Well it has been another week of heavy rains and high water but the great fishing continues. Water temperatures are holding steady in the lower 70 degree range which his keeping fish active and feeding. Anglers heading out on the Wisconsin River system and its surrounding backwater areas can expect a mixed bag of about every imaginable species the system holds. At this time of the year you never know what you’re going to catch when you drop a line.
For you guys targeting walleyes look for that shallow transition area in 3 to 8 feet of water. Right now walleyes will be roaming these shallow water haunts looking for food and they will tend to move up even shallower as the day progresses and the sunlight disperses. After dark look for walleyes to be in water as shallow as 1 to 2 feet deep. For consistent action try running 1/8 th and ¼ ounce lead head jigs tipped with fat head minnows or half a crawler. Sometimes I even run the jigs tipped with a twister tail in white, orange, or yellow. If it is size that you are looking for then I would suggest throwing crankbaits like the Rapala Shad Raps.
If you are interested in panfish, right now is a great time to cash in on some fantastic action for both crappie’s and bluegills. Bluegills are on their beds spawning and can be caught with the old stand-by of rigging up with a bobber, sinker and hook baited up with a piece of crawler. Toss it into the beds and BAM fish on…. The crappies are suspended over deeper water and we have been getting them by slip drifting live bait rigs and/or spider rigging with live bait and plastics. Run your baits at various levels to find active fish and then once you begin catching a few fish concentrate on the depth that is the most consistent.
Big game anglers looking for the ultimate quarry will be happy to know that June is a good time of the year to catch some of the largest fresh water species available, musky and pike. After a long winter and spring spawning season these fish are ready to eat!!! Look for shallow weeds and current breaks to be holding active fish. Run bucktails, top water baits and jerk baits to tempt these predators into striking.
Have a great week,
Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Phone: 715-693-5843
