The walleye bite this week was similar to last, but with fewer big fish. We did have big family groups in with lots of kids and accordingly, the guides spent more time keeping the rod bent than they did hunting for big fish.
After collectively beating ourselves up and making excuses for the poor big fish bite for the past month and a half, it really was nice to give up the chase for a bit and just enjoy catching fish with kids. It was good to take it down a notch and remember that this whole show is not all about giant fish. We know that we have a responsibility to carefully introduce the next generation to fishing. The best way to do that is to make it fun, have lots of action, and to quietly teach the skills that will allow the kids to really enjoy and appreciate the North country that the adults sometimes take for granted. It was a good personal wake up call for me and I actually had just as much fun as the kids.
Volume was once again very good with daily guide reports averaging 40 walleyes over 18 in. per boat per day. The highest daily total was 91. For the week, we caught and released 19 walleyes over 27 in., including 4 – 28s.
It remains a careful slow jig bite. There just aren’t enough active fish to pull spinners on bouncers. Most of the guides are still using 3/8 with ½ oz the choice for windy days. We did find fish in a wider variety of depths last week. Most were found between 25 – 30, but there were also numbers caught shallower and bigger fish deeper.
