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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.

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