August 23rd, 2022
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing has remained steady this last week. As is typical for late August, trolling crankbaits, spinner rigs and covering ground, looking for active walleyes. Trolling shad raps in 12-18 feet of water, over large flats, shoreline points and sunken islands has been very popular and effective. Spinner rigs with hammered gold, copper and nickel blades, tipped with a leech has also been very effective. Bites have been light, so pay close attention while pulling blades.
Smallmouth Bass - After a week of poor weather, smallmouth fishing has cooled off this last week. Spinnerbaits, soft plastics and whopper ploppers continue to be the way to go to catch good numbers, but average size fish has dropped. Can’t always be world class! Working shoreline points, boulder flats, rivers and around downed trees, in 4-10 feet of water continues to be best, but increasingly anglers are reporting catching smallies out on sunken islands, while fishing for walleyes.
Crappie - Crappie fishing remains popular this last week for good reason. With weedbeds at their peak and crappie activity at their peak, anglers have been having a easy time finding active crappies. Weedlines and downed timber has been the structure to look for to find crappies. Beetle spins, jig/twister and crappie minnows fished under a bobber has been very effective.
Pike - Pike reports have started coming in this last week. Rainy, cloudy days made for some good pike fishing for a lot of people. Suckers fished under a bobber was very popular and very effective. Shallow bays, river mouths and weedbeds have been key areas to find active pike. Large spinnerbaits and spoons are also excellent choices for pike right now.
This one's late-summer walleye gold from around the August 23rd, 2022 report—nailin' the steady bite in Ely MN's BWCA waters. A thrilled angler beams while holdin' a prime walleye high in the boat, its golden-yellow sides and dark blotches gleamin' in the sunlight, mouth wide open showin' teeth with water drippin' off after a solid fight. The calm river or lake stretches behind under a bright sky, thick pine forests and rocky shores framin' the horizon—pure Northwoods open-water bliss on a sunny day. She's sportin' a maroon hoodie, and that big smile while grippin' the fish carefully, rod rigged nearby for more casts. This shot captures the late-August walleye reliability: fishin' steady with anglers coverin' ground trollin' crankbaits like Shad Raps in 12-18 feet over large flats, shoreline points, and sunken islands—very popular and effective. Spinner rigs with hammered gold, copper, and nickel blades tipped with leeches also crushed it, though bites were light so payin' close attention while pullin' blades was key. Smallmouth bass cooled off after a week of poor weather but still good numbers on spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and Whopper Ploppers—workin' shoreline points, boulder flats, rivers, and downed trees in 4-10 feet, with some smallies showin' up on sunken islands while targetin' walleyes. Crappie fishin' remained popular with weedbeds at peak and activity high—weedlines and downed timber the go-to structure, usin' beetle spins, jig/twisters, or crappie minnows under a bobber for easy finds. Pike reports started rampin' up, especially on rainy/cloudy days—suckers under bobbers very popular and effective in shallow bays, river mouths, and weedbeds; large spinnerbaits and spoons excellent choices too. The image radiates that August transition: warm sun, clear water, steady walleye action, and a quality catch rewardin' the troll or cast. At Arrowhead Outdoors, we were stocked with Shad Raps, spinner rigs, leeches, soft plastics, Whopper Ploppers, and tips nonstop that week—same today for BWCA walleye or smallmouth hunters. Swing by 1810 East Sheridan in Ely for live leeches, crankbaits, spinner blades, and the latest reports. Subscribe on arrowheadoutdoorselymn.com to stay on the bite—nothin' like late-summer walleyes cooperatin' up here in the Northwoods!