We had a warm, calm and clear day today. The wind at less than 6 mph barely put a ripple on the pond. We are expecting much higher temperatures Thursday and Friday and winds are expected to be light between 6 and 7 mph. The highs are predicted to be in the low 90's which is quite a bit lower than some other areas. But, that is still plenty hot for us. Low temperatures are also expected to rise. But, it looks like we might see some high 80's over the weekend.

Water Temperature

South basin: 66 to 70.4 degrees F in the afternoon. pH 9.35 North basin: 71.2 F pH 9.43 Middle basin: 67.8 F. PH of 9.47. The new criteria set by CDFG for posting the "voluntary catch and keep recommendation" is a uniform pH of 9.4 as this lake rarely goes below 9.2. The north and middle basins are typically higher in pH than the south basin so when the south basin is at 9.4, most likely the recommendation will be posted.

The thermalcline is starting to tighten up now. O2 levels are dropping below 40 feet and soon we will see them nearly bottom out.

Lake Conditions

Algae Locations: We did find several bands across the lake but as long as the whole south basin doesn't bloom all at once we should still be okay. But, if we have the predicted calm hot day's expect to see more.

The south side of Pelican Point was clean water today but I didn't see as many fish there today. There were fish on Miners Point and the ledges this morning and the water was fairly clean. Fish are on the move.

The middle basin and north basin have some areas that are getting fairly dirty as well as the middle basin in several areas from just west of Rocky Point eastward thru the narrows and up around the castle had some pretty nasty places, especially this afternoon.

We still have good water to fish in the south basin but, things can change quickly and we are not out of the woods yet when it comes to the algae bloom. Trollers be prepared to still fish...just in case.

We have some years that are worse than others for the algae bloom. But on a bad year it can wreak havoc until it is over. We try to keep up with it's location (the south basin is usually the worst by far) and we will concentrate on that basin as that is where most all the good quality fish are now.

Buoys are on the lake. But, this being a natural lake not all the hazards are marked. The west side of the south basin all the way to and around Pelican Point is notorious for rock piles several hundred feet from shore. Miners Point and the Youth Camp as well as the channel between Buck Point and Little Troxel Point will also hazardous areas. We will lose between 2 and 3 feet of water by fall (and maybe a little more depending on the type of summer we have) so expect the water level to drop below 5100 this season. Be careful this year.

Fishing Locations and Depths

Water temperatures have continued to increase and probably won't stop soon.

The bite was pretty good for us this morning but it slowed down around 9 AM. Timing is important for fishing the 8 to 10 ft deep ledges right now. If we have a windy afternoon, the fish seem to be on the ledges for a while the next morning. But, if there isn't any wind to help oxygenate the shallow water, the fish hold in a little deeper, cooler water. The fish will probably be feeding in 15 to 35 feet of water early in the morning but you will probably find more in 50 plus feet of water 30 feet deep. As water temperatures rise this week, expect the thermalcline to tighten up.

Youth Camp to the Biology Station was pretty slow today. Miners Point was fairly clean today and I did see fish rising. There was more algae off the west side today than the east side. A lot of boats do move the fish from one side of these ledges to the other quite often. Sometimes you have to chase the fish daily.

Between Wildcat Point and Shrimp Island (Lake of the Woods); the rocky ledges on the west side provided some action for trollers using nightcrawlers, flies and lures as well as the bait fishermen. Fish are hanging out in 15 to 35 feet of water early but many folks are finding them out in 45 to 65 feet of water 28 to 30 feet deep, especially after sunrise. More fish are starting to show up in higher numbers and expect the high ambient temperatures and little wind to drive the fish to deeper water earlier in the morning. Quite often we find a lot of fish out in the middle of the lake this time of year, as long as the algae permits fishing it.

Eagles Nest has a few fish but the large schools are not congregating there yet. But, from the Springs to Eagles Nest has been producing limits for trollers and bait fishermen a like. 50 to 65 feet of water 30 feet deep has been the ticket.

Trolling

Some trollers are doing better than others but limits are still being caught. Most of the success this week has been in 45 to 55 feet of water 30 ft deep. The fish are pretty scattered in the deep water but it won't be long before they school up.

Hot Lures, Flies and Grubs

Lures: Large "Red Dog" Double Jointed Sure Catch lure is doing well and medium "Goldie locks" (florescent orange and brass) has been working well too. I also like the German Brown Medium Sure Catch this time of year. But good old Needlefish were in the top 3 producers. No doubt that florescent orange is a hot color on this lake and various lures of that color often work. Since using the sure catch lures, I am now partial to using them but Needlefish have also been extremely affective on this lake for decades. This week the nickel bikini (3) and rainbow have been working. Florescent orange with nickel or brass back were productive in size 2. Rainbow Runners have also been known to work well up here. The tiger and perch pattern size 3 has cooled off whereas the orange colors are now being a little more productive. Often, what is hot in one area is not in another. The red dot frog and crocodile patterns in size 2 and 3 have also been productive lures. We have a lot of baby western toads in all the grassy areas of the shoreline right now and don't think the trout have never seen one swimming in the water.

Trolling nightcrawlers is also a favorite and was indeed a very affective method for many anglers. Use of flashers is more productive in late summer and fall than this time of year but there were folks out there catching fish using flashers today. (Flasher tip for Eagle Lake: shorten leaders up to 14 to 15 inches from the flashers. These fish often come from behind so quickly that they can miss your bait and hit your flashers. If you are getting lots of strikes without hooking up, your leader is too long.)

Grubs: The grub trollers are working hard but the brown has bought a few strikes. and root-beer color. Brown, orange and watermelon have caught a few fish this week. Some folks prefer to run wiggle or action discs several inches ahead of the grub.

Trolling Flies: The plain Jane brown is still providing most all the action for us. We are starting to get a little more attention on florescent orange, but brown has still been the one. My best advise for trolling flies is to keep your rod in your hand and set the hook at the slightest difference in your line.

Bait Fishing

Free-lining nightcrawlers (no weight) will start being productive in the deep summer haunts. The ledges on the west side of the south basin between Wildcat and Shrimp Island have produced some nice limits for those putting their time in. The full moon put off the best bite around 10 AM to noon. We are starting to see more action at the 25 to 30 ft depth in 35 to 55 feet of water.

It is illegal to use minnows as bait on this lake. Nightcrawlers are the most effective bait used but some folks use insects too. The use of commercial attractants has been working well the last few years. Krill and Garlic Trout Gravy are the most effective.

Shore Fishing

As water temperatures continue to increase, expect the fish to be farther away from shore. There are a few places between the biology station and the Youth Camp where 30 feet of water is reachable by casting from shore, but the shore fishing will be iffy until early fall now. Fish will stage here on their way down south once the water temperatures start hitting the high 60's but generally leave by 71 degrees.

The longest cast off the jetty at the Eagle Lake Marina will only put you in 12 to 14 feet of water. It has been fairly slow just about everywhere from shore for the average fisherman.

The Circus Grounds slowed down.

Rocky Point: Not a heck of a lot going on from shore.

Fly Fishing

Osprey Management Area is closed to human access from land until September 15, 2007. Fishing the ledges from shore has not been as successful as being able to easily reach 12 to 15 feet of water, but the fish are moving out quickly.

Caddis hatch began at 7:00 this morning. A few trout are rising to the hatch. Sometimes the use of indicators is needed to see the slurp. Fish are moving in and out of the shallow rocky ledges, but are staying just out of reach from wading..

Pelican Point still has a few fish, but, the majority have moved south and at this point it appears that those fish are heading towards Shrimp Island...but we well just have to wait and see.

My favorite flies are basic. #10 and #12 wooly buggers. For this time of year I prefer brown along Pelican Point and the west side of the south basin. I like olive, gold, orange or black in the tules.

It is advisable to have a float tube or boat so you can reach those trout when they move out...and they are moving out now. Have a sink tip available.