2025

May 11 Report

   

The water temperature is 54 degrees. Smallmouth bass are scattered in 4-8 feet of water and are actively hitting swimbaits. While there haven’t been any exceptionally large catches, the quality of the smallmouth bass caught has been good. On Saturday, the smallmouth bass were more aggressive and beginning to stage near spawning areas. We have been catching walleye using a jig and minnow around creek channels and wood. Finding schools of minnows will lead you to active walleye. Northern pike action has also been productive, with swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and jig and minnow setups all effective. Overall, it has been a solid start to the 2025 fishing season, and the warming trend expected next week should intensify the action for all species.

May 15 Report     HOT TOPWATER BITE

The topwater bite was exceptional today on the Menominee River! I had the pleasure of fishing with JR Habeck and J Edison Woods. The smallmouth bass were aggressively hitting Hubs Chub Prop baits in 3-5 feet of water. The unique vertical drop on the pause triggered fierce strikes. While we might have caught more fish using soft plastics, the thrill of the topwater action made it hard to switch. The bite remained consistent throughout the day, signaling the beginning of an exciting topwater season on the Menominee River.

 

 

 

 

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2022

October 1 Report

Water levels on the Menominee River are low and the water is clear
due to the lack of rain. However, the fishing has been fantastic and 
it should continue through October. Smallmouth are stacked up and on the feed. 
Swimbaits, Case Sinking Shads and Sinking Minnows along with live
minnows are all producing big smallmouth.  

September 22 & 23  Report

I fished for 2 days with Mike and Allison and they had a fantastic time 
catching big Menominee River Smallmouth. Smallmouth were
stacked up and on the feed big time! What a great time on the river. 
They will return next year.  

September 16 Report

The Gansers’ found out that the hot smallmouth bait on the Menominee River 
is a Case Sinking Shad rigged on a 4/0 Spearpoint Wide Gap Hook!
It got a bit crazy when a 40″ musky crushed a Sinking Shad at Boatside.
A great fight on a medium action Grandt Rod in the swift current. 
The VGrip of the Spearpoint Wide Gap Hook held the musky in place
even after a few jumps. It is my go-to bait when smallmouth are feeding
on minnows. As the water temp dops the smallmouth bite will intensify. 

September 9 Report

Great Topwater action this week! 
Smallmouth were feeding on minnows but they could
not refuse a prop bait. Lots of quality smallmouth. 

September 3 Report

Smallmouth action on the Menominee River is great!
Lots of topwater action with prop baits! The larger smallmouth
are feeding on baitfish in the grass so a Case Sinking Shad
rigged on a 4/0 Spearpoint Wide Gap Hook is the ticket.  Another 
hot bait is a Case Sinking Minnow nose hooked with a 1/0 Spearpoint
Finesse hook. 

August 13 Report

Smallmouth action remains good on the Menominee River.  The topwater bite varies 
each day, depending on the weather and smallmouth temperament. When the
topwater bite shuts down a combination of Case Magic Stiks, 4″ Jacks Worm,
Swim Baits, Case Sinking minnows & shads will get the job done.   Most of
the larger smallmouth  are in the grass feeding on minnows.
Looks like we are moving into an early fall pattern.

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July 29 Report

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A few minor cold fronts slowed the topwater bite, but under stable weather the
topwater bite was good.  When Smallmouth scattered  swimbaits were the ticket.
Once we located smallmouth Case Magic Stiks, Jacks Worms, Wacky Jacks  and
other plastics all produced.  August is historicly fantastic for Topwater on the
Menominee River. 

July 19 Report

Smallmouth bass remain in the summer pattern which spells  consistent action. 
When they are feeding on crayfish in the rocks, Case Magic Stiks rigged
wacky style on 1/0 Spearpoint Finesse Hooks are the ticket. When fishing grass
and wood Topwater or Case Sinking Shads are the way to go. Consistent action
will remain throughout the rest of the summer. The TOPWATER ACTION in 
August is Fantastic!

July 10 Report

                Smallmouth Bass are in their summer pattern. 
The topwater Bite has been awesome this past week! Fish the grass
and wood with prop baits and hold on. Cover water and don’t camp
on a spot. Swimbaits, Case Magic Stiks, and Case Sinking Shads are my 
Go-To baits when the topwter bite slows.  

June 4-June 11

 

The key to locating post-spawn river smallmouth is finding food. This past
week we caught quality smallouth on the Menominee River. They were feeding
on crayfish, often a  short distance from spawning areas. A Case Magic Stik
rigged Wacky Style on a 1/0 Spearpoint Hook was the ticket. Other hot baits
included Case Jacks Worms, topwater and swimbaits. Find food and you will
find river smallmouth!

May 24-25-26, 2022

 

Even with dropping water temps, Rain and High winds 
Paul and Brian managed to catch quality smallmouth on 
the Menominee River and High Falls Flowage. Swimbaits,
Case Magic Stiks and leeches got the job done!

May 20, 2022

  

Judi Erickson with 2 big Menominee River Smallmouth. One Fish was caught
on a Case Magic Stik and the other caught on a swimbait!

May 13, 2022

 

Tough fishing in the morning due to the cold weather and drop in the water
 temp.  The sun warmed the water temp to 55 degrees and by late morning 
the smallmouth were crushing swimbaits. A Great day on the Menominee River!

 

 

 

2022 Sport Show & Seminar Schedule

 

Northern Illinois Sport Show
Jan 13-16
Grayslake, Il
Visit website

Central Wisconsin Sport Show
February 11-13
Wausau, Wi
Visit  website

Fishing & Boating Outdoor Show

 

 

February 18-20
Marinette, WI
Visit   website