Fishing 5/24 thru 5/28

[MarkB]

My wife and I got out and fished 4 days during this period. The weather has remained cool in the mornings(low to mid-40's) and has warmed to close to 70 during mid-day on most days we fished. Water temperatures depend entirely on where you fish. The warmest water I have fished in the far eastern portion of the lake has been 47 degrees(warmed from 43 degrees early morning). I have found 50+ degree water in eastern Frasier Bay around to Glenwood Resort. Mid-day temps in that area have been up to 58 degrees! A better average fish has shown up over this 5 day period. Small 10-12"ers are still prevalent when fishing deeper water(>30') but 13"-16" have been much more prevalent if you want to take the time to catch them. I am finding the best average size walleye in water with 20'-25' average depth. Our best luck has been rocky shorelines with structure that drops off fairly rapidly to a mud bottom. The walleyes that I have cleaned have had either mayfly larva or fairly large perch minnows in their stomachs. The biggest walleye caught during this period was 22" and it seems that where there is one spawned out female, there are others. We have been finding northerns(small up to 30") mixed in with the walleyes this spring. Whenever we find the walleyes, closer investigation always shows why they are there: drop off, hole, bottom transition, or something else. If I were to advise a neophyte fisherman right now, I would suggest finding a rocky shoreline with close contours in places that looks fishy( points-above and below water; proximity to islands or mouths of bays) and then troll till you think you need a new spot. If you mark fish, work em over. Our best depths have been 15'-20' in the shallower areas of the lake and 25'-33' in the deeper areas. The best concentration of BIG fish that I have found thus far has been 20 yards offshore in 20' of water .

We are still using minnows exclusively. Lindy no snags, bouncers, jigs, it really makes no difference. Speed has been the key and .5 has been the magic number.

Good Fishing,

MarkB

[Fish Head]

Thanks for the detailed report once again. I'm headed back up Friday morning.

[redlabguy]

Mark,

Thanks for the report. We got here late Tuesday and found a little time to fish Wednesday and this morning.... But with little success. "My hole" seems barren for now. I may have been fishing to deep. Between chores and fronts, I will try to learn from your report. See you on the water.

RLG

[partyonpine]

Thanks Mark your report is almost identical to my dads who was up there at the same time. I'm coming up today and got 9 days on the lake can't wait. Got a group coming up and I think I can get them some fish. I am not the best walleye fisherman. I put them on all kinds of smallies (my preferred fishing.) but between your report and my dads I am feeling fairly confident. And my dad (great walleye fisherman) is coming back up to fish for him to have a quick turnaround and come back up for 3 days and use the gas I know he is on good fish. ( the man got rid of garbage pick up because he calculated he would save 6 bucks a month bringing it to the dump)

[BartmanMN]

party, sounds like your dad's got his priorities correct.

[partyonpine]

I could right a book on his cheapness

[Tominator692]

A dollar saved buys more bait an beer!