mid-summer.....

[ctom]

We're coming up on late mid-summer and fishing here has been so-so to pretty good depending on where and what we have been fishing for. The lake my buddy and I fish for crappies has been plagued with high water all summer. Just about the time the levels drop to a point that locating crappies might be able to get done we are blessed with another weather system that pummels the area with heavy rains and the water levels fly right back up to where fishing is a joke. The big river has dropped to normal levels, but the same thing is happening there with weather and water levels. We've been catching bass right along for about three weeks now but it's a crap shoot as to what the weather will do to the bite. Two weeks ago the bass were on a fever bite with very normal flow and levels, and it was an interesting day of fishing. Yesterday, after a round of heavy rains in the area on Monday the water was up a foot with moderate current and the fish weren't as eager to play. I managed three bass between 3 and 4 pounds and my buddy popped a nice pike, but the fish were in really compact area and a lot of casting had to be done to find those hot areas. The water temp on the river backwaters was approaching the 80 degree mark.

We have a location on the main river that is a super decent big pike location. I think we'll try that spot next week. There's a feeder creek that runs cold water into the river and it draws tons of forage. Big pike follow the forage. With all the rain we've seen this feeder should be piling cold water into the river and hopefully the big pike are there to play.

I've been fishing Do-Its 7" Wutz-it on a 5/0 weighted hook and really finding favor with the bait.  Watermelon red flake over silver glitter clear has been the producer for me. The Quakin Shad in the same color on a 4/0 weighted has been good as well. Heavy glitter blue and purple over the silver glitter has been putting fish in the boat too....best when the sun is shining bright.

What plans have ya'll got as we slowly begin to shift into the fall type of fishing? Things cab change quickly when we start looking at September a bi closer: how do you adapt to the change?

[Fishermanbt]

Going to go looking for smallmouth this weekend via floating and wet wading.  That is if hurricane Debby stays far enough to the east.  I poured up three different shades of roadkill to try out. After this trip I might just hold back from fishing until the temps get below 1,000°F. A good deal of our rivers are running in the low 80’s late morning well into dark. That and the humidity makes for some miserable conditions. Once more favorable conditions present them selves I hope to start chasing crappie and perch around again. Hopefully I can learn their transition routs in the lakes.

[basscatlildave]

100 degree  plus days have had it tough here.

[Lamar]

 Every year over Labor Day week my buddy and I go north of Minnesota into the Canadian back woods. We think this year will be our 30th year so we have decided to go for a month. One week back in camp and three weeks just stopping at lakes along our travels. There's a lot of planning in a trip like this. We had to get permits and research on what was allowed and not allowed. We have a satellite phone so the Canadian police can find us in case of an emergency and our wife's can see where we're at. We've talked about do this for years and August 28th we're off.

[ctom]

That looks like a blast Lamar. As you would know, that area of Canada is rife with water. Have a great time. Stay safe. Catch fish and we want some trophy fish pictures when you land back home.

[basscatlildave]

That looks like a great time. Canada fishing is on my BUCKET list.

[Lamar]

That looks like a blast Lamar. As you would know, that area of Canada is rife with water. Have a great time. Stay safe. Catch fish and we want some trophy fish pictures when you land back home.

  Thanks. All the years we've been driving to camp we keep saying we're driving by a lot of walleye to get here. The difference is those lakes are some what public and in camp some of those lakes haven't been fished in months.

[ctom]

Lots of fires burning up there right now. Smoke is bad clear into Minnesota. When we left Two Harbors on Weds morning the air was blue, you could smell the smoke and the air quality was in the orange, bordering on the red. You have a couple weeks yet and hopefully the air quality improves for your trip.

[Fishermanbt]

Lamar, I am so jealous. That sounds like a great trip. Wishing you good weather and lots of fish. I so miss fishing Canada back lakes.