Our Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide team has been all over the past 10 days from Leech, Cass, Winnie, Mille Lacs and the lakes within the Hackensack area. Fishing on the big lakes has been up and down but some of the smaller lakes are kicking out great action bites right now. Here is the run down from the guide team
Nice Leech Lake Muskie!
Leech Lake
On Leech Lake right now it is all about feeding windows and covering ground. If you can be near the walleyes when they are eating fishing can be great, but many times you will see them and getting to bite isn’t the easiest. Best fishing has been using slip bobbers with leeches, dragging lindy rigs with crawlers or minnows, or pulling bottom bouncers with spinners. On the west side of the lake, working breaklines in 15-25 feet of water has been working well throughout Walker Bay, Traders Bay, Kabekona and Agency Bays. On the Main Lake, pulling spinners on rock transitions has produced some walleyes or either long lining or leadcore with crankbaits off the reefs during the day and on the edges and on top in the evenings. #5 or #7 Shad Raps and Flicker Shads are good baits to start with.
Muskies have been a little tougher this week, fish are being seen, but not super active. With the Full Moon and recent heat wave any day now that switch could flip. Bucktails, Crankbaits, and Top Waters would be the best best for lures. Just start casting and look to the main lake rocks, sand bars, or any emergent weed beds.
Panfish are getting caught in cabbage beds with a 1/32oz jig tipped with a leech, crawler or plastic. Remember to keep in mind putting those trophy 9.5-10” plus fish back as they are the prime spawners, but those 8-9”ers are perfect for a fish fry.
Mille Lacs
Fishing has remained good on Mille Lacs. Working over the mud flats with either lindy rigs, spinners, or power corking has been best for walleyes. 23-33 feet of water and just drive around until you mark fish and start fishing them. One day one presentation shines over the other, but some days you gotta use the whole arsenal. Smallmouth have been going on top water some days when you get the right conditions, but otherwise a tub jig is tough to beat where you can find scattered boulders and rocks off of the main reefs.
Hackensack Area
Young man with a nice walleye
Lakes in the Hackensack area are producing a good multi species bite along weedlines and main lake reefs. Best way to attack these lakes is to start on the weedlines pulling spinners through the weeds or on the weed edges. Depths will vary greatly on water clarity in the lakes. More clear water look to 17-22 feet and darker stained go into 10-15 feet. Lindy Rigs with leeches are also a great way to fish these areas and catch a ton of fish. If you are looking to focus on bass, main lake rock reefs are starting to pump out smallies. Drop shots with a plastic, tube jigs are great, but don’t overlook top waters when the fish are up and feeding. Weed beds that have deep water nearby are going to produce quality largemouth bass fishing. Spinner baits, jig worms, and crankbaits would all be good presentations for largies.
Its Mid July, enjoy the weather, remember to be open to trying different things, and most importantly enjoy some fishing.
Until next week,
Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide Team
