Local Fish Report
There are lots fish in Cook County lakes – the trick is to know where they are and how to catch them. WTIP wants to help fill out your stringer by posting a weekly report on what’s biting and where.
Tune in to DayBreak every Friday morning from 7 to 8 a.m. for the latest report.
Featured On:
What's On:
Local Fish Report for July 16
-7/16/10 -- There are lots fish in Cook County lakes – the trick is to know where they are and how to catch them. WTIP wants to help fill out your stringer by posting a weekly report on what’s biting and where.
GRAND MARAIS AREA
According to our fish finder, Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais, the fishing is progressing nicely this year and we’re hearing plenty of success stories.
WALLEYE fishing is going well in area lakes. People are using night crawlers and leeches mainly in about 12 feet of water around rock piles and weed beds On Seagull and Saganaga. Try 14 feet on Crescent and 10 to 12 feet at Tom Lake. Slip bobbers and live bait rigs are the way to go. Some other area lakes to try include: McFarland, East Bearskin, Sawbill and Pike Lake.
Sucker minnows are pulling in NORTHERNS in 12 to 15 feet at Poplar and Hungry Jack.
LAKE TROUT are hitting on a few lakes still in 35-40 feet of water using spoons and jigs tipped with a cisco or just a cisco on a plain hook on Seagull and Sag. A jig and minnow combination is producing the best results at Greenwood Lake and Gunflint at 40 to 50 feet. Some slow trolling with spoons can be quite productive also. Other lakes to hit: Duncan, West Bearskin, Moss, and Kemo.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are still doing well in all area lakes. Jig and minnow, crawler on a hook, or casting some spinners will keep you in the action. Devil Track , Poplar, Hungry Jack, and Seagull are some lakes you can hit.
The usual suspects for RAINBOW TROUT fishing are doing well. Crawlers or Swedish Pimples are working in about 15 feet. Lakes includes: Kimball, Mink, Leo, Trestle Pine.
Program:
Fish Report for July 9
-GRAND MARAIS AREA
We’re hearing from the lodges up the trail that plenty of fish are being caught. Just persevere and have a sensitive feel on the rod. Our intrepid factual fish finder is Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais.
WALLEYES – Up at Sag the reports indicate that nightcrawlers are the current bait to use. They’re trolling along the shoreline in about 8 feet of water. Once you find fish, you can use a slip bobber with a leech or a nightcrawler. Try a plain hook, no jig. That seems to be getting a good response. Seagull lake is also reporting good action in eight feet of water around the weed beds. Slip bobber with a leech on a plain hook should stir up some action. Hungry Jack is finding the walleyes in 10 to 12 feet of water with a leech and a slip bobber. If you don’t want to go that far up the trail, Crescent Lake is a nice lake to try. Troll with rapalas in about eight to ten feet of water around rock piles. Don’t forget about the crawlers here either. Devilfish Lake will provide you with a ton of action, lots of little ones mixed in with nice eaters. Nightcrawlers off the rockpiles in ten feet of water.
SMALLMOUTH BASS – smallies are doing pretty well so if you’re looking for action during the slower walleye days you so gear up for the bass. Get them around the weed beds in 12 to 15 feet of water using minnows or a crawler on a jig. Try some smaller shad raps too. A cast and retrieve seems to be successful lately. Troll along a shoreline slowly while casting to shore. You cover a lot of area that way and you can hook into some decent fish. Lakes to try would include: Sag of course, Poplar , Hungry Jack, Devil Track, Northern Light, and Two Island.
RAINBOWS – They’re still hitting on crawlers and if fly fishing is to your liking these lakes will provide you with plenty of action: Leo, Kimball, Trout, Mink, and Esther. Fifteen to eighteen feet is the depth you want to fish those crawlers … coming in shallower as the evening approaches.
LAKE TROUT – There’s still good laker action in area lakes but as the season wears on fewer people are going after them. Might be the right species to go after if the walleyes are giving you trouble. Sag is hitting in forty feet of water using spoons or a jig and ciscos. Daniels is reporting good action at the same depth. Greenwood is doing well in thirty feet of water or so.
And a final word about Lake Superior. The salmon and lake trout are only eighty feet down or so right outside the harbor. In fact one can catch a few casting from shore with a spoon. Experiment with colors but orange is always good.
Program:
Local Fishing Report for June 18
-GRAND MARAIS AREA
The experts are telling us that the fishing situation has remained pretty much the same this week as it was last week. This means good fishing is still going strong.
The LAKE TROUT are biting like crazy. Most of the lake trout lakes are reacting the same…30 feet deep or so, try a jig with a minnow or cisco up and down the column to find where the fish are suspended. Some are off the bottom. Also, try jigging a Swedish pimple or buckshot lure.
Some of the good lakes for trout include: Saganaga , Seagull ,Gunflint ,Daniels ,and Trout Lake.
WALLEYE fishing is picking up -- look for the windy bays. Find some weed beds or rock piles and use a jig with a leech in 8 to 10 feet of water. Later in the evening is still best but the fishing has picked up a little for some lakes during the day. Up at Sag they’re getting fish in the 18 to 20 inch range at these depths. So if you want a bunch of “eaters”, try Sag.
Some of the other area lakes reporting good action include: Seagull, Hungry jack, Elbow, Birch, Brule and Cascade . Use the same strategy.
NORTHERN fishing is still hot. A sucker in about 8 to 12 feet of water is working well as is slow trolling with daredevils and rapalas. Area lakes include: Devil Track, Northern Light , Hungry Jack, Swamp, and Seagull.
SMALLMOUTH fishing is going well and some of the guides don’t believe that the fish will enter their spawning beds this year as they are behaving differently this spring. People are finding smallies both shallow and deep using nightcrawlers and minnows. Try casting some spinning lures for a little action as well. They shouldn’t be too difficult to find as many are being found in typical walleye locations.
Some good smallie lakes include: Saganaga , Seagull, Hungry Jack, Northern Light, and Devil Track.
RAINBOW action is still going strong too, if trout is your game. Nightcrawlers off the bottom in about 15 to 20 feet seems the way to go. You can also try a few Mepps spinners for some action. Area lakes with good action are Leo, Ram, Trestle Pine, and Mink.
Finally we have a few brook trout lakes to fish but anglers are reluctant to give up their secrets. We were able to weasel the names of a couple of lakes to try, including Carrot, Shoe, Bath , and Mulligan lakes.
Program:
Trout are hot & walleyes are a little cool
-There are lots fish in Cook County lakes – the trick is to know where they are and how to catch them. WTIP wants to help fill out your stringer by posting a weekly report on what’s biting and where. Our intrepid factual fish finder is Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais.
LAKE TROUT -- The fishing for lake trout has been excellent in all the area trout lakes this spring.
Saganaga:Check out the reefs at 30 feet. The fish are just beneath the surface using spoons and jig tipped with minnow.
Gunflint Lake: Again in about 30 feet of water but try some shallow diving lures here. Look for structure.
Clearwater Lake: Reports indicate that 35-40 feet of water is where to be. Fish are suspended. Try shallow diving lures here too and look for structure.
Greenwood Lake: 30 to 35 feet of water. Suspended. Try a jig and chub here. Also jigs with spoons tipped with pieces of ciscoes will work.
WALLEYES -- Overall the walleye fishing has been slow to come around up here in the Arrowhead region however there are a few reports of some decent action. In the smaller lakes action is shallow and near the weed beds -- Generally under 10 feet.
Hungry Jack Lake: Indications are that a jig tipped with a chub in about 6 to10 feet of water is the way to go. Check the weed beds here. Also check out the main rock reef at the same depth.
North Lake: Reporting some fine walleye action trolling rapalas . Low water has caused entrance to the lake to be quite difficult. So be aware.
Saganaga: Walleyes are deep, deep, deep 45 to 55 feet of water using a jig and chub. They’re schooled up but small. Work ‘em and you’ll get a few eaters to take back to the campsite. You might also be able to find a few shallow pockets where you can bobber fish if you search a bit. You’ll have work a bit for the monsters which lurk out there.
NORTHERNS -- The northern action is solid. Casting and trolling will find you fish. People looking for walleyes seem to be hooking into some nice northern instead.
Hungry Jack Lake: Try trolling rapalas staying fairly shallow. You can also fish sucker minnows in the shallow weed beds for some nice ones.
Loon Lake: Casting spoons in the shallows near the weeds will get you what you want here.
Northern Light Lake: Reports are that casting spoons is working for the little barracudas. Also a jig tipped with a chub in about 6-10 feet might land you a few very nice fish.
SMALLMOUTH BASS -- Most lakes up here are doing quite well for smallies. It seems a lot of locals don’t fish too much for them but smallmouth fishing is some of the most fun you can have especially when the action for walleyes is slow.
Devil Track Lake: A jig and minnow or night crawler will definitely put you on the fish. Try 12-15 feet of water.
Hungry Jack Lake: Cast Mepps lures toward the shore and retrieve. Also, a jig tipped with a chub or a night crawler in about 15 feet of water is producing fish.
RAINBOW TROUT -- It’s been very good up here for the rainbows this spring. Crawlers and fly fishing have both been productive.
Trout Lake:Still going strong up at Trout Lake. Crawlers off the bottom at various depths and try the fly fishing here. It’s been good.
Esther Lake: Rainbows and some splake here at 10-12 feet bobber fishing with a night crawler is working well. You can try a slow troll with a spoon at the same depth or even cast off shore in the evening with a Swedish Pimple and don’t forget the fly rod.
Program:
Fish are biting on area lakes
-WALLEYES – Reports are that the walleye fishing is picking up on the area lakes with most of the action shallow. Fatheads are the bait of choice this week if you want to catch fish. Leeches and crawlers are reporting some decent action but fatheads are the way to go.
Saganaga: Check out shallow weed beds and reefs using a jig and minnow. 6-10 feet of water seems to be where they’re at. You can also find some walleyes schooling deep in about 55-60 feet of water but reports are that the fish, though more plentiful, are smaller. If you’ve got your border crossing permit the Canadian side is reporting action on leeches and crawlers.
Hungry Jack Lake: About 9-12 feet deep around weed beds will score some nice walleyes here. Jig and a fathead minnow is the bait of choice. Trolling rapalas may find you some fish as well.
Crescent Lake: Shallow is the key. 6-10 feet of water around weeds or rock piles. Jig and minnow. Some success is being had on leeches.
Devilfish Lake: Stay shallow here too. 8- 12 feet of water near rock piles. Again jig and minnow is the way to go though crawlers were reporting success as well. There is a mayfly hatch occurring on the lake so keep your eyes peeled for rising whitefish if you’re interested in a little fly fishing.
LAKE TROUT – Lakers are still hitting like gangbusters in the area lakes.
Saganaga: Try fishing in about 40 feet of water with jig and minnow. Look around rock ledges. They may be suspended so watch your fish finder to close in on the depth you should be fishing. Also success can be had with shad raps. The fish are so hungry right now if you tossed out a Cheeto on a number 4 hook you might just get something.
Daniels: In 20-25 feet you can hook into some nice lakers. The old jig and minnow is bait of choice here. Trout Lake: Still reporting decent lake trout action in 30 feet or so. Jig and minnow.
Greenwood: 40 feet of water and a jig and minnow will find fish though this lake is so large that you can find the fish at various depths.
RAINBOW TROUT – The rainbow actionis great. Crawlers and spinners are producing plenty of fish in the area.
Leo Lake: Lots of action in about 15 feet of water. Crawler off the bottom should set you up nicely. Remember the fly rod too. Mink Lake: Great fishing and with a pier to fish from as well. This is a great lake for kids to fish and to have fun while doing it. Try a crawler off the bottom. You can toss a Mepps spinner too for a fun time. And don’t forget the fly rod.
Kimball Lake: Another nearby lake with great access and great rainbow action. Kimball has a walking path around the entire lake so this can also be a good one for the youngsters. Try a crawler off the bottom in 12 – 15 feet of water.
Trout Lake: Rainbow fishing here is on fire. 20 feet or so with a jig and crawler off the bottom should result in some nice fish. And (like a broken record) don’t forget the fly rod.
NORTHERNS– the northern action is very good. Chances are if you’re searching for walleyes you’ll find the northerns too. Sag, Hungry Jack, Seagull, Northern Light are all hitting. Jigs and minnows, rapalas, spoons will all work on the hammer-handles. Loon Lake reported some very nice northern this past week. Stick to the shallow weed beds in all these lakes.
BROOK TROUT -- For those who love brookie fishing, here’s a couple of lakes to try but these fisherman rarely give up their nicest lakes.
Carrot Lake: Almost always a good brookie lake. Try 12-15 feet of water with a crawler off the bottom. And don’t forget the fly rod.
Loft Lake: Tiny lake that you’ll probably have to yourself if you’re the first one there. Try 15 to 18 feet of water with a crawler off the bottom. I’ve had good luck with Mepps spinners here too. Oh, did we mention -- don’t forget the fly rod?
Program: