Where are the fish biting?

Kris MacLean and the 18-inch smallmouth bass she caught Saturday, July 6 on a local lake. Photo courtesy of the family

Captain Kelly Shepard of North Shore Outdoors Lake Superior Charters reports that good numbers of lake trout are being caught around the 150-foot depth using Apex trolling lures in the pink or blue colors.

Lake Superior’s surface water temperature is in the 47-52 degree range and the warmer water seems to be bringing in a few more coho and kings.

Inland, Kelly said there are some good walleye catches from Northern Light, Devil Track, Crescent and Elbow lakes. He suggests trolling Rapala chad raps when you ply the water for walleye.

Ever enthusiastic, especially when talking about fishing, Tyson from the Beaver House was even more animated this week. “Fishing is really good right now,” he said, showing pictures of fish from his cell phone that depicted his latest catches. “Bass are biting, brook trout are biting. Lake trout inland and in the big lake are biting. Northern, rainbows – they are all biting right now. Well, maybe the walleye bite has slowed some because of the mayfly hatch, but really, all I can say is it’s a great time to be fishing!”

Tyson’s pictures were of lake trout between five and seven pounds he has caught just off shore in Lake Superior from a kayak. He said he is fishing in about 15 feet of water.

Best bets to catch lake trout are using blue and white or blue and silver, chartreuse, and watermelon-colored Beaver Flick spoons. Tyson said Sutton silver and gold spoons, and all silver spoons, also work well.