July 27th, 2022
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing has slowed this last week. Walleye locations are becoming more and more mixed between shallow water, deep reefs and open water trolling. High winds pushed walleyes shallow on many lakes. Anglers found walleyes in 5-9 feet of water. Slip bobbers and a leech has been very effective up here. Anglers also reported finding good numbers of walleyes out on sunken islands, in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers have been catching walleyes on jigging raps, jigs tipped with a leech or crawler and pulling spinner rigs. Gold, pink, silver and chartreuse have been popular colors. There is a small group of anglers that have been reporting success trolling deep divers over deep water, during the evening hours, for big walleyes chasing ciscos. Out here white, blood nose and cisco colored crankbaits has been very effective.
Smallmouth - Smallmouth bass anglers continue to have good success catching bass on topwater baits. Whopper ploppers, fished early in the day, continue to be the hottest topwater bait for smallies. As the sun gets up, anglers switch to more spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Wacky rigs and Ned rigs continue to be very effective on smallies.
Lake trout - Anglers continue to have success trolling leadcore for lakers. Shallow diving crankbaits trolled behind 5 colors of leadcore has been very effective. Solid white and blood nose colored crankbaits has been the way to go here.
Crappies - Crappies fishing has remained steady this last week. Angler continue to find crappies just outside weedbeds during the day, then as evening comes crappies slide up, into the weedbeds. Jig and twister has been very effective, as well as crappie minnows fished under a bobber.
This one's pure summer gold from around the July 27th, 2022 report—nailin' the smallmouth peak in Ely MN's BWCA waters. A proud angler stands in the boat holdin' a massive smallmouth bass high, its dark bronze back, emerald-green sides, and fiery red eyes shinin' in the sun, mouth wide open with water drippin' after a fierce fight. The calm lake flows behind under a bright sky, dense pine forests and rocky shores framin' the horizon—quintessential Northwoods open-water heaven on a sunny day. He's sportin' a TODDY'S cap, gray shirt, sunnies, and that big smile while grippin' the fish carefully, rod and boat gear visible for the next cast. This shot captures the mid-July smallie frenzy: post-spawn fish aggressive and 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 visible 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 July peak: warm sun, clear water, explosive smallie bites, and a trophy catch rewardin' the cast. 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!