Where are the fish biting?

As the Grand Marais Lions Club Fisherman’s Picnic celebration nears, anglers are starting to think about their chances in the Buck’s Big Fish Contest. Just where are the fish biting?

 

While few fishermen will share the size of the fish they have netted, one fisherman reported a 30-inch northern caught around the weed edges in Brule Lake with a sucker minnow.

Fishermen are giving John at Buck’s Hardware/Midway a few tips. Walleye are said to be biting in Gunflint Lake in 12 -18 feet of water using leeches and crawlers. Some anglers have found walleye deeper, at 15 – 30 feet. On Hungry Jack Lake, walleye are biting in 15 – 20 feet with leeches. Seagull Lake walleyes are also hovering at 15 – 20 feet and biting on leeches.

Rainbow trout have been biting at 15 – 18 feet on Leo Lake on drifting crawlers or jigs and crawlers. In Kimball Lake they are biting in 18 – 20 feet of water by drifting or slow trolling using crawlers. Esther Lake has been good for rainbow in 15 feet of water, fishing from shore with night crawlers and small spoons.

Gail and Terry Englund of Grand Marais had a great day of fishing with Mike Berg of Seagull Creek Fishing Camp. Gail caught and released this 31-inch walleye, earning a “Golden Hook” from the fishing camp. Gail has earned three hooks in the ongoing fishing contest.

There have been no reports on lake trout—someone needs to stop by Buck’s or the News-Herald
to let us know where lake trout are biting!

We do know however, that smallmouth bass are biting “everywhere.” Some of the lakes reported are Brule, Loon, and Flour on live bait, plastics and spinners, casting into shore.

Head out to your favorite fishing spot on Saturday, July 31. That’s when the Buck’s Big Fish Contest begins. It runs from July 31 – August 7. Stop by Buck’s or visit www. buckshardware.net for more information.

Robert Peterson of Voyageurs Point spent a windy day fishing with guide Mike Berg, Wednesday, July 14. This nice walleye is 11 pounds and was 29.5 inches.

Sean Lohmann of Minnetonka, MN with the 19.5 inch walleye he caught while fishing with Joe Carlson of Joe’s Inland Fishing Guide service earlier this month. Joe said it was a nice day of catching lots of “smalleyes.” Sean used a jig or beaver flick with leeches.

Joe Carlson of Joe’s Inland Fishing Guide Service was surprised to learn that the fellow in his boat recently was Minnesota Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy. Hardy and his friend, Adrienne Acton of West St. Paul had a great day of fishing, with Acton catching this 14-inch smallmouth in a battle she won’t forget.