Tom Neustrom Shares summer fishing tips & techniques
Here we are in the first part of June and the weather has been more like July and August. Grand Rapids has been a flurry of opportunity to catch fish and most of the lakes in he area are producing walleyes, bass and panfish. With the warmer than normal water temperatures look for locations of many species to be about 1-2 weeks ahead of schedule.
Walleye fishing has been particularly good this season with Big Winnie a consistent destination. Winnie has had super reproductive years and the numbers of hungry walleyes has been good for anglers. When the wind blows even slightly the shallow bite has been very good. When conditions of flat calm water shows up, then anglers need to drop to depths of 15 to 22 feet because of water clarity. Big Winnie has been extremely clear and finding water that has a little turbidity can improve your odds. Jig and minnow has still been the best way to boat a nice bunch of fish for a meal, but leeches and crawlers are producing very well also. The new Northland Tungsten jigs have been producing extremely well especially when fishing deeper or in the wind. The weight and thin shape allows the bait to sink faster and the feel is amazing. Some of the areas on Winnie to check out are Sugar Point. Raven’s Point, Third River Bay, near shore humps, Tamarac Flats, and the River Channel on north end of lake. If you are staying at any of the fine resorts available, trolling crank baits in the evening can be very productive.
Bass fishing is in full swing and on most bodies of water and both species are on the spawning beds. Please practice catch and release and after a quick photo, release the fish so they will return to their beds. Throw Black Hair Jigs, Swim Baits or top water can be exciting and very productive. Some of the very productive bass lakes for both species in the Grand Rapids area are Pokegama, Trout, Wabana, Turtle, and Deer.
Panfish have been very active and they too are in the down side of their spawning activity because of the warmer than normal weather and water temperatures. Bluegills and crappies are still up very shallow in depths of 2-4 feet of water. All the lakes in the Grand Rapids area have good populations of panfish and provide a tasty meal. Very small jigs and plastic fished under a slip bobber can be a lot of fun and productive.
The weather is heating up and so is the fishing in the Grand Rapids area. There is so much to do and fish to catch, so come to Grand Rapids and enjoy the many lakes to fish and the hospitality the community provides.
The Grand Rapids, Minnesota area is great place to bring the entire family for a summer vacation. There is so much to do and see! There are things for all ages. Take a look at the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide for inspiration, and then take a look at the STAY PAGE to book your lodging.