**Fishing Report***
Walleye – Walleye fishing has slowed for many anglers this last week, but cold front followed by another cold front, hasn’t helped the bite. Still most anglers that braved the weather reported good to excellent walleye fishing. Walleye’s continue to largely be found in 4-15 feet of water. Best way to catch them continues to be a jig and minnow. Some anglers are starting to report having luck with leeches and crawlers, but success with them has been limited. Anglers should continue to look for walleye’s on large shallow flats, near river mouths or in current areas. Chubs, rainbows and shiners are all catching their fair share of walleyes. Hot jig colors remain blue, pink, purple and rainbow dace in 1/8 to 1/4oz. Anglers that are throwing out slip bobbers, off their dock or camp site in the evening are also reporting good catches of walleyes.
Pike – Pike fishing hasn’t been as much effected by the cold fronts and several big pike were landed over the last week. Anglers fishing with lite northerns, heavy suckers or dead smelt under a large bobber, report catching several large pike a day. Best areas to catch them has been in shallow bays or near areas with water coming into the lake. Anglers fishing right off their docks or camp sites have also reported catching some very large pike while relaxing around the campfire.
Panfish – Anglers are reporting that crappies are starting to turn up in shallow bays looking to spawn. Catches have been poor overall, but this to is due to the weather. As soon as we can string together 3 or 4 days of nice warm weather days crappies will invade the shallows and spawn. Small jigs with tubes fished slowly under a bobber has been best. Pink, white and chartreuse have been great colors. If that fails, the simple crappie minnow on a plain hook fished under a bobber, is working well also.
Lake Trout – Lake trout anglers struggled this last week to find lakers. As water temps continue to stay in the mid-40’s on lake trout lakes, lakers are able to be anywhere they want to be. This make’s them very hard to find and pattern them. Anglers are reporting that they are doing best catching lakers by trolling white crank baits in anywhere from 10 to 65 feet of water.
Stream Trout – Trout fishing has been good on many area lakes. Rainbow trout are being caught near shore with baby night crawler fished under a slip bobber, small jig and twister, small spoons and nymph fishing. Rainbows are being seen cruising just under the surface to 10 feet down. Anglers fishing small brook trout lakes have been catching them near downed trees or on large shallow flats.
Smallmouth Bass – Smallmouth Bass are really starting to show up as water temps slowly rise. Smallies have yet to spawn and are not very aggressive right now. Anglers fishing with jerk baits with a very long pause ( 10 seconds or more ) are reporting that they are catching several huge smallies over 20” a day.
