Fishing Report 6/7

Fishing has remained great for all species as we head into June. The weather over the last week has been warm with air temps into the 80's and wind out of the W-SW at 10 mph although gusts up to 30 mph called for good boat control last Thursday and Friday. By Thursday of this week the forecast says we are going to get a drop of over 20 degrees after a front moves through so prepare to utilize cold-front fishing tactics!

Water surface temps on the Eagle River and Three Lakes Chains have ranged anywhere from 63 to 75 degrees in the warmest bays. Weed growth on both chains is good.

The walleye, pike, crappie and perch action has been excellent. Fishing a 1/16th oz jig tipped with a large size fathead minnow worked in and over the flats and along the weed edge has been producing fish consistently.

The muskies have been a little slow moving after the spawn, with reports of muskie still finishing up spawning on some larger clear lakes, but the action is still there. Fishing shallow weeds, in depths of 1 to 6 feet, has been the best. Topwater, small shallow running crankbaits, bucktails and plastics/jigs (bull dawgs) have been working well. Feeding windows have been very brief but intense, lasting maybe 30 minutes or less.

With the predicted post-frontal conditions coming be prepared to "make contact with the cover" and get your lure close to where the fish are holding.

Good luck and fish hard!

Chas Martin
http://www.muskymastery.com

What cold front fishing tactics do you recommend? We will be up fishing the chain this Friday through the 18th. Thanks, Luke

Some pretty serious spawning battle scars on that ski! Nice catch Chas. What did she bite on?

Thanks! I caught her on a topwater but she grabbed it in the figure-8. She missed it once about halfway to the boat and then disappeared until she shot out during my second fig-8 routine. Definitely had some battle wounds - I could even feel some bones as I lightly ran my finger over the cut.

The #1 tactic for me during less than ideal conditions is a jointed shallow running crankbait fished tight to weed cover - but really any lure that you can work literally "through" the weeds / bounce the bottom / bump the logs etc... will work well. The key is to make contact with the cover.

Good luck and fish hard!

Chas Martin
http://www.muskymastery.com