August 23rd, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing has remained steady this last week. As is typical for late August, trolling crankbaits, spinner rigs and covering ground, looking for active walleyes. Trolling shad raps in 12-18 feet of water, over large flats, shoreline points and sunken islands has been very popular and effective. Spinner rigs with hammered gold, copper and nickel blades, tipped with a leech has also been very effective. Bites have been light, so pay close attention while pulling blades. 

Smallmouth Bass - After a week of poor weather, smallmouth fishing has cooled off this last week. Spinnerbaits, soft plastics and whopper ploppers continue to be the way to go to catch good numbers, but average size fish has dropped. Can’t always be world class! Working shoreline points, boulder flats, rivers and around downed trees, in 4-10 feet of water continues to be best, but increasingly anglers are reporting catching smallies out on sunken islands, while fishing for walleyes. 

Crappie - Crappie fishing remains popular this last week for good reason. With weedbeds at their peak and crappie activity at their peak, anglers have been having a easy time finding active crappies. Weedlines and downed timber has been the structure to look for to find crappies. Beetle spins, jig/twister and crappie minnows fished under a bobber has been very effective.

Pike - Pike reports have started coming in this last week. Rainy, cloudy days made for some good pike fishing for a lot of people. Suckers fished under a bobber was very popular and very effective. Shallow bays, river mouths and weedbeds have been key areas to find active pike. Large spinnerbaits and spoons are also excellent choices for pike right now.