Summer fishing patterns .....

[Lee Borgersen]

 Summer fishing patterns begin to develop as water temps rise.

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by Paul Nelson 6/3/18

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May got off to a cold start, with a late frost that nicked many gardens that were put in a little early. The second half of May was the total opposite, with record highs and temperatures more fitting for July.

Water temperatures in the lakes have risen about as fast as they can rise, which has speeded up everything in the lakes other than the vegetation, which can only grow so fast.

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Surface water temperatures in most lakes were already approaching 70 degrees on Memorial Day Weekend. This allowed muskies and members of the sunfish family (which includes crappies, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass) to finish spawning in May, which is early for this far north.

Spottail shiners are also done spawning in most lakes. Anglers have been seeing clouds of insects on sonar emerging from the deep mud for more than a week, with some of the midges and dragonflies starting to hatch out of the lakes.

Most lakes that do not have zebra mussels are getting an early algae bloom, with the water in many lakes taking on a summer green tint.

 
Summer fishing patterns usually begin to develop as soon as water temperatures rise into the 70s. Anglers should not hesitate to try things like jigs with spinner blades or live bait rigs with spinners to try and get some reactive strikes from the fish.

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There are few substitutes for time on the water for helping anglers learn how to fish more effectively. The more experience an angler has, the more they can draw on their past experiences to help them face future challenges.

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One of the most important things anglers have to learn is good boat control. Everyone has seen anglers struggling to slow down in a big wind or follow a complex breakline accurately. If anglers can find ways to maintain pinpoint boat control, they will catch more fish.

The jig and minnow bite is starting to die for walleyes, with many anglers switching to live bait rigs with leeches, night crawlers or larger minnows. There will also be anglers trying bottom bouncers and spinners much earlier this year, especially if the unseasonably hot weather continues.

Walleye fishing has slowed down in many of the smaller lakes, with the best bites now happening on the large lakes that have more structure and deeper water. 

The long cold winter effectively killed off many of the weeds in the lakes. Most of the reed beds have still not poked their heads above the water, with the cabbage and coontail weeds still short and just starting to develop.


The longer days give the fish more daylight to pick their times to feed. It doesn’t make sense for fish to feed when the conditions are wrong, so the fish often rest and wait for the conditions to be favorable before attempting to feed.

Anglers are bucking the odds when they continue to fish for walleyes in the middle of the day, especially when the winds are light. Something is always biting somewhere, so sometimes switching species is the best way to catch more fish.

Lake of the Woods has continued to be one of the hottest lakes for walleyes. Most of the walleyes in LOW are still on shoreline connected structures. Jigs and minnows are the bait of choice for most anglers, but there are also fish being caught on other methods.

Upper Red Lake has continued to be good for walleyes, with anglers having the best success on days with light winds, which is contrary to the walleye bite on lakes with clear water. The stained water limits the visibility for walleyes, so many anglers like to use bright colors or use jigs with spinner blades to give their presentations more flash.

Cass Lake, Leech Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish have all been best for walleyes on days with overcast skies because of the clear water. All of these lakes have been infested with zebra mussels, so the walleye bite favors low light even more, with many walleyes feeding after dark. 

Paul A. Nelson runs the Bemidji Area Lakes Guide Service. Guide trips for 2018 can be booked at panelsonbemidji@gmail.com.