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FISHING WITH THE GUIDES
by George Langley
July 30, 2008 FISHING REPORT:

Mid summer condition are in effect, with the weather cooler than normal, but pretty nice out. The problem with all of these nice days, however, is that they are not great for fishing. The fish feed much more at night at this time of year, because of the warm temperatures and because of the sunlight penetration on our lakes. This means to have the best chance at walleye and musky you must give up your cocktail hour and go out after supper. Oh, well... Despite these summer conditions, fishing in general has been pretty good. Weed growth is good - not quite as high as last year. Water temps are much lower than this time last year, and the fish are liking that.

Walleye fishing is much better in the evening and after dark, but they are getting some fish during the daytime. We really haven't seen the normal suspension pattern consistently this year. You can usually find fish in deeper water on the big deep lakes at this time of year, but the guys haven't had this pattern consistently yet. There is a good deep weed pattern in the evening on all lakes. you can use slip bobber or jigs for these fish, and leeches or minnows are working equally well now.

Bass fishing has been good. The largemouth are in the "slop" in weeds and shoreline cover on all lakes. You can get some largemouth in weeds of up to 10', but most are in the 6' and less range in the weeds. Evenings are best, and surface baits have been working quite well. Smallmouth are on rocks, of course. The bigger fish are deeper, but you can get some small fish surprisingly shallow at this time. All crayfish imitations are working very well now, with tube jigs and crankbaits probably best. For live bait, use leeches with red jig heads.

Northerns are in the deep weeds and hitting chubs very well. You can either slip bobber these fish in these weeds, or use artificials such as Mepps #2 or3. We've found concentrations of fish in the 10 - 14' range over those deeper weeds daily.

Musky fishing is in the midsummer night feed pattern. They are getting some fish during the daytime, but mostly on cloudy days. On sunny days the fish are simply waiting until dark to feed with aggression. Best baits at this time of year are surface baits and deeper running crankbaits with BB's in them. If you are going to fish them during the daytime, look for them at the deepest weed edges and suspended out over open water.

Panfish are still doing quite well, with bluegills doing best. Try some waxies in the weeds for these great tasting fish. The crappie fishing is surprisingly good right not, with the best locations being deep weeds and deep cribs. Perch are in the deep weeds also, with the 'gills locating shallower.

All in all - good fishing for this time of year.

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