Where are the fish biting?

Left: Lake Superior was good to the Ford family on July 14. Steve reeled in this monster 22-pound lake trout and Cheryl caught a 13-pounder. After a great day on the lake, the family enjoyed barbecuing the fresh lake trout.

Tyson at the Beaver House reports that northerns and bass are biting all over. Walleye report is still slow, but Pine Lake walleyes are biting.

Lake trout are biting in 35 to 75 feet, and 70 to 120 feet with downriggers in Lake Superior, and the water temp is in the mid 50s.

Lake trout are hitting out front of the harbor using little Cleos, Diamond King, Gold Star, Sutton, Laker Takers and German Spoons. Also the lake trout are hitting off the mouths of the main rivers in Cook County using Rooster Tails and Cleos.

Rainbow trout are biting on Mink, Trout, Birch, Leo and Kimball lakes. On Esther and Chester the splake and rainbows are biting. In area streams the rainbows and brook trout are biting.

Jon at Buck’s Hardware Hank says the word from up the Trail is that walleyes can be had. On Seagull try drifting slowly with crawler harnesses. “You’re gonna have to search a little for depths but try along the weed lines. In the evening try some of the humps,” he said, explaining that leeches are being used on the humps mainly but people were getting results with minnows too.

Braidy Smith of Grand Marais shows off the very nice walleye he caught on Devil’s Track Lake on July 3. Braidy’s catch was 19 inches long.

Word leaked out about some unusual lake trout success on Tuscarora last week; people were getting fish in 60 to 80 feet of water off the bottom.

“Bass are everywhere. They’re hitting on top water lures, spinners, drift rigs and bobber fishing. Hungry Jack, Seagull, Poplar, Devil Track, Northern Light, Devilfish, I could go on and on,” Jon said. Finally, a word on the big lake. Salmon have been reported along some of the reefs. One group was fishing 20 feet deep in 40 feet of water off a reef and got a few. The only word on lakers is that they’re deep — 160 feet to 210 feet is where many are fishing. “If anyone has found lakers in shallower water, I’ve not been told,” Jon said.