FISHING REPORT

FRIDAY APRIL 24TH, THIS WEATHER! EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT BUT OTHER THAN THE WEATHER THERE ARE A FEW OTHER REASONS FISHING FOR COHO HAS BEEN A DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. FIRST IN 2024 THEY HAD PROBLEMS AT THE HATCHERY WITH THE COHO EGGS. THE IDNR USUALLY STOCKS ABOUT 300,000 COHO AND WERE ONLY ABLE TO STOCK JUST UNDER 88,000. 2025 HAD SOME HATCHING ISSUES ALSO BUT NOT AS BAD BUT STOCK WAS DOWN BY ABOUT 50,000. THESE ARE QUITE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS FOR A FISH THAT ONLY HAVE A 3 TO 4 YEAR LIFE CYCLE. NOW WITH THIS BEING SAID THEY DID UP THE STOCKING NUMBERS IN 2024 SIGNIFICANTLY FOR STEELHEAD AND RAINBOW TROUT. THEY ALSO STOCKED MORE CHINOOK AS WELL AS BROWN TROUT. ON TO THE NEXT, THE WEATHER HAS BEEN SWINGING LIKE A PENDULUM. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE 2 DAYS CLOSE TO THE SAME. THE GOOD THING IS IT IS KEEPING WATER TEMPS LOW SO THE SEASON SHOULD LAST A FEW MORE WEEKS BECAUSE IT IS KEEPING THE BAITFISH OUT. I HAVE FINALLY HEARD THERE ARE BAITFISH ABOUT 20 TO 30 FOOT OF WATER SO MY THOUGHTS ARE THEY SHOULD BE MOVING CLOSER BY THIS COMING WEEK. THAT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT MOTHER NATURE HAS IN STORE. SO NOW WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID MY REPORT IS: COHO WAS SLOW BUT STILL MOSTLY ON POWERLINES USING LARGE MINNOWS AND NIGHT CRAWLERS MOSTLY AND POSSIBLY SOME CUT SHAD.  BROWN TROUT HAVE BEEN BEING CAUGHT UP AND DOWN THE LAKEFRONT, MOSTLY LAKESIDE NOT MUCH INSIDE THE HARBORS THAT I HAVE HEARD. THE HORSESHOE HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD TOO. THEY ARE HITTING LARGE SHINERS, LARGE FATHEAD MINNOWS, NIGHT CRAWLERS, SPAWN SACS, ETC… A FEW FISH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT CASTING, THAT SHOULD PICK UP AS THE BAITFISH MOVE CLOSER. SOME STEELHEAD HERE AND THERE IN THE HARBORS. USE A HAIR JIG WITH A WAX WORM AND WORK THE BOTTOM. SMALLMOUTH ARE VERY ACTIVE RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE BEING CAUGHT UP AND DOWN THE LAKEFRONT ON ALL THE USUALL BAITS, PLASTICS AS WELL AS SOME LIVE BAITS. NO PERCH TO REPORT BUT WITH THIS INCONSISTENT WEATHER THEY WOULD NOT BE AROUND ANYWAY. QUITE A FEW NICE NORTHERNS BEING CAUGHT IN AND AROUND THE HARBORS.

OUR HOURS WILL BE CHANGING SOON. FOR THE REST OF APRIL HOURS ARE 6AM TO 7PM

STARTING MAY 1ST HOURS WILL BE 5AM TO 8PM

AS WE ALWAYS SAY YOU CAN’T CATCH EM FROM THE COUCH SO GET UP AND GET OUT. AS ALWAYS CALL FOR YOUR UP TO THE MINUTE REPORT WE TELL IT AS WE HEAR IT!