The wind, rain, and cold continued in this first month of the summer fishing season, but a substantial warm-up is on the way beginning this weekend. Despite the less-than-perfect or unpleasant weather conditions, many folks still made it out to try their luck. Anglers reported to us they were catching a lot of walleye, nothing huge but good eater size, mostly smaller to average size males. The most success was found moving water, in particular, river mouths and structure, rocky humps, and main lake breaks, in about 8-10 feet of water. For live bait, minnows are still holding the number one spot, but as the weather warms to the 80’s over the next week, we should see an increased appetite for leeches. A jig presentation is always a great tactic with any live bait, as is trolling a crawler or leech on a spinner. The most purchased jig colors this week have been pink and white, blue and white, and Wonder Bread pattern, all in ¼ oz and 3/8th oz. For artificial, Mimic Minnows, Rapala Crush City soft plastics, and Berkley Flicker Shads.
Bass are up in the shallows, 3-8 feet of water. Akiller presentation for smallmouth rightnowisacrawfishcrankbait. There are several great options that have been doing very, very well, Live Target, Z-Man and Rapala CrushCity.Throw these on rocky flats and use a double hop rest retrieve. After hopping that crawfish twice in quick,shortprocession, let it sit on the bottom for up to 30 seconds before repeating. Often the hops attract the fish who will watch it sit on the bottom and as soon as you hop it again, the fish will strike. As the waters warm, the bugs will emerge and top water feeding will begin. When it does, the always-entertaining topwater tactics will come into play. Be thinking Whopper Ploppers, buzz baits, and Live Target frog lures.
Big pike are cruising the weedy shallows. Large, obnoxious crankbaits, flashy spoons, and large minnow presentations are the key. As usual with pike,triggeringtheirterritorialinstinct should entice a strike.
If crappies are what you are after, look for high cabbage in 8-12 feet of water. Suspend a crappie minnow under a slip bobbersettomidwatercolumn,inmost cases, this will be your most effective approach. If you prefer artificial, small Mimic minnows and Beetle spins are fantastic options to try out. Black and yellow for the Bettle Spins and blue/ white/pink for the Mimic Minnow and have been doing very well for anglers this week.
