Petenwell Lake
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Petenwell Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Petenwell Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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White BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureRiver ChannelsHit the white bass run and had a blast catching a wide variety of the scrappy fighters. Fish were congregating in about 6 feet of water or less, around flats preparing to spawn. Fish were hitting just about any bait you wanted to throw but the 3" size swimbait was the most consistent. Often a second fish would chase in the hooked fish. Great opportunity to get the family involved in some fish catching!
- Species
WalleyeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureRip RapRapidly warming water temps had the walleyes in more of a summer pattern, biting primarily at dusk or later. The versatile swimbait caught various sizes of walleyes plus sturgeon and white bass. Great time of the season to take a kid fishing and watch their surprise not knowing what is attached to the end of their line. Shallow rock structure near drop-off edges was key as fish of all species cruised through the area. A little more aggressive retrieve with some pull-pauses worked in seemed to trigger strikes.
SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureRiver ChannelsFound a really good post-spawn evening walleye bite casting small swimbaits in about 5ft of water near rocky drop-offs and river current edges. Water temps warmed significantly to mid-50's following the recent summer-like temps. Fish were aggressive for a short period of time just before dark. Best action was near areas with noticeable rough fish surfacing activity. Long casts, slow and steady retrieves were key. A couple feisty smallies mixed in as well.
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureLedges
The water was around 55 degrees and the walleye's were staged just off the deep parts of ledges that are next to shallow flats where they spawn. Dragging a small 3" soft tail swimbait on a 1/4oz head did the trick. I made long casts and waited for the bait to hit the bottom. Then I would reel slowly to keep the bait low with added pauses to make sure I was keeping contact with the bottom.
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureRip Rap
High water levels and cooling water temps led to slow fishing conditions. Slowly working smaller swimbaits in about 5 ft of water around rocky shorelines proved to be most productive. Peak bite occurred just before dark.
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')SeasonSummerStructureRiver Channels
I like to focus my time on the steepest drop offs along the sides of the main river channel. Anywhere there is a bend tends to be a great places to start. Bright colored jigs with a leech tend to work best for me. I let the jig fall all the way to the floor then reel up so my bait is hovering anywhere from 6 to 10 inches off the bottom.
- Species
Northern PikeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureDamSlow rolling the smaller swimmer along current seams was key for nice pike. Weighting the swimmer with 1/4 oz of more was also important to keep the bait down in the water column. Less current the better or even retrieve the bait with the current rather than against it. Take a kid fishing!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureRip Rap
Hopping jigs with minnows
