Bemidji Area Fishing Report

By Paul A. Nelson

July 22, 2010

 

            Walleye fishing continues to be good, despite the unstable weather. Anglers are finding walleyes on top of mid-lake bars and humps in 6-12 feet in lakes that have stained water from a summer algae bloom. Anglers are using spinner rigs tipped with leeches, night crawlers or minnows that are trolled between 1 and 1.5 mph in most situations.

            Anglers should look at the spinner blades at different speeds off the side of the boat, to be sure the spinner blades are turning and not spinning out of control.  Color usually matters in spinner blades, so experiment with different colors to find the one that is working best.

            If anglers find walleyes in shallow water, safety pin spinners or a “Lake Bemidji Rig” (single hook spinner with a white twister tail) works well, while a bottom bouncer and a spinner usually works better for walleyes off the sides of structure in deeper water. Live bait rigs with leeches or night crawlers will also work if anglers find clean bottom areas with a good concentration of active walleyes.

            Muskie action continues to be good, with anglers catching some larger fish in the past week. Most anglers have been using bucktail or other types of spinners and surface baits fished over the weeds, but when the water gets stained from the algae blooms, slower presentations like plastics or jerk baits may produce more fish.

            Jumbo perch are showing up in shallower water on most of the larger lakes like Winnibigoshish, Leech, Bemidji, Cass, Pike’s Bay and Plantagenet. Anglers can catch perch on a jig and minnow or a jig and piece of night crawler in 5-8 feet of water in most lakes.

            Bass action has been good on many of the smaller lakes on the edges of two different types of weeds. Usually the deepest patches of reeds or a mixture of rocks and weeds will be the key areas for bass.

            Bluegills have been biting on the deep edges of the cabbage and coontail weed beds. Crappies have been biting early and late in the day on points or weed edges that drop directly into deep water.

             

 

Paul A. Nelson

Bemidji Area Lakes Guide Service

218.759.2235

panelson@paulbunyan.net