Fishing Report 7/5/22

We hope everybody had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend! It was a busy weekend here in Perham, and we thank you all for your business!

As we move into July and the water temps continue to rise, the fish are still biting but the techniques are starting to change. The walleye bite has remained good on Big Pine, Little Pine, Rush , Ottertail, and other area lakes. Majority of fish have moved out into a bit deeper water. We are still hearing good reports of anglers having success in 7-10 feet of water, and most fisherman are having the best luck in this depth using a slip bobber with a leech, or trolling 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jigs with a soft plastic or a minnow. The type of plastic or type of minnow doesn't typically make a big difference, you just want a good sized plastic or minnow to strike a reaction bite in the shallow water. Shoreline flats or points with good cabbage weed will be holding fish.

The majority of good reports we are hearing are coming in the deeper water in 15-30 feet of water. Shoreline breaks, points, and humps are all holding fish. The secret to success in fishing deep water structure is to use your electronics to your advantage, and drive around the deep structure and look for fish on your sonar. Fish can be spread out on deep water structure, so spending some time looking at your sonar and trying to find the fish before you drop a line will increase your chances at success. A wide variety of tactics are producing fish in the deep water. Majority of anglers are having the most success lindy rigging a leech, crawler or minnow. An old school tactic that always produces fish, especially in the dog days of summer. Another tried and true tactic that is working well is a simple bottom bouncer with a spinner and crawler. Trolling a 1.5-3 ounce bottom bouncer with a spinner and a crawler or slow death rig trolled around 1.0-1.5 mph is producing fish in a wide variety of depths. The great thing about bottom bouncers and spinners is you can cover a lot of water and really dial in where the fish are schooled up.

The panfish bite has also changed a lot in the last week with the warm water temps. Crappie and bluegill have finished the spawning process, and have moved out to the deeper cabbage/weed edges. Look for both crappie and blue to be schooled up in 8-14 feet of water on the edges of the tall weeds. The fish will be suspended of the edges, and when you find them, there will be plenty of action. Bobber fishing is a great technique to try, tipped with a small hook or jig and a crappie minnow, small leech or worm. Small jigs with small soft plastics is also an extremely effective technique this time of year. Casting over the weedline with these small jigs and plastics will produce both crappie and big bluegilll!

If you are just looking to get out and catch some fish, the 10-14 foot weedlines are holding lots of northern and bass that are all ready to bite. Crankbaits, spinners, or plastic rigs are producing fish on all lakes. Find the tall cabbage weed that is adjacent to deep water and you are sure to find some hungry pike and bass ready to fight!

The fishing has remained strong in lakes country, and as we enter into the dog days of summer, the fishing techniques and strategies have changed. We are sitting good on inventory, and are ready for another awesome week! Happy Fishing Everyone!