Early Summer Fish Patterns

This Week’s Fishing Tips

With Bluegills/Sunfish and Bass finishing up on some lakes the rest of the fish are readying for summer patterns. As a result, you will have to change your approach some too; but don’t get too drastic.

Muskie:

I would still be throwing small bucktails such as Mepps or Buchertails, but nothing larger than 500 series. Maybe small jerkbaits or smaller rubber baits on deeper edges.

Northern Pike:

Keep your arsenal loaded with a lot, such as small jigs tipped with a minnow, bass style (safety pin style) spinnerbaits, and spoons.

Walleye:

Jig and minnow or jig and crawler combos on weed edges or a slip bobber rig with minnows or leeches above the weeds will bring in the fish.

Bass:

Jigs or slip bobbers will catch fish, also Bass style spinnerbaits and crankbaits will add to your success. Remember, Largemouth Bass are open and Smallmouth Bass are only catch and release until June 18th in the northern zone.

Panfish:

Bluegills – Slip bobber rigs are the way to go baited up with a good selection of live bait such as waxies, small leeches and red worms. Crappies will be in the weeds and a slip bobber rigged with small minnows will bring in these fish. Perch are in the weeds too and using a selection of small leeches, red worms and small minnows on slip bobbers are the ticket for them.

Fishing Seminar in PhelpsAlso, if you’re in the area, the Tuesday evening summer sessions of the Phelps Outdoors and Colin Crawford’s Guide Service “Fishing Tips & Techniques”  will be starting on June 14th and go through August 9th.  They begin at 6pm and are held in the Phelps School, lower commons (4451 Old School Rd.).  The seminars are free of charge and open to the public for all ages and skill levels.  They are a great way to find out what’s biting that week and the best way to catch them.

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 PhelpsOutdoors on Facebook.

Happy fishing!

Visitor Guide