Kabetogama/Namakan Fishing Report August 20, 2007
Fall is in the air; cool nights have contributed to water temperatures dropping to below 70 degrees on the surface.
Walleyes are schooling up better now than most of the summer. Many anglers are fishing with minnows at the 30' plus depth and having success with walleyes and saugers.
Artificial lures contribute to success when used at the 20' range trolled at around 1½ miles per hour. Reef ledges and shorelines provide the best action.
There is lots of reported success for anglers using crawlers and leeches between 8' and 20'. Slip-sinker rigs trolled slowly over soft bottom structures as found on many shorelines or bays seem to kick out feeding walleyes and bass.
Pike are aggressively chasing artificials regardless of your method; casting or trolling, your choice.
This cooler weather usually brings the big fish, all species out to aggressively find food prior to the onset of fall, making the backside of August and September good months to fish.
As of this writing, a fire ban is in effect for St. Louis County, campers may use gas grills and stoves, but remember charcoal grills are included in the ban.
For the near future, unless we have major weather changes, the most consistent walleye bite on Kabetogama will be 18-28'. Namakan offers a little different picture, depths of 25-40' has been working well.
Pike bite still favors the outskirts of vegetation, both shorelines and bays producing nice pike and occasional bass.
Have a good week and enjoy the cooler weather for now.
Have a Great Day!
Ellen & Phil Hart
Gateway General
9378 Hwy 53
Kabetogama, MN 56669
(218) 875-2121
www.gatewaygeneral.com
www.kabfishingreport.com
