Ranger Rick
08-05-2010, 09:22 AM
Well as I predicted the fishing has gotten very inconsistant. The extremely early ice out and early spring conditions are now taking their toll on the fishing. The water temperatures are high in the 70's, with weed growth at peak conditions.
Muskies are biting best at night, with the best action occuring from 9 pm to
1 am. All types of baits are taking fish. There is no one best artificial.
The Eagle River Chain is still having some action during the day, the key is "slow rolling" your spinner of choice at the edge of the weedline.
Northern Pike are hitting well during these high heat, high sky conditions. Mepps spinners, small spinnerbaits, any thing with a flash is taking fish. The northerns are in the weeds with the larger specimens tucked right into the bottom of the hard edge of the cabbage and coontail. The way to get these guys is letting your spinner drop at the edge of the weeds until it hits the bottom and slow rolling the bait back to the boat.
Walleyes are still biting in 8 to 16 feet of water on the Eagle River Chain, the best baits are leeches and extra large fatheads on a jig. The key to getting the best action is finding the weed edges closest to deep water, and then narrowing down the best spot on that spot. It is key to look at a hydrographic map to find the areas where the "depth contours" squeeze signafiying hard bottom dropping to deep water.
On North Twin some walleyes are in the 10 to 15 foot weed edge in the early morning and late evening hours. During the day, the same walleyes slip out to 25 to 29 feet deep and are easily marked on your depth finder. Some will eat if they are on the bottom, not so well if they are suspended up off the bottom.
Crappies are in the weeds and in the cribs on most lakes. They are being caught from 8 feet to 18 feet on the Eagle River Chain. The best bet is a slip bobber and a crappie minnow. Some succes being had by slowly retrieving a white mini mite over the weeds on a slip bobber until crappies are located.
Some large smallmouth are being caught on the Eagle River Chain on leeches and minnow by fisherman looking for other species. A 21 incher was caught recently on Cranberry Lake.
Bluegills and perch are still locating in the shallow weeds and eating leeches, crawlers and crappie minnows. Small jigs and a hook on a slip bobber is the way to go for these guys.
Good luck on the water,
Ranger Rick
Muskies are biting best at night, with the best action occuring from 9 pm to
1 am. All types of baits are taking fish. There is no one best artificial.
The Eagle River Chain is still having some action during the day, the key is "slow rolling" your spinner of choice at the edge of the weedline.
Northern Pike are hitting well during these high heat, high sky conditions. Mepps spinners, small spinnerbaits, any thing with a flash is taking fish. The northerns are in the weeds with the larger specimens tucked right into the bottom of the hard edge of the cabbage and coontail. The way to get these guys is letting your spinner drop at the edge of the weeds until it hits the bottom and slow rolling the bait back to the boat.
Walleyes are still biting in 8 to 16 feet of water on the Eagle River Chain, the best baits are leeches and extra large fatheads on a jig. The key to getting the best action is finding the weed edges closest to deep water, and then narrowing down the best spot on that spot. It is key to look at a hydrographic map to find the areas where the "depth contours" squeeze signafiying hard bottom dropping to deep water.
On North Twin some walleyes are in the 10 to 15 foot weed edge in the early morning and late evening hours. During the day, the same walleyes slip out to 25 to 29 feet deep and are easily marked on your depth finder. Some will eat if they are on the bottom, not so well if they are suspended up off the bottom.
Crappies are in the weeds and in the cribs on most lakes. They are being caught from 8 feet to 18 feet on the Eagle River Chain. The best bet is a slip bobber and a crappie minnow. Some succes being had by slowly retrieving a white mini mite over the weeds on a slip bobber until crappies are located.
Some large smallmouth are being caught on the Eagle River Chain on leeches and minnow by fisherman looking for other species. A 21 incher was caught recently on Cranberry Lake.
Bluegills and perch are still locating in the shallow weeds and eating leeches, crawlers and crappie minnows. Small jigs and a hook on a slip bobber is the way to go for these guys.
Good luck on the water,
Ranger Rick