Where are the fish biting?

Newlywed Courtney Swenson of Zumbrota, MN had an awesome day of fishing on Lake Superior with Captain Darren Peck of Tofte Charters. The 13-pound, 36-inch lake trout was released.

Tyson at the Beaver House said some Lake Superior lake trout are being caught in 150-160 feet of water. The surface temperature is 40 degrees.

Devil Track is producing small walleyes and some northerns. On Two Island Lake the walleyes and northerns are hitting. A 6-pound walleye was caught on Flour Lake; smallmouth bass are hitting — a 4-pound was caught.

On Elbow Lake walleye, northerns and jumbo perch are biting. Esther and Chester lakes are producing rainbow trout flyfishing. The mayflies are hatching.

Local streams are producing brookies, and on Northern Light River the northerns are biting.

Jon at Buck’s Hardware Hank reports that the walleyes have started to move a little deeper, in 10-15 feet of water along weed lines and rock piles, though in some lakes shallow is still the way to go. Check the temperature of the lake, if you can, to help guide you to the proper depth. Minnows and leeches are still the bait to use for walleye. Drift live bait rigs or jig.

Left: According to Marco at Sagonto Resort on the Canadian side of Lake Saganaga, most of the resort guests have been catching their limits of walleyes and northerns and doing very well on trout. Jack Valento and Dave Stoffel show off some of their catch on June 6 –the party caught 12 that day.

Don’t forget to troll with Rapalas either. Northern fishing seems to be mostly trolling spoons in shallow areas. People are catching northerns and smallies while searching for ‘eyes. The local trout lakes are also hitting with nightcrawlers off the bottom so try your hand at rainbow fishing one of these nights.

Tim at Mike’s Holiday heard only of three walleyes being caught. It was slow all over, he said.

Above: Fishing over Memorial Day weekend was very slow in the still cold waters of McFarland Lake in the Hovland area. Fred Trumble of Waconia only caught one fish all weekend, but it was this nice 3-pound-plus smallmouth bass.