LVO Sportfishing Report
Hey there, Northwoods anglers, and welcome back to the LVO Sportfishing Report! I’m Tim Buffington, ready to get you dialed in for another week of fantastic fishing here in the Northwoods.
A Painful Reminder Before Hitting the Water
Before we dive into the action on the water, I had a painful reminder this week about just how sharp the business end of our gear really is.
While loading up the boat in the driveway for a musky guide trip, I managed to bury a massive 7/0 hook deep into my index finger. My stepson Drake gave the old heavy fishing line snatch-trick an honest try right there at home, but that hook was far too buried to budge, earning me a trip to the hospital.
Once the doc got my finger fully numbed up, he actually let me take a few tries at freeing it myself, but after a few good tugs I got a little too woozy and had to wave the white flag so he could cut it out.
It’s a good lesson that our hooks are razor-sharp, but as I was about to find out on the water, Northwoods muskies can be a whole lot tougher.
Muskies Push Shallow Into the Weeds
Out on the lake, this week brought some extremely challenging and heartbreaking musky action.
With falling water temperatures, muskies are pushing shallow and burying themselves deep into the weeds, seeking out that warmer cover. When fish tuck in that tight, it’s tough to beat a twitch bait danced right over their heads.
That erratic, darting left-to-right action drives muskies crazy, but it can definitely lead to some wild misses.
I welcomed back young Beckham along with his dad, Josh, and mom, Liz. Beckham was looking to top the 42-inch brute he landed with me last year at just six years old.
He came back this year a little older and ready to rumble, but after moving a few nice fish, we had to throw in the towel for the day.
It turned into a great teaching moment for young Beckham, reminding him that muskies are never a guarantee, and just like in life, the best things are what you have to work extremely hard for.
The following day was an absolute heartbreaker. We dialed in that exact same shallow weed pattern and generated plenty of action, but ended the day missing five muskies on the strike and seeing several others follow.
While it was tough not putting one in the net, both days were packed with high-energy excitement.
That shallow weed bite is going to hold strong as cooling water keeps pushing these fish up tight into cover, even if getting them out is half the battle.
Jig-and-Minnow Walleye Bite Is Firing
Shifting gears over to walleyes, things are really heating up.
Water temps have dropped below 70 degrees on our local flowages, and the jig-and-minnow bite is officially firing.
This week, we found great walleye action setting up adjacent to channel edges. VMC Mooneye jigs tipped with minnows paired with our St. Croix rods did all the heavy lifting.
In fact, we hit one spot where we were accidentally snagging three-inch perch, which was all the proof we needed that we were dialed right into the forage base and throwing the exact right profile.
With these cooler nights sticking around, I’d stick with that jig-and-minnow program.
Deep Clear-Water Walleyes on Jigging Raps
Did I also mention I finally connected with an absolute stud of a walleye out on a deep, clear lake?
A gorgeous 27-incher that could not resist an aggressively snapped Jigging Rap!
That Jigging Rap bite will only continue to improve this month, and if you’re fishing clear water, that is definitely a pattern I would keep locked in your lineup.
Tight Lines from LVO Sportfishing
That’s your LVO Sportfishing Report for this week. Get out there, be safe, and enjoy another fantastic week of fishing in beautiful Northern Wisconsin!
And before you head out, be sure to stop by Aquatic Arts Fishing Pro Shop for all your fresh live bait, tackle, and local expert advice.
As a proud member of the St. Croix Pro Staff, I highly recommend keeping the Best Rods on Earth in your hands this season.
And remember, if you’re ready to swap screen time for sunshine and smiles on the lake, give LVO Sportfishing a call—we are here to help at 715-612-1090, or look us up on Facebook for the latest smiles!
As always, good conservation means great fishing ahead, so don’t be afraid to let ’em go so they can grow!
From LVO Sportfishing, tight lines, everyone, and have a great week!