Well, we’ve made it to June, and the weather seems to want to celebrate right along with us. What a long, mostly cold and miserable Spring we’ve suffered through! We’ve got a dry to start to the week, with highs expected in the low 80s through at least Wednesday. That’s as good as it gets up here in early June, and the lakes are responding. Water temps that had been inching up over the Memorial Day weekend have climbed quickly into the upper 60’s and even low 70’s on many area lakes, and that is going to flip switches across the board for most species. Take advantage of this stretch while it’s here, because showers and thunderstorms look possible Thursday through the weekend as the pattern begins to shift. That’s a classic early-summer setup, and we’ll take it.

Walleye have continued working those weed edges and transitional zones in the 8 to 14’ range, and with water temps climbing through the week, you should start seeing more midday activity than you have in recent weeks. Jigs tipped with Tuffies or leeches are working well.  If you’d rather cast, try a small swimbait. Early mornings and evenings are still the money windows, but don’t be surprised to find fish moving during the warmest part of a calm afternoon on the clearer lakes. When the storms roll in toward the end of the week, pay attention — walleye often feed aggressively ahead of a front, and that window just before the rain can be exceptional.

Panfish are really hitting their stride now with this heat. Crappie on the Chain that were staging in protected bays and woody cover are now done with their business, and the warm, calm early-week conditions are prime for them. A slip bobber with a small minnow or waxie, fished in 4 to 8’ near submerged brush is hard to beat, but a Beetle Spin can be a fun choice if you want to cast.  If you’re on a colder, deeper lake it’s worth checking the shallows, too. Bluegill are pushing into the shallowest, sun-warmed bays in earnest — look for sandy and gravelly bottom in a foot or two of water on the warmest afternoons. These fish are fun on light tackle and should be very catchable with small jigs or a plain hook and worm. Perch continue to mix in with walleye along the softer weed edges on many lakes.

Northern are in full feeding mode per usual, and the developing weed growth is giving them everything they need to ambush from cover. Spinnerbaits, spoons, and larger soft plastics worked through the healthiest green vegetation you can find will draw strikes. Don’t sleep on topwater in the evenings during this warm stretch — a big wakebait or Whopper Plopper worked over a healthy cabbage flat at last light can be something to remember.

Bass anglers have a lot to look forward to this week. The fast warm-up pushed the Largemouth up onto their beds, and many are already done with their spawn and feeding heavily. Plastics in the 4 to 6” range or crawlers are bringing great success. Smallmouth remain catch-and-release through the early season, but as rocky structure lakes warm, fish are becoming more predictable.

For musky, summer patterns are still developing, but a smaller slow-rolled bucktail or a glide bait worked along deeper weed edges is worth your time, especially during low-light hours. The evenings this week, with calm winds and warm air, could be excellent for a topwater bite. We’ve seen a number of fish caught in the last week, so they’re definitely on the hunt now.

Boat traffic has picked back up with this beautiful weather, so early weekday mornings remain your best bet for quiet water. Look for that weather change later in the week and use it to target the fish you’re looking for – and enjoy this beautiful summer weather we’re having – even the rain. We need it!

Good luck and good fishin’!