The summer dog days, accompanied by unpredictable weather fronts, are upon us.

Most of the “easy” fishing for spawning fish is behind us as the fish begin to transition to summer patterns.

The inconsistent weather gets the lion’s share of the blame for the slowdown in action. Storms have chased or kept anglers off the water.

“There is still some good fishing but you have to work a little harder for them,” said Bonnie Kelley of Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville. “We just need some stable weather.”

Bluegill fishing might be the most consistent, especially on the St. Joseph River. Mike McNulty of Midway Bait in Osceola said the panfish are still being caught shallow and many are still spawning. Wax worms and red wigglers have produced best.

Spawning is dwindling down on the shallower inland lakes although some bedding fish are being caught deeper, especially on the deep, clear lakes that are running behind.

“If the bedding activity is done on your favorite lake, look for the fish to be out a little deeper on weed beds before you get to the first drop-off,” said Darrin Schaap of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg. “Also, if you can get out on a calm evening, there have been some strong bug hatches on our lakes and that gets the bluegill fired up.”

Anglers fishing Michigan waters this weekend are reminded that the state is celebrating its free fishing weekend which means you won’t need a license. All other regulations still apply.

Branden Sutter of the Tackle Shack in Middlebury, In. said Cass and Hunter lakes were producing pretty good spawning bluegill action.

“Some nice crappies are being caught out deeper on Shipshewana, too,” he added.

Bass are starting to wake up out of the post-spawn funk, but fishing has been spotty. Sutter said topwaters have been working well on some lakes including the St. Joseph River.

Rick Christener of the Tackle Box in North Webster said the best bass fishing on Kosciusko County lakes has been in deep water outside the drop offs.

Walleye fishing on the St. Joe has been good although most of the fish have been sub-legal. Try drifting crawlers or leeches.

Warming water temperatures have slowed the muskie bite at Lake Webster after a pretty good spring for muskie fishing at that lake and the Barbee Chain.

On Lake Michigan, trollers have been getting a few coho and kings in 200 to 250 feet with orange and gold spoons, said Schaap.

Lake Michigan biologist Brian Breidert said lake trout are providing steady and reliable catches, too.

“There also have been a few fresh summer steelhead enter the South Bend area (St. Joseph River) and Trail Creek in Michigan City,” he said. “Historically, June is our toughest stream month for Skamania but some fresh fish have been caught in Trail Creek.”

The biologist added that crews running gillnets on Lake Michigan have caught some nice perch in 60 feet of water. Most were still in the spawning mode.

“The annual Skamania Mania contest is next weekend in Michigan City with the weigh-in next to the DNR building,” Breidert added.