Northwoods Bass Fishing Report, May 2017
The month of May 2017 had fishing that was hot and cold. About half of the month was warm, encompassed of sunny temperatures that triggered bass feeding and movements, and resulted in good to excellent fishing. Meanwhile the other half of the month was cold, resulting in an very extended and month-long pre-spawn fishing period (this was awesome), but brought what seemed to be 87 different coldfronts in the month and a few trips that had to be canceled and rescheduled. As we know, spring coldfronts are bad for fishing.
This May 2017 report is lengthy and long. I apologize to everyone as it’s very difficult to condense an entire month’s worth of angling in one single entry – but I will do my best if you continue below.
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Between May 09 through June 03, I logged a total of 24 days on the water; 10 of them were guide trips, while the other remaining days were buddy trips, adventure days, travel days, leisure trips, or simply a day off.
In May, the Minocqua area received well over 6 inches of rainfall. This kept the rivers high and unsafe for float trips; It made the flowages poor options for me. Natural lakes were the best options and those were the waterbodies fished most.
The second week of May following opener was the best numbers fishing we’ve had this spring. Whether fishing for largemouth bass or smallmouth bass, 50 to 100 fish HALF DAYS during afternoon hours were the norm, and that was me fishing solo. Imagine if I was booked, hosting guests. Could 150-200 fish full days been possible?
You get the idea…… First week of May was epic fishing.
Unlike last season, northern Wisconsin bass experienced a very prolonged pre-spawn spring season. This helped them feed heavily to build up their energy reserves for the pending spawn. These cool and steady conditions also helped them prepare for the spawn; I believe the 2017 year class of baby bass could be one of the best hatches in history thanks to very warm weather at this writing, and the high water levels and abundance of shallow water habitat for fry and recruitment.
Water temperatures for much of the month were holding steady in the 50 to 56 degree range. Any warm weather periods we had this spring led to lots of rainfall and storms; These events brought on coldfront after coldfront, which kept the pre-spawn phase in check. This was the first year I got to experience pre-spawn bass fishing for an entire month of May – lasting through the first few days of June.
As I write every March and April, fishing the warm water sources early on generally leads towards best results. Like most spring seasons when fishable and water levels allow, the Wisconsin River system and all lowland flowages in the north provide outstanding bass fishing opportunities when weather and natural lakes all run cold. This spring it was not the case. I did luck out and go on an impromptu Wisconsin River float on May 17th, right before our last major dumping of rainfall that flooded the river for good. On that outing, fish were nowhere present, but I did manage 10 quality fish, cranking midcurrent eddies…… a far cry from my typical 50+ fish spring floats. High water this spring has resulted in a minimal river migration, and poor spawning conditions. 2017 might be the worst year class of river smallmouths in the history of most northern WI river systems.
While the rivers were unfishable for the most part, and I didn’t bother with any of the flowages, my quickly-warming drainage lakes came to the rescue. The shallow dark watered and heavily vegetated eutrophic lakes were excellent themselves for largemouth bass. The mesotrophic drainage lakes that are home to good populations of smallmouth bass had excellent fishing as well.
Largemouth bass have become a very underrated resource, and are now mostly disregarded up north with an open harvest season year round. While harvest of overabundant 12 to 14 inch fish is encouraged, I preach the release and conservation of our trophies, 18 inches and larger, as these are the specimens to build healthy, trophy fisheries. I like to largemouth fish when smallmouth fishing goes tough, when dealt with spring coldfronts and poor weather. Huge largemouths still abound on many of our lakes. As largemouths spawn later, they are an awesome alternative angling option.
The success we had largemouth fishing in May correlated with weedgrowth. It was a cold month. It was also a very cloudy month. I logged a grand total of only 3 sunny days all month. Conditions like these will not grow any weedgrowth, nor stimulate photosynthesis. Most lakes we fished for largemouths barely had any weedgrowth such as cabbage, grass, and pads taking place. Lakes with poor weeds led to difficult fishing and poor catch rates. As a result, we fished more mud bays, wood, timber, piers, and boat houses than ever before.
Most largemouths caught daily are in the 12-16″ size bracket. Largest (top fish pictured) was shy of 20″ and just under 5lbs which stands as my largest so far of 2017. It slammed a locally manufactured swim jig from Saint Germain, by Gregg Kizewski of Super K Fishing.
Weed and mud bays, and wood were the bass magnets. Most fish were relating in 1 to 5ft depths.
Majority of the largemouths in May favored reactionary baits. If it moved, it was eaten. Bass were chasing, angry, and hungry. Strike King RedEye Shads, Super K Swim Jigs with a The Stankxbaitco swimbait trailer, and Storm WildEye Shads earned 90% of the bites. I also picked up a few here and there on jigs and creature combos, and a few on weightless stickbaits.
In May, smallmouth bass fishing our lakes is the most popular and frequent draw – it’s also the most requested bass fishing trip I receive. Unlike largemouths which were difficult and inconsistent to pattern, the smallmouths were very predictable and resulted in very good fishing despite short feeding windows and lousy cold weather.
Excellent fish were caught all throughout the month. I’ve gotta say the prespawn fishing I got to do for the entire month was one of the best years of spring fishing I’ve had in recent years. Countless 17-19 inchers; dozens of 20’s, and a handful of 21’s or better. What’s impressive about those numbers: I don’t fish or host trips for spawners and bedders! Wisconsin has grown and maintained incredible bass fisheries on the inland northern waters.
WARNING – BIG BASS PORNO OVERLOAD !!!!!
Big smallmouth bass are incredible specimens. Our monster fish of Vilas County are beauties and must continue to be treated with utmost care. Quick photos and they get returned carefully.
Remember, we don’t keep any here, ever. 100% catch and release policy, or else…….
All bass (at least the largest and unmolested ones) during the month were relating to main lake structures and offshore locations – by offshore I mean actual middle of the lake areas in proximity to open water – NOT within a shoreline cast length away! Midlake bars, humps, complexes, secondary points are all money spots and primary targets for me. When they spawn the locations all obviously change, as spawning bays, expansive shallow flats and near shore locations become more favorable and idealn habitats. for nesting followed by post-spawn feeding.
The cold weather that persisted in May delayed the smallmouth spawn. On quiet, sunny warm days fish were observed digging their nests, or returning to their previous year’s nests. Whenever coldfronts came, they’d vacate their beds and the shallows altogether. By Memorial Day weekend some spawning activity was observed. Later that week smallmouths had begun spawning on most lakes. The fishing grew even more difficult, as we had trouble locating active biters. At this juncture lake selection is critical because when they start spawning on smaller lakes, we seek the largest and deepest lakes we can find with hopes of capitalizing on a last second pre-spawn bite. Then when spawning on largest lakes, we revert back to fishing the smaller lakes where post-spawn feeding and movements have begun.
The spawn period is still taking place and will be concluded at some point by the end of next week.
My gear has been pretty selective and specialized this spring. Meet the allstars for SMB in May, 2017.
Matzuo suspending jerkbait w Trokar trebles; Rapala Shadow Rap 11 copper; Rapala Xrap 08 river perch; Stankxbaitco Jerx diablo w Trokar TK110; random 4″ jerk minnow with 1/8 oz Trokar Boxing Jig.
Not pictured also – Dynamic Lures Travado in ghost fish, swapped with Trokar TK300 treble hooks; Stankx Bait Co. 3.5″ Sway swimbait with 3/8 oz. Trokar Boxing Jig.
That was all I needed for the full month of smallmouth bass fishing.
I want to thank the companies and individuals who furnish me with some of these items for my every-day use.
The Early June Report
At this writing smallmouths are at the peak of spawning on most lakes while some others like rivers and flowages have already concluded spawn. Largemouth bass have already started theirs. Post-spawn fishing techniques such as spinnerbaiting, crankbaits, swim jigs, topwaters, drop shotting, tube jigs, and jig worming plastics will rule the game for much of June. Some of the best bites of the year are set to come!
I don’t fish for spawning smallmouths. My philosophy is to take care of the resource so that in return it takes care of me. There are some rare scenarios where you might have to bed fish if there is no other alternative method to catching fish in the particular lake you’re on. If you have the urge to bed fish, please avoid live bait hooks (gut hookings) and minimize handling and playing fish to exhaustion. Don’t even use a net altogether, especially if big mama smallmouth is about to burst out with eggs. By taking care of the vulnerable resource, the fish will take care of you.
With surface temps now in the upper 60’s to low 70’s, soft plastics are becoming important players in my tackle selection. Tube jigs (Strike King Coffee Tubes, Stankx DD), swimming grubs (Kalins), darters, and now even crayfish imitators are my top choices.
It’s amazing how quickly spring and early summer has progressed in that smallmouths are now transitioning to crayfish forage (where available). Soon we will be in summer period. Summer peak fishing is only days away.
I’m off the water now until June 22nd. With the spawn underway how’s that for awesome timing. It was a great spring season. I am anxious for the early summer period to get underway when I return.
I invite you to visit me online at www.northwoodsbass.com to learn more as I am licensed, insured, and registered with the State of Wisconsin to teach, educate, and catch and share the experience of my daily life with you.
Early summer dates (end of June/early July) are getting booked up. I still have the following dates available for full or half day trips during my next block. I am willing to double book myself on dates with half day trips, assuming weather is awesome, and will notify when those times are open.
– Tuesday June 27 (full day available)
– Wednesday June 28 (full day available)
– Friday June 30 (half day available 3pm to 9pm)
– Saturday July 01 (full day available)
– Monday July 03 (half day only 6am to noon)
To help with everyone’s scheduling and summer vacations I’ve updated my availability calendar to help with selecting. Give me a call or send an email if interested in a trip. Thanks to all who’ve booked with me in May; 9 trips total. I hope I made everyone’s fishing and instruction worthwhile and entertaining. The weather sucked, but the fishing was great most days.
CONTACT ME FOR END OF JULY FISHING – 3RD AND 4TH WEEK OF THE MONTH. IF NOT IN CANADA THAT TIME, I WILL BE BASS FISHING AND WE MAY SCHEDULE!
Thanks all for reading. I wish I had more time to go into detail more with strategy and specifics, but you can book your trip to learn and hear more!
Andrew Ragas
www.northwoodsbass.com
tel: (708) 256-2201
andrew@northwoodsbass.com
