​This cold weather has most lakes in the 40’s making sure that turnover is done. The water has cleared up, and with all this rain, the water levels are up considerably.         
                                                                                                                                                
Northern Pike: These fish are still in the deeper weeds jig and minnow combo are your best bet but look to using larger chubs or sucker minnows as bait.

Walleye: We are finding walleyes starting to school up some, so using your locator to find these fish is a big help in getting a fish fry. Been finding them all over depending on the lake, they are in holes on the Eagle River chain and around rocks on the bigger lakes. Jig and minnows are the best bait to use now.

Panfish:  Perch are starting to show up in the rocks a lot lately; using jigs tipped with minnows are your best bet. Crappies are starting to leave the weeds, use your locator to find these in the deeper water, jigs and minnows are working. Bluegills are in the shallow weeds and can be caught slip bobbering tipped with plastic, waxworms, or a piece of crawler.
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Muskie:  Jerk baits, glide baits, crankbaits and bucktails thrown parallel and over the weeds while soaking a sucker on the breaks are getting fish.
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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, Twitter or Instagram. NPAA #94. Remember, if you hire a guide, make sure the guide is licensed as a guide.

This constant cold weather is dropping the water temps that’s for sure. We have been seeing water temps low to mid 50’s;  turn over will be here soon, if not already, on some smaller lakes.
                                                                                                                                                          
Northern Pike:  If these fish are on your hit list, the deeper the weeds you can find, the better your chances of hooking up with these water wolves. Jig and minnow combo are your best bet but look to using larger chubs as bait.

Bass: I have found the Largemouth Bass are starting to leave the shallows heading to the deep weeds, so crankbaits will help get you “ol’bucket mouth”. Smallmouth Bass are starting to move up the rocks; some crayfish imitation baits will catch these.

Walleye: Walleyes are all over depending on the lake, they are in holes, on the rocks and in the weeds; glad they are making it easy to have a fish fry. Jig and minnows are the ticket now.  

Panfish:  Perch are starting to show up in the rocks a lot lately; using jigs tipped with minnows are your best bet. Crappies are starting to leave the weeds, use your locator to find these in the deeper water, jigs and minnows are working. Bluegills are in the shallow weeds and can be caught slip bobbering tipped with plastic, waxworms, or a piece of crawler.

Muskie:  Jerk baits, crankbaits and bucktails thrown parallel and over the weeds while soaking a sucker on the breaks are getting fish.

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, Twitter or Instagram. NPAA #94. Remember, if you hire a guide, make sure the guide is licensed as a guide.