Above: The Nelson family had a great day on Lake Superior last week. Monique (Nelson) Albright, a 1989 Cook County High School graduate and her son Carter caught this 21-pound king salmon aboard her grandfather, Willard Nelson’s boat Silver Spray. Her father, Dick Nelson, noted that if she had caught it just a few days earlier she would have easily won the Fisherman’s Picnic Big Fish Contest. Grandpa Willard was delighted.
Tyson at the Beaver House said the fishing has been great. Walleyes continue to bite in most area lakes on chartreuse, red or pink Beaver Flicks with a leech and slip bobber. Smallmouth bass are still being caught in area lakes on the surface with torpedoes, artificial crawfish and Beaver Flicks.
For lake trout, Tyson has heard that trolling in 18-20 feet of water off shore using a watermelon spoon or silver doctor spoon has been working best. Some king salmon are being caught and pink salmon are in.
Northerns are doing very well on all the area lakes. An angler reeled in an 8- and 9-pound northern recently on Devil Track lake. Crescent Lake has been giving up some muskies.
Flies, Beaver Flicks, Mepp’s Spinners or plain hooks with a crawler are still working to catch brook trout and rainbows. Although trout have slowed down on Mink and Kimball lakes, flyfishing on Trout Lake has been good. Brookies are still being found in the streams like Kadunce, Temperance and Brule rivers.
Kylie and Brynna Guimont from Cambridge, Minnesota got a surprise on August 12 while reeling in a small bluegill. This 35-inch northern pike decided it was hungry and they ended up landing it! They were fishing off the dock at their cabin at the lodge.
Forrest at Hungry Jack Lodge reports that another great fish was caught right off the dock at the lodge. Anglers fishing for sunfish and bluegills caught a 35-inch northern.
Walleye fishing has picked up again and fishermen are finding success using a leech, slip bobber and jig. Smallmouth bass are biting really well on top water baits in Hungry Jack, Bearskin, Daniels, and Moss lakes with over 70 fish in the 18- to 21-inch range being caught each day. Bass are also biting on artificial baits and leeches.
Captain Jerry Skarupa said lake trout are at 50-80 feet. He said very few salmon are around at depths of 50 feet and below. He reports water temps around the 60-degree range.
Captain Kelly Shepard of North Shore Outdoors Lake Superior Charter Fishing was cleaning fish when the News- Herald contacted him, but he paused to let us know lake trout and salmon are being caught at depths of 80 to 120 feet. The water temps are around 66 degrees.
Kelly said his focus is shifting to bear hunting; he began baiting this week!
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