August 30th, 2022
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing remains on the up swing last week for many anglers. Best reports have been coming from 6-12 feet of water, using spinner rigs, tipped with a leech or crawler. Here anglers have been working weedlines and mouths of bays. Hammered gold, copper and nickel continue to be hot colors. Reports are also coming in out on the sunken islands this last week. 25-30 feet of water was the key depth. Areas where the rock turned to mud we’re especially hot. Out here 4-5” minnows were extremely effective on walleyes! Is this the fall bite starting?
Smallmouth Bass - Smallies are really starting to transition from their shallow water summer haunts, out to their fall haunts around sunken islands. More and more walleye anglers fishing out around sunken islands, are reporting catching good size and numbers of smallies, mixed in with the walleyes. Smallmouth anglers are starting to notice a drop in size and numbers of shallow smallies. These anglers are still catching plenty of smallies on spinnerbaits, wacky worms and whopper ploppers along shorelines, points and in rivers. If your looking for trophy smallies, start focusing on sunken islands and fish big 6-12” minnows, now until ice up!
Crappies - Crappie action continues to be good for anglers putting in the time to locate schools of crappies. Timber and weedbeds have been key to locating these schools. Not all weedbeds and downed trees are created equal, so anglers have to work out which one the crappies are using and when. Search baits like beetle spins and jig and twisters are great ways to locate crappies now. Once located, slowing down with crappie minnows, fished under a bobber is very effective. Evenings are a great time to fish weedlines and weedbeds as crappies invade them to feed just before dark.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout have been active this last week. Anglers hanging a crawler 15-20 down, under a bobber, have been having the best luck. Small spoon, jig/twister and spinners have also been effective. Anglers fishing out of a boat have also been having good luck trolling with cowbells.
This one's late-summer walleye fire from around the August 30th, 2022 report—capturin' the upswing bite in Ely MN's BWCA waters. A proud angler beams while holdin' a prime walleye high in the boat, its golden-yellow sides and dark blotches shinin' in the sunlight, mouth wide open showin' teeth with water drippin' off after a solid fight. The calm lake stretches behind under a partly cloudy sky, thick pine forests and rocky shores framin' the horizon—pure Northwoods open-water bliss on a sunny day. He's sportin' a cap and sunnies, grippin' the fish carefully with rod rigged nearby for more passes. This shot nails the late-August walleye momentum: fishin' on the upswing for many anglers, with best reports comin' from 6-12 feet of water in weedbeds, points, and flats—live bait rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers crushin' it, crankbaits (Shad Raps standin' out) trollin' effectively, and spinner rigs pullin' consistent action. Smallmouth bass were mixin' in more on sunken islands while targetin' walleyes, keepin' the variety high. Pike reports ramped up, especially on cloudy/rainy days—suckers under bobbers very popular and effective in shallow bays, river mouths, and weedbeds; large spinnerbaits and spoons excellent choices too. 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. The image radiates that late-summer thrill: warm sun, clear water, walleyes cooperatin' more, and a quality catch rewardin' the troll or cast. At Arrowhead Outdoors, we were stocked with Shad Raps, spinner rigs, leeches, crawlers, soft plastics, and tips nonstop that week—same today for BWCA walleye or smallmouth hunters. Swing by 1810 East Sheridan in Ely for live leeches/crawlers, crankbaits, spinner blades, and the latest reports. Subscribe on arrowheadoutdoorselymn.com to stay on the bite—nothin' like walleyes turnin' on late August up here in the Northwoods!