are using the treeline break and suspending off the south drop. Bass are using the shallow flats on the double c's and the south flat. Pike are on the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike.
Oconomowoc: Fishing has been above average overall. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks. Northern pike and walleye fishing has been best for anglers using small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was slow, but lots of fish are being seen doing lazy follows.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Topwaters have been the hot lure, with a 52 inch fish caught on the edge of the flagpole flat. Panfish and whitebass remain active but very slow for keepers.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been way above average. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, and the action is close to or just below average. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics.
Golden: Bluegills are done spawning, you may see a few stragglers, but the fish are moving out to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 12-18 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Panfish are suspending 12-18 over 30+ feet of water.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing continues to be inconsistent. Trolling the edges of the deep basin is producing a few fish in the high 30 to low 40 inch class. Bass has been the hot bite, try flipping or large texas rigged worms where the weed line breaks or is irregular in 8-12 FOW.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms has been very good for both bass and panfish.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been average at night, and a handful of whitebass are still being caught near the S turn and downstream of Fort Atkinson. Trollers on Lake Koshkonong are catching walleyes pulling harnesses or shad raps around 1.6-2.2 mph.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Last but not least, I'll be speaking about fishing a spot on spot technique, focusing on Okauchee and Oconomowoc Lakes, at the Okauchee Lake Fish Club, Tuesday July 5th. 7pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S. 92nd Street. Guest fee is $5
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
A few of the smaller area lakes have been slow no wake due to high water. Make sure to check the signs at the launches for the latest restriction notices.
Panfish have moved to their summer patterns. If you want to entertain the kids, plenty of small panfish can be caught in shallow water using a small hook, bobber and live bait, especially around docks or swim platforms. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water, where they are suspending about 10-12 feet down over 18-25 feet of water.
Largemouth bass are relating to the weed edges in both 4-6 (inside edge) and 8-15 feet (outside edge). Morning and evening fishing has been much better than daytime, and with the hot temperatures this weekend, that will be doubly true. Fish can be caught on a variety of tackle, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged wacky Worms, Shakey heads, skirted grubs and tubes. Topwater poppers, spooks and buzzbaits are catching fish over the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently before and at first light, and the topwater bite drops off substantially by 7:30am.
Smallmouth bass fishing has stayed slow this past week, but there are lots of fish using rocky points and bars especially early and later in the day. Most fish are holding on the deep side of breaks or suspending off mainlake structure, coming in briefly to forage. Skirted grubs, twister tails, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits or floating rapalas are your best tackle options, but live bait like leeches and small suckers might be the ticket this weekend.
Walleye fishing has been slow during the daytime this past week, but anglers putting in time in the very early mornings or late evenings are catching a few fish. Fish continue to be caught along outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Slip bobbers or split shot rigs with live bait or suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish.Fishing over the tops of weed clumps near breaklines with floating rapala minnows is grabbing a few as well.
Pike fishing has been average. Smaller pike are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small minnows and fry. Fish with spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits tight to scattered weedclumps in 4-10 FOW. Looking for something bigger? Move out to the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig or troll with deep diving crankbaits as close to the weedline as you can without getting hung up.
Musky fishing is still slow overall, but there have been some positive reports of some very large fish, including two 50+ inchers (One on Okauchee and one on La Belle) in the last ten days. On the bright sunny days, target suspended fish out over deeper on smaller lipless crankbaits and bucktails. A few fish have been caught off the weedline on larger swimbaits. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth has finally caught up. Bass are working regular summer patterns. A few larger fish are still feeding on juvenile bluegills in 2-6 and 8-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been good, with most fish still being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet, and a handful using shallow weed/rock transition areas.
Garvin: Great spot to get away from the Okauchee boats this weekend. Lots of panfish are holding on the shelves with sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Musky are using the treeline break and suspending off the south drop. Bass are using the shallow flats on the double c's and the south flat. Pike are on the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners.
Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike.
Oconomowoc: Fishing has been above average overall. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks. Northern pike and walleye fishing has been best for anglers using small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was slow, but lots of fish are being seen doing lazy follows.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Topwaters have been the hot lure, with a 52 inch fish caught on the edge of the flagpole flat. Panfish and whitebass remain active but very slow for keepers.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been way above average. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, and the action is close to or just below average. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics.
Golden: Bluegills are done spawning, you may see a few stragglers, but the fish are moving out to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 12-18 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Panfish are suspending 12-18 over 30+ feet of water.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing continues to be inconsistent. Trolling the edges of the deep basin is producing a few fish in the high 30 to low 40 inch class. Bass has been the hot bite, try flipping or large texas rigged worms where the weed line breaks or is irregular in 8-12 FOW.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms has been very good for both bass and panfish.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been average at night, and a handful of whitebass are still being caught near the S turn and downstream of Fort Atkinson. Trollers on Lake Koshkonong are catching walleyes pulling harnesses or shad raps around 1.6-2.2 mph.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Last but not least, I'll be speaking about fishing a spot on spot technique, focusing on Okauchee and Oconomowoc Lakes, at the Okauchee Lake Fish Club, Tuesday July 5th. 7pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S. 92nd Street. Guest fee is $5
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Fishing Report :6-22-11
Around the Area:
The bluegills are almost done spawning. Better panfish are being caught out of the deeper sand and suspended over deeper water.
Bass are working traditional summer patterns, but the weather is making patterning fish difficult from day to day. Docks, rockbars, slop, scattered weeds on flats and the deep weedlines have all been producing. The best bite for largemouth has been weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Slop bite is picking up steam on many of the smaller lakes. The topwater bite has been steady, but most topwater fish are being caught before 8am on sunny mornings. Pop-R's with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish and Redfins and jointed rapalas are catching some nice smallies.
Musky fishing continues to be very inconsistent. Some days have been very good, some have been absolutely void of fish, with very little, or any pattern to the days. The most active fish have come on deep divers, gliders and large tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 18 FOW seems to be magic this year.A few are being caught on topwaters, especially on Okauchee and Lac Labelle.
Walleye action has pretty good with the cloudy/rainy weather. The fish are coming a little deeper since last week. Leeches under slip bobbers are catching fish in 12-15 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 15-22 feet of water. Lake Koshkonong has a hot bite going on in the main basin in 4-6 feet. Pulling harnesses or cranks has been giving up a mixed bag of walleyes, pike and whitebass. Most walleye action is coming at less than 2mph when trolling.
Pike action was better the last week. 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, inline spinners and large jerkbaits are catching some better fish, but the action has still been slow.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth is close to seasonal in many areas of the lake. Bass are into their summer patterns. A few larger fish are still feeding on spawning bluegills in 2-6 and 8-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, and the smallmouth action is getting better. Northern pike fishing has been very good, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Slip bobbering around weeds in 15-22 FOW has been producing a few fish as well. Musky fishing was better than average last week, with several low to mid 40's fish being caught. The hot area was the north east corner of the big lake, between the mouth and the saddle. Panfish should finish spawning this week, but a few keepers are still being caught along the breaks in the smalller lake.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks have fish on them as do drop-offs in 10-18 foot along the channel edge. Musky have been chasing, but seem to have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Topwaters are catching some stragglers on the flagpole flat and North Rockpile. Panfish and whitebass remain very slow for keepers.
Moose: Bass and pike have been biting great. Hit the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been very, very good by all reports.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, but the action is below average, with lots of undersize fish (especially pike). Best bet is concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been catching a mixed bag of pike and bass in the morning and evenings, while twister tail grubs and texas rigs are better midday options. Look for schools of fish suspended over deeper water, and try and get them with deep diving crankbaits
Golden: Bluegills are done spawning, you may see a few stragglers, but the fish are moving out to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Water remains gin clear, especially on the east end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Crappies are suspending over the cribs, bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 15-22 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are being caught off the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been biting great, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Walleyes are using rock/weed transition areas in 15-22 FOW, leeches on a split shot rig have been catching a few.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing has been inconsistent, but a few more fish are being seen. Bass continue to bite very well, especially in areas where the weed line breaks or is irregular in 8-12 foot.
Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water, lots of smaller largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Live bait has been very good for both bass and panfish.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been very good, and a few whitebass are still being caught near the S turn and downstream of Fort Atkinson.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Cheers,
CT
The bluegills are almost done spawning. Better panfish are being caught out of the deeper sand and suspended over deeper water.
Bass are working traditional summer patterns, but the weather is making patterning fish difficult from day to day. Docks, rockbars, slop, scattered weeds on flats and the deep weedlines have all been producing. The best bite for largemouth has been weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Slop bite is picking up steam on many of the smaller lakes. The topwater bite has been steady, but most topwater fish are being caught before 8am on sunny mornings. Pop-R's with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish and Redfins and jointed rapalas are catching some nice smallies.
Musky fishing continues to be very inconsistent. Some days have been very good, some have been absolutely void of fish, with very little, or any pattern to the days. The most active fish have come on deep divers, gliders and large tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 18 FOW seems to be magic this year.A few are being caught on topwaters, especially on Okauchee and Lac Labelle.
Walleye action has pretty good with the cloudy/rainy weather. The fish are coming a little deeper since last week. Leeches under slip bobbers are catching fish in 12-15 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 15-22 feet of water. Lake Koshkonong has a hot bite going on in the main basin in 4-6 feet. Pulling harnesses or cranks has been giving up a mixed bag of walleyes, pike and whitebass. Most walleye action is coming at less than 2mph when trolling.
Pike action was better the last week. 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, inline spinners and large jerkbaits are catching some better fish, but the action has still been slow.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth is close to seasonal in many areas of the lake. Bass are into their summer patterns. A few larger fish are still feeding on spawning bluegills in 2-6 and 8-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, and the smallmouth action is getting better. Northern pike fishing has been very good, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Slip bobbering around weeds in 15-22 FOW has been producing a few fish as well. Musky fishing was better than average last week, with several low to mid 40's fish being caught. The hot area was the north east corner of the big lake, between the mouth and the saddle. Panfish should finish spawning this week, but a few keepers are still being caught along the breaks in the smalller lake.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks have fish on them as do drop-offs in 10-18 foot along the channel edge. Musky have been chasing, but seem to have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Topwaters are catching some stragglers on the flagpole flat and North Rockpile. Panfish and whitebass remain very slow for keepers.
Moose: Bass and pike have been biting great. Hit the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been very, very good by all reports.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, but the action is below average, with lots of undersize fish (especially pike). Best bet is concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been catching a mixed bag of pike and bass in the morning and evenings, while twister tail grubs and texas rigs are better midday options. Look for schools of fish suspended over deeper water, and try and get them with deep diving crankbaits
Golden: Bluegills are done spawning, you may see a few stragglers, but the fish are moving out to deeper water. Bass have been biting best in the morning but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.
Silver: Water remains gin clear, especially on the east end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Crappies are suspending over the cribs, bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 15-22 FOW.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are being caught off the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Pike have been biting great, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Walleyes are using rock/weed transition areas in 15-22 FOW, leeches on a split shot rig have been catching a few.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing has been inconsistent, but a few more fish are being seen. Bass continue to bite very well, especially in areas where the weed line breaks or is irregular in 8-12 foot.
Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water, lots of smaller largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Live bait has been very good for both bass and panfish.
Rock River: the Catfish bite has been very good, and a few whitebass are still being caught near the S turn and downstream of Fort Atkinson.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Cheers,
CT
Monday, June 20, 2011
Awesome Fishing Weather
I wish I was out, but my dissertation is going to be keeping me busy this week. This weather is unbelievable fishing weather, and is near perfect conditions for this time of year.
Typically, with the cooler temps you'll need to fish tighter to cover. Dock fishing can be fantastic, as can probing rock-weed transition areas with a skirted grub on a leadhead jig.
One tip though....If you head out, don't hesitate to try topwater fishing, especially over flats in 5-8 feet of water. Bass, Pike and Muskies will all feed agressively, and if they see bait breaking the surface, they are sure to come to the party.
Catch one for me.
Cheers,
CT
Typically, with the cooler temps you'll need to fish tighter to cover. Dock fishing can be fantastic, as can probing rock-weed transition areas with a skirted grub on a leadhead jig.
One tip though....If you head out, don't hesitate to try topwater fishing, especially over flats in 5-8 feet of water. Bass, Pike and Muskies will all feed agressively, and if they see bait breaking the surface, they are sure to come to the party.
Catch one for me.
Cheers,
CT
Friday, June 17, 2011
LureNet.Com Father's Day Fishing Story
For Father's Day Lurenet.com had a contest where you could send in a story about fishing with your dad. My dad and I have spent a great deal of time together fishing, and it was hard to pick just one story.
I chose to write about the biggest pike my dad has ever caught, and my entry was included in the winners of the contest.
You can check it out: here.
Happy Father's Day,
CT
I chose to write about the biggest pike my dad has ever caught, and my entry was included in the winners of the contest.
You can check it out: here.
Happy Father's Day,
CT
Fishing Report 6-17-2011
Heading out for Father's Day weekend? It should be good.
Nagawicka and Okauchee have bass tournaments this weekend.
Around the Area:
The Bluegills are still spawning for the most part, and better panfish are still 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.
Bass are settling 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 active fish. Largemouth have been active on most area lakes on weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Piers have been very good during the brightest parts of the day, and the slop bite is picking up as the weeds fill in. The topwater bit has been good, 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 with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish.
Muskies fishing has been very inconsistent. Struggling to find them in shallow water, many anglers have started trolling for them in deeper water. The most active fish have come on deep divers and tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 18 FOW seems to be magic this year.
Walleye action has been above average. 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. Lake Koshkonong has a hot bite going on in the main basin in 4-6 feet. Pulling harnesses or cranks has been giving up a mixed bag of walleyes, pike and whitebass. Most walleye action is coming at less than 2mph when trolling.
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.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth is making a move to catch up. Bass are moving into summer patterns. Larger fish are still feeding on spawning bluegills in 2-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, and as has been the case this season, far more largemouth than smallmouth are being caught. Northern pike fishing has been very good, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Slip bobbering around weeds in 10-18 FOW has been producing a few fish as well. Musky fishing is picking up. Panfish continue to finish spawning along the breaks and in the sand as deep as 15 feet.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks have fish on them. Musky have been chasing, but seem to have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Panfish and whitebass are still very slow.
Moose: Has been one of the big surprises of the season. Bass and pike are biting great. Hit the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been okay, but not great. As is common, lots of undersize fish are being caught right now. If you're heading out, your best play will be to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been catching a mixed bag of pike and bass in the morning and evenings, while twister tail grubs and texas rigs are better midday options.
Golden: Bluegills are almost done spawning. Better sized gills have been coming from 10-15 feet, in sandy areas adjacent to where gills are spawning in the shallows. Bass have been biting throughout the day, but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing, especially early and late. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas on the mid-lake flat.
Silver: No change from the midweek report. Water is gin clear, especially on the east end. Bluegills are still spawning in 6-15 feet, look for open sandy patches (and the Silver Lake "tell"), especially on the west end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Crappies are suspending over the cribs.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are being caught off the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Smallmouth are holding just off the rocky breaks, but coming in shallow to feed. Pike have been very agressive, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Bluegills are spawning, but reports have been mixed on size and catch rates.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing has been slow by most reports I have seen. Bass fishing has been the hot bite this year, with lots of bass being taken on plastics or jig and trailer combos flipped into holes in shallow weed patches. A few gills are being caught on the east end, out of the shallow water.
Rock River: the Catfish bit is picking up, and a few whitebass are still being caught near the S turn.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Happy Father's Day
CT
Nagawicka and Okauchee have bass tournaments this weekend.
Around the Area:
The Bluegills are still spawning for the most part, and better panfish are still 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.
Bass are settling 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 active fish. Largemouth have been active on most area lakes on weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Piers have been very good during the brightest parts of the day, and the slop bite is picking up as the weeds fill in. The topwater bit has been good, 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 with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish.
Muskies fishing has been very inconsistent. Struggling to find them in shallow water, many anglers have started trolling for them in deeper water. The most active fish have come on deep divers and tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 18 FOW seems to be magic this year.
Walleye action has been above average. 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. Lake Koshkonong has a hot bite going on in the main basin in 4-6 feet. Pulling harnesses or cranks has been giving up a mixed bag of walleyes, pike and whitebass. Most walleye action is coming at less than 2mph when trolling.
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.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Weed growth is making a move to catch up. Bass are moving into summer patterns. Larger fish are still feeding on spawning bluegills in 2-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 FOW. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, and as has been the case this season, far more largemouth than smallmouth are being caught. Northern pike fishing has been very good, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Slip bobbering around weeds in 10-18 FOW has been producing a few fish as well. Musky fishing is picking up. Panfish continue to finish spawning along the breaks and in the sand as deep as 15 feet.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks have fish on them. Musky have been chasing, but seem to have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. Panfish and whitebass are still very slow.
Moose: Has been one of the big surprises of the season. Bass and pike are biting great. Hit the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been okay, but not great. As is common, lots of undersize fish are being caught right now. If you're heading out, your best play will be to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been catching a mixed bag of pike and bass in the morning and evenings, while twister tail grubs and texas rigs are better midday options.
Golden: Bluegills are almost done spawning. Better sized gills have been coming from 10-15 feet, in sandy areas adjacent to where gills are spawning in the shallows. Bass have been biting throughout the day, but are still running on the small side. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing, especially early and late. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas on the mid-lake flat.
Silver: No change from the midweek report. Water is gin clear, especially on the east end. Bluegills are still spawning in 6-15 feet, look for open sandy patches (and the Silver Lake "tell"), especially on the west end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Crappies are suspending over the cribs.
Nagawicka: Largemouths are being caught off the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Smallmouth are holding just off the rocky breaks, but coming in shallow to feed. Pike have been very agressive, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake. Bluegills are spawning, but reports have been mixed on size and catch rates.
Pewaukee: Musky fishing has been slow by most reports I have seen. Bass fishing has been the hot bite this year, with lots of bass being taken on plastics or jig and trailer combos flipped into holes in shallow weed patches. A few gills are being caught on the east end, out of the shallow water.
Rock River: the Catfish bit is picking up, and a few whitebass are still being caught near the S turn.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Happy Father's Day
CT
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Fishing Report 6-14-2011
Looks like the weather is finally settling down, and I'm getting alot of emails about specific lakes. So a here's a quickie report on local lakes.
Okauchee: Weed growth catching up, but still behind schedule. Bass are off their beds, and many fish are still protecting fry. Larger fish are feeding on spawning bluegills in2-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been slow and steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 feet around sctattered weed clumps. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet. Crappies are done spawning, and are suspending over deeper water, but bluegills continue to spawn in the shallows.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, but more largemouth than smallmouth are being caught. Northern pike fishing has been red hot, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing is slow, but lots of follows are being reported, especially along the east shore of the bigger lake. Panfish are spawning along the breaks and in the sand as deep as 15 feet.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is picking back up after a lake-fly hatch slow down. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish. Musky have been actively chasing, especially topwaters fished early in the morning...I know of at least one 45+ inch fish caught this way in the last three days. Panfish and whitebass have been slow....carp hunters I have spoken with are reporting mixed success....lots of fish, but they are running small.
Moose: Bass and pike are active and biting along the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water. Bluegills are spawning, but nearly done. Look for better gills in 8-12 feet, away from the shallow spawners.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been slow and steady, with lots of undersize fish being caught. Concentrate on the weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles to trigger strikes. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been producing, as have twister tail grubs and texas rigs.
Golden: Bluegills are spawning in most areas of the lake. Better sized gills have been coming from 10-15 feet, in sandy areas adjacent to where gills are spawning in the shallows. Bass have been active, but mostly undersized. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing, especially early and late. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines.
Silver: Typical summer conditions for Silver. Water is gin clear, especially on the east end. Bluegills are spawning in 6-15 feet, look for open sandy patches, especially on the west end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Some pike have been biting deep diving crankbaits off the major break lines by the reedy point and off the boy scout camp area.
Nagawicka: Bass fishing is steady. Largemouths are on the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Smallmouth are using the rocky and sandy shorelines, holding just off the break, but coming in to feed. Pike have been very agressive, especially on wide wobbling shallow crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges. Bluegills are spawning, but reports have been mixed on size and catch rates. I haven't heard anything about walleyes this past week to 10 days.
Pewaukee: Wed growth is hampering fishing efforts, and musky fishing has been slow by most reports. Bass fishing has been the hot bite this year, with lots of bass being taken on plastics or jig and trailer combos flipped into holes in shallow weed patches.
That's the information I have for right now. I'll get another report up for the weekend, but if you like this format better than how I usually do it, let me know by adding a comment to this post, or by emailing me here.
Cheers,
CT
Okauchee: Weed growth catching up, but still behind schedule. Bass are off their beds, and many fish are still protecting fry. Larger fish are feeding on spawning bluegills in2-12 feet of water. Pike fishing has been slow and steady, with most fish being caught on spinners in 6-10 feet around sctattered weed clumps. Musky fishing has been slow, but anglers are starting to see more agressive fish, especially along the breaks in 12-18 feet. Crappies are done spawning, and are suspending over deeper water, but bluegills continue to spawn in the shallows.
Oconomowoc: Bass are moving on the breaks, but more largemouth than smallmouth are being caught. Northern pike fishing has been red hot, especially on live bait. Walleye fishing has been best along major structure in the early mornings and late evenings, with split shot and lindy rigged leeches and small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing is slow, but lots of follows are being reported, especially along the east shore of the bigger lake. Panfish are spawning along the breaks and in the sand as deep as 15 feet.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is picking back up after a lake-fly hatch slow down. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish. Musky have been actively chasing, especially topwaters fished early in the morning...I know of at least one 45+ inch fish caught this way in the last three days. Panfish and whitebass have been slow....carp hunters I have spoken with are reporting mixed success....lots of fish, but they are running small.
Moose: Bass and pike are active and biting along the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water. Bluegills are spawning, but nearly done. Look for better gills in 8-12 feet, away from the shallow spawners.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been slow and steady, with lots of undersize fish being caught. Concentrate on the weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles to trigger strikes. Early morning buzzbait fishing has been producing, as have twister tail grubs and texas rigs.
Golden: Bluegills are spawning in most areas of the lake. Better sized gills have been coming from 10-15 feet, in sandy areas adjacent to where gills are spawning in the shallows. Bass have been active, but mostly undersized. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing, especially early and late. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines.
Silver: Typical summer conditions for Silver. Water is gin clear, especially on the east end. Bluegills are spawning in 6-15 feet, look for open sandy patches, especially on the west end. Weed growth has really taken off as the milfoil has entered the lake, and bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet. Some pike have been biting deep diving crankbaits off the major break lines by the reedy point and off the boy scout camp area.
Nagawicka: Bass fishing is steady. Largemouths are on the docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. Smallmouth are using the rocky and sandy shorelines, holding just off the break, but coming in to feed. Pike have been very agressive, especially on wide wobbling shallow crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges. Bluegills are spawning, but reports have been mixed on size and catch rates. I haven't heard anything about walleyes this past week to 10 days.
Pewaukee: Wed growth is hampering fishing efforts, and musky fishing has been slow by most reports. Bass fishing has been the hot bite this year, with lots of bass being taken on plastics or jig and trailer combos flipped into holes in shallow weed patches.
That's the information I have for right now. I'll get another report up for the weekend, but if you like this format better than how I usually do it, let me know by adding a comment to this post, or by emailing me here.
Cheers,
CT
Friday, June 10, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Mobile Upgrades
Just FYI, I have added the settings for mobile devices, in case you ever need to check in while on the go.
Cheers,
CT
Monday, June 6, 2011
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
