UNFORTUNATELY, I CLOSED THE BAIT SHOP ON THE 21ST (FAST SUMMER) SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST FISHING REPORT. BUT THIS WINTER, I WILL WRITE ARTICALS ON ICE FISHING. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT READ MY WEEKLY FISHING REPORT AND HOPE IT HELPED ANGLERS CATCH FISH.

I TRULY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME IN THE BAIT SHOP AND TOLD ME WATER TEMPS, DEPTHS, LOCATIONS (not spots lol) AND BAIT THAT WAS USED FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES THEY CAUGHT. THAT INFORMATION HELPED MANY WEEKENDERS AND VACATIONERS CATCH FISH.

I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU IN THE BAIT SHOP IN MAY. HOPEFULLY I WILL SEE AND HAVE A COUPLE OF BEERS WITH SOME OF YOU, BUT FOR THE OTHERS THAT I WILL NOT RUN INTO THIS WINTER, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE BAIT SHOP IN MAY.

YESTERDAY THE WATER TEMPERATURES ON THE CHAIN ARE 53 to 54.6 DEGREES. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THE LAKES TURNING OVER, SO THAT IS THE FISHING TOPIC THIS WEEK.

THE BAIT SHOP IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON, BUT AS WE STILL HAVE LEECHES, CRAWLERS, CRAPPIE AND FATHEAD MINNOWS AND LARGE MUSKY SUCKERS I SAW THERE IS A NUMBER ON THE DOOR TO CALL FOR BAIT UNTIL WE RUN OUT. 

WALLEYE – GOOD. The walleye bite is getting much better. Anglers have some keepers in 7 to 10 feet weed edges when perch fishing. Others are now being found on rock bars/gravel 16 to 24 feet. Walleye suckers have been working, but some people have been using fatheads and as I mentioned above, shallow walleyes are being caught by perch anglers on crawlers. Jigging and a jig under a slip bobber is working well.  STILL try the evening bite around shorelines when they come up to feed. Many people are catching walleye off their docks at this time.

PERCH – FAIR.  Perch are being found in 7 feet over green vegetation.  Jigs tipped with a crappie minnow or a piece of crawler are still working well.

CRAPPIE – FAIR. I have NOT heard of any crappie being boated, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be caught. I would think most are holding on deeper weed edges or suspended in deeper water. If you can find them, crappie minnows or jigs tipped with a piece of crawler and small plastic would work.

BLUEGILL – GOOD. Pretty much all season, find weed beds and you will find Gills. They are being caught in 4 to 6 feet weeds. A piece of crawler, wax worms, beaver tails are the bait to use.

SM MOUTH BASS – FAIR. I have heard not many are being caught, but you could still try shallow rocks. If you are a bass angler, medium plastics, 3″ worm rigs could still work. In the evening you might find a few walleyes in these locations also.

LG. MOUTH BASS – FAIR. A few Lg. Mouths were caught over thick weeds, and wood (stumps) in less than 3 feet. Top-water and buzz bait have been the go-to.

MUSKY – GOOD. Trolling large suckers over vegetation has been producing fish. With the surface temps hovering in the low 50s, Some muskies are being found on deeper (12 to even 20 feet).  Suckers have been the best producer, but soft plastic baits are getting looks too.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIP SMITH (insert) FOR THE LARGEST MUSKY CAUGHT IN THE BENTS CAMP MUSKY LEAGUE.

NORTHERN PIKE – GOOD.  Same as last week, with cooler water temp holding in the low 50s, the Pike bite is still going well around shoreline weeds. For live bait, larger minnows are working better, but medium artificial have been productive also.

PLEASE RELEASE WALLEYES OVER 24 INCHES. THESE BIG GIRLS PRODUCE MORE EGGS AND LARGER WALLEYES IN THE FUTURE.