Summer’s showing no signs of packing it in around here just yet. It looks like we’ve got another stretch of fairly warm, unsettled weather working through our area. Don’t look for the clean fall cooldown just yet – mYbe next week? This pattern looks more like a slow fade than a hard switch for now.

Water temps on the Chain and area lakes have been holding in the mid 60’s for the most part, with the Chain on the upper end and the bigger lakes to the north on the lower end of the 60’s. Until we start getting some really cool nights and more fall-like daytime temps, that’s not going to change much. The weeds are still thick, green – and the number one address on the water, so keep working them patiently with weedless rigs, slip bobbers, and careful casts. The extra clouds and periodic rain we’re hoping for should also stretch out those prime low-light windows well past the usual dawn and dusk hours, so don’t be shy about fishing through a passing shower rather than around it.

Walleye have stayed put on deep weed edges in the 10 to 15′ range, with fish out on sharper breaks at 20’+ on the clearer lakes. With more overcast skies in the forecast, look for fish to push shallower and feed more aggressively during the day than they have been – a jig-and-minnow or small crankbait worked along those breaks can really pay off when a system is rolling in. Half crawlers on jigs or slip bobbers remain a safe, productive choice.

Bass fishing has been great all season, and any extra cloud cover will only help that continue. Largemouth are holding tight to heavy weeds, wood, and shaded docks, and topwater should produce well beyond the usual first hour of light on overcast mornings. Smallmouth are working rock humps, points, and scattered timber in 8 to 15′, still feeding heavily on crayfish – natural browns, oranges, and greens on tubes, Ned rigs, and drop-shots dragged slow along bottom remain a good bet.

Panfish action has been holding steady. Crappie are schooling along weed edges in 10-15’ with small jigs tipped with plastics or fatheads doing good work. Bluegill are shallow around docks, wood, and weedy bays, with good evening action on small jigs tipped with a worm or waxie. This is still a great choice for the kids on the dock, with a worm and a bobber. The big perch are buried in the cabbage alongside the walleye – a jig and a fathead or a bigger crawler chunk will find those bigger fish. A little wind and chop off a passing shower can actually turn a shallower bite on, so be aware of the weather and fish accordingly.

Musky are ramping up slowly. We’re seeing some nice fish being caught on league nights now. Keep bucktails moving along and over the weed edges, and don’t be afraid to stay out through a light rain. This is just the beginning of the best part of the year for these fish.

With Labor Day in the rearview, the crowds at the landings have thinned out nicely, so this is a good stretch to get out and enjoy some peace and quiet on the water. Keep the rain gear handy, but don’t let a passing shower keep you off the water – some of the best bites of the week may come right around them. Fall is still on its way, but for now, there’s plenty of time on the water left to enjoy.

Good luck and good fishin’!