Fishing Reports

FISHING WITH THE GUIDES  with George Langley.  

Week of  7/21 to 7/28 2024

July is officially more than half over, along with our Summer. We’ve had a great season so far. Right now we’re seeing some great morning and evening fishing, with the comfortable temperatures and lower boating traffic that go along with those times. With that traffic and the sun still very high, stick to deep weeds or deep water during the daytime. Water levels are holding and weed growth is good. Temps are holding in the mid to upper 70’s on most bodies of water, but vary depending on rain and nighttime temps.

Walleye fishing has been pretty good for this time of year. Most fish are being found near the deep edges of the weeds. As we said, mornings and evenings are best, but you can find some fish during the daytime also. Fish close to the bottom wherever you are fishing. The weed edges are roughly 8’ on the darker water lakes and 12’ on the deeper lakes. All live bait is working now, along with plastics like Keitech. If you are using crawlers, use half crawlers for best effect.

Bass fishing is at its's summer best now, with the smallies out on rocks and feeding daily on crayfish. We have also been getting some on Rapalas twitched on calm days over those rocks. Leeches are the best live bait for these guys. Largemouth are definitely in the slop and can be in water as shallow as 3’. Plastics like frogs and spinnerbait and Whopper Ploppers are working best for these fish. Crawlers will work, but the bluegills will drive you crazy.

Northerns are in the weeds and hitting well. Look for areas of deeper grass weeds for best production. Pike chubs are best for these fish, but artificials such as Mepps and Johnson Silver Minnows work well also.

Musky action has been decent, with some big fish being caught throughout the area. Overall, bucktails are working best, but all bait types work at this time of year. Night fishing is productive right now. It is a great time of the year to use surface baits, if your heart can stand it. There’s nothing like seeing and feeling a hit on a surface bait!

Panfish action has been great, especially for crappies and bluegills. The ‘gills are in the shallower weeds, and the crappies are in the deeper weeds. Both are providing great daily action for anglers of all ages. You’ll also find perch in the deeper weeds acting like small walleye.

We’re looking forward to a great week of weather. Get out there and enjoy it while you can. We’re over the half-way mark for summer, and it’s going to be done sooner than we’d like!

Good luck and good fishin'!