KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN 8/8

[Realtree]

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN - Gateway Store, Phil Hart, US Hwy 53 & Co Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int'l Falls-Canadian border, kabfishingreport.com (218-875-2121)

Heading into late summer, the fish are beginning to respond differently. In shallow water, walleyes are scattered while feeding; in deeper water, 30+ feet, walleyes are schooled up. Anglers finding that shallow-water walleyes, at 6-12", are biting on crawlers and leeches; whereas the deeper-water schools are responding to jig and minnow and/or leech. Pike enjoy the weed beds and weed edges searching for bait as they add heavily to their girth. Smallmouth are roaming the shallows and finding food on or near the rock piles. Windblown shallow bays and shorelines are a great place to use slip-sinker rigs and crawlers. An option plan would be to cast small jigs tipped with leeches or minnows and retrieve slowly. Pike enjoy live bait; or toss your favorite lures at them near or over the weed tops. Deep running lures will trigger action if presented in the deep water outside the weed lines. Shallow smallmouth bass are taking top-water lures, otherwise look for them at sharp drop-offs along rock walls and rock ledges. Trolling cranks along reefs may find smallies as well as walleyes. Winds last week and cool evenings have dropped the water temps into the low 70s. Conditions are quite dry; use lots of caution when extinguishing campfires. Water levels, very acceptable, are within the rule curve.