Fishing Report

Greetings! Here is the weekly fishing report!

Top notch walleye action, with bass and northern very strong, and the musky bite steady, in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

Mother Nature's turned up the heat, and while it can make fishing a bit uncomfortable during the day, the fishing grade for Eagle River is up to an "A."

Walleye angling in the Eagle River area is top notch right now on both leeches and crawlers. It's still weed-related so find edges and work around them with a jig. Slip bobbers just off the bottom are also producing.

Average depths are anywhere from 6 to 15 feet. If the water has current, move up to redtails or walleye suckers, with bottom bouncers or slip bobbers. Sizes of fish at low light are several inches larger than those under a bright sky. During the day, jig a Sonar in water over 15 feet in the rocks.

Eagle River bass fishing remains extremely strong. Smallies are holding around well defined edges, like where rock and sand or mud and rock meet.

The smallies will be over the harder surface around 15 feet down, where it's a good spot to drop a whole crawler, or extra-large leech on a jig or slip bobber. As its gets darker, move into more covered areas with Yum or Gulp!

6 to 7 inch worms. Largemouth have been sticking to areas of stumps and deadfalls, or very broadleaf weeds. Weedless worms, wacky-rigged plastics, and Timberdoodles are all top choices. The little Creepers, Jitterbugs and similar topwaters are also producing, or drop a Cleo on the outsides of these areas.

Northern are active in the weeds, with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and chatterbaits all very effective. Don't overlook the big weedless worms, either. Depths don't seem to matter.
Muskies are hanging in 6 to 15 feet of water, tucked into the weeds. The biggest broadleaf weeds or cabbage beds seem to be harboring the most fish, with low light hours being peak times. Use Topraiders and Turrbos.

Daylight hours are still finding larger bucktails the bait of choice. The Mepps Musky Killer Sassy Shad and Marabous, along with Ghostails (number 1), Cowgirls and Supergirls are all taking fish. As has been the pattern make sure to do a figure eight after each cast, at the boat. With high skies think about more stained water lakes.

Panfishing is good at most locations, either from shore or a boat. Weeds,
branches or similar structure will almost guarantee fish. Nothing too huge right away, but if the kids want action, put on a small hook with a red leaf worm or beavertail; add a splitshot and bobber and that'll do it. Nice perch are taking jigged leeches and small minnows in and around the weeds.

Bluegills are a bit deeper, with half a crawler or beavertail productive.
Crappie are sticking with small minnows or plastics, no larger than an inch, in depths to 12 feet.
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(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance interview with Mike Michalak of Guides Choice Pro Shop).