Weekly Fishing Report: Opening Week 2011

If the action found during the first week of fishing is a sign of things to come in 2011, it will be another incredible season.

The bite started off good and stayed that way through the week. Most groups reporting fish coming on shorelines up to 14 feet, but one or two groups found fish in 20-30 feet of water late in the week. Best presentations were a minnow with a spinner or jig. Others had some good action casting cranks as well. Leeches and artificial bait was used as well, but minnows caught the most fish.

Bass were found in bunches with some real nice fish up to 18 inches. One group on opening weekend was catching them 10-15 at a time in an area before they stopped biting and had to look for another school of them.

Northerns were snapping good up on Obabikon Lake to start the season. It's much easier getting in and out of there this year with the spring water level much higher than 2010. Others groups just looked for some old weed growth in the shallows and found northerns as well.

The muskies were active again to start the year as well. Many walleye anglers got bit off and had walleyes chomped on the way back to the boat. The highlight was a 48" fish caught on a little spoon while a group was fishing for northerns during a break in their walleye week.

Several great fish were caught and released up to 29 1/4". That is a nice biggie to start off the year in the chase for the 2011 Lloyd Abel Memorial Award for the largest released walleye of the season.

Multiple long time opening week guests declared 2011 to be their best fishing ever up here and that was something significant to hear from such experience opening week fisherman.

Average size has been excellent, with some groups having a hard time catching "keeper" fish under that 18" mark at times. A few personal bests are already on the books for the year. We'll be trying to keep all PBs we can posted in the PB thread.

Looking foward to another busy week and weekend with the Memorial Day holiday upon us.

Good luck on the waster and thanks for releasing all those big fish.