Summer Patterns

Well gang, I'm back in action after that knee injury. I'm still only about 50%, but I've managed to do a couple trips over the last week or so.

Fishing is what it is in summertime on our area lakes. Morning and evenings are the best times to be on the water. Lots of anglers are catching largemouths and smallmouth in the mornings on area lakes. This bite will pick up even stronger in the next ten to fifteen days as the crayfish go through a molt. Look for fish around rocks and sctattered weed clumps. Some big fish will still be relating to deeper structure, and live bait is always an option for chasing these larger fish.

Musky fishing has been on fire the last ten days or so. Everyone, (meaning other guides) I've talked has reported catching multiple fish over the last week to ten days. trolling deep has been the primary pattern, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day.

Walleye fishing has slowed down over the last ten days, I'd guess due primarly to the oppresive heat we've been experiencing. If you're going to chase some walleye, very ealry and very late are the best. Slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weeds is usually a pretty good presentation this time of year. Longlining spinner harnesses around structure at the depth of the thermocline will also usually produce. For now, I'd target other fish.

Panfish are doing the summer thing. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option. I've continued to catch some quality gills on our panfish plumpers over weeds in the 8-15 feet depth on a couple lakes.

Good Luck Out There,
CT