Weather inconsistencies have made for interesting fishing conditions this past week but with that said the bite has been very good. Water temperatures have dropped a few degrees the past few days with the recent cold front but that won’t last long with much warmer temperatures in the forecast. Water levels are a bit high with recent rains but flow rates are about normal in the central Wisconsin area.
 

Fishing in general has been very good the past week but unlike many of my recent detailed reports separating the different species, this week we are going to talk about WIND. Most of my reports go into detail about specific lures, conditions and location but wind really plays a larger role on fish location than many of us realize. This past week alone the wind direction changed several times creating different currents, water flows, seams, and mud lines. Any and all of these conditions will cause fish to move to new locations.
 

Just to give you an example, I was on a very good crappie/walleye bite this past week fishing a river channel edge in 12 to 16 feet of water that was adjacent to ta 10 foot flat. Most of my fishing was on the outside break of the break line and the side that the wind was pushing against. At the start of the week this was the east side of the break. The bite was steady and we caught some very nice fish. Two days later the wind changed direction to a south-westerly direction and the fish moved completely off the outside break and repositioned themselves to the innermost break closest to shore. The fish were now holding tight to the inside break which was now along the south side of the break. They were in the same depth of water but completely on the other side of the flat. With the wind in this direction the action slowed up but we managed to pick up some fish. Fast forward two days later and a strong north wind blows in. The fish move again, but now out to the north side of the break and they become quite aggressive and go into a heavy feeding binge.
 

The wind direction really played a huge role in fish location over the past week and caused them to move several times. Most guys that catch fish would have the general tendency to go back to the same location each day and think that the fish were still going to be there. But with the conditions changed and them not knowing or realizing the fish moved they may think that it was just a bad day and that the fish just weren’t biting. When in all reality by using a little ingenuity and by playing the wind you can locate active fish by making a move yourself.
 

Have a great week,
 

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