August 16th, 2022
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing has slowed as walleyes are scattered and food is plentiful. Anglers have been covering ground in a attempt to locate walleyes and biters. Trolling crankbaits continues to be the best option to not only locate walleyes, but locate biters. Trolling shad raps in size 7, 8 and 9’s with leadcore and trolling tail dancers down to 18-25 feet of water has been very effective. Perch, firetiger and white have been very effective colors to troll. Anglers have also been catching walleyes trolling spinner rigs tipped with leeches. Increasingly anglers are finding walleye out on sunken islands, in 18-25 feet of water. Hammered gold, copper and nickel blades have been very popular here. If your marking walleyes, but are having a hard time getting them to bite, jigging raps have been triggering walleyes. We are starting to see a increase of reports of bigger minnows starting to work also.
Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be strong but size of fish has gone down this last week. Anglers continue to have good luck with whopper ploppers, spinnerbaits and soft plastics working shoreline structure, but walleye anglers are reporting smallies being caught out on sunken islands.
Panfish - Panfishing has been very popular this last week as weedbeds are hitting their peak and panfish are located in and around these weedbeds. Sunfish anglers have been using medium size leeches, waxies and angleworms, inside and on weedlines. Small beetle spins have also been very popular. Anglers seeking crappies have been fishing weedlines or just outside the weedlines. Again beetle spins, jig and twisters and crappie minnows, fished under a bobber have been very popular. As evening approaches crappies start sliding up and into weedbeds to feed.
This one's a mid-August family triumph from around the August 16th, 2022 report—capturin' the smallmouth peak in Ely MN's BWCA waters. A young angler beams ear to ear while holdin' a stout smallmouth bass high in the boat, its dark bronze back, emerald-green sides, and bold red eyes gleamin' in the sunlight, mouth wide open showin' teeth after a hard fight. The calm lake stretches behind under a bright blue sky, thick pine forests and rocky shores framin' the horizon—pure Northwoods open-water paradise on a sunny day. He's rockin' a red hoodie with the Beavers logo, cap, and that proud grin while grippin' the fish carefully, with an adult smilin' in the background and rod rigged nearby for more casts. This shot nails the summer smallie dominance: aggressive fish feedin' heavy in shallow bays, rocky points, weedlines, and downed trees, poundin' topwater lures like Whopper Ploppers, Torpedoes, and Pop-R’s—soft plastics via wacky rigging and Ned rigging provin' killers for sight fishin' or castin' to structure. Walleye reports stayed solid that week on deeper sunken islands and humps in 18-28 feet with Lindy rigs or bottom bouncers tipped with crawlers/leeches, evenings shiftin' shallow to flats and weedlines in 8-12 feet on slip bobbers or jigs for low-light bites. Pike were active in weedlines and bays, hittin' spinnerbaits, spoons, or suckers under bobbers for good numbers and sizes. Panfish (crappies/sunnies) schooled on weed edges and drop-offs with small jigs or minnows under bobbers. The image radiates that August family fun: warm sun, clear water, explosive smallie bites, and a quality catch rewardin' the effort with kids or family on board. At Arrowhead Outdoors, we were stocked with topwater lures, wacky/Ned rigs, crawlers, leeches, spinnerbaits, and tips nonstop that week—same today for BWCA smallmouth hunters or walleye/pike anglers. Swing by 1810 East Sheridan in Ely for Whopper Ploppers, Torpedoes, Ned heads, live crawlers/leeches, and fresh reports. Subscribe on arrowheadoutdoorselymn.com to stay on the bite—nothin' like smallies explodin' on topwater up here in the Northwoods!