Wisconsin:

It seems this year all you have to do is blink and the weather changes dramatically, we suddenly jumped out of the cold conditions we experienced a few weeks back into temperatures unseen since the 1920’s!  Along with the air temperatures, the lake temps are also spiking.  Our current water temperatures are well into the upper 60’s and will probably go into the 70’s by mid week!!!  Currently the Walleye fishing is still very good, and most Bass and Bluegills are on their beds.  The bad news is we are still very low on mositure, what does that mean to the visiting angler?  In the next two weeks most spawning activity is going to be over in a big hurry!  Multiple hatches are coming off daily, and every fish from Crappies to Bass are in the shallows spawning - ALL AT ONCE!!!  There is fierce competition for spawning sites and the larger predators are taking advantage of it!  Clear skies and temperatures in the 90’s are forecast for the next 4 to 6 days!

 

The Black Flies and Mosquitos are out, but the low water levels have kept their numbers in check.  You will still need some protection at dusk, but they are not nearly as bad as normal - for this time of the year!   

 

Northern Pike action remains excellent during the early morning hours from 6:00 am to about 11:00 am in the emerging weeds and shallow lilly pad cover, I have also found quite a few 35″ to 44″ Muskies scattered throughout the same types of cover.  The afternoon bite tapers off for the Pike as water temps spike in the middle of the afternoon, a secondary “light bite” continues until just after dusk.  

 

Since the beginning of Musky Season, I have noted the position of quite a few Muskies in 3 to 8 feet of water in the heaviest new cabbage patches I can find.   With very little weed growth due to our low water levels and previous cold water conditions, we will continue to be using a clear tip Intermediate line, and 20 pound test Titanium bite tippets.  No-Yellow Perch, TS Crushers, Big Greens and smaller Figure 8’s are getting the attention of lots of fish in some very skinny water!  

 

The larger deeper lakes are still hanging on with better Walleye action, good Walleye catches are still coming in from many area lakes.   Smaller Deceivers and Tongue Depressors  fished on a sink tip line in 6 to 12 feet of water have also been catching fish,  South Trout and White Sand Lakes have seen great action especially in the evenings and cloudy afternoons.  I have been getting some fish on the Wisconsin River in some locations, not many, but the action is slowly picking up as many Walleyes are seeking the cooler, more oxygenated waters of riffles and deeper runs.

 

Alot of Walleyes are beginning to move into “Cabbage flats” in 6 to 12 feet of water taking Wiggler patterns, you have to play the weather and the wind, but there is some excellent fishing to be had in these emergent weeds.  Some clusters of “Coontail” weeds are beginning to show up in Upper Gresham and Big Muskellunge Lakes in the deeper water now and Walleyes are beginning to take refuge in these darker areas during the middle of the day when the sun is bright.  Fish an Olive Wooly Bugger or Tongue Depressor on a 10 to 15 foot sink-tip line between the patches of Coontail and hold onto your rod, the bite is quick as  good sized walleyes will dart out of these thick weeds to grab your bait!

 

Most Crappies are completely finished with their spawning, these fish are hungry and will take a small Cat’s Whiskers or Crystal Bugger fished about 3 feet deep in the pencil weeds and brush piles in shallow water.  Bluegills are making their beds in most shallow bays, especially those with a bit of gravel and woody debris below a fine layer of silt - look to the Northeast side of the lake for the most activity right now.  Bluegills are still along the shorelines taking small bugs from the surface - get your fly rod out this is some of the best pan fishing of the season!  A small popper on a 4X leader is just the ticket for these scrappy fighters, Whitney and Island Lakes are still getting some great action in the stumps and lilly pads.

 

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass are in the shallow stumps and bays, feeding on smaller panfish and minnows.  Smallmouth Bass are in shallow gravel bottomed bays with the larger females greedily feeding up on anything that swims near them.   I have had great success on White Sand, Palette and Nebish Lakes fishing with larger Olive or Chartreuse Tongue Depressors (size 4)  for these big females, long accurate casts near submerged logs will get you the strike better than casting at cruising fish which have probably already seen you.  Topwater action is just beginning for Largemouths and Smallies in shallow bays especially in the evenings, not many fish are looking up yet, but that will change quickly also.  Water temps in the mornings still down a bit and the fish are reluctant to rise, however by 10:00 am, the water has warmed suffuciently to get them looking up and taking poppers very well!  The smaller “Bog Type” lakes throughout the area which have excellent bass and panfish fisheries are still much farther along in the spawning season than the larger more popular lakes, most of these fisheries are beginning to settle down into a more predictable summer pattern.  The action on these types of lakes remains very good to excellent for the past week.

 

As the daytime temperatures quickly increase the topwater fishing activity will continue to pick up, the shallow water fishing is still on it’s way up!

 

TROUT:

 

Continued warmer weather and lower water levels have provided us with some of the best fishing of the season.  The  Dark Hendrickson hatch has waned and has given way to the Sulphurs the dry fly action is excellent with many fish of good size coming to hand!  Mayfly hatches will continue to peak daily with spectacular spinner falls beginning just before dark.  All area streams are experiencing a “Smorgasbord” of insect activity as multiple hatches come off mostly in the mornings, but especially in the late afternoon and evening. 

 

Watch the rise forms closely to determine what the fish are doing, if there’s a splashy rise, the fish are probably taking Caddis, if the rise form is slow and deliberate, the fish are keying in on the Mayflies, size and color do make a big difference with trout - be prepared to “Match the Hatch” as closely as possible and fish the Spinner fall with a Spinner, not a “Doctored-up” Dun, you will see the difference the right fly will make!   

 

Brook Trout in many area spring ponds and creeks are also being caught,  Plum Creek and  Allequash Creek  are still producing some nice Brookies.  Regular hatches are coming off daily with Tan Caddis in the mornings and a variety of Mayflies, Midges and Sulphurs just before dusk.  Weed growth in the spring ponds has still not increased enough to make Scuds a favorite meal, fish nymphs during the day and Midges in the evenings!

 

Michigan: 

 

U.P.  fishing conditions remain about the same as Wisconsin’s,  Muskie and Northern Pike activity has picked up considerably in the past week.  Walleyes are on the rocks and gravel bars in the evenings and retreating to the drop-offs in 12 to 18 feet of water during the day. In Bond Falls Flowage the fish will move from the deeper river channels up into the stumps and flats during the evenings.  Big Bass are feeding heavily on the grass flats as many fish are moving up in the warming waters from deeper banks - look for a Beaver lodge to give you some spectacular daytime Smallmouth Bass fishing in and around the logs.  Lake Gogebic has steadily increased activity with Walleyes and Perch moving toward the south end of the lake in the vicinity of Ice House Bay.  Most Crappies are off their beds, and Bluegills are in the shallows taking small bugs from the surface - get your fly rod out this is some of the best pan fishing of the season!  Langford and Stateline Lakes are still hot for hand sized ‘Gills on the surface and some huge Northern Pike!

 

Trout

 

The Middle Branch of the Ontonagon below Bond and Agate Falls is a bit higher - unlike most other rivers in the area, and the fishing is fantastic!  The stretch from US 45 to Mex-I-Mini Falls is fishing very well also with lots of fat Brook Trout taking surface flies very well, especially Sulphurs and Caddis.    Cooks Run and the South Branch of the Paint are well below normal flows, but the fishing is still excellent. Stronger hatches are allowing the fish to take up feeding positions in favored areas, look to riffles for the best action, especially just before and during a hatch.  The Dark Hendrickson hatch has waned and the Sulphurs are on!  Mornings are beginning to get the most insect hatch attention, and by mid day most hatches are finished until late evening.  The fishing is really turning on in the evenings with an evening rise that rivals anywhere in the world, as the bugs make their way back to the water the fish are eagerly awaiting their arrival with supple rise forms dimpling the surface of the quieter glides.  Many larger trout are looking up taking spinners every evening until their bellies nearly burst!

 

Along with all this activity the Mosquitos and Black Flies will have their way with you , come prepared to do battle with some biting bugs!

 

 

Sylvania:  

 

Activity in the shallows is just fantastic, many fish are in the shallow water and the Bass are into their spawning activities.  Bluegills are making their beds in Long, Helen, Cory and West Bear Lakes, taking a variety of flies, especially small poppers.  Clark Lake has the largest Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass of the tract - many of these fish are taking surface baits, the evenings are best for the best surface feeding activity.   Tongue Depressors and weighted Leeches are still taking most of the fish, the larger females are feeding heavily taking anything that comes near them.  Dragon Flies have begun their annual hatch and the Bass are having a feast on them!

 

The water is considerably warmer this week, the fish are responding to it with increased activity and angling opportunities are increasing every day.  Warmer air and water temperatures are bringing the fish into shallow water and they’re looking up!

 

 

- MORE NEXT WEEK -

Bill Sherer’s We Tie It Fly Shop

5570 County Rd. M

P.O. Box 516

Boulder Jct., WI 54512-0516

715-385-0171

www.wetieit.com

wetieit@wetieit.com