This issue of the Cook County
News-Herald
hits the stands on the opening day of Buck’s Fisherman’s Picnic Big Fish Contest. Stop by Buck’s Hardware to register for the contest, which runs from Saturday, July 31 to Saturday, August 7.
Leading up to the contest, some nice walleye have been caught this week including a 30.5-inch walleye on Devil Track Lake. The fisherman did not want to share his lure secret but did report that he used leeches as bait.
Other lakes that have been good for walleye are Gunflint Lake with fish biting in 12 – 18 feet or 25 – 30 feet of water using leeches and crawlers. Hungry Jack Lake walleyes are biting on leeches at 15 – 20 feet of water. Seagull Lake walleyes are biting in 15- 20 feet of water, also on leeches.
The Big Lake, Lake Superior, has been the best bet for lake trout with fish hitting in 120 – 150 feet of water. Salmon have also been caught in the Big Lake in 20- 80 feet of water with flat line or down riggers.
Hanna Borson, 10, of Schroeder, had a great day fishing on Lake Saganaga recently. She caught this massive 31-inch walleye while being guided by her dad, Peter Borson. Mom Nicole said, “Way to go, Hanna!”
Captain Darren Peck of Tofte Charters told the Cook County
News-Herald
that a lot of steelheads are being caught. He reminds fishermen that steelhead are a protected fish and all native fish (unclipped) must be returned to the water immediately. Peck said, “Be sure you can tell the difference between a salmon and steelhead to avoid a costly fine!”
According to the fishermen reporting to John at Buck’s Hardware, smallmouth are still biting “everywhere,” including Devil Fish, Hungry Jack and Poplar lakes. They are biting on live bait, plastics, and on spinners cast from shore.
Rainbow trout have been a little trickier to catch but they are being found in Leo Lake at 15 – 18 feet of water by drifting or jigging with crawlers; in Kimball Lake in 18 – 20 feet of water drifting or slow trolling with crawlers; and in Esther Lake in 15 feet of water. Esther fishing has been good from shore with night crawlers and small spoons.
John Sparks of Colvill shows off the 30.5 inch walleye he recently caught on Lake Saganaga.
Northerns have been hiding around the weed edges, but anglers on Lake Saganaga and Hungry Jack Lake have been finding them in 8 – 15 feet of water using sucker minnows on plain hooks.
Stephanie Billings from Lutsen caught a six-pound king salmon on July 22, fishing with Captain Darren Peck of Tofte Charters.
R.B. and Margi Smith of Green Valley, Arizona enjoyed a day of fishing with their granddaughter Ellen recently. Ellen shows off her 19- and 20-inch walleyes. She also caught a 24-inch walleye that was released. Margi also caught a nice 18-inch, 3.5-pound smallmouth that gave her quite a fight. They were guided by Joe Carlson of Joe’s Inland Fishing Guide Service.
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