This past week water temps have taking a dip into the low to mid 50’s lake dependent. You should keep your eyes on the water temps and conditions if things start to change on your favorite lake, turnover may be starting and fishing will get tough for a few days.

Muskie:

Same program as before, bigger baits such as double 9’s and 10’s spinnerbaits, crankbaits, bigger jerk baits and top water are still working. Suckers are starting to be used also.

Northern Pike:

Fishing the deep flats with some type of weeds could be sand grass or coontail, Jig and minnow combos are the bait of choice.

Walleye:

This week we found them on deep mud flats and still on the deep rock humps and early and late in the day you can find fish on the tops and during the day they will go deeper you will have to follow them out. Jig and minnow combos seem to work on the mud flats and crawlers were working on the rocks.

Bass:

(Largemouth)Bass are moving out of the shallow weeds because they are starting to die. If fishing weeds, (Smallmouth) Basic live bait rig is always a go to presentation; also plastics and crankbaits will work well.

Panfish:

Bluegills are being found on the deepest weed edges where the greenest weeds are, slip bobber rigs are the way to go baited up with a good selection of live bait such as waxies, and red worms. Plastics are working under bobbers also; you just have to twitch your rod to make sure they have movement action. Crappies are starting to suspend over some mud flats, small jigs tipped with minnows or small blade baits like cicadas will work. Perch are being caught on the mud flats also using small minnows.
Selective harvest is the way to go. Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715)891-2715.  Website is www.crawfordfishing.com or you can also find Phelps Outdoors on Facebook.

Happy fishing!