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Once again Mother Nature was during her best to frustrate the fishing efforts of many of us. Opening week brought unseasonably warm weather and very rapidly climbing water tempratures, surface temps hitting the low 60’s very shortly after ice-out. That short-lived heat spell passed after a few days and we enjoyed rapidly cooling temps and even snow showers last Sunday! This predictably saw falling water surface temps which again changed fish behavior.
Over the last several days we spoke with many fishermen and guides about what is and is not working. For walleye, the most consistently effective plan of attack is to start over shallow rock structure in as shallow as four to eight feet of water and let yourself drift out to about 18-20 feet. The simplest method is a rainbow, shiner or lite pike minnow under a slip bobber. If you are not finding them in the 4-8 foot range, set your bobber at about 7 – 8 feet and fish for themsuspendedin15–20feet.Theleech bite had been picking up until the rapid drop in water temperature but it should start picking up again as the Memorial Day progresses. Try trolling a spinner tipped with a leech on a bottom bouncer in about 10 feet of water. For artificial, a Berkly Flicker Shad, Reef Runner, RapalaRippinRap,RapalaHusklyJerk, Rapala Crush City Mayor or Keitech SwimBaitstrolledorcastandretrieved have also been producing for many.
Smallmouth are hanging abit deeper still, about 12 – 15 feet on rocky flats or rock piles. Swim baits on a 3/8th ounce jig cast and retrieved or jigged off the side will prove to be a very effective method. The largemouth bass will be a bit shallower in weedy flats. Throw spoons, buzz baits or Whopper Ploppers.
Northern pike are also hunting in the weedy flats and river mouths and several large pike have been caught over the last week. For the easiest fishing, a large, (the larger the better), sucker minnow under a large bobber will be very effective. An old school Dare Devil, Red Eye Wiggler or Mepps Spinner never cease to trigger a bite either. For more explosive action, throw top water crank baits like a buzz bait, Whopper Plopper or Live Target Dragonfly.
Crappie have been a bit fickle lately, but a few people are still finding them. Forbestresults,castBeetleSpins,small Salmosorsmall,shallowdivingRapala in high cabbage in about 10-15 feet of water. They will be hanging suspended in the heavy cover with the best chance for a bite in the early evening. Of course, a crappie minnow under a slip bobber will also work very well.
