“In The Smiley Barn”
I-94 & Hwy 83 * Delafield, WI 53018
(262) 646-2218
www.dicksmithslivebait.com
Thursday, June 18th
Fishing has been great on area lakes! Surface water temperatures are being reported in the upper 60s to low 70s.
Bluegills are being caught along weed edges in 9 to 18 feet of water, with the larger fish holding closer to the bottom. Smaller gills are being found in shallower water around weeds and piers. Giant redworms, waxworms, panfish leeches, or small fathead minnows fished on a #8 hook or 1/32 oz. jig have been producing well. A 1/32 oz. jig and plastic combination, such as a Cubby Mini Mite or Bobby Garland Plastics, has also been very effective. Slip bobber rigs, vertical jigging, and split-shot or drop-shot rigs are the best presentations in deeper water, while a small bobber works best in shallow water. Foam spiders, poppers, and black ant patterns fished with a fly rod or ultralight spinning rod and casting bubble have been productive during calm early morning and evening periods.
Crappies are being found suspended along outside weed lines in 12 to 18 feet of water or over deeper basins. Casting or drifting with a 1/32 oz. jig or #6 hook on a split-shot rig tipped with small or large fathead minnows has been productive. Jigs dressed with 1- to 2-inch plastics, such as Bobby Garland Plastics, Cubby Mini Mite, or Kalin’s Crappie Scrubs, are also producing fish.
Northern pike action has been picking up. Focus on deeper weed lines and structure holding baitfish. Anglers casting Glide Baits, Chatterbaits, Mepps Spinners, Swim Jigs, and Soft Swimbaits around weed flats are finding smaller, more aggressive pike.
Largemouth bass have settled into their summer patterns. During early morning and evening hours, fish weed flats in 5 to 10 feet of water with swim jigs, spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits, inline spinners, or topwater baits. Deeper weed lines have been producing fish on Texas-rigged plastics, drop-shot rigs, jig worms, and wacky rigs. For live bait anglers, medium or large golden shiners, nightcrawlers, and large leeches fished on a split-shot rig or under a slip bobber have worked well. Fishing around piers and other shallow-water structure with wacky worms, NED rigs, jig-and-chunk combinations, pre-rigged worms, and tubes has also been productive. Anglers continue to report success fishing heavy vegetation with hollow-body frogs.
Smallmouth bass are being found along breaks and cruising shallow rock bars. Swim jigs, Keitech paddle tails, and 5-inch Kalin’s Grubs have been effective for suspended fish. Dragging Get Bit tube jigs, drop-shot rigs, NED rigs, or football jigs tipped with skirted grubs has also produced. A slip-sinker rig baited with a leech, small chub, small sucker, or jumbo tuffy remains one of the most effective live bait presentations. Popper-style topwater baits and flukes have been productive during calm conditions.
Walleyes are active along weed edges in 8 to 18 feet of water and on deeper structure in 20 to 30 feet. Large and Jumbo Leeches, Nightcrawlers, Jumbo Tuffies, Small Chubs, and Medium Golden Shiners have been the best live bait choices. Lindy rigs, weedless jigs, spinner rigs, and slip bobber rigs are all effective presentations. During low-light periods and after dark, casting minnow-style crankbaits over the tops of weed beds has been producing fish.
Catfish are being caught in the Rock and Crawfish Rivers, as well as Lakes Koshkonong and Mendota. Medium suckers, nightcrawlers, leeches, and stinkbaits fished on a slip-sinker rig have been the most productive offerings.
Lake Michigan Update: Coho fishing has been good out of all ports. Orange dodgers paired with peanut flies and small spoons continue to produce the best catches. King salmon are also beginning to show up in increasing numbers. Perch season is now open on Lake Michigan. The daily bag limit is 5. Large Fathead minnows or plastics on a drop shot work well. Try the Great Lakes Panfish Rig. These 2 hook rigs are great for fishing from shore or from a boat. Add a drop shot sinker to the snap on the bottom – They can either be fished vertical or casted out with a slow retrieve. Fish them with a Fathead Minnow, Wax Worm, Pc of Nightcrawler or Giant Red Worm.
Please practice Selective Harvesting for the Future of Fishing.
Please visit the WI DNR website for rules on possession, bag, and minimum size limits.
Good Luck!
Mike & Becky Smith