Local Fish Report

According to fishing expert John Muhich of Buck’s Hardware many fishermen are getting ready for the trout opener for outside the B.W.C.A. this week.

Not a whole lot of action on the walleye front.

As you get ready for the weekend, the ice is good -- eighteen inches of ice in a few places and some probably have more.

Deer Yard was producing those smaller walleyes for which it is famous. Cascade and Crescent lakes gave up a few if you had the patience and of course Elbow Lake is always worth a shot. There was quite a village growing out on the lake last weekend.

Expect a similar situation on Trout Lake and Mushquash Lake this coming weekend.

According to fishing expert John Muhich of Buck’s Hardware it’s time to see what’s going on under the ice.

Trout season opened this weekend inside the BWCAW so naturally Duncan and Daniels lakes were busy. Bionic Bucktails and spoons tipped with a cisco or a minnow head/tail were some of the baits used. Some were in about 25 feet of water while others were 50 feet deep or more.

Walleyes were being cooperative in the Twin Lakes in 10 feet or so using jigs and jigging Raps tipped with shiners or chubs. Also, a little action in Binigami in the deep and along weed edges could be had with jigs and minnows.

Sucker minnows are working for those who choose to Spear northerns. Ball Club Lake had a few nice pike as did Homer Lake. So grab your chainsaw and cut a window in the ice.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, there’s still angling action out there.

Some walleyes were found in Homer and Lichen lakes and people were fishing pretty deep with jigs and minnows. Most were down from 14 to 20 feet.

Devilfish Lake had walleyes in 18 to 25 feet with minnows.

For a little brookie action head to Carrot Lake and fish from 10 to 16 feet with crawlers. If you’re in the mood for some nice brookie eaters -- those ten to twelve inchers, paddle out on Loft Lake and see what’s swimming around there.

This will be the last fish report until after freeze up!

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, if one wants to go angling, there are plenty of alternatives.

For those who prefer to fish for walleyes, Sag seems to be a good bet. Depths range from 16 to 24 feet for some and 30 to 40 feet for others. Jigs and chubs. Some smaller walleyes in Ball Club were active around 15 feet or so using chubs.

The word is Homer and Lichen were having a few active fish. Rainbows and Splake were active on Esther last week. Trout Lake rainbows were active in 25 feet or so.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, it’s all happening in the woods and not on the water.

So to make a non-finny story short -- plenty of grouse are being taken so far. More success is being had by those who take a walk rather than road hunt.

The state moose hunt has begun and as of now nine moose have come in at the Big Game Registration Station.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, there’s renewed walleye and rainbow action.

Up at Sag, walleyes were in about 40 feet of water. Try using jigs with minnows and nightcrawlers. Others were slowly trolling at that depth and picking up fish as well. Walleyes in Seagull were also at about 35 or 40 feet.

Lake Trout were active in Moss Lake at around 20 feet using jigs and crawlers. Duncan and Daniels also reported a little action in 30 to 35 feet using jigs and spoons with minnows.

Trout Lake finally reported decent action in 25 to 35 feet or so though some went even deeper. The rainbows are active for an evening fly bite if you’re around with your equipment.

Now’s the time to hit that favorite brookie lake for that great northern feast known as Grouse and Trout.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, where have all the fishermen gone? His answer, hunting.

Some walleyes were caught in Devilfish Lake around 15 to 20 feet using jigs and minnows. Over in Hungry Jack Lake they were as deep as 25 to 28 feet also using jigs and minnows although some were caught with nightcrawlers. The bass were also hitting in Hungry Jack around 12 to 18 feet.

Lakers in Greenwood were down about 50 to 60 feet with spoons and minnows. Saganaga lakers were at least that deep.

Rainbows in Leo Lake were about 20 feet down using crawler rigs or simply bouncing a crawler off the bottom. Some walleyes were caught in 20 to 25 feet with crawlers and minnows.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, “It’s been slow up here this past week.”

Walleyes have been spotty. Sag and Seagull are doing OK. Jigs and minnows in fifteen to twenty-five feet. Take some night crawlers along too. Some were tracking decent fish on Cascade Lake in 12 to 18 feet with jigs and minnows. Also Homer Lake was giving up a couple of fish in that same range.

The bigger story this week, however, is the start of two seasons coming up this weekend, September 15th. Both the Archery deer hunting and the Grouse hunting seasons open. I’m sure there will be a ton of orange out in the field. Plenty of birds have been spotted out there.

Also a lot of deer movement with some bucks starting to follow does. Let’s hope everyone has a successful hunt.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, walleyes and smallies are where the action is.

Walleyes in McFarland Lake were active in the 12 to 20 foot range. Crawler rigs and jigs tipped with crawlers were the bait of choice as they trolled along weed edges.

East Twin showed a little promise fishing with jigs and minnows in 8 to 15 feet and Devil Track was still showing some signs of life as people were trolling with Rapalas in 10 to 15 feet.

The smallmouth bass are doing well in Devil Track so be ready for that action. Hungry Jack showed promise with smallies in 10 to 15 feet with crawlers and bobbers as well as some spinning action.

Lake Superior has calmed a little from the previous weeks but some salmon are still being caught, though most of the action is for Lake Trout.

According to our fishing expert Jon Muhich of Buck’s Hardware, we’ve got some heat coming as this weekend lines up to be busy.

The walleyes seem to be doing pretty well up at Seagull Lake, hitting in 12 to 18 feet along the weed edges and 20 to 30 off the rocks with jigs and crawlers and minnows being the bait of choice. Trolling with crank baits also works.

Two Island Lake is reporting walleye action in 8 to 15 feet jigging with minnows. Smallmouth bass were in 10 to 15 feet of water. Round Lake had action in 17 to 25 feet trolling with live rigs and cranks. The Northerns were also very active trolling with spoons.

Lake trout in Duncan and Daniels were going in 45 to 60 feet of water with the fish suspended. Spoons and jigs tipped with minnows and ciscoes worked pretty well. Greenwood Lake had fish down deep from 60 to 80 feet. Partridge Lake is another one to try -- the fish were in 50 to 60 feet of water. Spoons with ciscoes were the bait of choice here..