Wind Again Factors into Northwoods Fishing
By Professional Guide Kurt Justice
Wind once again has made angling difficult here in the Northwoods. Water temps are climbing and most everything is still 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.
Bluegills: Excellent! Biggest drawback is wind. Gills spawning all over. Large colonies of beds. Poppers on fly rods or behind spinning floats taking lots of fish. Small leeches, worms, tiny tubes and plastics all scoring. These fish are very vulnerable during this time, think of the future, harvest a few males from each colony, don't keep 'em all - and let the hens go for better fishing in the future.
Pike: Very Good. One guide reported a 42" (C & R). Lots of active fish on Boonie Bait Spinnerbaits, Mepps #3 spinners and jig/chub combos. Fish active and chasing Shallow Shad Raps over weed tops also effective in 3-8' weeds.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Wacky worming during the day and top water in the evening. Shallower water of 3-8'. Lots of action on live leeches meant for walleyes.
Crappies: Good. Larger lakes seeing good action in 9-11' off weed edges on tube jigs, 1" twisters. Lots of good 11-12"ers and a few to 14".
Musky: Good. Bucktails top choice for moving fish towards dusk, though recent heat should make top water choice once wind lays down.
Smallmouth: Good. Fish scattered but nice smallies in upper teens being caught on X-Raps, Husky Jerks over 8-12' breaks. Large leeches on jigs also effective.
Walleyes: Fair, but improving. With some signs of Hexigema hatches still on some lakes, walleye bite hasn't come back yet. Crawlers and redtails have been best choice by guides. Crawlers over deeper mud and redtails for weed fish. Night fishing has been good during recent weather.
Perch: Fair. Not a lot of perch reports, attention mostly on gills and crappies.
Lots of lakes saw surface temps hit low-mid 70's this past week. With gills and pumpkinseed all that's left to spawn and major bug hatches out of the way, summer patters should start setting up. A forecasted cool front mid-week may be a hiccup but things should pick up from here.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com