By:  Mark Schram, MyFishingPartner.com

Lake Winnebago and surrounding areas experienced a prolonged heat wave, with unstable weather patterns bringing rain and wind frequently during the week.  Water temps varied from 75 degrees to 81 degrees on Lake Winnebago this week.

A major bug hatch has occurred, and has created a very uncomfortable environment for anglers.  Open your mouth – shallow some flies.  This thick bug hatch has also created a smorgasbord for perch and walleyes, resulting in a slowing of the catch rates on the lake.

As a result, fishing traffic on Lake Winnebago has been greatly reduced.

On the Winnebago system, walleyes are either seeking cold water or weeds.  Weed fish are most predictable when targeting walleyes, as the fish have settled into typical summer patterns.   Look to the open spots in the weed beds and drop a jig and crawler into the pockets or look to the edges with casted crankbaits.

The trolling bite remains inconsistent.  With the huge bait fish pods, fish continue to remain scattered.  This is not only scattered in the water column, but also in location.  It is advisable to work all levels of the water column to find one depth which is producing fish each day.

Perch fishing has been tough for most anglers.  Plenty of food (flies, worms and baitfish) have been keeping the perch well fed.

This week the DNR released their report on the status of the yellow perch on Winnebago.  Overall the news was not great, with another poor hatch in 2015.  Given the exploitation rate from anglers, in addition to a major food source for predator fish, and bird feed for pelicans and cormorants….The perch have the odds stacked against them.  The Winnebago system is a Boom or Bust fishery for perch, and we just happen to be on the bust side right now.

Overall, Lake Winnebago is kicking a lot of anglers butts in 2016, especially mine!  Even sheephead and white bass are less aggressive than normal.

Lake Michigan has an incredible salmon bite going from Racine to Door County.  This is one of best salmon seasons in the last decade, and big fish (4 year olds) are common.  Fish can be found from 5 feet of water to 100 plus feet.  Trolling, jigging and casting are all producing fish at various times.  Nearly all ports have solid activity.

The Bay of Green Bay has sprung to life also.  The fish movements are better than 30 days behind seasonal trends.   Average sized walleyes in the 15-23 inch ranges have been common in 5-15 feet of water. Larger walleyes have been common in 20-30 feet of water this week.  Crawler harnesses and crank baits are working equally well behind Off Shore boards.  Perch colored blades or baits are working well.

On the Bay of Green Bay, huge schools of bait fish are present, just like on Lake Winnebago.  The warmer than normal winter has contributed to larger populations of bait fish in 2016 on both bodies of water.  This week we saw the most active walleyes in the mid water columns, associated with bait pods.  Larger sized stick baits were working best on Green Bay.  The fish are moving north rapidly (as much as a mile a day), so trends tend to stick for 48 hours or so, before changing.  Water temps on the bay were typically 77 degrees.  Massive sheephead are also common.

Overall, on the Bay of Green Bay, limits of larger fish (25” or bigger) have been tough.  However, the size and weight of these fish are reaching into the massive range, when caught.  The Sheboygan Walleye Club tournament was held on Sunday, and reports that 50 pounds won the tournament on 5 fish (10-pound average).  I was not able to confirm this at the writing of this report.

The My Fishing Partner version of the RS net has started to become available.  The nets are drawing rave reviews out of the Ohio market where the nets have shipped.  The Green Bay series is now available, and the Winnebago series is soon to follow.

Chase and I helped redesign these My Fishing Partner nets with the Northeast Wisconsin angler in mind.  We upgraded the handles, went to 2” dipped mesh on the net, added 6 inches in the depth of the net along with other enhancements to the hoops.  Retail on these nets will be approximately $200.  Available at http://www.rsnetsusa.com/.  Use checkout code of MS10 for a 10% discount.  Here is a quote from Julia Davis, long time walleye guide, writer and pro.

Holy walleye nets, Batman!! WOWZA!! Now, this is a GREAT new net from RS Nets USA, for us big fish hunters…woot! woot! …I’m VERY impressed with this new model, and the improvements that were made! The handle is also wider and thicker….much heartier. Little things that add up to make it one BAD ASS net”

No major tournaments on the Winnebago system in the coming weeks.  Get on the water!  Summer doesn’t last forever in Wisconsin.  [email protected] is my email.