As we continue to plow our way through the seemingly short summer months here in northern Minnesota, it’s hard to believe we’re already into the 6th week of the resort season, with that being said, we’ve had 5 really good weeks of walleye fishing, and last week was more of the same.
Walleye continue to be caught, and caught in great numbers. Typical years this is about when things start to slow down as water temps are rising and that bright star in the sky tends to get things really warm forcing fish to head to deeper, cooler water. While this is no typical year, fishing is holding out and water temps are just now hitting the upper 60’s and some lower 70’s in some of the shallow bays.
Pictured below from L to R: Ben Blank from Dundas IL and a nice 33 inch northern, Catherine Hanson with one of many walleye she caught this weekend – her husband and son may need to take notes to keep up with her. father and son duo of Justin and Mike Rogers from Fort Dodge and Des Moines, IA with a hefty stringer of pike and finally, Don, Dorothy and Annie Rogers from Fort Dodge, IA with 2 hours worth trolling for pike.
Lindy rigs tipped with leeches or nightcrawlers are still the main presentation being used, some choose to use spinners and a variety of bead colors, while others just go for the bare hook approach, this will be the popular choice for a couple more weeks, and then it will change over to crank bait trolling.
Areas close to the resort have been some of the better places to try your luck. Petes hole (Rudy’s Hump) Roger’s point, east to the structure near pipe island and around huddles reef have also been good, those are primarily live bait presentation areas, they take some finesse and boat control, stay in the 10-14 foot range and you’re right where you need to be. If trolling is more your speed, tie on a shad rap and drag it around one of many mid-lake reefs north bar and bear island have been some of the best, but be ready to deal with those pesky rock bass, some areas seem to have more of them than rocks themselves. A couple of anglers have even taken it upon themselves to start a “rock bass relocation” program or I guess we could call it a harbor stocking program, either way the kids that fish our weekly harbor fishing tournament should have plenty of fish to catch.
Pictured below from L to R: Mike Rogers with his best catch of the week, Mandy Deal from Charlotte, NC on her first trip to Minnesota to fish, she was also showing the boys how to get it done – Dorothy Rogers with one of many pike she caught.
Muskie reports are minimal at the moment, water temps are getting close to the sweet spot so activity should be starting rise soon, I’m going to try to get out this week and chuck a few baits around and see if I can’t get a tug on my line.
Perch continue to bite in the weedy bays – sucker, miller, uram, and around goose island, nothing spectacular, but if you’re patient and weed through the small ones you’ll be able to get a couple of packages worth to take home.
The first crazy days of the summer is coming up this week, head into town and take advantage of special pricing from many local shops, restaurants and much more, it’s definitely worth stopping in. For more info click on over to the Walker Area Chamber of Commerce website or CLICK HERE.
Featured image up top is of Jan Schmidt from Eden Prairie and her beautiful 27 inch walleye, she had quite the battle with that one.
Thanks for reading
Come see us at Big Rock Resort
Ray
