Conditions in Central Wisconsin have been very favorable for fishing this past week. Our water temperatures have been holding in the lower 70 degree range which has the fish quite active and readily feeding. With September right around the corner and the 2017 bear season only 3 weeks away we are starting to see increased activity at our bait stations and more daylight pictures as we move into the later parts of the month.
 

Anglers targeting walleyes have been having very good success early in the day with jig and minnow or jig and crawler combinations. Most of the action is between the hours of 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM and then again a small feeding window in the evening. Most of the walleyes that we are catching are relating to deep structure in water depths of at least 8 to 12 feet deep.
 

The crappie bite has been fantastic with lots of nice fish being caught. Our main tactic has been slip drifting with the wind or current and running either spider-rigs or by using slip bobbers set at various depths. Our presentations have been a variety of live bait and plastics and on any given day anyone could out-produce the other one.
 

For you musky guys the bite for muskies this past week has been very good with a couple of really good days where we had action from multiple fish. Most of our muskies have come on bucktails but we are seeing some of the larger fish on top-water baits and even a few have been caught on large jerkbaits. Lake X Lures is still our number one producer for big muskies in the top-water style with Suick’s starting to pick up speed as we move into the fall.
 

If you are planning on bear hunting this fall and don’t have place to go we have some openings left starting the second week of the season. We are seeing a lot of activity at our bait stations with some of them holding a few really nice sized bears.
 

Have a great week,
 

Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Phone: 715-693-5843