The last weeks has been HOT an SUNNY. Weather more conducive to working on your tan or swimming.
Despite the heat and sun anglers are still catching fish. Early mornings have been the best for panfish before the midday sun starts to make the water boil. Bluegills and Sunfish are both being caught that have not spawned yet. Targeting weed beds from 5-8 foot of water with just a worm and a bobber have been working as good as anything. But also small flies, poppers and spiders have been working great too.
Most of the Crappie being found are suspended in deeper water from 12-20 feet deep, usually about 4 feet below the surface. The anglers catching them have been using minnows under a bobber just a few feet below the surface but also using smaller lures like beetle spins as well. The most difficult part is finding them as they are constantly on the move searching for schools of minnows or freshly hatched bugs.
Bass fishing has been pretty good. This time of year the wacky work is the go to lure to putting fish in the boat. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and top water have also been producing fish.
Walleye fishing has been surprisingly good as of late. Even during the hottest part of the day there are boats slow trolling Night Crawler harnesses and catching fish on the outside weed edges from 12-17ft of water.
The 2020 Pilgrim Village FREE SUMMER FISHING CONTEST is well under way, but you still have 2 months left to catch that big one. Contest ends September 10, 2020
Current Standings as of 7/8/2020
Largemouth Bass- Tad Mellish 19 7/8″, 4.91lb Crooked Lake
Smallmouth Bass- Shane Carlson 20 7/8″, 4.38lb Lake Michigan
Northern Pike- Joseph Pacella 38 3/8″, 11.08lb Lake Mitchell
Walleye- Laurie Graham 24″, 4.93lb Manistee River
Bluegill- Luke Sharp 11 7/8″, 1.54lb Dayhoff
Sunfish- Dave Malone 10 1/8″, 0.79lb Lake Mitchell
Perch- Carl Schmidt 11 1/2″, 0.70lb Portage Lake
Crappie- Andrew McKay 13 7/8″, 1.16lb Hodenpyle Dam Pond
Bullhead- Darrin Halmstead 15 7/8″, 2.05lb Lake Mitchell
Dogfish- Jim Wright 29 3/4″, 7.62lb Lake Mitchell