Highs in the low to mid 90's, lows in the low to mid 50's. We had a little breeze on the pond this morning. That breeze helped bring smoke into the basin. Clouds built up quickly again this afternoon and 4 different alerts for hazardous weather, flood watch, red-flag warning and a special weather statement has been issued. Thunderstorms are predicted for tonight. We have heard thunder rippling through the sky and an apparent lightening strike started a fire southeast of here. Smoke is getting thicker and by morning could pose a navigation problem on the pond, just as fog would. NOAA is predicting winds could reach 40 to 60 mph over the ridges during the storms, at this time our largest gust only reached 15 mph...then in calmed down within about 45 minutes.

We have an increased chance of isolated t-storms through Thursday. Be sure to have some tarps with you just in case. And, the best place to be in a thunderstorm is NOT the lake. I have seen balls of lightening bouncing off the pond in years past. If you are caught in a storm, go to shore and wait it out...remember when you are on the lake in a boat, you are the highest object out there for a couple miles.

Water Temperature

South basin: 69.8 to 73.2 degrees F in the afternoon. pH 9.35
North basin: 71.2 F pH 9.43
Middle basin: 71.1 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: The east side of the south basin was pretty clean water today. I only saw a few bands here and there that weren't too bad. I'm sure there are a few areas that were worse, but for the most part we are in pretty good shape. The middle basin has several bands and a lot of particulate spread throughout the water column. Snorkeling today I only had about 10 feet of visibility under water in the middle basin.

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 starting to congregate off Black Mountain and the south end of Miners Bay north of Eagles Nest. Fish are busting the surface on the caddis hatch which has been starting very early in the morning due in part to high ambient temperatures overnight. But most of the fish are biting at 30 to 35 feet deep (32 was the depth were we were bit today.)

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 generally holds most all the trout in the heat of the summer) 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. Get those lines down. The rising fish aren't interested in your worms. They are coming pretty much straight up, taking a few bites and descending very quickly.

Fishing has been pretty tough for the angler that doesn't get out on the pond early. Limits have been catchable but the average Joe is working pretty hard for his fish after sunrise. We have had a pretty active early bite. But, once the bite has shut down, it hasn't come back on until early afternoon. We have had some very pleasant afternoons that the winds haven't blown over 5 mph (which puts just a little ripple on the pond). But, it can change quickly, especially when the thunderstorms roll through.

Youth Camp to the Biology Station as well as the south side of Pelican Point was pretty slow today. Miners Point was clean today and I did see fish rising. 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 24 to 35 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.

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. More fish are congregating off Black Mountain and the south end of Miners Bay (north of Eagles Nest) A lot of fish were rising to the early hatch this morning but most all the catching is taking place at 30 feet. There are minnows schooling up now and the trout really started eating them this week. The Springs to Eagles Nest has been fishing very good but the bite has been an early one this week. Some tui chubs are also being caught, see below for tips on recognizing the difference on your depth finder.

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 on the east side, 24 to 35 on the west side. The fish are starting to school up.

I did hear complaints today from some trollers catching tui-chub. Let me tell you a little something about the tui-chub that most folks don't know.
1) They appear as fish "stacked up" on your depth finder, not a bait ball but all stacked up. The school moves as a unit, not individually, that's why they appear stacked up.
2) they can live in lower oxygen levels and are often found at 40-45 ft deep when the trout are at 30 to 35.
3) Trollers don't usually catch them because they generally don't "chase" fast moving objects, however if you are trolling too slow you can catch the heck out of them. The key is to bump up your trolling speed by 50 to 75 RPM's and avoid catching them. That's all it takes and stay in the zone of the trout. The more chubs your are catching the less time you are fishing for trout.

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. 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. Some of the trout are now pounding the fresh minnow hatch along the east side of the south basin and if all else fails you, give it a shot. (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. If your line feels like you are dragging over a gravel bar...tick, tick, tick...and you know it's not the bottom....set your hook.

Bait Fishing

We are running 50/50 free lines and bobbers at 30 to 35 feet deep. Our free lines are sinking down to the level of the fish before they have been taken, but every day is a little different. 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 and the trout have been pretty reliable at the deep ledge as long as you get your bait down the the right depth. The tui chub minnows (and speckled dace) are schooling up in the deep water and the trout are right behind them.

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.

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 but water sports.

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.

A few trout are rising to the caddis hatch. Sometimes the use of indicators is needed to see the slurp. Most all the fish are holding in water too deep to access wading from shore but fly fishermen in boats have been able to entice a few strikes on the hatch. But, once the hatch is over the fish are hanging out at 24 to 35 feet deep.

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.