We are now entering, what many anglers refer to, as the dog days of summer.  Some waters are already  started to show some signs of turnover.  It certainly can be a tough time of year to find success.  However, good fishing can still be had. 

This is the time of year where you want to constantly change tactics or locations until you find success.  Many anglers describe some lakes as pea green and those are not the ideal waters you want to fish.  The green pea colored water is caused by warm temperatures that spur algae blooms. 

Local water temperatures had some fluctuation this last  couple of weeks with all the different fronts passing thought.   Anglers reported  when water temperatures were higher fishing was good, then we had a string of cool night and the water temperature fell into the mid to upper 70’s and the fishing dropped also.  Those days you have to adjust and try different tactics. 

Area waters continue to have a decent trolling  bite going on for walleye, an occasional northern pike or largemouth bass.  Work the deep, weedy areas of 10-20 feet of water is the best. Time of day can play an important role as well. 

As I have mentioned before, first light and last light or even after dark are the most productive times.  Mid lake humps, deep water weeds and rocky areas are holding fish.  Crawlers under slip bobbers has been a good tactic, as well as drift-jigging live bait.   It is important to work the bottom more than suspended areas of the water column. 

Panfish are still being caught in and around pencil reeds, cabbage, deeper weed edges or dock structures.  Crappie minnow, leaf worms and crawler pieces under a bobber all have produced fish.  Small plastics like Gulp 1”minnows, Cubbies, Tattle Tails or small grub tails on a small jig head will work also. 

Musky anglers are starting to frequent the lakes as well.  Kind of cliche to say, but truthfully the number one tip for musky right now is just put in the time as it has been slow.