Fishing Reports

FISHING WITH THE GUIDES  with George Langley.  

Week of  4/27 to 5/4 2025

Here we are, less than a week away from the 2025 game season opener this Saturday! A stretch of warm days and mild nights has opened up all area lakes, although you might still see some random, floating ice on lakes North of us. You can expect good access across the Northwoods, and Saturday’s weather looks to be ideal for the first day of game fishing. Boat landings are in solid shape, and water levels are stable. Water temps are still in the low to mid-40’s at the time of this writing, so were still mid-perch spawn and eagerly awaiting the crappie.

While there’s nothing catastrophic in the weather forecast, it’s definitely not steady – temps are ranging from lows of 27 to a highs of 65. By the weekend we’re hoping for a nice 60 on Saturday. While it’s perfect, it makes for a bit of a challenge in predicting spawning and “normal” fish-behavior. But we’ve had many worse years, including those where there was still ice fishing going on for the opener!

Water temperatures are climbing quickly, especially on smaller and mid-sized lakes. Average readings are in the mid-40’s+, depending on the time of day and the location. As stated, the perch are still spawning - and the bite has been fantastic. We’ll need at least another 10 degrees before the crappie start, but we’ve heard whispers of them visiting and checking out their spawning grounds. Now that we’re into “Real Spring” we can expect that to start in the next couple of weeks.

The Wisconsin River is running pretty normal for the melt and temperature, but very fishable up here. Walleye action has been steady, with anglers finding success using jigs and minnows in slower-moving sections. The Eagle River has very nice conditions with easy current, so if you’re looking for a place to fish before the opener, this is it. There’s good access from several landings, so we typically see a lot of people out there. This year is no exception.

This opener is shaping up to be a winner! Saturday’s weather, as of this writing, is ideal. We’ve had some time with open water this year and the fish are settling into their normal Spring patterns. If you haven’t already, get your gear out and prepared. Oil your reels and get fresh line on your spools. Check the guides on your rods for cracks or missing ceramic. Make sure your net isn’t chewed through by a mouse during the winter. Let’s make sure that your first day out isn’t an exercise in frustration!

Saturday can’t come soon enough for all of us anglers here! With favorable weather, accessible lakes and active fish, it’s bound to be a great Opening Weekend.

Good luck and good fishin’!