It’s been a smoking hot July, both for the weather and the fishing.  Water temps have been hovering in the mid to upper 70’s on most of our bigger area lakes and flirting with low 80’s in our smaller lakes.

 For walleye, most have transitioned to offshore structure, humps, and saddles connecting them all.  There will still be some fish on the first breaks just off the weedline and there will always be some up shallow in the weeds and especially in weed pockets.  As always, focusing on points and inside turns are good areas to key in on.  Lately, I’ve been catching most in 15-23’.  A jig and crawler has been my technique of choice.  If it’s calm and they are finicky, I’ll go as light as a 1/16th oz and as heavy as a 1/4 oz if they are deep or if it’s windy.  My default has always been 1/8oz, but I’ve really been liking a 3/16oz, especially on deeper fish over say 18’.  There is value in getting the bait down quickly, before the fish move.  The bobber and leech bite was great and has still been great at times, but it’s getting harder to keep leeches lively in the heat.  A bobber and half crawler is a decent alternative, but it can be tricky if there’s sunfish around.  Pitching plastics up in the weeds and working the weedline has been decent, depending on the lake.  The last couple days, the crush city mooch minnow has done well for me.  I generally stick with more natural colors on my plastics.  Jerk baits are always worth a shot.  I haven’t tried deeper reaction baits much yet, but Jigging raps, finishers, and those style baits should get a few bites. 

For Bass, I’m still finding plenty in the weeds, weed edges, and right on top of the weeds.  Sometimes you’ll find them buried in the weeds as well, especially bigger ones.  A jig and crawler is a solid option, but my preference is plastics so you don’t have to constantly rebait if sunnies are ravenous as usual.  Mooch minnows, fluke style baits, and paddle tails have all been working for me.  Don’t be afraid to get aggressive with your snaps.  On lakes with smallies, I’ve been finding plenty on offshore humps and ridges.  If there’s rocks, that’s even better.    

Pike.  I’ve been getting a couple here and there up in the weeds and in the weedlines. There’s generally always some smaller hammer handles up shallow, but I seem to find the bigger ones near the deeper weedlines.  Many times they like a little speed, so casting or trolling spinnerbaits, chatter baits, or jerk baits at 2-3mph can be deadly.  

Panfish.  I haven’t really been targeting them lately, but find weeds and you’ll find panfish.  Right now they are hitting nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, but for sunnies you can’t go wrong with a piece of worm on a small jig or plain hook.  Smaller panfish leeches, plastics, or hair jigs  can be a good option too.    

Marcus Lynch

Lucky Lynch’s Guide Service