We’re in the Dog days of Summer where the weather seems better for lounging at the beach then watching your bobber. The Hot days and warm nights keep most of the fish in the shelter of deeper water. Anglers are still catching fish but you’ve got to set your alarm clock to sunrise or earlier. Usually by 10 a.m. the sun is hot enough to slow most of the action down.

Crappie in the early morning and some after dark has been the most reliable panfish as of late. They’re ususally found suspended in deeper water. Look for them in anywhere from 12-20 foot of water about 6-10 foot under the surface. Minnows under a slip bobber are almost always the best way to catch them but some where also caught trolling small minnow baits.

Fishermen looking for Walleye have been getting them dragging crawler harnesses on the outside edges of weedlines. Drifting with the wind or trolling slowly, just fast enough to make the blades on your harnesss turn seems to be the magic speed. A couple weeks ago the DNR planted another 50,000 Walleye fingerlings into Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac so we can look forward to catching them in the future.

With the beginning of August only a few days away it won’t be long until we start hearing of Salmon moving upstream into the rivers. We’re being told of Monster sized Kings being caught all up and down the coast of Lake Michigan. Everything has been a few weeks late this year so we’re really curious when they are going to start pushig inland this year.

Don’t forget about our 8th Annual Free Summer Fishing Contest. There is no cost to enter, you just have to bring in your catch from anywhere in Michigan. The contest ends September 10, so you still have plenty of time to catch those winning fish.