Best Times To Catch Fish
Fishing Seasons
Early season
From May to June, producing a fish on every single cast is almost expected. In May, walleyes are congregated in the shallow bays of the lake where the spawning grounds are. Walleye and northern pike will move into staging areas bordering spawning beds for several weeks after the ice melts. The fish population can escalate quickly and create a bonanza! During post-spawn, typically late May to mid June, walleye and pike feed aggressively in shallow areas making them easy to catch. Lake trout are scattered, shallow and feeding aggressively.
Mid season
July through August brings in the reduced chance for cold fronts. Stable weather means good, quality fishing. Mid season locations, strategy and presentations will vary from spring patterns. You will find lake trout at 50-100 feet depths, but they group in higher concentrations on structure with fast breaks holding bait fish (cisco). Walleye and northern pike will move to the edges of the main basins and occupy slightly deeper water, in the 15-30 foot depth range, and will move to shallow cover areas for feeding. Reefs, steep break lines, and extended points are key pieces of structure to target. All species will have good numbers. Mid season is the best time for large walleye.
Late season
September is the most picturesque time of the year and offers superior fishing. As water temperatures start to drop, a change in patterns is triggered. Large lake trout move to shallow water for pre-spawn and often require only bait-casting approaches. As the water temperature begin to cool, northern pike will move back to the shallows and feed aggressively. Walleyes will stay deep, through late September. Expect a lake trout bonanza in late September in 5-15 feet of water for fly-fishing or spin casting.
Common Catches:
- 20-26 inch walleyes
- 35+ inch northern
- 8-20 pound lake trout
