July 16th, 2024

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to improve. Reports of where anglers are catching walleyes have been scattered widely. Shallow water has been surprising one given how hot it has been this last week. There have been multiple reports of some big walleyes being caught in 8-12 feet of water, with a handful coming even shallower like 3-4ft. Weedlines and rocks have been the structure to fish. Here anglers have been throwing small paddle tails to match the clouds of minnows in the shallows. Sunken islands have also been a popular place to find walleyes. Here anglers are finding walleyes on humps that top out in 12-20ft of water. Anglers are pulling gold, orange and perch colored spinner rigs tipped with a leech or crawler. Not all sunken islands are covered with walleyes, so if you don’t see them on your electronics, keep moving. Third and definitely not least has been trolling crankbaits with leadcore. Here, large sand flats in 15-25 feet of water have the place to troll. 

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass fishing has remained consistent for bass anglers. Anglers continue to catch good numbers of bass on topwater early in the morning, working shoreline structure. As the sun gets up anglers switch up to subsurface by throwing wacky worms, chatterbaits and paddle tails. Anglers looking to target trophy smallies should work shorelines in the early morning, then switch to sunken islands during the day. Forward facing sonar, looking for big smallies, then strolling has been very popular and effective.

Panfish - Sunfish seem to have wrapped up spawning, but continue to be found in shallow weedbeds. Here small leeches tipped on a jig have been deadly, but small pieces of a nightcrawler have also been effective for anglers. Crappies have largely moved out of the weedbeds during the day and out over deep water during the day. During the evening’s they are sliding up into weedbeds to feed. Crappie minnow under a bobber, jig/twister and beetle spins have been very effective during this period.

Pike - Pike anglers have been reporting catching good numbers of pike, but the big trophy pike have been elusive. Anglers have been targeting them in weedbeds, river mouths and shallow bays. Anglers have been trolling large spoons and large crankbaits. Casting large spinnerbaits and in-line spinners has also been very effective.

Lake Trout - Lake trout anglers have been reporting some good fishing this last week. Trolling with down riggers and trolling spoons has been very effective when fished close to the thermocline. Large flashy trolling spoons have been best. Best color seems to depend more on the angler, then the fish. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout too, was very popular for good reason. The trout have been biting! Here too, anglers have been trolling to catch trout. Cowbells fished with small crankbaits, spinner tipped with a crawler have been very popular and effective.

Pretty clear that the smile on her face says the walleyes are biting again!
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July 23rd, 2024

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July 9th, 2024