Ely Area Fishing (1st week of August)

[greatoutdoors]

Fishing has picked up this week with good numbers of walleyes taken.
They have been caught in anywhere from 8-22 FOW on the edges of reefs using jigs tipped with a leech or minnow.  Many are feeding on schools of small perch.
Bass have been very active near shorelines thanks to the warm water. Try using a plain hook  tied directly to your line with no sinker, put on a leech or a half a crawler, and cast it next to a weed bed (kind of like fly fishing). Let it sink a few feet before slooooooowly pulling it toward you with the rod, not cranking with the reel.  When the line has the slack created by this, let it sink again. You'll be surprised at the number of fish you will catch with this simple method. This will work in up to 10 FOW, but not in current or while trolling.
It is too light and will not sink under those conditions.
Northern Pike are also being taken near shorelines, and in 14-18 FOW on reefs trolling double green twister tails on a green jig, or spoons.  Guides report that silver and blue spoons have been a very good color to use.
A few lake trout are being taken in Burntside and Snowbank Lakes in 65 foot depths over 80-100 FOW using silver spoons.  Thermoclines on these lake are at 27-28 FOW.
Surface temps on many lakes are at 73-76 degrees, with smaller bodies of water a bit warmer.