Dewey Catchem and How

06/18/2026

Thursday 6/18/26

Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

We've had some wet and cool weather to deal with lately but it's hard to complain when you need the rain as much as we do. The cool weather, as it always does, slowed the bite for the bigger fish. We are still putting some nice 'fish fry' catches together. The forecast looks promising with warmer temps and the slim chance of precipitation coming in the days ahead.

Although a lot of folks love to use minnows this time of year it seems that crawlers and leeches work the best in my boat. In fact the leeches have been beating my favorite crawlers almost every time out now. And as far as using them under a slip bobber nothing beats a leech for swimming action to lure the fish to bite.

Crappie are in their summer pattern being suspended over deeper water. Just run a small piece of plastic with a twister tail or paddle tail over them and you'll catch them.

Bluegills and sunfish are everywhere. Chunks of crawlers or wax worms will catch them all day.

Walleyes are pretty active in the deeper water off the w**d edges. Jigged crawlers, leeches or ribbed-worm paddle tails with catch them. Find them deeper in the sunlight and shallow in the moonlight.

Bass are a blast right now. There are 10,000 different ways to catch them. Try them all and you'll have a ball. My favorite is throw plastic worms through the w**ds for the large mouths or around the rocks for the small mouths.

Perch are very active especially on the flowages right now. Half a crawler on a 1/32 jig will put more than a few in your boat. Find green w**ds or deep wood and stumps.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1.5' and 3' below capacity and are in the middle 70's. They might be full soon with all the rain we got here and to the north. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the upper 60's to lower 70's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING? Walleye 9 (low light), Northern 6, SM Bass 10, LM Bass 10, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10

OUR BAIT REVIEWS: Although I have not used them, the fuzzy baits seem to be all the rage right now. Kind of expensive but they are flying off the shelf. Basically they are round balls, nut shaped or wacky stick plastics with lots of plastic hair-like pieces sticking out. The idea is when they are sitting on the bottom or in the water column those hair-like appendages won't stop wiggling and draw in the fish like flies.

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.

I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of jumbo Canadian Nightcrawlers are now $59. Count is approximately 500 worms. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase

Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to jump into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

fishing outdoors gifts lures musky walleye panfish baits t-shirts solartrans locators electronics plastics augers battery cameras under waters trolling motors

06/11/2026

Thursday 6/11/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

Not much has changed since last week's report. Fishing is still REALLY good. We did get a few storms the last couple of days, and a couple more are forecasted, which shut things down for a little bit but once the fish got over their fear of the pounding and flashes they started to feed again. I'm still a fan of dark watered lakes this year over the clear ones. W**d growth seems to be much better in the dark ones right now. I'm not sure what's holding up the w**d growth on the clearer lakes. And believe me, with the shorter w**ds the fish are buried in them. The livescope doesn't show many fish swimming around down there but you can see the fish come out of the w**ds after your bait when you bait gets there. Leeches have been a little bit better than crawlers the past couple of days and today it was plastics (1) then leeches (2) and then crawlers (3). But of course that could change tomorrow, or this afternoon.

Crappie are done spawning pretty much everywhere. Look for them to really turn on again to feed hard after the spawn. That has already stared in the dark water and is just starting on the clear waters. I've always like plastic better than live bait for catching them but live bait is not wrong. Today it was plastics, Crappie Scrubs and 1Standard minnows.

Bluegills and Rock Bass are really hot right now. Guys on the flowages are still hammering them, and I mean hammering the gills and sunfish in less than 3' of water. And you know those gills on the flowages are big and are tough to grab with just one hand and fight like the dickens. Only 4 gills fed my wife and I for dinner. Along with those gills could come a limit of Walleye in the same water along with a pike or two. Half a crawler on a 1/32 oz jig works best.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are really heating up as well. Plastics like worm tails, paddle tails, twister tails, rib worms and the such are working well. Of course crawlers and leeches work great too but why mess with them when a plastic on a 1/16 oz jig will work as well. The small tungsten ones from Northland with the big hooks and the Neon Moon ones from VMC are my favorites. Today we also popped a bunch on a leech 4' below a bobber.

Walleyes have been active as well. Half a crawler or a leech on a 1/32 oz jig has been putting many in the boat with some in the live well. Most seem to be cruising the areas outside the w**d lines looking for minnows and small perch. If you are catching small perch do move on until your sure there aren't any Walleyes in with them.

It's important to use the smallest jig you can that you can still feel on the end of your pole. Over and over again we have found that that works. It's just as important as finding green w**ds and wood at this time of year.

Remember, a week before the fish bed down and especially a couple of weeks after will be the most fierce they are in pursuing a meal. Try to catch those times and you be in for some real action. And I promise it won't kill you if you throw some back for next time.

Colors can matter this time of year so bring as many with you as you can so as not the be afraid to switch if the bite is slow. Size can also be a determining factor and it has nothing to do with the size of the fish you are after. I've seen schools of crappie pound 1/2 oz spinnerbaits while not touching a 2" plastic. Again, be flexible and try different methods.

Find those greening w**ds in the warmest water in the lake and you will find fish. North shorelines are not always the warmest. Windblown shorelines will usually have the warmest water as the wind, if blowing in the same direction for a few days, will push that surface water around.
Federal Courts ruled all the lakes on the LDF reservation will stay open to all as usual for the foreseeable future.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 2' and 3' below capacity and are in the middle 70's. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the lower 70's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 9 (low light), Northern 6, SM Bass 8, LM Bass 8, Musky ??, Perch 9, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10OUR BAIT REVIEWS:None this week

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.

I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to jump into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

fishing outdoors gifts lures musky walleye panfish baits t-shirts solartrans locators electronics plastics augers battery cameras under waters trolling motors

06/08/2026

Did well on 7 species today. Lots of action and a couple pounds of crappie fillets for a fish fry. Well done boys!

06/04/2026

Thursday 6/4/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

Wow is this favorite time of the year. W**ds are greening, water temps are warming, outside temps are warming and just about all the species are in some stage of their spawn while most are done. There is action everywhere now. Just about all types of presentations are working when used correctly. This time of year is why our shop is so big and carries so many different types of baits, live and artificial. Everybody has their own way of doing it. And the only guy that is wrong is the one who says only his way works.

Crappie are done spawning pretty much everywhere. Look for them to really turn on again to feed hard after the spawn. Just about anything will catch them. Last night I was catching them on a 5" plastic Zoom worm. And they were slamming it.

Bluegills and Rock Bass are really hot right now. Fished a flowage a couple of days ago and hammered, I mean hammered the gills and sunfish in less than 3' of water. And you know those gills on the flowages are big and are tough to grab with just one hand. Only 4 gills fed my wife and I for dinner. Along with those gills came a limit of Walleye in the same water along with a pike or two. Half a crawler on a 1/32 oz jig was used.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are really heating up as well. Plastics like worm tails, paddle tails, twister tails, rib worms and the such are working well. Of course crawlers and leeches work great too but why mess with them when a plastic on a 1/16 oz jig will work as well. The small tungsten ones from Northland with the big hooks and the Neon Moon ones from VMC are my favorites.

Walleyes have been active as well. Half a crawler or a leech on a 1/32 oz jig has been putting many in the boat with some in the live well. Most seem to be cruising the areas outside the w**d lines looking for minnows and small perch. If you are catching small perch do move on until your sure there aren't any Walleyes in with them.

It's important to use the smallest jig you can that you can still feel on the end of your pole. Over and over again we have found that that works. It's just as important as finding green w**ds and wood at this time of year.

Remember, a week before the fish bed down and especially a couple of weeks after will be the most fierce they are in pursuing a meal. Try to catch those times and you be in for some real action. And I promise it won't kill you if you throw some back for next time.

Colors can matter this time of year so bring as many with you as you can so as not the be afraid to switch if the bite is slow. Size can also be a determining factor and it has nothing to do with the size of the fish you are after. I've seen schools of crappie pound 1/2 oz spinnerbaits while not touching a 2" plastic. Again, be flexible and try different methods.

Find those greening w**ds in the warmest water in the lake and you will find fish. North shorelines are not always the warmest. Windblown shorelines will usually have the warmest water as the wind, if blowing in the same direction for a few days, will push that surface water around.
Lots of changes to regulations this year. Check the books and double check the landing to make sure you don't do something that could really cost you. Highlights are reduced panfish limits on the flowages and the ongoing saga of not being able to fish for Musky or Walleye on the LDF reservation for non-tribal members. The courts are due to decide on this issue in the next week or so.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1' and 2' below capacity and are in the middle 70's. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the lower 70's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 8, Northern 7, SM Bass 8, LM Bass 8, Musky 7, Perch 8, Crappie 8, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10

OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
None this week

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.
I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase

Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to jump into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

fishing outdoors gifts lures musky walleye panfish baits t-shirts solartrans locators electronics plastics augers battery cameras under waters trolling motors

06/03/2026

Had the Missouri mafia in the boat today and it ended up being a great multi species day. Crawlers were king on 1/32 oz jigs. All the fish are still swimming.

05/28/2026

Thursday 5/28/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

My favorite time of the year. W**ds are greening, water temps are warming, outside temps are warming and just about all the species are in some stage of their spawn. There is action everywhere now. Just about all types of presentations are working when used correctly. This time of year is why our shop is so big and carries so many different types of baits, live and artificial. Everybody has their own way of doing it. And the only guy that is wrong is the one who says only his way works.

Crappie are done spawning on the smaller lakes and are right in the middle of it on the larger ones. Pick your weapon and stay away from them with long casts as not to spook them. Live bait like crawlers and small minnows will work as well as small plastics on 1/32 oz jigs with or without a bobber. Of course there are exceptions to every rule as last night I caught some real nice crappie on a 5" blue plastic worm with a twister tail.
Bass, especially smallmouth, are just heading into their spawning areas and are chasing bait away from their beds. Half a crawler and 4" paddle tails have been working for me but anything like those will work as well. If you see a smallie on a bed you probably won't be able to move him by swimming a bait past him but cast past the bed and have the bait stop and lay in the bed which will cause the fish to pick it up and move it at which time you can set the hook.

Remember, a week before the fish bed down and especially a couple of weeks after will be the most fierce they are in pursuing a meal. Try to catch those times and you be in for some real action. And I promise it won't kill you if you throw some back for next time.
Colors can matter this time of year so bring as many with you as you can so as not the be afraid to switch if the bite is slow. Size can also be a determining factor and it has nothing to do with the size of the fish you are after. I've seen schools of crappie pound 1/2 oz spinnerbaits while not touching a 2" plastic. Again, be flexible and try different methods.

Find those greening w**ds in the warmest water in the lake and you will find fish. North shorelines are not always the warmest. Windblown shorelines will usually have the warmest water as the wind, if blowing in the same direction for a few days, will push that surface water around.
I'm really looking forward again to the next week or two. The fishing has been improving every day. Be flexible. Try new things and don't be afraid to step outside your box. When clients and I fish the next few days we will be throwing a plethora of baits at them. We'll switch to whatever seems to work the best.

Lots of changes to regulations this year. Check the books and double check the landing to make sure you don't do something that could really cost you. Highlights are reduced panfish limits on the flowages and the ongoing saga of not being able to fish for Musky or Walleye on the LDF reservation for non-tribal members. The courts are due to decide on this issue in the next week or so.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1' and 2' below capacity. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the low to middle 60's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 7, Northern 7, SM Bass 8, LM Bass 7, Musky 5, Perch 8, Crappie 10, Bluegill 10, Rock Bass 10

OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
We have stocked a new plastic in the store by 1Standard Fishing. These guys used to work for Big Bite and now have come out with their own line of baits with a very unique tail. I have found them to work very well. I believe crappies and gills are hitting the small plastics I've been using better than the small twister tails I've used in the past. I've used them quite a bit now and I really like them. With their thin tails that produces the action I was afraid that gills and other small fish would nip that off but that hasn't been the case. Last night I caught 30 or so gills, crappie and bass with one piece before the tail broke off. That's good enough for me.

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.
I'm still taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. I have some availability all summer. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

fishing outdoors gifts lures musky walleye panfish baits t-shirts solartrans locators electronics plastics augers battery cameras under waters trolling motors

05/25/2026

Wow. What a day. Highlighted by nice Walleye, a big smallie, nice Crappie and 10 bluegill over 10” and one just over 11” and many many others.

05/21/2026

Thursday 5/21/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

Yippee, yahoo and yeah!
As the Crappie we begin to slay!
They are in the shallows
With Fishermen soon to follow
We are finally getting some warmth during the day!

Finally, finally, FINALLY! Warmer temps are here! Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and bluegill are all in some stage of their spawning cycle. The lake you fish will determine their place in that cycle. But you can pretty much find action on the shorelines out to the green w**d edges right now. Don't get too close to the fish or you will spook them. Make long casts into them for best results. Most folks are using live bait under a bobber while I rarely use live bait but will still use a bobber the keep that plastic at the desired depth. Twitching a plastic under a bobber can be a deadly method, even better than live bait sometimes. But to each his own as there is no one sure way of doing it.

Colors can matter this time of year so bring as many with you as you can so as not the be afraid to switch if the bite is slow. Size can also be a determining factor and it has nothing to do with the size of the fish you are after. I've seen schools of crappie pound 1/2 oz spinnerbaits while not touching a 2" plastic. Again, be flexible and try different methods.

Find those greening w**ds in the warmest water in the lake and you will find fish. North shorelines are not always the warmest. Windblown shorelines will usually have the warmest water as the wind, if blowing in the same direction for a few days, will push that surface water around.

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. A lot of pent up action waiting to happen. The fishing has been improving every day. We're nearing the time when just about every type of bait is gonna work, live bait and artificials. Be flexible. Try new things and don't be afraid to step outside your box. When clients and I fish the next few days we will be throwing a plethora of baits at them. We'll switch to whatever seems to work the best.

Lots of changes to regulations this year. Check the books and double check the landing to make sure you don't do something that could really cost you. Highlights are reduced panfish limits on the flowages and the ongoing saga of not being able to fish for Musky or Walleye on the LDF reservation for non-tribal members. The courts are due to decide on this issue in the next week or so.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down between 1' and 2' below capacity. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines. Most lake water temps are in the low to middle 50's now. That will greatly increase if we get those 80 degree temps next week.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 7, Northern 7, SM Bass 8, LM Bass 6, Musky ??, Perch 8, Crappie 9, Bluegill 5, Rock Bass 2

OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
We have stocked a new plastic in the store by 1Standard Fishing. These guys used to work for Big Bite and now have come out with their own line of baits with a very unique tail. I have found them to work very well. I believe crappies and gills are hitting the small plastics I've been using better than the small twister tails I've used in the past. I'm heading out today by myself and will try these again along with the ole twister tails and crappie scrubs and we'll see who comes out on top. I'll let you know next report.

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be kind and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.

I'm taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. Spots are filling fast. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

BAIT SHOP HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

fishing outdoors gifts lures musky walleye panfish baits t-shirts solartrans locators electronics plastics augers battery cameras under waters trolling motors

05/16/2026

Good weekend of fishing. Not the best but the bite is improving each day! (Darn wind)

05/14/2026

Thursday 5/14/26

Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.

Finally, finally, FINALLY! Warmer temps are here! No doubt that these temps are gonna have most species running to the shallows to warm up. On dark water bodies of water you can fish all day for them but on the deep clear lakes you'll have to target them in low light periods or head to the deeper edges around the shallows. Crappies and bass should start looking for spawning grounds and will be in pre-spawn and hungry. Walleye and northern are done and nearing post spawn and getting hungry. Bluegill will be behind the bass and crappie heading to the beds while the perch are done. Perch have been biting pretty good on live bait. I believe they are just hitting post spawn hunger. Northern pike are definitely in post spawn hunger.

Find those greening w**ds in the warmest water there is in the lake and you will find fish. Me and Joey went out this morning with the Livescope to scout a few spawning areas and we found the fish moving around a great deal. This tells me they are getting ready to make their beds and lay in it.

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. A lot of pent up action waiting to happen. We're nearing the time when just about everything is gonna work, live bait and artificials. Be flexible. Try new things and don't be afraid to step outside your box. When clients and I fish the next few days we will be throwing a plethora of baits at them. We'll switch to whatever seems to work the best.

Yes, Musky season does open this year on the Opener but we hope you'll leave them alone during their spawning period. They really are not a hardy fish and it doesn't take too much to put them in a dying state. And being weak during the spawn will not help, not to mention taking them off the spawn which they may not be able to return to. And with the WDNR cutting Musky stocking by 70%, now is not the time to make their reproduction even harder.

Lots of changes to regulations this year. Check the books and double check the landing to make sure you don't do something that could really cost you. Highlights are reduced panfish limits on the flowages and not being able to fish for Musky or Walleye on the LDF reservation for non-tribal members.

Both the Rainbow and Willow flowages are down about 2' below capacity. That dark water is a good ticket to success especially when the sun shines.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 5, Northern 6, SM Bass 4, LM Bass 6, Musky ??, Perch 6, Crappie 4, Bluegill 3, Rock Bass 2

OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
Kurt has been fishing with the Spotlight Minnows and has still been pounding the smallmouth and largemouth bass from shore.
Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be safe so you and others can do it again next year.

I'm taking in a bunch of guide reservations right now. Spots are filling fast. Makes me feel warm inside. Call me on my cell at 715-892-2751 and we'll get out and definitely have some fun.
------------
IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
Flats of nightcrawlers are now $59. That's about $1.50 per dozen. Our part to make fishing more affordable.
FREE Line (braid or mono) with any Reel or Reel and Rod Combo purchase
Early season specials, up to 50% off

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Blacktails, Redtails, Muds, Walleye Suckers, and a bunch of leeches and jumbo night crawlers. Leeches will be by the dozen, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 pound. Crawlers will be by the dozen, 2 dozen, 100 count and 480 count flats ($59).

OUR SHOP HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday 5am to 7pm
Friday 5am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement. WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364. We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop

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