Fishing Report 07/07/11

Without a doubt, the heat of summer is here in full effect! I must admit, I was one of those questioning whether or not we’d see true summer-like temperatures in the recent past – guess I was wrong! With the warm sultry days, the muskies have been quite active, especially during the low-light periods of early morning and evening. There has been an excellent bucktail and surface bait bite on the lakes of North-Central Wisconsin for muskies the past 2 weeks, including the waters of Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas counties. While smaller bucktails have been more productive for most of the summer, the larger “double-ten” models have been really starting to produce of late. Double-ten bucktails such as the Mepps H210 worked over weeds and shallow rocks are producing fish consistently; a medium to fast retrieve has been best. Surface baits have also been working well, including at night on the clearer lakes to our north. Prop-style or creeper baits like the Tyrant Crusader and Dictator are all accounting for fish.

In addition, large rubber or hybrid jerkbait-style lures such as Mag and Super Mag Bulldawgs and Tyrants have been working well, with brighter colors producing the best due to the stained water conditions. Crankbaits offering large silhouettes such as 9” Shallow Czars have also been working very well; again, brighter patterns have been the most productive.

Our resident smallmouth bass population has been active, with good numbers of fish currently being found amongst the shallow wood and rocks. The morning and evening periods have held good action on buzzbaits or chugger-style surface lures, while numbers of fish are being caught during the day on both in-line spinners and crankbaits. Both the Mepps Aglia and Aglia Long have been the hottest in-line spinner presentation for smallies lately, with the top colors being gold or copper with a dark dressing, or a bright body and dressing combination such as orange or chartreuse. Crankbait fishermen should use bright crayfish patterns, chromes, and firetiger as they have been tops. Look for structure such as rock/sand bars, downed trees, and bridge pilings that create current breaks; then work your presentation from shallow to deep until you find the depth holding the most active fish.

Walleyes locally are being found in deeper more typical summer haunts. Look for deep holes and flats as well as seams in the current and present crankbaits or jig-and-livebait offerings along them. While the best bite has been in deeper water, there does continue to be some fish using the shallows, so don’t overlook the “skinny” water, even during mid-day hours if there is good flow, cover, and structure present.

Panfish remain available to anglers using small jigs or hooks tipped with livebait. Where present, lily pad beds and the deep edges of submergent vegetation are holding panfish, and should be fished thoroughly. Likewise, stump fields, blow-downs, and snags are also holding ample numbers of panfish; again, small plain hooks or jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler or a small leech have been working well. Fly-fishing in the morning and evening with tiny poppers and dry flies has also been an effective and entertaining manner in which to catch panfish.

Tight lines,