Presented by Aquatic Arts Fishing Pro Shop in Tomahawk, featuring this week’s report from Tim Buffington of LVO Sportfishing.

Hey there, Northwoods anglers, and welcome back to the LVO Sportfishing Report! I’m Tim Buffington, ready to get you dialed in for another week of fantastic fishing here in the Northwoods.

Well, summer has finally shown up, and let me tell you, it felt like an absolute eternity getting here after the up-and-down spring we just survived. I am incredibly excited for this warm-up because hopefully it means the fish will finally lock into those steady summer patterns and be a whole lot less moody.

This past week, I had a great repeat client and close friend, Scott, out on the amazing Willow Flowage along with his daughter Lacy and son Jay. They were looking to learn some new water and really focus on reading electronics. It was a cool, overcast, and chilly day, which definitely meant we had to work for every single bite.

The walleyes were still scattered in deep wood anywhere from 12 to 20 feet down, and jigs tipped with crawlers did most of the heavy lifting on those finicky fish.

After a few hours of chasing those eyes, we switched gears to capitalize on the crappie spawn. Water temps just hit that 62-degree mark, and switching over to bobbers tipped with fathead minnows turned into some fast, fun action.

We focused our efforts on a north shoreline that I know inside and out. It’s a textbook spot because it has everything a spawning crappie looks for: sand to hold the heat, scattered weeds, wood for cover, and that north-facing bank that always warms up the fastest.

I also had the pleasure of welcoming back the Dercks family over the holiday weekend for another repeat trip. We ran into a cooler day with scattered showers, forcing us to bounce around to multiple spots to piece together a successful bite. But honestly, the best part of the trip was watching those kids expand on what they learned with me last season.

That is by far the most rewarding part of this job, and they had an absolute blast putting together a great multi-species day and making some classic Northwoods memories.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead to this upcoming week, with these warmer temperatures finally locking in, those walleyes are going to respond positively. I fully expect them to start transitioning right into their classic summertime patterns on the flowages.

Now, deep wood is definitely still going to be in play, but with the warming water, that weed bite is absolutely about to fire up. As that fresh vegetation emerges, the walleyes will be moving right into it.

When it comes to targeting those weed fish, snap jigging a Kalin’s Jerk Minnow is easily one of my absolute favorite ways to put fish in the boat. I like to rig them on a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce VMC Moon Eye jig.

The technique is simple: give it a quick, aggressive snap, followed by a couple-second pause to let that jig fall right back to the bottom. That erratic trigger is all it takes to trick those weed walleyes into biting.

As far as colors go, you want to match the hatch, so I really lean heavily on perch patterns or shiner colors.

Muskies

Now, let’s talk muskies. With the season open, a lot of guys are finally hitting the water after holding off and waiting for these fish to completely wrap up their spawning activities.

Now that they’re done, this warm-up is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Right now, your best bet is to target those warmer, shallower bays where the water is heating up the fastest. Twitching crankbaits through these shallow flats is an absolute classic spring pattern, and it’s a killer way to trigger a violent strike from a fish looking for an easy, warm-water meal.

Bluegills

At the same time, the bluegills are absolutely going to be making a major push up into the shallows this week.

If you want to get the kids hooked on fishing, or just want to have some fast-paced fun yourself, look for those shallow, protected bays with plenty of sunshine and fresh weed growth.

Dropping a tiny tube or a small hair jig tipped with a wax worm under a pencil bobber is tough to beat right now. A good old-fashioned spring bobber paired with a Beavertail worm will also absolutely get the job done.

Just keep it slow, let that bait dance, and get ready to watch that bobber disappear.

Conservation Tip

Because these panfish are grouped up in the shallows for the spawn, they are sitting ducks right now.

So for this week’s conservation tip: let’s practice selective harvest.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a handful of smaller fish for a fresh shore fry, but maybe think about letting those big, mature female gills go. Letting them drop their eggs is a great way to ensure our local lakes stay healthy, thriving, and full of action for seasons to come.

That’s your LVO Sportfishing Report for this week. Get out there, be safe, and enjoy another fantastic week of fishing in beautiful Northern Wisconsin.

Before you head out, be sure to stop by Aquatic Arts Fishing Pro Shop for all your tackle, fresh live bait, and local expert advice.

And remember, if you’re ready to swap screen time for sunshine and smiles on the lake, give LVO Sportfishing a call. We are here to help at 715-612-1090, or look us up on Facebook for the latest smiles.

As always, good conservation means great fishing ahead, so don’t be afraid to let ’em go so they can grow.

From LVO Sportfishing, tight lines, everyone, and have a great week!