Petenwell Lake
Published: Updated:
Petenwell Lake Fishing Reports
Filter by
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Fall
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Humps
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
73°
Fish holding on humps and drop off
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Lily Pads
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
76°
Fish any trasition areas were where wood,weeds or eel grass meet
Species
Walleye
Season
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
72°
Hopping jigs with minnows
Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
10/15/23
Species
Walleye
Season
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
Flooded Brush
Hot walleye action on channel edges right now for numbers and trophy sized walleye right now. Key is to find brush on the edges and spotlock right on top. Set deadstick rods 6" to a foot off bottom with 1/4 ounce H20 jigs and magnum sized fatheads. Then with another rod (I like a St.Croix Eyecon Snap Jig rod) cast a 1/4 ounce BFishN Tackle Draggin Jig with fathead. This is a very snag free jig that is extremely effective in brush on rivers and flowages across the MidWest!
Species
White Bass
Season
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
62°
Hit 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
Walleye
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
65°
Rapidly 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.
Species
Walleye
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
55°
Found 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.
Species
Walleye
Season
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Ledges
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.