Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Late August 2024

We hope all of you are having a great fishing season. Fishing in the Northwoods has been very good for most species. We have been having some cool nights thus the water temps have dropped a bit where most lakes in Oneida and Vilas counties are in the low 70s. 

Musky Fishing has been outstanding. A lot of numbers and big fish have been caught within the last week or so. Muskies have slid shallow a bit for the most part. Not all of them are shallow yet but the majority of them are in the 5'-10' range and some hanging around the weed edges as well. There are still a few suspended following baitfish in the main lake basins but the majority of Muskies are somewhat shallow. For baits, it's still a smattering of things but the last week or so bucktails and surface baits have been the best, such as the Mepps Musky Marabou Bucktail and Livingston Big Makk.

Walleye, panfish, and bass are all pretty shallow as well with a lot in the weeds and weed edges. Floating Rapalas are always a great choice to lure them out.  A jig and minnow or night crawler will work as well. Redtail Chubs are a great choice or an XL Fathead. Crappie and panfish have been hitting Fatheads and Crappie Minnows in the weeds as well as soft plastics, like Kalin’s Triple Threat. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and live bait have all been working for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. They too are hanging in the weeds. 

We have a bit of a warm-up coming so be prepared to slide out a bit if the water temps warm up most likely fish will scatter. If that happens, that's fine, just be flexible and be willing to search for them a bit as that will definitely help you to be successful. We hope you all have great fishing and please let us know if we can be of service to you.