Minocqua, Lac du Flambeau, St Germain, Boulder Junction, and Manitowish Waters Wisconsin open water and Ice Fishing Report
Thursday 6/25/26
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.
Lots of cool weather and rain lately. No complaints here. We need that rain. The cool temps kept the fish buried in the weeds and wood for the most part. But warmer weather is on the horizon. Pretty weird the other day with clients. 46 degrees at the morning launch but with no wind and clear skies we were sweating like it was 80. Only in the northwoods, eh?
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. Still, working a half a crawler on a 1/16 oz jig thru the weeds slowly is deadly. You can actually do the same thing with a plastic worm or minnow. Paddle-type tails are my favorite.
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. They are spooking very easily so be prepared to cast 40-50 feet away from you to get them. This is where the Livescope will come in handy to find them.
Bluegills and sunfish are everywhere. Chunks of crawlers or wax worms will catch them all day. They love hiding under the boat. Although the bigger ones act like crappie and are spooked easily. Again, cast a long ways out to get them.
Walleyes are 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.
Spinner baits and top-water lures will net you fish almost anywhere you go now. I always tip my spinner baits with some type of plastic tail. Doesn't seem to matter much with color or size. You just want to increase that profile a bit.
Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1.5' and 2' below capacity and are knocking off the dust of water temps in the 70's. That dark water is always a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in and around the upper 60's or 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 7 (low light), Northern 4, SM Bass 10, LM Bass 10, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 7, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10
OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
This bears repeating. 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. 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