Feels like I’m constantly retracting parts of my previous reports, just like the things I tell my wife, only this is in writing (dang!). Contrary to last week’s report, there were some Hexagenia (Mayfly) hatches on some of the flowages (especially the Turtle to the north). Must have started their two-day migration before the colder weather moved in (my excuse). More mild weather, some rain (nice, what’s the Northwoods without some more mosquitos), and a forecast moving our next 80° day into July! But enough of the complaining! Fishing has improved over last week as it seems adjustments to the cooler weather pattern have occurred. Surface temps still averaging mid-60’s, but not wavering much one way or the other, very stable.
Smallmouth Bass: Good—Very Good – Settling into summer patterns. Seems like anything “Fuzzy” has been hot either drop-shotted or fished wacky style. More along sandgrass flats and coontail edges than rock, but finding Smallies in all these areas.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Small plastics, thunderbugs, small leeches and worms! Reports on the beds, but others in shallow 4-8’ weeds. Not much of a popper bite, waiting for things to warm up.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Wacky worms and Ameoba rigs! Soft twitchbaits such as the Crush City Freeloaders, Yum Break’N Shads and tube jigs over 4-8’ weeds and around boathouses and docks. Swimming pre-rigged plastic worms also producing over weedy flats.
Walleye: Good-Very Good – Working deeper weeds of 12-16’ using big leeches or crawlers on 1/8 oz jigs or slip-bobbers with 3-4” redtails has put plenty of “eater” (15-19”) Walleye in the boat. Casting shallow running cranks along shorelines (Scatter Rap Minnows, Rattlin Rouges) has been picking up nice fish just before dusk!
Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – While working a live chub or sucker on a weedless 1/16-1/8 oz jig still good bet, action has picked up! Casting spinnerbaits, #3:#4 Mepps Aglia spinners and chatterbaits seems to be working again.
Musky: Fair-Good - Swimbaits over bucktails! At least that’s the report from the guy who picked up a Livingston Mustang from the shop at 7:30 am Sunday morning only to return six hours later to buy his wife one after she saw him boat a 44” Tiger Musky that morning! Still, good reports on bucktails (Wizards, Hunsys) and 6” Cranes and Shallow Raiders.
Crappie: Good – Move into tall weeds where casting small Beetle Spins, Crappie Thumpers, Charlie Bees and Road Runners as well as bladeless with Crappie Scrubs and twister tails picking up nice catches for those willing to cover some water.
Yellow Perch: Good – Bite picked up a bit. Still holding in heavy weed cover. Medium fatheads, beavertails and medium leeches are good buffet choices.
As of this writing (6/22), getting new reports of Mayfly hatches on Big Arbor Vitae, so the hatches are on the small to mid-sized lakes. Check boat landings before launching if Walleye is your goal.
Pics of the Week
Caden (5 YO) of Mequon, WI having a good time catching some Gills
Meridith Locke-Guttu from the north side of Milwaukee was lipping everything this past week, including a nice Crappie and her brother, Brendan
Jeff Springer used a 12” sucker to catch and release this 42 ½”, 38 ½# Flathead on his trip to the Wolf River last week. (Jeff, and the sucker, are from up here)
FISHING REPORTS
Vilas County Lakes
Vilas County, Wisconsin
moon phase
water temp
74.0°F
Sun times displayed in .
Last water temp report: 6/18/26.
Displaying 1 to 10 of 18,618 posts
Last couple days I had Abe, Neal and Ron on Sunday and Bob and Bobby on Monday in the boat walleye fishing. Both days were great weather walleyes wanting to bite. Sunday we went down and spent a few hours catching some crappies throwing some 1/16 oz jig and plastic . Walleye’s came on gravel bars with a 3/16 oz jigs with a half a crawler. Thanks guys you all were amazing a casting straight and long cast. I had lots of days open coming up in July and August. Text me 715-614-1367.
Well a quick one from yesterday, had Todd and Greg in the boat. Started out with Greg getting two keepers on his first three casts. We were out only three hours and didn’t move around much. Casting 3/16 Curtis Hobbs jigs 478-308-9505 with half a crawler worked tight to the bottom. We ended up with 8 keepers 4 slots and 3 overs the biggest was two 26” very nice walleyes Perfect three hour day. Thanks guys was a lot of fun. Still have the 26th and 28th of June open and the first , 4th 5th and 6th of July open and more days after that 715-614-1367 text me.
Friday had Rick, Jack and Jim out fishing walleyes on gravel bars. Started in 20 to 25 fow casting 3/16 jigs and 1/2 a crawler with no luck. Moved to a sallow bar that had another boat working it we had two on right away lost both of them. Two more boats pulled up and started fishing and this is a very small bar. We moved to a point of a big bar with no gravel and found lots of walleye’s. We caught maybe 10 there two were keepers the rest were slot fish. We moved to a big bar with lots of gravel and walleyes and caught a bunch. We ended up with 6 keepers and 11 slot's and over’s two were 27” and a 25” and a 24”. Lot of fun watching you guys catch fish. We caught at least 5 SMBass. Thanks guys good to see you all again. Walleye Mike fishing Guide I have lots of days open in July text me to get out on the water.
Thursday 6/18/26
Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
We've had some wet and cool weather to deal with lately but it's hard to complain when you need the rain as much as we do. The cool weather, as it always does, slowed the bite for the bigger fish. We are still putting some nice 'fish fry' catches together. The forecast looks promising with warmer temps and the slim chance of precipitation coming in the days ahead.
Although a lot of folks love to use minnows this time of year it seems that crawlers and leeches work the best in my boat. In fact the leeches have been beating my favorite crawlers almost every time out now. And as far as using them under a slip bobber nothing beats a leech for swimming action to lure the fish to bite.
Crappie are in their summer pattern being suspended over deeper water. Just run a small piece of plastic with a twister tail or paddle tail over them and you'll catch them.
Bluegills and sunfish are everywhere. Chunks of crawlers or wax worms will catch them all day.
Walleyes are pretty active in the deeper water off the weed edges. Jigged crawlers, leeches or ribbed-worm paddle tails with catch them. Find them deeper in the sunlight and shallow in the moonlight.
Bass are a blast right now. There are 10,000 different ways to catch them. Try them all and you'll have a ball. My favorite is throw plastic worms through the weeds for the large mouths or around the rocks for the small mouths.
Perch are very active especially on the flowages right now. Half a crawler on a 1/32 jig will put more than a few in your boat. Find green weeds or deep wood and stumps.
Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1.5' and 3' below capacity and are in the middle 70's. They might be full soon with all the rain we got here and to the north. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the upper 60's to lower 70's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.
ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING? Walleye 9 (low light), Northern 6, SM Bass 10, LM Bass 10, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10
OUR BAIT REVIEWS: Although I have not used them, the fuzzy baits seem to be all the rage right now. Kind of expensive but they are flying off the shelf. Basically they are round balls, nut shaped or wacky stick plastics with lots of plastic hair-like pieces sticking out. The idea is when they are sitting on the bottom or in the water column those hair-like appendages won't stop wiggling and draw in the fish like flies.
Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.
I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off
Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).
BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm
Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to jump into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.
Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
We've had some wet and cool weather to deal with lately but it's hard to complain when you need the rain as much as we do. The cool weather, as it always does, slowed the bite for the bigger fish. We are still putting some nice 'fish fry' catches together. The forecast looks promising with warmer temps and the slim chance of precipitation coming in the days ahead.
Although a lot of folks love to use minnows this time of year it seems that crawlers and leeches work the best in my boat. In fact the leeches have been beating my favorite crawlers almost every time out now. And as far as using them under a slip bobber nothing beats a leech for swimming action to lure the fish to bite.
Crappie are in their summer pattern being suspended over deeper water. Just run a small piece of plastic with a twister tail or paddle tail over them and you'll catch them.
Bluegills and sunfish are everywhere. Chunks of crawlers or wax worms will catch them all day.
Walleyes are pretty active in the deeper water off the weed edges. Jigged crawlers, leeches or ribbed-worm paddle tails with catch them. Find them deeper in the sunlight and shallow in the moonlight.
Bass are a blast right now. There are 10,000 different ways to catch them. Try them all and you'll have a ball. My favorite is throw plastic worms through the weeds for the large mouths or around the rocks for the small mouths.
Perch are very active especially on the flowages right now. Half a crawler on a 1/32 jig will put more than a few in your boat. Find green weeds or deep wood and stumps.
Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1.5' and 3' below capacity and are in the middle 70's. They might be full soon with all the rain we got here and to the north. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the upper 60's to lower 70's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.
ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING? Walleye 9 (low light), Northern 6, SM Bass 10, LM Bass 10, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10
OUR BAIT REVIEWS: Although I have not used them, the fuzzy baits seem to be all the rage right now. Kind of expensive but they are flying off the shelf. Basically they are round balls, nut shaped or wacky stick plastics with lots of plastic hair-like pieces sticking out. The idea is when they are sitting on the bottom or in the water column those hair-like appendages won't stop wiggling and draw in the fish like flies.
Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.
I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off
Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).
BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm
Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to jump into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.
Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
Monday midday went fishing with a buddy of mine Todd for walleyes. The fish were biting the as we had one we would net it through back and had another one on. We caught well over 20 walleyes in a short time kept 6 keepers and had 3 over 24” the rest were slot fish and released to be caught again. We found walleyes in 20 to 25 fow on gravel bars slopes. Casting a 3/16 jig and crawlers it right on the bottom and keeping it moving fast to stay out of the rocks. Thanks Todd always fun getting out with you. I still have the 26th 28th 29th this month and I have 5 days open from the first through the seventh of July text me 715-614-1367 thanks.
UNCLE!
Last week’s report I whined about the lack of rain, then we got it plus cooler, fall-like temps! Lake surface temps have fallen into the mid – upper 60’s, which will probably delay any Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches with not much forecasted for hot weather (80’s) until the 24th. Cool down seems to have affected some bites, moving fish out of the shallows (at least on the high-pressure days) and scattered fish until they adjust to the new “June” weather.
Bluegill: Good – Those that have committed to spawning providing good action on worms, thunderbgs and small leeches under small floats in 1-2’ of water. Small wet flys, dry flys and poppers on fly rods or fished behind clear spinning floats effective. Still some staging Gills outside spawning areas in 6-8’ taking Mini-Mites and small 1” twisters on 1/32 oz jigs.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A good “cool off” fish, but even these seemed to slow down with the change. Jig and chub/sucker combos best when cool offs occur. More subtle swimbaits of 3 ½-4” and slow-moving spoons working.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Bedding up on many lakes, if still there, will stay a long time with water cooling. Wacky Worms, Ameobis, Ned rigs have been favored while some action on #8 & #10 Husky Jerks. Top-water has taken a back seat with cooler temps.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Best on slow moving plastics such as Ned rigs and Fuzzy Neds or Nuts! Crush City Hedgehods and other craw/lizard imitations. Most in 8-14’ along gravel or outside coontail edges. Still catch & release only until June 20th!
Walleye: Good-Fair – Took the strongest hit (at least in my boat), as the shallow bite of last week shut off by 6/15, ouch! Afternoons, evenings better if shallows warm up. Some report of slip-bobber action on large-XL leeches on weedy off-shore humps that top off about 10-14’. Crawlers around rock and wood in the 14-18’ range.
Yellow Perch: Fair – They were liking that hot spell! Seemed to have cooled off. Fish using thunderbugs or ½ crawlers under slip-floats among drowned wood in 8-12’
Crappie: Fair – Scattered due to recent weather. Target weeds of 8-14’, but may have to probe deeper into weeds to find willing biters using 1/16 oz jigs with Kalin Crappie Killers. Minnow (small) and floats for back up.
Musky: Fair – Best on smaller 6” twitchbaits, smaller bucktails and small jerks. Despite a few reports of fish in mid-40’s, most in mid to upper 30’s. Shallow still key.
This weekend, remember the guy that, in many cases, got you into this mess (obsession, whatever you want to call it). Thank him and take him out on the water, bait his hook, net and clean his catch and he might even look the other way when you sneak a sip of his beer (even if you’re of age). Cool weather and maybe some rain, but still, it’s fishing.
Last week’s report I whined about the lack of rain, then we got it plus cooler, fall-like temps! Lake surface temps have fallen into the mid – upper 60’s, which will probably delay any Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches with not much forecasted for hot weather (80’s) until the 24th. Cool down seems to have affected some bites, moving fish out of the shallows (at least on the high-pressure days) and scattered fish until they adjust to the new “June” weather.
Bluegill: Good – Those that have committed to spawning providing good action on worms, thunderbgs and small leeches under small floats in 1-2’ of water. Small wet flys, dry flys and poppers on fly rods or fished behind clear spinning floats effective. Still some staging Gills outside spawning areas in 6-8’ taking Mini-Mites and small 1” twisters on 1/32 oz jigs.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A good “cool off” fish, but even these seemed to slow down with the change. Jig and chub/sucker combos best when cool offs occur. More subtle swimbaits of 3 ½-4” and slow-moving spoons working.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Bedding up on many lakes, if still there, will stay a long time with water cooling. Wacky Worms, Ameobis, Ned rigs have been favored while some action on #8 & #10 Husky Jerks. Top-water has taken a back seat with cooler temps.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Best on slow moving plastics such as Ned rigs and Fuzzy Neds or Nuts! Crush City Hedgehods and other craw/lizard imitations. Most in 8-14’ along gravel or outside coontail edges. Still catch & release only until June 20th!
Walleye: Good-Fair – Took the strongest hit (at least in my boat), as the shallow bite of last week shut off by 6/15, ouch! Afternoons, evenings better if shallows warm up. Some report of slip-bobber action on large-XL leeches on weedy off-shore humps that top off about 10-14’. Crawlers around rock and wood in the 14-18’ range.
Yellow Perch: Fair – They were liking that hot spell! Seemed to have cooled off. Fish using thunderbugs or ½ crawlers under slip-floats among drowned wood in 8-12’
Crappie: Fair – Scattered due to recent weather. Target weeds of 8-14’, but may have to probe deeper into weeds to find willing biters using 1/16 oz jigs with Kalin Crappie Killers. Minnow (small) and floats for back up.
Musky: Fair – Best on smaller 6” twitchbaits, smaller bucktails and small jerks. Despite a few reports of fish in mid-40’s, most in mid to upper 30’s. Shallow still key.
This weekend, remember the guy that, in many cases, got you into this mess (obsession, whatever you want to call it). Thank him and take him out on the water, bait his hook, net and clean his catch and he might even look the other way when you sneak a sip of his beer (even if you’re of age). Cool weather and maybe some rain, but still, it’s fishing.
Displaying 1 to 10 of 18,618 posts
