Fishing Report For Shawano Lake, WI

Current Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. Water temperatures are in the 70's, as Fall weather cools the shallows. Bass are feeding shallow throughout the day, and are being caught on topwater, vibrating jigs, crankbaits and swimbaits. Worms are catching bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of Summer they were being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 8 to 20 feet deep. The best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around heavy concentrations of vegetation

FALL. In early Fall, bass are following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where swimbaits, frogs, swim jigs, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are successful. As the shallows cool, bait and bass are moving out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where drop shots, jigs and flutter spoons are often the ideal bait.

WINTER. Ice fishing is popular in the heart of the cold Winter, and a few bass are caught through the ice. After ice out, they will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 10 to 20 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from wintering spots, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are holding in 4 to 10 feet of water, and feeding aggressively in preparation of the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. These pike have scattered all around the lake, feasting all Summer long. During the day they are holding from 8 to 20 feet deep, on ledges, reefs, deep weedbeds, and channel edges. Some of the larger specimens are suspending in open water, just outside feeding areas. Trolling or drift fishing produced some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners, cut bait, and deep diving crankbaits. Early and late in the day, they move shallow to feed and can be caught around weedy shorelines. Noisy topwater lures, spinnerbaits and Johnson spoons with curly-tail grubs, are catching nice pike shallow.

FALL. As the weather starts turning cold, water temperatures cool fastest in the shallows. This brings baitfish into shallower waters, and northerns follow this food source. They hang around weedbed edges, main-lake points, reefs, and rocky shorelines to ambush prey. This is a prime feeding time as they prepare for winter. It is also a good time to catch a trophy pike.

WINTER. Pike remain active in Winter, often congregating in or near remaining weedbeds, especially along the edges. Other structure options include long points, reefs, ledge drop-offs, and rocky humps, ideally nearby deeper water. Ice fishing was good here again last winter. At times, when oxygen is depleted in deeper water, northerns suspend directly under the ice, where maximum oxygen is available. Other times they hold on structure in 15 to 25 feet of water, sometimes deeper.

SPRING. After ice out, northern pike migrate to shallow, warmer pockets, bays and coves. Once water temperatures reach around 40 degrees, they move into even shallower areas with vegetation, to spawn. After spawning they linger in the shallow bays for a short period. Once water temperatures rise into the 50's, they move to deeper weedbeds and shallow structures adjacent to even deeper water. Bright colors, whites and flashy lures appeal to these predators. Noisy topwater lures can also produce some spectacular strikes. Alternate between baits until you identify which one triggers the most bites for the day.

Current Report: Good

This lake is an ideal fishery for walleye, and Spring and Fall are the best seasons for catching them.

SUMMER. Currently the water temperature is in the 70's, and walleye fishing is improving. Throughout the warm Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark, have been the best times to catch walleye. At those times they move shallow to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing has been good, as well. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges. When the bite is slow, minnows, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom is catching walleye, and using a bobber can be helpful.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish into the shallows. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye again. Later in Fall, they move out deeper again. Dragging bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs catches walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

WINTER. This Winter fishing for walleye was pretty good through the ice. Anglers report catching them in 4 to 12 feet of water, along weed lines. They primarily feed on gizzard shad and small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, are all working while trolling or slow drifting. Most walleye are coming out of 8 to 15 feet of water during late winter.

SPRING. Anglers will begin moving to the upper end of the lake, and in protected pockets around the lake. Here anglers find walleye in the shallows, especially rocky areas with weed lines, and around inlet channels. Here they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. Afterwards, they move to shallow points, flats and ledges, just off shore, and relatively close to their spawning locations. Bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them in 3 to 10 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow.