Fishing report August 21, 2023

Musky:
Musky anglers are seeing and catching decent numbers of fish and fishing is good. Find the fish on shallow weeds and structure, as well on deep weed flats. Bucktails, plastics, gliders, rubber baits such as Medussas and Bull Dawgs, and topwaters are all working at this time.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is currently best suited for patient and persistent anglers. During the day, concentrate on deep basins, weeds, weedlines, rock, and similar structure. In the evening into after dark, fish move shallower to feed. Top producing presentations include walleye suckers on slip bobbers; trolled and drifted crankbaits; and crawlers on jigs, harnesses, bottom bouncers, and Lindy Rigs.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good, though somewhat slower. Look for fish in and around shallow to deep weeds, weed edges and flats, bays, and baitfish and panfish concentrations. Northern suckers, minnows, bucktails, spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, chatterbaits, plastics, and topwaters all produce. Go deeper with bigger baits for trophy pike.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is very good to excellent in shallow shorelines, weeds, weed edges, wood, bays, brush, bulrushes, lily pads, rocks, and docks. Some fish are on mid-depth to deeper similar structure. Locations vary from lake to lake. Baits of choice include walleye suckers, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, plastics in various configurations, and topwaters.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is also very good to excellent. Fish are on deep weeds and rocks, with some along sandy shorelines adjacent to deep water, and all move shallower to feed. Take your pick on baits, though some work better than others, from jigs to plastics, to Ned and drop-shot rigs, to various Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits, to topwaters.

Crappie:
Crappies of decent size are apparently challenging anglers to a game of hide-and-seek, though some are finding the moving schools. The fish can be suspending over deep basins, as well as holding on deep weed edges, wood, and cribs, or on floating bogs in the evening. Preferred baits include crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on jigs and/or under bobbers, and Beetle Spins and small spoons.

Bluegill/Perch:
Bluegill fishing is good to very good for smaller fish, and so-so for bigger bluegills. Fish are around shallow weeds, wood, and docks, with the larger ones on deep weed edges and brush. Best baits include leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks fished under bobbers or on drop-shot rigs.