July 9th, 2024
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be on the slow side as mayflies continue to be active on many Ely area lakes. The good news is that it seems we are over the hump and heavy mayfly hatches seemed to have ended on many Ely area lakes. Anglers have been reporting that the key to catching walleyes has been covering ground and looking for active fish. Anglers have been pulling gold, red/white and chartreuse spinner rigs tipped with crawlers or leech, in 15-18 feet of water. Windy shorelines, points and sunken islands have been the places to look for active walleyes. Trolling crankbaits is also worth noting.
Smallmouth - Smallmouth bass fishing has cooled off a little as water temps rise and the big smallies transition out to their mid summer haunts. Topwater fishing has remained very effective but the best bite has been early in the morning, generally before the sun gets above the trees. Once the sun gets up subsurface baits like wacky worms, chatterbaits and in-line spinners become a more effective approach to catching smallies. Shoreline structures like points, large boulders flats, river mouths and downed trees are all good structures to target smallies.
Panfish - Anglers have been enjoying a good crappie and sunfish bite on many of the Ely area panfish lakes. Sunfish can be found in the pencil reeds or wild rice beds. Here a bobber, small jig tipped with a wax worm or small piece of an angleworm, has been very effective. Crappies have been active mainly during the evening hours. Small jig/twister, beetle spins and hair jigs, fished near cabbage beds or lily pads have been very effective.
Pike - Pike anglers reported good pike fishing this last week, but it seemed the big pike were elusive. Like the walleye anglers, pike anglers reported that covering ground was the best approach to catching numbers of quality pike. Pike anglers casted or trolled large spoons, large crankbaits and in-line spinners in 8-14 feet of water.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout remain fairly active this last week for anglers targeting them. Trolling has been the name of the game for rainbows right now. Anglers have been trolling cowbells with small spoons, lindy rigs and crankbaits behind the cowbells. Key depth has been 15-30 feet of water.
Lake Trout - Lakers have been a challenging fish to catch this last week, which is normal this time of the year. Angler catching lakers have been trolling large trolling spoons, with down riggers set 30-40 feet down. Anglers should be looking for the thermocline and set your bait to run at that depth. Popular colors have been blood nose, blue/silver and wonder bread, and most anglers are trolling close to deep humps and open water.
