Kabetogama/Namakan Fishing Report 5/24/09
The weekend everyone's been waiting for arrived in a beautiful weather fashion.
Splendid weather has begun to move the fish and speed along the transition phase. This is important in moving the deeper water harvest-size fish to shallower water.
Late today, Sunday, anglers are finally reporting the catching of smaller walleyes in the expected depth range of 18 - 28'. The shallow waters are still giving anglers a great opportunity to catch and release sizeable walleyes in the protected slot range of 17 - 28".
Jig and minnow--dark colored jigs that is--were hands-down the best walleye offering last week.
As the days have brightened and water's warming up, brighter jigs, especially red, white and blue with minnow, has begun to work along with leeches, either jigged, or leeches with a slip-sinker rig.
Northern pike have started to return to shallow water chasing bait-fish, as well as, small game-fish.
Crappie bite is just around the corner, or happening as you read this.
Those fishing the west end of Kab should be fishing Picnic Island, or Rom, Sheep, Harris, and Yewbush Islands' windblown shores at 18 - 25'.
Mid-Kabetogama, towards Namakan, try the Martin Islands, as well as, Blundt, Wolf, Green, and Larkin. The aforementioned have nice structured shorelines.
Look for pike to be in the bays--Peterson, Nebraska, Daily, and Lost Bay--anywhere along the new weed edges.
Crappies should be out in force in some of the east Kabetogama bays.
Have a great week!