Kabetogama/Namakan Fishing Report 7/5/09

[Gateway General]

Kabetogama/Namakan Fishing Report 7/5/09

As the lake turns from windy to calm, so does the fish bite. The lake is slowly warming up after a cold windy week, and the mayflies have blown away.

Anglers report doing well with both minnows and leeches--jigging or using slip-sinker rigs seem to be the most favorable presentations.

Typical depth for slip-sinker rigs is running between 18 – 24’; jig and minnow is running mostly deeper, 25 –35’.

Windblown shorelines favor rigs and artificial lures where as reef edges favor jig and minnow.
Crawler action expected to intensify as the water warms up. Present temps as of Sunday show daytime surface temperatures of 69 –71 degrees.

For walleyes, structured shorelines with gradual break-lines are the most easily fished, and depth patterns are easily followed.

Northern pike are showing up on weed edges at 6 –15’ depths. Cast spoons or jerk baits to the weeds for a deadly strike.

Smallmouth are popping up around rock faced shorelines and rock piles, surface down to about 12 feet should be successful.

This coming week, water temps should enter the 70’s and stay. Crawlers should become solid bait choice; the length of snell may have to be adjusted to present your bait in the strike zone.
Don’t be afraid to try a spinner from time to time--that should be a standard as well—as the water warms.

Your most valuable aid this time of year is the wind and a good map that shows contours and structure.

See you soon,

Phil and Ellen Hart
Gateway General
Lake Kabetogama
(218) 875-2121
www.gatewaygeneral.com
www.kabfishingreport.com