Here we go again… It has been another week full of rain and below normal temperatures. Water levels are still very high and fast which are creating unseasonable conditions. Water temperatures continue to remain in the upper 60 degree range triggering fish into what I would normally consider an early fall pattern.
Despite the adverse conditions the fishing has actually been pretty good. We have been having very good success on walleyes and crappies with an occasional musky and large pike showing up. The action has been consistent with not only good catches of fish but we have been seeing a very decent size structure as well.
On recent trips we have been finding the walleyes in shallow water locations along the main lake sections of the system. With the high and fast water conditions that we have been incurring, we have basically been avoiding any mid-river fishing that we would normally be doing at this time of the year. Our best action is coming from drift fishing and running 1/16 th and 1/8 th ounce jigs that have been tipped with half a crawler. We are working shoreline areas with downed timber, mid-lake humps, and rocks to find active fish.
The crappies that we have been finding have been suspended and are commonly holding 5 to 10 feet down over 14 to 16 feet of water. We have been relying heavily on our electronics to locate schools of feeding crappies. Once you find a pod of fish mark it on your locator. After the position has been marked you can work the general area with slip bobbers rigged up with a tiny hook or jig that has been baited up with a minnow.
This past week we had the opportunity to try out some new musky trolling rods from Elk River Custom Rods out of Phillips, Wisconsin. I have to tell you they make some of the best rods on the market. These rods have a flexible tip for handling the heavy consistent pull of a big lure under a constant speed, and at the same time they have a very good backbone for setting the hook and fighting a big fish. Elk River Rods are more commonly known for their walleye and musky rods, but if you are a troller and you are looking for some new trolling rods, or maybe you are thinking about upgrading, do yourself a favor and check out their line-up of musky trolling rods you won’t be disappointed.
Have a great week,
Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Phone: 715-693-5843
