Fish has remained pretty solid this week on the east side. Walleye have started to move out of their spring areas onto their early summer spots. Transitioning to some deeper rocks piles, gravel and sand edges and even some into the mud. On windy days they will still move onto points such as Battle, North Tip of Bear and Ginsers Rock. Try pitching a 1/4 ounce jig tipped with a shiner or half of a nightcrawler up shallow on these windy days. I would try to stay off the fish but get that jig up into 4 feet of water. Trying to keep it on the bottom yet off the rocks is tricky but don’t overlook these spots they can produce nice fish. I still like parrot, watermelon or blue and white for jigs.
Slip bobber fishing has also been a great way to get on some of these fish. Fishing a leech on a 1/8 ounce jig over rocks is great fun. Pink, White, Blue and White or Parrot colored jigs work well. Rocks around Diamond Point and rocks around Huddles Reef is a great place to start. I like to have my jig aout one foot off the bottom. You can try higher and lower but it seems the fish would rather come up for the bait on slip bobber.
The Mayfly hatch can’t be too far away. I caught a few fish pulling crawlers on spinners this week. I do think this upcoming week could be the week where the crawler bite could be the ticket!
George Wells
George Wells Fishing Trips
West Side Report
The warming water temperature has the walleyes, perch, and crappies in transition mode. As far as walleyes go, earlier in the week most of our fish came on a jig and minnow, but as the week progressed a slip bobber and a leech have taken over the top spot. During this transition time the fish may seem like they are here in day and gone the next. Staying mobile and focusing on areas with a weed and sand mix, or small rocks has been key. When the wind is blowing, drifting areas with a Lindy rig and leech or night crawler has been effective. When the wind lays down or it is sunny then a slip bobber and a leech might be more effective.
This coming week I would expect the leech and night crawler bite to continue to pick up. How you present them is going to be up to you and depend on conditions. Lindy rigs, slip bobbers, jigs, and spinner rigs should all produce fish this coming week. Pay attention to wind blown shore lines, but the areas around 1st and 2nd Duck, and Kabekona Bay are good places to start your search.
Steve Nosbisch Leech Lake Guide Team