While it’s true that fishing has been picking up with more fish being caught, that doesn’t mean one is likely to catch a fish as big as Shannon Rising’s 18-pound, 33-inch lake trout she reeled in while fishing with Captain Darren Peck of Tofte Charters. Rising, from Minneapolis, caught this beauty on Tuesday, July 18 somewhere in the Big Lake.
Finally a whole week with little rain. Sunshine uninterrupted by clouds has allowed the water to warm up and we are experiencing some genuine summer. This has given plenty of people itching to wet a line a chance to spend, in some instances, several consecutive days on the water. Results from their efforts have been notable, and good catches of most varieties of fish have been recorded throughout the county.
Tyson at the Beaver House said walleyes are biting on Two Island, Elbow and Crescent lakes on Beaver Flick spoons and Beaver Flicks and leeches.
Lake Superior lake trout can be found in the 80- to 120- foot depths on several colors of Beaver Flick spoons, blue and white or blue and silver and chartreuse. A few salmon are being caught from 80 feet up to the surface. Coaster lake trout are being caught at the mouths of the Cascade, Temperance and Poplar rivers and Artist Point and other Lake Superior points using Little Cleos and Beaver Flick spoons.
Forrest Parson, Hungry Jack Lodge, said walleyes on Hungry Jack are tight lipped. Look to East Bearskin or Seagull Lake for some walleye action. The guides up the Trail are doing well. Smallmouth bass bite is hit or miss, good one day and slow the next. Many caught bass were in the 18- to 19-inch range.
A 40-inch northern was caught off one of the docks on Hungry Jack Lodge using a bobber and sucker minnow.
Leo Lake is still producing a lot of rainbow trout trolling or still fishing with a crawler.
Captain Kelly Shepard of North Shore Outdoors Lake Superior Charters reports that lake trout on Lake Superior can be caught deep or right on the surface of the big lake. The water has warmed up to 50 degrees. Some coho and pink salmon have started to get hungry, and angling for them has been productive.
Inland lakes, said Shepard, are also producing some nice catches of walleyes, which can be found in the 12-foot depth range using crawler harnesses. Smallmouth bass fishing has also picked up, added Shepard.
Buck’s Big Fishing Contest will be held July 29 through Aug. 5. Enter fish in any one of six categories: lake trout, brook trout, salmon, walleye, bass, and northern.
Remember to purchase a Fisherman’s Picnic button to take part in the contest. Those can be found at the Grand Marais Lions Club tent in Harbor Park or from a faithful Lions club member.
Buck’s Hardware Hank is located in downtown Grand Marais on Highway 61.
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