Summer wrap up.

Well, it seems that another summer has come and gone. While the weather wasn't always the greatest, the fishing sure was. With cool temps thru mid summer, walleyes stayed shallow for quite awhile longer this year than they have in the past couple of summers. Once they hit the mid-lake humps the action stayed hot all summer. The numbers of 1 lb to 2.5 lb walleyes in Lake of the Woods is just astounding. Smallmouth bass were a little different this year. It seemed that they were constantly on the move. Transitioning from classic summer points and rocks to the shallows and back with every little swing of the thermometer. At times they could be a little hard to pin down, but when you got on them, it could be bronze back bonanza! I spent quite a bit of time this summer fishing for largemouth bass with some great results. These fish just seem to be getting bigger and bigger in this system. While not found in large numbers, there were some huge fish coming to tournament scales this summer, 5's, 6's and a 7 lb 10 oz brute recently brought in to a Sioux Narrows tournament. Pike, with ever steady numbers, have enjoyed the slot size regulations, showing an average size better than any time in the past decade. With muskies, crappies and lake trout cruising these waters, there is no better time to be on Lake of the Woods than right now.