Fishing report May 17, 2023

The first week of the general inland fishing season was a good one, walleye fishing in particular. As walleyes recover from spawning, other species are moving toward their shallow spawning areas. The water is warming quickly and panfish fishing could go hot almost overnight.
Musky anglers should note that musky season in the Northern Musky Zone opens May 27. Smallmouth bass harvest season in the Northern Bass Zone opens June 17, but is catch-and-release until that date.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is good to very good for (mostly) post-spawn fish. Find them near their spawning areas on shallow breaklines and rock and sand shorelines in depths to 10 feet. Very early morning and late afternoon low light periods are best, particularly in very shallow water. Fatheads on jigs, medium size Shad Raps, and Husky Jerks are all productive.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is fair to good. Fish are near bottom in very shallow, fast warming bays, sunning themselves. Sucker minnows, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, stickbaits, and big flies can all grab their attention.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good as fish move toward shallow bays and spawning areas. Baits of choice include crawlers on plain hooks fished under bobbers, jigs and minnows, wacky worms, and drop-shot rigs.

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good, but catch-and-release only until June 17 in the Northern Bass Zone. They are on the bottom and in with the walleyes on shallow breaklines, points, and rock ledges adjacent to deep water. Plastics, tubes, minnows on jigs, Jigging Raps, and crankbaits all work well.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good and improving as fish move shallow for spawning. Focus on 3-10 feet around new weed beds and in warm bays. Crappie minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small jigs, teardrops, and plain hooks under slip bobbers are producing, or try small Beetle Spins, Mimic Minnows, Voodoo bead head jigs, and crankbaits.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is good in the shallow for anglers pursuing them. Waxies, red worms, and crawlers fished on small jigs and teardrops, under bobbers, are working well. Try small minnows to target larger bluegills and avoid bait robbers.