What a beautiful week, heat, cool, rain, wind and sun all in just a week. The fish didn’t seem to mind though. Our fishermen are continuing to tell us they are having great success. Particularly hot right now are the crappie and panfish. Look for sunken trees, logs or heavy cabbage. The crappie are hanging suspended between 12 to 18 feet. Night crawlers, leeches or crappie minnows are all doing equally as well. Tip them on a Thumper Jig or small Fuzzygrub Jig. Beetle Spins are always a great go-to for some cast and retrieve action. From what we are seeing and hearing from our fishermen, many of the crappie have not even spawned yet with the females still chuck full of eggs.
Walleye have not been disappointing either. Most of our fishermen and outfitting guests are having no trouble catching enough walleye for an evening fish fry over the fire. The walleye have settled into their typical summer patterns, hanging out on classic walleye structure between 15-20 feet. Work main lake breaks, river mouths, around bridge piers, sunken islands and rocky outcroppings off pronounced points. Trolling spinners with a leech or crawler, especially as of the last few days, have been working very well. Minnows are working but still being outperformed by leeches. If you find some nice structure and are marking fish, hit ‘em with a jig and a leech. Don’t forget your soft plastics swim baits, they can be jigged, cast and retrieved or trolled. Both Rapala and Keitech have fantastic action you’re sure to love. Of course, there are always the Rapala and Berkely crank baits that are a well proven, deadly tactic. If you’re making your way to the next honey hole, slow it down and troll one along.
Bass and pike have not changed much in the last week. They are still very much active in the relative shallows, some big bass even as shallow as 2 – 3 feet. The most explosive fun is still going to be throwing top water crank baits. Both the bass and the pike are eagerly hitting top waters right now. Get up in the shallow bays, around docks or shallow, submerged structures and cast right up on it with a Whopper Plopper, buzz bait or similar crankbait. Hit those areas in the late evening about 7 or 8 and you’ll be in for a good time.
Lake trout are deep, a minimum of 40 feet. Start by looking for a steep underwater rise coming from 60+ feet up to about 40 feet. Use lead-core line and troll a Berkley Deep Hit Stick, (red and white or Wonderbread are my favorite patterns), a large Doctor Spoon, (copper or gold are my go to), or any other, large deep diving Rapala or Flicker Shad. If you prefer to jig, large tube jigs tipped with a frozen smelt are your best bet for success.
