Fishing Report for July 5, 2022

Jim Ernster
Fishing Guide
ISD 181 Special Education Teacher
Leisure Outdoor Adventures

www.leisureoutdooradventures.com

218-851-1177

Storms, wind, food sources and fish transitioning are affecting the bite right now. Mayflies, Crayfish, young of the year perch are all being consumed on a regular basis by fish making our presentations look less than spectacular. However, given the circumstances, have a couple approaches that you can try can to still make the experience the best you possibly can! So here are some tips for what is working this time of year.

Be sure to focus on the feeding windows in the early AM and evening hours.  Try using slip bobbers and leeches in 10-15 feet of water along weed edges, rocky/windblown points, and the edges of main lake reefs.  Lindy rigs with a half of a crawler or minnow has been producing some fish during the day hours in 15-20 feet of water along shoreline breaks, humps, or underwater points.  Covering ground with spinners on windblown shorelines or breaklines, and the edges of reefs are also good tactics to use this time of year.  Try upsizing the size of your spinner blade to create more of a reaction bite.

On the local lakes, there is good bass fishing on weed edges and transition areas in 15-18 feet of water.  Try drop shotting with a plastic or even a lively leech, using a ned rig or a slip bobber and a leech. While not the bass purist approach, but  smallmouth and largemouth LOVE leeches!.  Some local lakes are kicking out walleyes but like Leech the mornings and evenings are best and they are typically going to be weedline fish or relate to major bars or reefs on the lake.