Walleye are biting, mostly in the early morning or evening. Most fish are being caught in of 26 - 32'. Slip-sinker rigs, with crawlers or leeches, was the best presentation.

My preference of leeches is giving way to night crawlers and artificial lures. Minnows vertically jigged or used with slip sinkers will be the common denominator on sunny hot days and more so as fall closes in.

Finally northern pike are showing their aggressive personality. Crankbaits, stick baits or big spinner baits outside the weed lines and tossed-up shallow in bays--like Mud, Daily, Nebraska, and Tom Cod--should yield some favorable results.

Smallmouth are hitting crankbaits along shorelines and the windblown sides of rockpiles and reefs. Crayfish imitations or Mepp's spinners are favorites.

Look for your walleyes to suspend a little off the bottom. Floaters or inflated crawlers should be in the strike zone.

Favorite places for these summertime situation: Center Reef, Chase Island, Martin Islands, Green Islands. Best bays: Blind, Ash and, of course, Lost Bay.

All the aforementioned locations have fast breaklines offering fast depth changes that suit the walleyes and the baitfish they are after.


Lake Kab/Namakan Fishing Report 7/20/09
Record overnight low temperatures and record daytime lows combined with wind and rain kept most anglers off the lakes.
Anglers that challenged the elements found fishing to their liking. The walleye bite remained strong on the west end of Kab, amongst one of many delayed mayfly hatches.
Fisherman using jig and minnow, as well as slip sinker rigs with leeches, on Center Reef on Lake Kab and Junction Bay on Namakan did pretty well.
As with last week, look for walleyes on wind-blown shorelines and sandbars on the West end. As the bite moves towards mid-Kabetogama, seek walleyes on reef edges and rock pile drop-offs.
Northern pike will sometimes show up with a vengeance. As Fall closes in expect them to hit stick baits, spoons and X-Raps at shallow depths down to 12', weed edges should be terrific. The small bay on the south side of Junction Bay North houseboat site was kicking out good numbers of large northern, mainly on Daredevels. We also picked up a few smallmouth while casting for northerns.
A good area for smallies now would be Lost Bay, Blind Ash, Nebraska Bay and on West Kab, surrounding Cutover Island.


LAKE KAB REPORT 7-12-09
We had a very pleasant week of nice "Up North" weather for folks--day-time 70 degrees and night-time in the 40's. The below average temperatures have resulted in cool lake temperatures, which in turn has stretched out the Mayfly hatch and kept active fish in shallower waters than expected. Walleye action is noted in primarily two depth ranges, evening 6 - 12' and day-time depths at 20 - 28'. Anglers reported that leeches got the nod as the best consistent bait to offer followed by minnows. Slip-sinker rig presentations were having the most success over this past week. Crawler action should happen if the lake gets into the 70 degree range and stays there for a spell, until then other methods are favored. Windblown shorelines that hold emerging Mayflies and bait fish are tops. Popular spots such as Harris, Ram, Sugarbush and the Martin Islands are a few of many good locations. The walleye aren't the only fish chasing mayfly larva so be prepared to catch smallmouth and northern pike on your venture. East Kabetogama is seeing the deeper waters work--the 20 - 28' range along Green, Larkin and Round Bear islands have kicked out many nice multi-specie fish. The deeper water ranges at times favor the jig and minnow approach. The crappie action has quieted down significantly, and I hope this means that pike action will heat up. Once the Mayfly hatch is completed expect northern pike to go on a feeding frenzy of sorts which will favor the pike enthusiasts that love to throw stick baits. Casting artificials on shorelines, and of course trolling shorelines, at 15 - 18' will produce fish-- again all species.


Kabetogama Fishing Report 6-29-09
Walleye bite continues to be pretty good considering the number of mayflies present.  Trolling a leech or crawler behind a Lindy Rig seems to be the best presentation.  Fish the mud flats just off the rocks on Center Reef (just look for the boats if you are new to the lake).  The east side of Cutover Island has been great in the early morning for walleye.  We have been getting them in the 36-42' depth range.  Watch the shoreline as there has been a bear down by the water nearly every morning eating mayflies.  Lost Bay continues to be good for crappies with the Eks Bay area being best just after sundown.  Watch your locator for the big cloud of fish and start catching.  For northern pike the small bay near the houseboat site on Sugarbush has been good.  Try anchoring and bobber fish a sucker minnow.  This is a good morning spot and also great smallmouth action casting plugs.  If you are camping over the 4th of July weekend bring bug spray as the mosquitos are getting pretty bad.  Still a little early for blueberries.

Kabetogama Fishing Report
Fishing was incredible on Lake Kabetogama last weekend! While jig and minnow combinations had been best slip-sinker rigs with leeches are now producing the most fish. Expect nightcrawlers to begin getting more attention as well. For the most fish, hit depths of 18-28 feet during the day, and slipping shallower as the evening hours progress. Some large walleye continue to be pulled from the shallows at the emerging weeds. Northern pike can be found searching for perch in the shallows. The northern pike and smallmouth bass bite should increase on a daily basis. Crappies should begin moving into the shallows very soon. For the most fish, check the shallow bays just outside the weeds using a small jig and minnow combination, or a slip-bobber and plain hook. Pike anglers are doing best when trolling the weedlines and over the tops of the submerged weeds, especially in the soft-bottom bays. Walleye anglers recommend spinner rigs worked in and out of areas with structure found near shore. Depth choice will vary greatly as water temperatures begin to warm quickly. Smallmouth bass anglers should expect lots of action at the rock pile edges and shorelines, with crayfish lures and crayfish colors working best. For further information, dial 1-800-524-9085, or check out www.kabetogama.com

For the people who like to boat up to Kettle Falls and portage into Rainy, here's the latest Rainy report.

Rainy Lake Report
The recent rise in temperatures have helped to improve the walleye bite. While Rainy Lake anglers are having success in 10-17 feet of water, expect the walleye to relocate to deeper water as the water temperature continues to warm. At present, Lost and Black bays have been hot spots, with crankbaits and plastics working well. The smallmouth bass bite should to start heat up very soon. Large northern pike are being pulled from Cranberry Bay on a regular basis. And on the Rainy River, walleye are hitting shiner minnows just below the Ranier Rapids and above the dam. For more information, dial 1-800-325-5766, or visit www.rainylake.org

You caught your walleye and now, you wonder how to I fillet the thing?  Here is a good video on filleting a walleye.
"How To Fillet A Walleye"

Crane, Sand Point, Namakan Lake Report

Small-mouth Bass are up hitting topwater lures in the shallows. 17-20" Smalleys are being caught on sunny flat days. Rapalas are working on Sand Point and Namakan Lakes. Or try plastic worms off the rock shorelines.

There's good Walleye action in 15-18 feet on the reefs. A jig and minnow, or a jig and nightcrawler, are bringing in good slot size 14 - 16" fish. They're also being caught in 10' or less just in the weeds by using a lindy rig set up.  Try the area near Indian Narrows for walleye.  Troll slowly from bouy # 4 around the point to the southwest in about  28' for some incrediable walleye action.  This area is best early in the day or later in the evening when the Kettle Falls boat traffic has died down.  We have been getting boat loads of walleye and sauger in this spot.