Kabetogama/Namakan Fishing Report June 9, 2008
High water and warm (normal) weather on the weekend have set up fast ever-changing conditions, keeping anglers on their toes.
Spring fishing conditions are at long last giving way to summer fishing conditions which means changing depth, changing bait and changing your presentation.
An ever popular area on Kabetogama will be Center Reef and the flats--this area offers structure, and varying depths from 10-35'. This rock and gravel bottom is an annual producer.
Windblown shores on Sugar Bush Island will be a great area to use a slip-sinker rig. Now is the time to convert from minnows to leeches and crawlers.
Namakan's Blind Indian Narrows, Tar Point, Cemetery Island, and the shores of Namakan Island should be good areas to slip-sinker rig, concentrating on 18-30'.
Smallmouth coming up shallower and beginning to bite artificial lures-- both surface and shallow runners. Rip-rap shorelines and submerged rock reefs are good areas to find them.
Northern pike are active--especially the 2-4# size. Big northern are staging in deeper waters outside weedy soft bottom bays. Try trolling at 12-18' with lures, or slip-bobber or fish with sucker minnows in the same areas.
The Lilacs are finally blooming; this is nature's indicator that the temps are right for crappie action in shallow water--like Sullivan Bay and Lost Lake.
A valuable tool for fishing Kab now is the Navionics. This high definition map is available at our store.
Best advice for this coming week will be to start thinking about artificials and slip-sinker rigs. Be prepared with leeches and crawlers to back up minnows.
Jig fishing will still produce in deeper waters--gold, red, white and blue, and chartreuse are good reliable colors. Speed up your presentation as the water warms.
Have a Great Day!
Ellen & Phil Hart
Gateway General
9378 Hwy 53
Kabetogama, MN 56669
(218) 875-2121
www.gatewaygeneral.com
www.kabfishingreport.com