Lake Zumbro

Spent a few hours out on Lake Zumbro yesterday afternoon with RHW. We worked the shorelines using small jigs tipped with waxies. The fishing was a bit more difficult than what had been used to, but we still caught lots of fish. Ron kept a meal of nice bluegills, and we released everything else. We caught a lot of smallmouth bass, most were small with a couple larger ones. I had something happen that I’ve never seen before – I was bringing a smaller bluegill to the boat and noticed a large fish take a swipe at it. I figured it was a northern, which I’ve seen happen a few times. It turned out to be about a 3 lb. largemouth bass! The bass actually hit the bluegill several times before swimming away – quite a sight!
Lake Zumbro is a quality fishery and well worth a few hours of fishing. Since we didn’t get any crappies yesterday, we will try to find them next time. I believe they are going to be suspended over deeper water, so we’ll need to locate them with the electronics and then put a small jig in front of their noses. That method should also produce stripped bass.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Seems like everytime I turn around Mike is sneaking out the door fishin. Hows that new trolling motor working Mike? Were you using the jigs under bobbers or casting them? What colors seemed to be the best producers on that day? How deep were the fish? In how deep of water? I know, questions questions questions. But you know-spill the beans, spill the beans, spill the beans. Are you going to spill the beans or is Ron??? Good to see you got Ron back out on the water. He loves his bluegills. But we can’t let him forget what the walleyes look like though. Think we need to hit Zumbro next Tuesday night Mike.
Thanks, Bill

Bill first things first, I am the proud owner of a brand new IDA hat. Makes me look younger, daper and so much more handsome.
Now what Mike forgot to tell everyone, it was hotter then and humid . We had to work this trip, really work. The fish we caught did not come easy.
The big boys have left the shallows and gone south to deeper, cooler waters. From now on, one needs electronics to locate suspended fish and work them accordingly.
Yes, Zumbro is a great fishery, now to be successful, one needs to put on his study hat, plus log some time in order to figure this time of the year out. Deep water equals suspended fish, equals correct presentation, adds up to fish in the boat.

Now I get it – the new IDA HAT caught the fish!!! I will have to make sure I am wearing mine everytime I’m out there so I catch fish too.
Thanks, Bill

ps. I ordered some 70 degree weather with less humidity and it should be here by the weekend. Did I forget anything? Oh yes, green worms like the ones Jake eats! Hi Jake!

Hey Bill,

Ron is correct, we had to work a lot harder than what had been the case 2 weeks previous. We mostly fished with the jigs under a bobber. Tried several depths, but 2 ft. produced the most fish. The fish were mostly within 10 ft. of the shoreline, but we did find a few further out than that. Color seemed to favor red or pink.
The new trolling motor is working great!

The good thing about the hot and humid weather is that I may have lost a pound or two.

As Ron said, the bigger fish are going to be found suspended over deeper water for a while. I think finding them will probably be easy, but getting them to bite may be a bit more difficult. Should be fun trying to figure it out!

I’ll probably start fishing the panfish and white bass on the Mississippi soon. Those white bass are a blast and usually start running around right about now into August. I can picture them boiling the water around my boat as they bite amost anything flashy thrown in their direction!!!

Good Fishing,
Mike