This past week I had the pleasure to fish with a number of great folks! We experienced some pretty good fishing catching some dandy walleye and smallmouth bass!! I also helped celebrate Ken and Colleen’s wedding anniversary as they joined me for a walleye and smallie trip! Congrats to you both!! You sure make a fine fishing team…..
I have had success walleye fishing in both the shallow rocks during the days with a little wind and also have been getting some fish on the breaks off the mud flats. Pulling blades have put the best numbers in the boat. The blades have not been the best choice for catching smaller fish though. Bobber fishing on a shallow reef structure has provided really the only slot action for this angler. I have caught some fish in 8-11 fow on the rock structures near shore on the eastside of the lake. Small 1/8 oz orange/green jig heads tipped with a med-large leech has been the ticket there. Moving around and picking up a fish here and there has been the needed task. You really can’t just anchor up in one spot and wait them out! It will not work!
On to the smallmouth action! The smallies have continued to be a nice mix in the days plan when the condition’s allow. Not so well when the wind has been blowing……The smallies that we have been catching have come from 2-8 fow. On some days we have seen the bass starting to school some in the shallow sandy areas. I have also had bass follow the hooked fish up to the boat! The other day while sight fishing for some bass, Colleen and I saw a 36 inch + muskie resting in the shallows….probably why we didn’t see any smallies near by? The smallmouth have all been caught on B-Fish-N Tackle H20 precision jigs in the 3/32 oz size. Tipped with a chartruse green ringworms! That color continues to get more fish of late than any other!! The other day I had all three rods casting the same setup – it was the producer of the day! Ken from South Dakota had a smallie "attack" his jig/ringworm on Thursday from a short distance away and rip out some drag!!! The fight was on…..there just is nothing better than that kind of a hit and fight! The smallies will make some long runs on 6lb test rigged on a 6′-6" Avid St.Croix!!! This all occured in less than 2 fow over a clear sandy bottom… easy and fun to see!
Next weekend we have the Hunters Point annual walleye tourney Friday-Saturday. I am hoping that I will be able to locate some smaller fish that will fit in the slot of under 18 inches. That has not been the easiest task of late.
If you have been putting off a trip up north fishing. Now is the time, The walleyes are starting to come around and the smallies are jumping!!
Please click on the photo’s above for larger viewing!!!
Here are some more photo’s to check out!!!
Great Report Bob
Nice to hear my upcoming trip may have some promise! Thanks for the report!