July 28th, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye reports continue to reflect a classic, midsummer bite. While the shallow water bite has cooled off thanks to much needed rain and not needed lighting, anglers continue to find active walleyes in that 12-20ft depth range. Where anglers are finding them seems to depend more on the angler than the fish. Many anglers continue to find active walleyes working weedlines in that 12-15ft range. These anglers have been trolling gold, perch and purple colored spinner rigs tipped with a crawler or a leech. Other anglers have been coming in with some really good reports trolling deep diving crankbaits in that 15-20ft of water. Shad, perch and white has been the best colors here. Anglers trolling have been focusing on large flats, rock piles or windy shorelines.
Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass also have settled into the classic midsummer pattern. What this means for anglers is that they should be looking for current areas, rocky flats in that 6-12ft of water range and sunken islands in that 10-15ft range. Anglers fishing rivers and shorelines have been throwing topwater baits (early in the mornings) chatterbaits, crankbaits, urchins and paddle tails to cover ground and find active fish. Anglers fishing out on sunken islands have been fishing with paddle tails on a heavy jig, drop shooting a split tail minnow and deep diving crankbaits.
Panfish - Sunfish anglers continue to report great fishing for sunnies inside weedbeds, in that 4-8ft of water range. These anglers continue to report the best fishing is coming when they are fishing with red worms or small leeches under a bobber here. Crappie anglers have also been fish weedbeds looking for active. With the rain and lighting has made this bite a little bit or miss day to day. One day anglers will find crappies sitting next to thick stands of cabbage, often on the shaded side of the stand. Here small jig/twister or paddle tails, dropped right next to the cabbage gets bit. During the last hour of light crappies have been braking away from those areas and actually looking for minnows. When this happens beetle spins, jig/twister, jig/paddle tails, fished 1-2ft under the surface has been getting it done.
Pike - Pike anglers continue to find active pike in shallow weedbeds and around river mouths. While many of these pike remain under 32”, pike are less affected by this up and down weather pattern we are currently in. Anglers have been reporting aggressive pike hitting topwater frogs, mepps and large spoons.
A dad and his two sons hold up a nice walleye caught on an Ely area lake near the BWCA. It’s always great to see families making memories like this during early summer fishing. Swing by Arrowhead Outdoors – voted #1 bait and tackle shop in MN – for fresh bait, jigs, and everything you need to get on the water.