Fishing Reports

Bait Fishing Report July 29, 2010
Only a few more days left in the bait season, and the fish are finally
starting to bite a little better. While fly fishing out in McGee, I've
seen the bait guys doing well on their inflated crawlers. Most of the
fish have been coming from the 12 to 14 foot range right in front of the
creek. The guys fishing off of Little Hilton Point have been catching
their share as well.

Perch Fishing Report July 29, 2010
I've had a few reports from the guys that are starting to troll for the
perch. Which means that the perch are moving off of their spawning beds
in the thick weeds. When they first come off their beds, look for them
in the 15 to 20 foot range just outside of the weed beds. They seem to
hold here for a couple of weeks before they start suspending out in the
deep water. Try slow trolling small crank baits, small rapalas, or the
standard leadhead jig.

Fly Fishing Report July 29, 2010
The fly fishing has finally started to pick up a bit this week. Some good
days, and some on the slow side. It seems that when all the boats bunch up
together, the fish scatter. The best fishing has been off by yourself with
just a few boats around. There is lots of room out there, no need to bunch
up just because you see one fish get caught. There are fish all the way from
the mouth of McGee Creek, out to 14 feet of water. The best areas seem to be
adjacent to some of the thicker weed beds in 10 or 11 feet of water. The bite
has been best in the morning, and tapering off by 10:30 or 11:00. Top flies
have been a small size 16 pheasant tail on top, with a shaft emerger on the
bottom. I've also had some reports of a few fish being taken on a small size
16 punk perch as your top fly. Little Hilton has also been producing some fish
this week, try in shallow early in the morning, and then work your way out to
as much as 14 feet of water after 9:00 am. Top flies in Little Hilton have been
the Shaft, with a Red Baron on the bottom. Mickey Baron-Crowley Lake Guide Service

Trolling Report July 29, 2010
The last day for barbed hooks is Saturday. The fish are still deep and in the
prime times will hit lures. With this full moon I would not hesitate to try in
the middle of the day too. We got a nice 3# male brown last night in the channel
towards the dam across from Beaver Cove. Other areas holding fish are the old brown
alley, the Chalk Bluffs and the deeper channels of the Hiltons. Fish the 35-45 foot
water putting lures from 25-30 feet down. Lures that have worked are the Tasmanians
with red and gold, several yellow winged versions, Rapalas in the F9 and F11 sizes
in Rainbow, Brook Trout and Purpledescent colors and you cannot go wrong with the
Needlefish in frog and the bikini patterns. It is also time to try the Arctic Fox
trolling flies too, use the wiggle disc that they come with as it really gives the
flies extra action. Rig them just as the Needlefish with a swivel around a rod length
from the lure and put either a Carolina Keeper or a bead above the swivel to catch and
algae or weeds moving down the line. This is the start of a great time on the lake with
only our flyfishing buddies to share the lake with (along with the watersport group).
Don Meier CPR Guideservice 760 784 1524