Well, Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, and now we find ourselves in that first real week of “summer” fishing. The weekend itself brought the beginning of yet another welcome warm-up, and this kind of warmth, even with clouds, is exactly what we need. If you were out over the holiday weekend, you probably found water temps climbing on your favorite lakes. That’s the trend we’ve been waiting for. Heading into the week, we’re looking at a real heat-up, and that will change those temps quickly and get us right to where we should be for this time of the year.

Walleye have continued their transition away from the shallows, and are now setting up along weed edges and transition areas in the 8 to 14 foot range on most lakes. Early mornings and evenings remain the money windows, but as water temps climb through the week, you may find fish more active during midday hours than they’ve been. Jigs tipped with Tuffies are still a go-to, and Lindy rigs with a half-crawler remain reliable. If you’re marking fish but not getting bites, slow down and give them time — the post-spawn funk can linger for awhile, especially on the colder, deeper lakes.

Panfish are  picking up steam in a meaningful way. Crappie staging on the Chain — which had been lagging behind the smaller lakes — will now be getting serious about those protected bays and woody cover. This is prime time for them, and the window won’t stay open forever. Small tube jigs or a slip bobber with a waxie fished in 4 to 8 feet near emerging vegetation and submerged brush is the setup. Bluegill are beginning to show pre-spawn behavior on the warmest lakes — watch for them in shallow, sun-warmed bays over sandy or gravelly bottom. Perch are still working the softer weed edges and mud flats mixing in with the walleye on many lakes.

Northern are in full-on feeding mode now. Post-spawn sluggishness is well behind them, and with green weeds developing in the warmer bays, they’ve got ambush cover to work with. Spinnerbaits, spoons, and larger soft plastics worked through the healthiest-looking vegetation you can find will draw strikes.

Bass should finally start showing some life. Smallies are catch-and-release through the early season, but as water temps climb through the upper 50s on their preferred rocky structure lakes, they should begin showing up more predictably. Largemouth are staging on the edges of warming bays and are starting to think seriously about beds on the most advanced lakes. Keep an eye on that water temp — 60°F is the number that usually flips the switch, and the smaller, darker lakes will hit that mark soon, if they haven’t already.

For musky, keep your eyes open, your release gear handy, and handle them with care. Summer patterns are still a way off, but a  slow-rolled bucktail or a glide bait worked along deeper weed edges can turn up a fish for the patient angler.

The boat traffic that peaked over Memorial Day weekend has thinned out – for now – as folks head back to work and school. Early weekday mornings and evenings this week will offer some of the best quiet-water conditions you’ll find all summer, especially with predicted weather. Take advantage of it.

Good luck and good fishin’!