Despite the “Big Mayfly Hatch” earlier this week, fishing has been pretty decent; however,anglers had to try many techniques.
Walleye and smallmouth continue to be caught on 1/16 and 1/8 oz jigs tipped with a leech or half crawler in anywhere from 4-12 fow. Color really doesn’t seem to matter, but presentation is everything from a standard jig action to (get this) leaving your jig sit on the bottom. The latter technique can also have you tangle with sturgeon and red horse suckers that might bring out “bald BK”!
Also producing are #9 and #11 floating rapalas in gold or perch and shadrap in crawdad color. Tube jigs and soft craw jigs have also been producing well for bass with walleyes bonuses.
Gills, perch and crappies are being picked up along the shallow weedlines and by the many cribs on slip bobber rigs with ice fishing jigheads tipped with a small piece of crawler. The cribs are distributed throughout the TFF in 10-15 fow and the shallower ones seem to produce the best lately.
Musky’s seem to have to be coaxed. They have been found sunning themselves above the weed beds where they can dip down for an afternoon snack. Approach these areas slowly and try to agitate them with basic jerk baits or bucktails presentations and make sure to do at least 1, if not 2, figure 8’s by the boat.
You may have all heard the rule that you “can’t find fish with out structure, but you can find structure without fish.” Well the TFF is pretty much all structure given that 95% of the shoreline is pristine rock/gravel/timber and owned by the State including nearly 200 islands. Now, combine this with the fact that the TFF has nearly 19,000 acres of water when you include the Trude Lake connection and things can become mind boggling! For this reason, keep moving!!!!! If an area is not producing fish within 15-20 minutes, move, move and move! There are plenty of areas to fish, but not all will produce fish even though the TFF is a “walleye factory.”
It appears that the “Big Mayfly Hatch” is over, so fishing will only get better. Please come and enjoy the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, Wisconsin’s Scenic Wilderness Waters Area with 60 free (seriously free) island campsites with camp/cook fire rings, open air toilets (out houses without walls) and many with picnic tables.
Happy 4th of July everyone! 
