Russ Warye
08-04-2010, 04:42 PM
Walleye fishing remains excellent overall with depths of 18 to 30 feet being targeted by guests. Jigging and bottom bouncing is working on typical main basin structures utilized by walleye in their late summer patterns - humps, reefs, protruding shoreline and island points and saddles. A weedline bite is still possible during evening hours but the presence of cabbage and/or coontail is important to this pattern.
This summer is totally different than last year as water temps are well into the 70's with readings of 74 to 75 degrees seen on the main basins. Back bays have seen reading soar to the high 70's. Last summer a 70 degree reading was rarely recorded.
Muskie catching has improved although afternoon hours on bright, sunshine-filled days remains slow. It has become a strong early morning and evening bite on rock and weedline structure and cover. Lure choices have ranged from bucktails (including Cowgirls), weighted Suicks, and crankbaits with a slow wobble. Topwaters - especially Top Raiders - have yielded fish in the last two evenings. Fish from 42 to 47 inches have been caught with one boat taking a 43 and 44 incher last evening...and had opportunities for even more fish, including one in the 50-inch bracket.
Northern pike are a challenge but fish up to 39 inches were just reported - one from shallow weed cover, the other from a main basin island shoreline rimmed with boulders. Most main basin humps have a quality northern or two that show themselves by hitting either bottom bouncer rigs, jig presentations or by grabbing a small walleye or yellow perch that is being pulled to the surface. The warm water is probably a factor, keeping larger fish deeper.
Smallmouth are available on rock-strewn shorelines and are hitting jig and plastic presentations, small inline spinners, crankbaits in the Shadrap tradition and even the occasional topwater.
This summer is totally different than last year as water temps are well into the 70's with readings of 74 to 75 degrees seen on the main basins. Back bays have seen reading soar to the high 70's. Last summer a 70 degree reading was rarely recorded.
Muskie catching has improved although afternoon hours on bright, sunshine-filled days remains slow. It has become a strong early morning and evening bite on rock and weedline structure and cover. Lure choices have ranged from bucktails (including Cowgirls), weighted Suicks, and crankbaits with a slow wobble. Topwaters - especially Top Raiders - have yielded fish in the last two evenings. Fish from 42 to 47 inches have been caught with one boat taking a 43 and 44 incher last evening...and had opportunities for even more fish, including one in the 50-inch bracket.
Northern pike are a challenge but fish up to 39 inches were just reported - one from shallow weed cover, the other from a main basin island shoreline rimmed with boulders. Most main basin humps have a quality northern or two that show themselves by hitting either bottom bouncer rigs, jig presentations or by grabbing a small walleye or yellow perch that is being pulled to the surface. The warm water is probably a factor, keeping larger fish deeper.
Smallmouth are available on rock-strewn shorelines and are hitting jig and plastic presentations, small inline spinners, crankbaits in the Shadrap tradition and even the occasional topwater.