​With the opening of Muskie season all species can now be fished for, but just remember Smallmouth Bass is still catch and release until June 17th. 
Panfish: Perch are in the weeds using a slip bobber tipped with minnows or tossing a 1/8th oz. jig with a small minnow seems to be doing the job. Crappies could be starting or in process or finishing up spawning depending on the lake you are fishing. Slip bobber rigs with hook and minnow or a jig and plastic should do the trick. If you find some warmer water in the bays or shallow flats you might get into some bluegills too.
Northern: Will still be found around new weeds pitching jig and minnows or anything that moves should be a good bet.
 Walleye: These are being found around the new weeds maybe the sand flats off the spawning areas but pitching 1/8th oz. jigs tipped with fathead minnows or slip bobbers just over and around will catch you a nice fish fry also.
Muskies: They will be starting, in process, or finishing spawning depending on the lake water temps. Smaller baits this time of the year are your best baits to go to right now.
Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford's Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715)891-2715.  Website is www.crawfordfishing.com or you can also find Phelps Outdoors on Facebook. NPAA #94.

​Now that we have a couple of weeks under our belts, I hope you’ve found all your hot spots. Just a couple of reminders, it is still catch and release for Smallmouth Bass until June 17th and Muskie opens in the north zone May 27th.   
Panfish: Perch will be in the new weed growth using a slip bobber tipped with minnows are the best bite right now. Crappies are starting to spawn on smaller darker lakes and will continue as the water warms in the larger lakes. Slip bobber rigs with hook and minnow or a jig and plastic should do the trick. If you find some warmer water in the bays or shallow flats you might get into some bluegills too.
Northern: Will still be found around new weeds pitching jig and minnows or anything that moves should be a good bet.
 Walleye: These are going to be moving from post spawn areas and you will have to do a little searching they will start going to the new weed growth, maybe the sand flats off the spawning areas but pitching 1/8th oz. jigs tipped with fathead minnows or slip bobbers just over and around will catch you a nice fish fry also.
Muskies: They will be starting, in process, or finishing spawning depending on the lake water temps. Smaller baits this time of the year are your best baits to go to right now.
Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford's Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715)891-2715.  Website is www.crawfordfishing.com or you can also find Phelps Outdoors on Facebook. NPAA #94.

​​I hope everybody’s opening fishing day was met with much success. With that said, did we find anything that we forgot or might need a little more TLC maybe some other maintenance now is the time to get it done, so the next outing will be less troublesome. With Michigan fishing season opening May 15th and that means Muskie opens on the Michigan Wisconsin border lakes that gives us a two week start to get back into casting shape before the Wisconsin Muskie opener on the 27th.   
Panfish: Set up slip bobber rigs either with split shots and Aberdeen hooks or small jigs tipped with small minnows around new weed growth for perch. Crappies will be starting to stage on the smaller darker lakes that are warming up quick for their turn to spawn fishing these with slip bobbers above a hook and minnow or a jig and plastic should do the trick. If you find some warmer water in the bays or shallow flats you might get into some bluegills too.
Northern: Will be found around new weeds pitching jig and minnows should be spot on for these water wolves.
 Walleye: Are going to be in post spawn and you will have to a little deeper, maybe the first flat off of the spawning area but pitching 1/8th oz. jigs tipped with fathead minnows should get results along with that some of the fish will have moved to the new weed growth, slip bobbers just over and around will catch you a nice fish fry also.
Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford's Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715)891-2715.  Website is www.crawfordfishing.com or you can also find Phelps Outdoors on Facebook.  NPAA #94

​Looking a lot like last year with the water levels up and some crazy weather making water temps retreating. Things should be better by the weekend; it looks like some stable weather is coming in starting Wednesday, that should set the pace for the opener. Water temps will be in the mid 40's to the lower 50's depending on your lake choice.
 
Walleyes:  These fish will be in post spawn for the most part; there will still be some females and some young males on the tail end of it. The post spawn fish will be in a little deeper water right off the area they spawned around. The late fish will be in the shallower water. You can target both of these fish with jigs and minnows. There is some new weed growth that a few fish will be relating to already, a jig and minnow will catch those fish. Also, if weeds are too big and you are getting hung up then go to a slip bobber rig to catch a great fish fry.
 
Northerns:  They have the feed bag on and you will get them on jig and minnow also especially around the new weeds.
 
Panfish:  Perch will be either in the new weeds or on the rocks a slip bobber rig will work here. Crappies are still coming in and can be found around lay downs and weedy areas also slip bobbers and a minnow is the ticket for these specs.

Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715. You can also “Like” us on Facebook.