Water temps vary throughout the entirety of the lake. I have seen anywhere from upper 50s, to upper 60s throughout the lake. After a month of being on the water, I am under the impression that the lake is incredibly healthy, and has a great population of both smallmouth and walleye.
Smallmouth: We are seeing smallmouth pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn. Pre-spawn and post spawn fish can be targeted with swimbaits and Ned rigs effectively off of reefs adjacent to spawning area. Spawning fish can be best targeted using Ned rigs and drop shots. My Ned rig of choice is a Z-man Finesse TRD, and I generally gravitate towards green pumpkin, however when bed fishing it can be beneficial to utilize colors that are easy to visualize such as bubblegum or white. It is imperative that when bed fishing, that you position the bait on their bed. Bedded fish do not often eat because they are hungry, but out of aggression do to their territorial nature when protecting the bed. Beds are found anywhere from 2 feet, out to 10-12 feet of water. Generally, beds will be found on one side of a boulder, but that is not always the case. Beds are often located on the edge of a rock reef on rock to gravel, or rock to sand transitions. Pre and Post – spawn fish can be found off the edges of reefs adjacent to spawning area, on deeper rock to gravel, or rock to sand transitions.
Walleye: Walleye fishing has been very good. It seems as though the population is incredibly healthy. We have still found walleyes cruising the shallow reefs while fishing smallmouth, but can be found at a high density on shallower reefs as well. We have caught walleye anywhere from 6 feet of water, all the way out to 30 feet of water within the last week, there are plenty of opportunities for lots of action, and finding the slot fish! We have seen more of the slot limit (21-23) inch fish in the 20ish feet of water range.
Musky: We are still finding fish in the shallows, but I suspect that they are moving out to secondary structure and soon, open water. When I am going out, I am typically fishing bucktails and topwater to cover water. Fishing anywhere from 6 feet of water, out to 18 feet of water, targeting areas with good weeds adjacent to spawning area. The open water trolling game is likely viable now, but more fish will be moving out in the coming weeks.
I have openings available throughout the summer to get out and chase smallmouth!