Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we just wrapped up a fantastic week right here on Lost Land Lake at Northland Lodge Resort with lots of friends, lots of laughs and lots of fish!! Looks to be a fantastic weekend of weather this weekend. Mid and upper 70s, not as humid and just enough breeze. Monday and the later half of the week look like chances of rain, but time will tell on that. We are still under an Air Quality Alert and it has been quite hazy the last few days. The last few nights have been down to the 40s which has been great for sleeping and keeping the water temps in check. Water temps on most lakes are in the upper 70s and a few hitting the low 80s.

Musky–The musky bite has been decent, although most anglers are not putting as much pressure on ‘skies with the warmer water temps. My nephew managed his first musky on a #4 Mepps in Purple. We moved a few other fish on bucktails, but didn’t get anymore in the bag. All of the fish we saw were in weeds anywhere from 6-10 FOW.

Northern pike–We had some decent Northern action towards the end of the week, also in weeds, although quite a bit shallower than their cousins. Most of the pike came in 6 FOW or less. Spinner baits and wacky rigged plastic worms were working for pike.

Walleye–Walleye seem to be in the summer doldrums as I have not heard of many anglers catching walleye, and we did not see any either. Given the time of year and water temps, walleye are most likely rooted in weeds or hanging on deep rocks depending on the lake. Slow trolling bottom bouncers or lindy rigs with crawlers or leeches should work well.

LMB–The largemouth bite was HOT this past week. We caught a boatload of largemouth mostly on weed edges in 8-10 FOW. Almost all of the bass we caught were on wacky rigged senko style worms. Color didn’t matter, just let the worms sink and sort of twitch them through the weeds.

SMB–We caught a handful of smallies on these same spots and presentations as the largemouth. It seemed like any kind of plastics rigged and fished in slightly deeper water worked well.

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–The panfish bite was pretty decent and most of those fish were found in weed beds as well. We saw thousands of small gills schooled up on shallow sandy areas close to weeds as well. We caught most of the panfish on small jigs tipped with scented plastics, beetle spins, and waxies or leaf worms under a float.

Have a great weekend everybody and we will talk soon!

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we had some very sporadic rain throughout the area last week.  Only about a 1/2″ at our house, but I have heard reports of more around other spots up here.   Looks like we are in for a pretty hot week with very little rain if any in the forecast.  Highs topping out at 89 tomorrow and dropping to the upper 70s by the end of the week.  The fishing should get excellent with some stable weather and it has been getting better as this past week has gone one.  Water temps are mid 70s right now and will probably climb a few degrees over the next few days.

Musky–The musky bite slowed down over the past week, but the water temps warming back up should get fish active.  Bucktails and top water baits should be at the top of anglers lists to throw for musky right now.  Anglers should be aware as water temps climb to handle fish minimally, if pics are not necessary keep the fish in the water, and if you don’t need to measure it, don’t!!  

Pike–Pike have been actively hitting spinnerbaits, bucktails, and smaller crank baits right now.  Target pike in and around weeds both shallow and deep.  

Walleye–The walleye bite has been okay with anglers finding success on deeper rocks right now.  Slowly dragging jigs, or lindy rig set ups with leeches or crawlers seem to be working.  

LMB–Largemouth have been active and frogs and topwater baits are shining right now.  Lily pads, reed beds, and other shallow emergent weeds are holding fish.  For suspended fish spinnerbaits are tough to beat.  

SMB–Smallies seem to be favoring plastics right now, whether that’s wacky rigged, drop shot, or ned rigged.  Deeper rocks and transitions from hard to soft bottom are key.

Crappie–Crappie anglers have had success in the weeds for crappie right now, on both worms and minnows.  Small jigs tipped with a tube skirt or small plastic and either a small piece of crawler or a minnow have crappie biting.  

Bluegill/Perch–Anglers are finding gills and perch in and around those same weed beds as the crappie are occupying.  Anglers should work worms more to target gills, while minnows and small leeches would be better for perch.  

Steve, that is all I have for this week’s report.  Looks to be a fantastic northwoods vacation week as far as weather goes!  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg