There is a NEW LIMIT ON WALLEYE for WISCONSIN- MICHIGAN BOUNDARY WATERS (Cisco Chain). Even though in the Wisconsin DNR 2026-2027 hook and line fishing regulation book (page 76) states the daily limit for walleye is 5 over 15 inches, their website says only 3 walleyes over 15 inches can be kept on (Mamie, West Bay & Big Lake) the Cisco Chain of lakes. But the limit of walleyes on the Chain for MICHIGAN LAKES is still 5 over 15 inches.

DEPENDING ON WHAT LAKE YOU ARE ON THE CHAIN, AS OF WEDNESDAY, THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS 75 to 77 DEGREES.
Just a heads up on bait. Jumbo leeches have been done for two weeks now, and regular leeches will be coming to an end soon. My bait distributor is telling me, I might be able to leeches at the (BENTS) bait shop for another week or two, but that it.

WALLEYE – FAIR. As of Wednesday, walleyes are still not on (structure).  Anglers are not marking ANY FISH on mid-lake humps or deeper rock bars; More Walleyes are being found and caught in the deeper end (10 to12 feet) of wood (trees) and in 6 to 8 feet weed flats. Leeches with slip bobbers and fathead minnows still seem to be the bait to use. If you can’t find walleyes during the day, the evening bite in shallower weeds and shorelines when they come up to feed is your best chance.

PERCH – FAIR. Others including myself still haven’t found schools of perch with many keepers. I will tell you that anglers are finding a couple nice size in one location but need to keep moving to find others. Fishing 6 to 10 feet in cabbage and larger cabbage flats seems to be the best location. Smaller leeches and crappie minnow are working well as are crawlers, but bluegills will be all over that bait.

CRAPPIE – GOOD. Crappies are still going strong. Some anglers are finding nice size fish on weed edges in 6 to 10 feet, and wood (drowned trees) Crappie are also being landed in 3 to 6 feet (shoreline weeds) in the evening. Crappie minnows and small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or plastic has been working. I heard some suspended crappies are being boated in deeper water (10 to 12 feet).

BLUEGILL – GOOD. Nothing still hasn’t changed from last few weeks; Gills are being caught everywhere on the chain in 4 to 6 feet weeds. A piece of crawler, wax worms, beaver tails are the bait to use.

SM MOUTH BASS- GOOD/ VERY GOOD.  If you are looking for action, this seems to be the fish to go after.  Smallies are being found near points with rock, shoreline weeds using small to medium plastics, 3″plastic worms rigs. Even jigs tipped with fathead minnows and crawlers are working. Don’t be surprised to find a few walleyes in these locations.

LG. MOUTH BASS – FAIR/GOOD. people are finding largemouth in weeds 4 to 6 feet. pick your favorite lure and give it a try.

MUSKY – FAIR. I have not heard much, but with the water cooling down a bit, anglers are doing A LITTLE better in shallow weeds and weed flats. Fish of 10,000 cast for a reason.

NORTHERN PIKE – GOOD.  Again, with water temps cooling, pike fishing is still good. Deeper weeds later in the day and inlets from other lakes later in the day as this water will be a few degrees cooler in these locations. ALL bait, live and artificial have been productive.

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