June 13-20 a week to remember

I can never remember a week where every day was perfect weather and the fishing was so good. Weather in the 70’s with a little walleye chop every single day. There seemed to be only one major hot spot this week. Ranger Lake and Ranger Bay opened on the 15th and was really good with several of my guests having 100 and over walleye days. We had lots of pollen on the rest of the lake that I think made the other part of the lake a little slower bite. The warmer weather seemed to get the big fish going with a 30 ½ inch and 31 inch walleye and also a dozen Northern over 40 inches with the biggest two 42 and 44 inches.
Water temps have warmed up significantly this week to around 62 on the main lake and 67 in the bays on average. We are starting to see signs of weeds now but they are still way behind. For those who know where the weed beds are supposed to be are catching nice Northerns off of those spots. The walleyes seem to be concentrated the last couple days in 18 -20 feet of water ever since they moved out of Ranger and more into the main lake. This week coming up I expect the walleyes will be moving towards the sunken island and get the more popular summer areas going like Burnt island and High Wall.
This week Northerns liked dead bait and spoons 50/50
Walleyes were hot on Dark Green and Dark Blue. Crawlers are working decent now, but minnows are still the best.

Is This Spring?

Our weather network says we are in for a decent week of weather. Winds from the E and SE for the majority of the week with temps in the mid 50’s and Low 60’s. Hopefully some more consistent weather will get the fish on the bite. Last week we had our first 30 inch walleye reported which came off of #12 dock. The docks have been hot the last couple weeks and many fishermen and women have been spending the evenings jigging in front of camp. Northern fishing has been a little slow so far this year compared to last year. The biggest reason I think is the really cold water temps, and also we are getting really cold at night making the bays they usually hang out in colder for longer periods of the day. So far we have had reports that walleyes are being caught in 8-12 feet of water in the morning and moving out to 20-25 in the afternoons. They eyes are moving slow with the cold water and anchoring and slow drifting seems to be the best plan for getting them.
The last couple weeks the Police have been making a few appearances and giving warnings about beer in the boat. I am sure if it continues the warnings will turn into fines and we are asking our guests to save the cocktails for when they come in for the day. One discrepancy is that some people think they can pack a couple for shore lunch. But, that as well is illegal, since you will be drinking them on crown land which is in public. Once again our luxury of having one or two beer while out on the water is ruined by a few people who can’t be responsible enough act decent.
Hot baits for Northerns have been-spoons with a wide slow wobble like Big Doctors and KB spoons and also dead bait is still working well
Walleyes have been hitting on minnows and starting to hit on crawlers pretty good. Jigging and slow drifting is the ticket.