We are into the full swing of summer now. With temperatures in the upper 80’s, this has the water warming and it is at the optimal water temperature for smallmouth and largemouth bass. The bass are on the nests right now and some good numbers are being caught.
One of my favorite ways to sight fish bass is using a plastic worm used 'wacky style'. When you hook your worm 'wacky style' you want to put the hook right in the center of the worm, and you do not need to add any weight to the worm just let the weight of the hook pull the worm down to the fish, and use a stop and go method to retrieve the worm. Another way to attack them is a basic tube and jig. Using a tube is a simple way to fish for bass, all you have to do is cast it near a nest and either jig it back or just reel it in. Many companies make tubes and plastic worms. My favorite tubes are the Yum Salted Tubes, which are 3" long and are bright colored due to our stained water. My favorite plastic worms are the Northland 5" Slurpies.
Along with us being in full swing the walleyes, northern and pan fish are into their summer patterns. We have numerous guests fishing for northern pike with fair success. Our guests are targeting northerns early in the morning and later in the evening using sucker minnows on the edge of weed-lines. The people using this are constantly catching fish in the 30+ in range.
The walleyes are in a distinct pattern and can still be caught shallow in low light conditions using minnows under a slip bobber in 6-12 feet of water. If you are going to go after the walleyes during the day they are sliding a little deeper at 22-24 feet of water. Walleyes are hitting on minnows or leeches on jigs in these deeper areas. The crappies have finished spawning and can be found suspended in 30-34ft of water relating to deep points. Anglers are using crappie minnows on a slip bobber when they are targeting these fish.
With the warmer weather and water temps remember to move around. Your best bet is to move to the fish this time of year and to use techniques that allow moving around. Good luck this weekend and hope to see you on the water.
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