Fishing Report

Good morning! Here is the weekly fishing report...


Strong panfish bite, with northern hitting, and bass consistent in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

The overall fishing grade lately in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area is a B-.
If you're out with kids you'll have a field day because there's plenty of panfish action in and around the weeds, and there'll be an occasional bass or northern hitting as well. It's a blast with the family, but if you're a more serious anglers things are a little tougher.

In the Eagle River area, small perch and gills are in the weed pockets of relatively shallow water. For quality fish move out to depths of eight plus feet adjacent to weeds. Probe waters much deeper, but use your electronics to keep the weeds in sight. Slip bobbers rigged with a gob of leaf worms or a fat leech are effective. Crappie can suspend in these same areas, but downsize your presentations to tube jigs, small minnows or Mini-Mites. Some nice panfish are being reported.
Northern are northern. Throw an old shoe in the weeds in the Eagle River area, and the northern will hit it. Mepps number 5 Aglias or lipless crankbaits like the Rat L Trap or Bucher Power Tec pro will all work.

Target weedy areas between 6 to 10 feet deep. Average size northern caught is about 24 inches.
Bass fishing remains consistent with smallies being taken both shallow and deep. Timberdoodles in the pads, Senko worms through the weeds and rubber creatures are drawing the smallies in the 5 to 8 foot range. Deeper fish are slamming XL leeches, and whole crawlers over hard bottom in depths to 20 plus feet. Largemouth are taking Creepers, Jitterburgs and all sorts of plastics fished over, in and around weeds, piers, stumps or deadfalls.

Musky anglers in the Eagle River area are meeting with success during the early/late periods. Topwaters are producing as are Hellhounds and a host of other shallower running jerk or glidebaits. Target 4 to 8 feet of water in and around broadleaf weeds or thick coontail for best results. As the day brightens up move to deeper weeds, with mid-sized to whopper bucktails.
Cowgirls have been working very well, along with Mepps Musky Killers and Sassy Shads, which have been taking fish at boatside. It is important to finish off EVERY cast with a figure eight, no matter what you're throwing.

Walleye remain mobile in the Eagle Rvier area, but start in the deeper weeds with a jig and a crawler or leech. Use both a cast/retrieve presentation as well as a slip bobber, to increase the odds of success. Most of these walleye are just off the bottom, with many smaller fish being caught (and released). In low light periods switch to walleye suckers, redtails or XL fatheads on a jig, with at least a number 2 hook. Lighted bobbers should not be overlooked. Don't pass up the deeper, hardbottom flats. Walleyes are piled up in these areas at times, especially during the day. Dropping a Minnow-Rap (which dives to 12 plus feet, despite its size) or bottom bouncer with a crawler, should score some bites. Historically, these fish are bigger, too.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance interview with Mike Michalak of Guides Choice Pro Shop).