Surface temps approaching 71 degrees by mid day. Clarity is good, about 16 ft.. Moon phase is Waxing, currently at 50%. nights are clear and warm.

Fishing pressure has been relatively light during mid week with a spike around the weekends, but really not that many boats fishing. The hex hatch has peaked and in decline, there are a few casings floating around but its just about done. Fish I have checked are packed with 3/4” pond smelt instead of insect larva. Fish are still on the lookout for insect larva, but fish will soon turn to smelt as the insect reproduction cycles have run their course for the season. Hatches will still pop off, but the intensity levels will continue to drop.

Reports from other boats have been spotty, some reporting a few fish, while others were still looking for a hit. Most guys I have talked to are all saying the same thing. “Lots of Marks” everywhere, but not a lot of hits. Just keep working and it will happen.

I have been coming out of Rec.1 around 5:00 am, and dropping in just outside of the log boom about 100 yards or where the depth hits 60 ft then trolling up to the A-Frame and back. We been running SMDs (Strike Master Dodgers) from Sep's Pro Fishing, with a large meal worm 16” back. at 42 ft. down. I run this rig 15 to 20 ft. behind the downrigger ball. This dodger will sink a additional 8 ft. So the dodger is actually running about 10 ft. off the bottom. Yesterday we had a double hook up in the first 15 minutes of trolling. This rig works well early, say till about 5:00 am to 8:00 In Addition we been stacking a threaded naked half crawler at 32 ft. Also I cut the crawler down to about 3” long. This simple rig produced several big Rainbows over 23” and weighing in at 4.8 lbs.

Bait soakers have reported fish coming after mealworms and Crickets behind Goose Island, the upper west side of the Peninsula, A-Frame, and Rec. 2 as fish are still looking for any remaining available insect larva, before turning to Smelt that will soon be elevated to the top of the fish food menu.

Almost time to polish up your Speedy Shiners and Needlefish, AKA fast action rigs. But for now I will be trolling slow, cuz that presentation has been filling the bottom line ”FISH IN the BOX”.

Good luck to all.