Fishing Report: A warmer week after some chilly nights and rain

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – After a few chilly nights and a stretch of rain, it finally looks like summer might be here in the Northwoods.

The week is shaping up to be a bit warmer with a few thunderstorms in the forecast – classic late June weather. And while the rain has kept things a little soggy, thankfully, it’s also perked up the weed growth and is starting to bring fish back into more predictable summer patterns.

Walleye fishing remains solid across the region. As weed beds continue to develop, walleyes are setting up along deeper weed edges and responding well to jigs tipped with minnows or leeches. Look for that new musky cabbage. Weedless setups are a smart choice right now, especially in thicker cover. Evening hours have produced the best action, especially on calmer days. After dark has been good, too.

Bass fishing slowed down briefly with last week’s cold spell, but this should rebound with the coming warmth. Smallmouths are still holding around rocky shorelines and sand flats, depending on the lake. Topwater baits like Whopper Ploppers are getting some explosive hits during low-light periods, and leeches are a great choice if you want to use live bait. Those topwaters are so fun to use, as the hits are amazing. As always, handle spawning bass gently and return them to the water quickly.

Musky activity has been good and continues to improve. The cold and rain actually helped this action. Anglers are starting to throw mid-sized baits, and Bulldawgs and Medussas have produced fish. Muskies are feeding daily in the weeds, but don’t overlook deeper breaks or suspended fish resting between feeding windows.

Northern action has been strong, with many of the same weed edges holding both species. Walleye anglers continue to get these guys by mistake. Target the Northern with larger chubs, spoons and spinnerbaits. The bite seems to improve on overcast days or just before storms roll in, and they love the flashy, loud stuff.

Panfish have been moving in and out of shallow water, depending on the weather. During warm stretches between storms, crappies and bluegills are active in the shallows and hitting small minnows or worms or chunks of crawlers. Perch are hanging in the weeds and behaving a lot like small walleyes – hitting leeches, minnows and worms with consistency. We know since the weather has been so inconsistent that there are crappie who didn’t spawn, depending on the lake. Don’t be surprised when you catch them through the summer.

We hope all the dads had a great Father’s Day this past weekend. We’re at the halfway point through June, and we couldn’t ask for much better fishing for the season. The biggest hardship at this point is competing with watersports. Do your fishing in the early mornings and late evenings to enjoy your peace, and let the others enjoy the water, mid-day/mid-heat. You don’t need it, anyway!

Good luck and good fishin’!