We’re holding onto that break from the dog days, and it’s shaping up to be a really pleasant stretch — highs mostly in the upper 70’s to around 80, with overnight lows dipping into the low to mid 50’s. They tell us we’re going to get some rain this week – but we’ve heard that story before, and we’ll have to wait and see. We really, really need it! Water temps are zigzagging in a downward trend but are still sitting mostly in mid-70’s on the chain and upper 60’s to mid-70’s on the deeper northern lakes. That trend is exactly what we want to see this time of year — fish are shaking off the sluggishness of high summer and starting to spread back out and feed with a little more purpose.

Crappie are still mostly holding in deeper water off the weed edges and structure, but with the cooler nights, keep an eye out for them moving shallower as evening comes on — we’re hearing of fish showing up in as little as 3-4′ right around dusk. Small jigs tipped with plastics like Mini Mites, small Beetle Spins or Charlie Bees are catching fish, and a plain minnow under a slip bobber is tough to beat if you’ve got kids in the boat. Perch are holding steady in that 5 to 15′ cabbage, with leeches or a fatter minnow on a light jig getting the job done. Bluegill continue to work weed edges, docks, and any submerged wood, and a small worm or waxie under a jig keeps the rods bending. It’s also a great time to try a fly for them, as they’re feeding on surface bugs in the evenings, too.

Walleye are still locked into that deep summer pattern — cabbage and weed edges in 10 to 15′, or out on the deeper flats in 15 to 25′. With water temps easing down, we’re starting to see a few more fish creep up onto the tops of structure during the low-light hours, so it pays to fish that shallower stuff early and late before dropping down deep once the sun’s up high. Leeches and half a crawler on a light jig, worked slowly through the weed pockets, remains the most consistent producers.

Bass fishing has been a bright spot this season, and that continues. Smallmouth are camped out on mid-lake reefs, rock piles, and points in 8 to 15′, and that early topwater window is still amazing — keep a walking bait, popper, or Whopper Plopper ready for early morning. Once the sun’s up, move on to a Ned rig, drop shot, or wacky worm along the break lines. Largemouth are buried in the cabbage and slop, eating frogs, spiders, and buzzbaits in the low-light hours, with spinnerbaits and wacky worms picking up the slack through the middle of the day.

Northern are waking back up as the water cools. They’ve been pretty lethargic through the heat, but the cooler overnight temps are starting to push them back onto the deep weed edges with a little more attitude. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are a solid bet.

The 40th Annual National Championship Musky Open runs Thursday through Sunday this week, with the bulk of the fishing action happening Friday through Sunday (although we’re already seeing anglers coming through as of this writing, who have been scouting the area.) It’s billed as the largest amateur musky tournament in the country, and it typically draws over a thousand anglers – so expect landings to be busy and boat traffic to be heavy, especially early in the morning. All fish are catch-and-release. Good luck to everyone competing!

Speaking of musky, we are trending in the right direction as the water continues to cool.  It’s still rather warm for them, but we’re starting to see some bigger fish in the 40”+ range. Activity is picking up and follows are getting more committed. Bucktails worked over and along weed edges continue get fish, and big rubber in the weeds is producing now, too. Now’s a good time to start easing into the classic fall pattern of working the deep weed edges and drop-offs a little more seriously. Yes, it’s almost September! As always, treat these fish with care – it’s still warm for them, so keep them in the water as much as possible and let them recover well before release.

We’re solidly into the back half of August now and if you ask us, this is when the fishing really starts to get good. The crowds thin out during the week, the mornings have a little bite to them, there are fewer mosquitos and flies – it’s just generally more pleasant out there. It seems, based on this season, we’re looking forward to some fantastic fall action, especially as far as the musky bite is concerned. Plus the color. Bring it on!

Good luck and good fishin’!