The fish are biting!

The fish are biting! I have fished lakes in the Alexandria and Fergus Falls area with good result. Water temperatures are in the mid-60 to low-70 degree range and most species are in a good post-spawn/early summer bite right now.

Bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, are really biting in depths from 3-15 feet of water. Drop-shots and the new Northland Impulse Jig Crawlers are producing smallies, while lots of baits are good for largemouth, including jig/pig combos, jig-worms, and crankbaits. Look for hard bottom areas for the smallmouth, while largemouth are on the edges of the pencil reeds and in developing weeds on flats and drop-offs.

The walleye bite is good as well. Ottertail has produced some good walleye fishing, though a mayfly hatch and unstable weather has made that bite a bit less predictable than earlier this year. Roach Rigs and crawlers or leeches will catch these fish. Depths vary from 5-foot all the way out to 40-feet, so best advice is to use a depth finder and stay on the move searching for active fish. Lake Reno near Alexandria is another lake that is really producing walleyes as well on rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers, though spinners will take fish here as well.

Mike Frisch
Fishin' With Frisch Pro Guide Service
www.fishinwithfrisch.com