Spring is catching up rather quickly. Water temps are warming enough that crappies and muskies are being seen in the shallows. No crappies bedding as of yet, but muskies are pairing up.
Fishing has remained good if the weather- rain and more rain- sought to slow anglers’ attempts.
Walleye: Very Good. The spawn is all but over, but on many bodies of water the bite remains very good. Recovering from spawning, walleyes are moving into the shallows to feed. Lots of action in water of 5’ and less. Any place the water is a little warmer and green weeds are present, walleyes are actively feeding on insects, leeches and any small fish they can find. Lots of larger walleyes of 23-29” being caught on jig/minnow combos. Casting stick baits over these same shallows also scoring big.
Northern Pike: Very Good. Pike very active. Searching shallows for perch, pike taking jig/minnow combos as well shallow running shad raps and stick baits over weedy areas of shallow water (4-6’).
Crappies: Very Good. Gathering in shallows. Search woody water for pre-spawn stagers. Tiny jigs of tinsel hair and plastic as well as the hard to resist crappie minnows under a float. Keep an eye open for protected bays with warmer water than the rest of the lake.
Perch: Very Good. Just finished their spawn- small-medium fatheads on 1/32 oz jigs below small floats. Many fish seem thing right now, but are feeding up to put on weight.
Bluegills: Few reports due to rain.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Staging outside spawning areas. Seek secondary breaks, preferably with wood. Tubes, craw imitation baits on 1/16 oz – 1/8 oz heads working. Fish not ready to come to top yet.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair. Most fish caught while targeting walleye/pike. Soft bottom shallows best.
May not be the best of openers for muskies. Looks like a lot of fish more interested in spawning. May get to see a lot though.
May 21, 2013 at 2:10 pm
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