Where are the fish biting?

While the temperatures might not be warming up, the fish bite sure has. And oh yes, the mosquitos and blackflies are also happy to make their presence known. When you do get to your boat or are wading down a stream, remember to bring bug dope. It might not help much, but at least you can say you tried to keep the pesky bugs off of you.

Also, remember that when the bugs are out en masse, they are a smorgasbord for the fish. That, of course makes you a smorgasbord for the bugs so it all comes out even, right?

Tyson at the Beaver House had a great report this week. “People fishing on the Big Lake have been telling me they are catching quite a few fish right now.

“Lake Superior lake trout can be found at 120- to 130- foot depth and can be caught using Beaver Flick spoons, blue and white or blue and silver and chartreuse. Anglers are catching Coaster lake trout at the mouths of the Cascade, Temperance, and Poplar rivers using Little Cleos and Beaver Flick spoons.

“A fellow said he caught a 30-inch lake trout from shore next to the Cascade River,” added Tyson.

Inland, the bass are hitting on surface lures and the walleyes are biting on leeches and float rigs. Beaver Flicks also work well to catch walleye and bass, he said.

Some choice walleye lakes to try your luck on are Devil Track, Two Island, Elbow, Crescent, Dick, and Ball Club.

Saying he just had good luck catching rainbow on Thompson Lake, Tyson said, “Rainbows are biting real good right now on Mink and Thompson lakes. Best ways to catch them are using crawlers and Beaver Flicks, Little Cleos and floats with a crawler.”

Another good, easy way to catch rainbow is to fish with a nightcrawler or worms and let them sink to the bottom of the lake. Use a slip sinker or no weight at all. Rainbows are slow to bite so let them take the bait and run a little bit before you try to hook them.

Limits of northern have been caught on Elbow and Loon lakes, and Northern Light Lake is always a good place to catch a northern.

Streams

As the water has slowly lowered in most streams and rivers, fishing for brook trout has improved.

Use brightly colored spinners fitted with worms or crawlers to catch these little beauties.

Streams to try are Elbow, Kimball, Cascade, Kadunce, Poplar, Brule, Sundling, and Greenwood River.

In small streams crowded with brush and tree limbs, use a smaller fishing pole. You will be able to navigate easier, and working a small fishing rod (even an ice fishing rod) is easier than sparring with the brush with a long fishing pole. Snags will come anyway, but you don’t have to add to your frustration wielding an instrument that doesn’t fit the circumstances.

Use light line – four-pound test or lighter — and small hooks. The fish hide under rocks, windfalls, weeds, overgrown brush, and anywhere there is a foamy white froth – put your bait there and wait for a fish to strike. Good luck and safe fishing!