With Labor Day in the past, the pressure on the lake is going to be reduced by about one half.

The warm weather is keeping the fish in their mid summer patterns.

Largemouth bass are in small schools.  They can be located by Browns Channel, just west of Willow Point and by Del Mar subdivision.  You want to look for the fish in scattered weeds with a hard sand bottom.  The best approach is dragging black and blue jigs or Carolina rigging green pumpkin lizards.  For live bait fishermen, the best approach is a split shot rigged nightcrawler.  This pattern will remain consistent as long as the water temperatures remain constant.  As the water cools, the schools will dissipate allowing better action throughout the weedline.

Bluegill fishing has been overall very good in the 12-13 ft depth range.  Look for the fish by Browns Channel and just west of Willow Point.  They can be caught on leaf worms fished on a split shot rig or on a slip bobber rig.  If you fish a location for about 15 minutes and don’t get many big ones, it’s time to move on.  The fish are still in larger schools, so if you aren’t having good success, try a different location.

Walleye fishing has been mediocre.  The best action has been trolling deep diving crank baits before sun up and just after dark.  The best pattern is perch.  Look for the fish mostly on the north shore.  There are a few weed points that stick out.  If you hit the weed points appropriately it’s a good bite.  They are located just west of the Yacht Club and just west of Willow Point.

Northern Pike action has been slow.  Most of the fish are being caught on Thill slip bobbers fished in the 12-15 ft depth range.  Our cooler than normal summer, didn’t drive the fish deep and make them accessible outside the weedline.  Look for the fish by Belvidere Park or by Assembly Park point.

Crappie fishing remains very consistent.  The fish are suspended over the main lake basin 8-10 ft down in 30 ft of water.  The best approach is casting small plastics and letting them sink 5-10 seconds and slowly reeling them back to the boat.  The best location has been by Willow Point or by the orange marina on the north shore.  The best colors are chartreuse and purple for the plastics on a 1/32 oz jig head.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water.  For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050