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This has been an unusual summer to say the least. Spring patterns went well into summer in association with the unseasonable weather patterns. The “dog days” never really did become established either. Nevertheless fishing has been outstanding to say the least with limits of old marble eyes coming from sunup to sundown.

Crappies are already being found in there usual fall haunts. Think deep-water adjacent to steep weed edges. This pattern has been producing on many of the smaller local lakes. It has been common for the bite to go from dusk to around 10:00 p.m. One trick that works for me on a calm evening is to go on a lake reconnaissance and look for what I like to call a baitfish flutter, which is actually the scattering of baitfish due to active predators. Many times the crappies are close by (not always just crappies though).

Fished yesterday (9-10-04) on Lake Bemidji and did well with jigs and shiners off the “Rock Pile” as well as “Grassy”. Believe it or not the majority of fish came from 45’ to 53’ of water adjacent to aforementioned locations. Toward evening it was calm and the ciscoes were witnessed surfacing everywhere during the evening hours. May be a good opportunity to bring out the fly rod for some top water action over 53’ of water! I did see some decent arcs in close proximity to the schools of ciscoes. I didn’t try it, but I would be willing to bet that walleyes could be had working the periphery of the schools of ciscoes.

That’s all I have for now, but will post as soon as I have more. Until then keep the rods a bendin’ and remember that a bad day fishing is always better than a good day at the office.

Nathan Kestner- Northwest Minnesota Outdoor Enthusiast