Vilas, Iron and Oneida County June 19, 2012 Fishing Report
By Professional Guide Jeff Winters
We’ve been taking everything Mother Nature can throw at us the past 2 weeks. Wind, rain, lightening, 50+ degree temperature swings – we’ve seen it all. We still caught fish through all of it. You had to search out your bites and be patient. We are now coming out of most of the mayfly hatch and the summer bite is about to begin.
WALLEYES are heading for new coontail growth for major feeds. Leeches are the mainstay for now, but it would be wise to have some minnows and crawlers along. Every lake seems to be a little different at the moment when it comes to bait. Weeds are the common ground when it comes to walleyes and shallow water is also in play. Slip bobbers will also work very well at the moment. On area flowages minnows to crawlers is 1 to 1. We should see all crawlers soon.
BASS activity has been doing the best of most types of fish. We are seeing large females make their return after resting from spawn. They are all beat up and hungry! Jig + crawler or leech have worked well for attracting smallmouth bass on the live bait front. We are finding fish on shallow rock and timber. Timber is especially good. Wacky Worms and Gulp has worked well if you like to throw plastics.
NORTHERNS have slowed slightly from their rampage but you will still find plenty of them that are willing to hit. Spinner baits worked over heavy weeds have been a lot of fun. Jig + minnow combinations have also been effective. Gulp minnows will also work well on these toothy critters. I’ve found 6 to 10 foot depths on most lakes and right along shorelines on flowages a good bet.
PANFISH are around with Perch being the most active. Perch have invaded the weeds and anglers have been having good success. You have to sort through, but decent ones are there and a fish fry can be had. Bobber and hooks or small jig tipped with a ½ nightcrawler has been effective.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the lakes. Good luck fishing.
Jeff Winters
www.jeffsguideservice.com