Muskie: Bucktails are still a good bait to use in and around the weeds, you can up the size you are using, like a 700 series Buchertail or double 8’s or 9’s are good choices. If fishing deeper edges or around humps, then crankbaits or rubber baits such as Bull Dawgs or Live Action are a good choice. Don’t forget the top water on those flat days.
Northern Pike: Fishing near the weeds for pike with spinnerbaits and weedless spoons, such as Johnson Silver Minnows, should get you in a tussle with these water wolves. Jig and minnow combos fishing near weeds for walleyes will catch a few also.
Walleye: This is the time that you should have a lot of options ready to go to for rigging, jigging, and slip bobbers with a selection of minnows, leeches, and crawlers. This should get you a fish fry.
Bass: Bass spinnerbaits (safety pin style) and crankbaits are working well. If fishing weeds, don’t forget to bring top water baits like a Scum Frog or a Zara Spook; adding this approach will add to your success. Texas and Carolina rigging plastics will also entice that fish to bite.
Panfish: For Bluegills slip bobber rigs are the way to go baited up with a good selection of live bait such as waxies, small leeches and red worms. Crappies will be looking for cover in the weeds, downed trees or around cribs and a slip bobber rigged with small minnows will bring in these fish. Perch are in the weeds too, and using a selection of small leeches, red worms and small minnows on slip bobbers are the ticket for them.
Also, if you're in the area, the Tuesday evening summer sessions of the Phelps Outdoors and Colin Crawford's Guide Service "Fishing Tips & Techniques" have begun and go through August 9th. They begin at 6pm and are held in the Phelps School, lower commons (4451 Old School Rd.). The seminars are free of charge and open to the public for all ages and skill levels. They are a great way to find out what's biting that week and the best way to catch them.
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 PhelpsOutdoors on Facebook.