With the arrival of the heat, fishing has changed a bit. The walleye have moved out form the shallows for the most part. Our guides and fishermen are reporting the most consistent bite in 12 to 20 foot depth ranges combined with an overcast day and a little walleye chop. Brightly colored jigs tipped with a leech or suspended under a slip bobber have been the ticket. Trolling leech and crawler tipped spinner rigs, Reef Runners or deep diving Scatter Raps are also great options. Look for classic walleye structure, mid-lake rock humps or sunken islands, mud-flat to weed transitions and river mouths.
Bass continue to hit topwater presentations, but mayfly hatches may greatly affect success on some of the lakes. Other great options you can try out are Finesse Ned Rigs and Whacky Rigs cast in shallow vegetation. Bounce these presentations off the bottom and through the vegetation for great bass action. On many of the lakes, Green Pumpkin / Orange and Coppertruese have been performing very well.
The big pike bite has not been as fast considering the heat, but they are still being caught. Just today, Thursday, speaking with an outfitting guest, while fishing for smallmouth in the shallows on Gabbro, (3 to 5 feet of water), they caught a 45-inch pike. Your best approach for pike is going to be anything flashy and loud.
Lake trout are deep, 30 to 50 feet+. Troll deep diving large Salmos, Dr Spoons or Laker Takers. You can also jig the Dr. Spoons, Laker Takers or large Bucktail Jigs. Stream trout are relatively deep now too, about 20 feet. Troll using lead-core line tied to small Salmos, Little Cleos, or a Mepps Spinner. A nightcrawler suspended under a slip bobber is also an easy way to go.
Crappie are in 12 to 15 feet of water in tall cabbage. Beetle Spins, small Rapala crank baits, Mepps Spinners or a crappie minnow under a slip bobber are going to prove most effective.
