August 4, 2020

Walleye - Crankbait bite for walleyes has been excellent this last week, as several groups reported catching nice limits of walleye while crankbaiting.  Crankbaits that dive 15-30 feet of water and trolled over large flats, during the evening hours, has been the ticket. Other anglers continue to report catching walleyes with spinner rigs, tipped with crawlers or minnows, worked around sunken islands in 15-25 feet of water now.  Many of the anglers catching fish out here have reported that walleye are there one day, then gone the next, so anglers should stay mobile to keep catching walleyes.

Bass - Topwater fishing remains excellent for both smallmouth and largemouth bass this last week.  Whopper ploppers have been most effective on smallmouth bass, while frogs have been best for largemouth bass.  Smallmouth continue to be located shallow in 5-10 feet of water, early and late in the day, on large rocky flats or around timber in the water.  Largemouth bass continue to be located in the thick weedbeds, lily pads and wild rice beds. Frogs fished  over these areas early and late in the day, often results in excellent fishing.

Panfish - Crappie anglers have been finding crappies suspended out over deep water 15-20 feet below the surface.  Good electronic are key to finding these scattered, suspending fish.  Crappie minnows suspended under a bobber has been very effective in catching crappies.  Sunfish continue to be found in weedbeds and particularly on weedlines.  Small jigs tipped with  either a wax worm or small angle worms, has been very effective on them. 

Pike - Several large northern pike were caught this last week as water temps cool down to more comfortable for large pike.  Large spoons, buzz baits and spinnerbaits have been very effective for covering water and catching not only small pike, but big pike too. Anglers should focus on weedlines on large weedbeds or areas around current coming in or out of a lakes. 

Lake trout - Lake trout fishing has improved this last week.  Anglers have been catching lakers 20-30 feet down, over deep water. Crankbaits fished behind planner boards have been most effective.  Blood nose colored crankbaits have been very effective.