Thursday 6/11/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59.  That's about $1.50 per dozen.  Our part to make fishing more affordable.

Not much has changed since last week's report.  Fishing is still REALLY good.  We did get a few storms the last couple of days, and a couple more are forecasted, which shut things down for a little bit but once the fish got over their fear of the pounding and flashes they started to feed again.  I'm still a fan of dark watered lakes this year over the clear ones.  Weed growth seems to be much better in the dark ones right now.  I'm not sure what's holding up the weed growth on the clearer lakes.  And believe me, with the shorter weeds the fish are buried in them.  The livescope doesn't show many fish swimming around down there but you can see the fish come out of the weeds after your bait when you bait gets there.  Leeches have been a little bit better than crawlers the past couple of days and today it was plastics (1) then leeches (2) and then crawlers (3).  But of course that could change tomorrow, or this afternoon.

Crappie are done spawning pretty much everywhere.  Look for them to really turn on again to feed hard after the spawn.  That has already stared in the dark water and is just starting on the clear waters.  I've always like plastic better than live bait for catching them but live bait is not wrong.  Today it was plastics, Crappie Scrubs and 1Standard minnows.

Bluegills and Rock Bass are really hot right now.  Guys on the flowages are still  hammering them, and I mean hammering the gills and sunfish in less than 3' of water.  And you know those gills on the flowages are big and are tough to grab with just one hand and fight like the dickens.  Only 4 gills fed my wife and I for dinner.  Along with those gills could come a limit of Walleye in the same water along with a pike or two.  Half a crawler on a 1/32 oz jig works best.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are really heating up as well.  Plastics like worm tails, paddle tails, twister tails, rib worms and the such are working well.  Of course crawlers and leeches work great too but why mess with them when a plastic on a 1/16 oz jig will work as well.  The small tungsten ones from Northland with the big hooks and the Neon Moon ones from VMC are my favorites.  Today we also popped a bunch on a leech 4' below a bobber.

Walleyes have been active as well.  Half a crawler or a leech on a 1/32 oz jig has been putting many in the boat with some in the live well.  Most seem to be cruising the areas outside the weed lines looking for minnows and small perch.  If you are catching small perch do move on until your sure there aren't any Walleyes in with them.

It's important to use the smallest jig you can that you can still feel on the end of your pole.  Over and over again we have found that that works.  It's just as important as finding green weeds and wood at this time of year.

Remember, a week before the fish bed down and especially a couple of weeks after will be the most fierce they are in pursuing a meal.  Try to catch those times and you be in for some real action.  And I promise it won't kill you if you throw some back for next time.

Colors can matter this time of year so bring as many with you as you can so as not the be afraid to switch if the bite is slow.  Size can also be a determining factor and it has nothing to do with the size of the fish you are after.  I've seen schools of crappie pound 1/2 oz spinnerbaits while not touching a 2" plastic.  Again, be flexible and try different methods.

Find those greening weeds in the warmest water in the lake and you will find fish. North shorelines are not always the warmest.  Windblown shorelines will usually have the warmest water as the wind, if blowing in the same direction for a few days, will push that surface water around.
Federal Courts ruled all the lakes on the LDF reservation will stay open to all as usual for the foreseeable future.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 2' and 3' below capacity and are in the middle 70's.  That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines.  Most lake water temps are in the 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 8, LM Bass 8, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10OUR BAIT REVIEWS:None this week

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.
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IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59.  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