July 4th Weekend-Fish Early A.M. To Beat The Crowd

74-76 degree water
6-12 Ft of visibility
Good action over the weeds

• Bluegills are very active in the weeds along with perch, rockbass and crappie. Work any of the big weed beds on the main lake for a good variety of panfish.
• Smallmouth activity remains very good on any of the rocky shorelines. The ''top water'' bite was very good this week in 8-15 Ft of water. Crawlers, leeches, and hellgrammites fished on slip bobbers will produce fish all day long.
• Northern pike continue to show all of us the strong year class coming up. These numerous fish in the 20-24 inch range are fun to catch over the weed tops and show great promise for the future. Any minnow imitation or chub will produce action. Minnows will work great but need special attention to keep them alive due to high surface temperatures.
• Walleye have started to show up over the weeds on the east and west end of the lake. Crawlers, leeches, and small crankbaits worked very well last weekend especially late in the day. Slip bobbers fished on weed edges will produce action as well.
• White Bass are 14-20 Ft down over deep water. Troll spinners tipped with small minnows for the best action and you may even tangle with one of the elusive Brown Trout.
• Lake Trout action has moved deeper with the summer warm up. Start looking for the Lakers in 80-120 Ft of water. Spoons and minnows continue to be the best choice of bait. Minnows are tough to keep alive, so take a cooler with ice to minimize the loses.

It's Back To Fishing

72-75 degree water
25 Ft visibility has peaked
Weeds are up
50'' Muskie weighed at North Bay

• Bluegills are on their beds on the main lake. The eaters are hanging around any shoreline or weed bed. Remember the males guarding the nests insure a bright future for Big Green gills! If you must fish the beds please take a kid.
• Smallmouth can be found from 8-20 Ft of water. The action is good but nothing close to the ''catching'' last week. Leeches, crawlers, and small crankbaits have worked well this week. Minnows work well but are hard to keep alive with the high surface temperatures.
• Northern Pike action over the weeds is very good to great. The size of the fish is not very good, but it's great to see these smaller fish for the future. It's getting close to 'big chub' time and the weed edges. Spinnerbaits, big crankbaits, or bobbers with minnows over the weeds will produce fish.
• Walleyes have been a little slow with the stable weather and clear water. The new weeds should start producing fish on crawler harnesses and leeches this week.
• Lake Trout are still providing action but could slow down as they move deeper. As the water temperatures rise anglers should move west on the lake for better action. 80-120 Ft of water using minnows and Sutton spoons should give you some action.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

72-74 degree water
9-15 Ft visibility and getting better every day
Leeches and crawlers in 7-12 Ft of water mean action
Weeds are growing fast

• Bluegills are concentrated in any of the main lake weed beds. Worms and waxworms will give you lots of action.
• Smallmouth are in peak form. The 'top water bite' is hot all day if we have calm water. Leeches and crawlers can be cast, trolled, or jigged for fast action. If you hook these fish deeply, remove the hook by going through the gill with your Hemostat or plier. Gently twist the hook out and the fish will be fine for the next angler to witness 3 or 4 acrobatic leaps. If you must keep these fish stay as close to 14'' as possible and please don't take the legal limit of 5.
• Rock Bass are going to give everyone fast action: Leeches, crawlers, small worms or minnows. These fish have no bag limit and no size limit and fry up nice.
• Walleye are showing up over the top of the emerging weeds. Leeches or crawlers trolled or drifted with spinners will produce. Windward shorelines are the best action.
• Lake Trout action is good to great. The fish continue to bite on minnows and Sutton spoons in 70-110 Ft of water. If you don't like to troll, try jigging in 60-80 Ft of water with minnows.
• Northern pike action is good in 10-16 Ft of water on minnows or any minnow imitating crank bait as well as spoons. Lots of small fish for good action.

Warm Water and Good Action

67-69 degree water
Algae bloom has peaked and clear water is coming
5-7 Ft visibility

• Bluegills can be found in the shallows anywhere on the lake. Numerous fish are hanging around the piers waiting to spawn on the lake. The pond and Beyer's Cove are starting to become weed-choked.
• Lake Trout are keeping the pontoon boat Guides smiling. Reports of limits are common. Sutton spoons or minnows are the top baits being trolled 65-100 Ft of water.
• Northern pike are still showing up in the every day catch. 7-12 Ft of water is good action but if you are looking for bigger fish try a little deeper water as the weeds emerge this week.
• Walleyes have started to show up on crawlers and leeches. The East end and West end weed beds will produce fish early and late in the day for the next couple weeks.
• Smallmouth are cruising the shorelines and will take crawlers, leeches, and crankbaits. As the lake clears the 'top water' bite will turn on. These next 2 weeks should be peak bass fishing so don't wait.
• Rock Bass are spawning in 6-15 Ft of water. No bag limit and no size limit, so get the fish fryer going.
• White Bass are spawning from Oakwood down to Heidel House in 12-14 Ft of water. Try small spinners, small minnows or little crankbaits. No size limit and no bag limit on these stripers.

JUNE 4-5 IS FREE FISHING WEEKEND

June 4-5 is free fishing weekend
No license or trout stamp is required
Bag and length limits apply
57-60 degree water
Surface slime

• Bluegills/Largemouth have been spawning in Dartford Bay, the channels, Beyers Cove, and the inlet. Use waxworms and small worms on small jigs or black ants.
• Lake Trout are still biting. Try fishing sutton spoons or minnows in 55-100' of water. Numerous fish have been taken from the Heidel Bar to the Shale Bar.
• Northern are still hot with numerous small fish in the shallows. Any minnow imitation works well. Release these small fish carefully and they will grow fast.
• Walleye fishing has been a low light, choppy water bite. The 3' visibility should help out the daytime fisherman. Fish windward shorelines with nightcrawlers or leeches.
• Smallies are priming for a fast and fun 2 weeks. Fish the shorelines with leeches, crawlers, minnows, and shad raps. Release the males so they can continue guarding the nests. I have seen numerous spawned out females this week including one 21''.
• White Bass are in the 7-15' depth looking to spawn. The north shore has the majority of the fish right now. Small minnows and spinners cast or trolled will work.
• Brown Trout are showing up in the shallows. On the main lake, fish 9-18' of water with small minnow imitations. These fish are in small schools and will give you a tussle you will not soon forget.
• Crappies are spawning next to the piers. Small jigs or small minnows fished under a bobber will work well. Respect the pier owners and move to an unoccupied pier.