Hi Folks, Spent the last two days in my boat guiding anglers with both spin and fly gear for smallmouth bass and northern pike. Water temperatures have ranged on the surface from 58 degrees to 63 degrees. Today the windy side of the lake was 3 degrees warmer than the leeward side. Good steady northwest wind today with some whitecap action. The fish in the lake I fished yesterday are up in the skinny water. We got them to eat a floating perch colored rapala and a shallow running Big O crawfish colored crank bait. Fished in a different lake today and the fish were are staging on the first drop off from the shallow areas where they will spawn. We saw all of our bass today in 6' to 12' of water. Both days the takes where pretty subtle, Today we would set the hook when we saw our flies disappear. You would not feel the strike. You had to be patient on the hook in order to allow the fish to eat either the fly or lure. Had a few encounters with toothy northern pike today and we landed and a couple a lost a couple. The flies of the day were a Red/White 2/0 Bunny Bugger and a Creamsicle 2/0 Bunny bugger. We found the northerns in deeper water and all of the strikes seemed like they come out of no where. We really need some rain and it is awfully dry for May. Fishing should continue to be good as long as it stays cool. Warmer air temperatures slow things down and it appears that the fishing will now be best in the early morning and late afternoon. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
