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As we are already into mid-July, the fishing is holding up quite well.

You’ll find walleyes off the deeper weed edges and jigs and crawler, slip bobbers and leeches or crawlers, and spinners and crawlers are working well. Look to Lake Bemidji, Plantaganet, Grace, and Andrusia for some walleyes.

The bass fishing remains excellent off the deeper weed lines using plastics and you’ll find the bigger crappies and bluegills off the deeper cabbage using plastics, slip bobbers and leeches or throwing small plastics.

This past weekend we had our first ever United Way Kids Fishing Tournament.

We had a great time and my 12-year-old fishing buddy, Sam Alamano, caught a tank of a largemouth at 22 inches. That’s a real trophy and Sam won first place in the big bass division.

Don’t forget, our is having an annual big bass and walleye tournament on July 26 and 27, so sign up today.

Have a great time out on our lakes and please remember to practice selective harvesting, by doing so we will continue to have great fishing for years to come.

Contributed

Bemidji area: Walleyes are being taken with spinners and crawlers or a slip-bobber rig with leeches and crawlers during low-light periods on Lake Bemidji, Lake Plantagenet, Lake Andrusia and Grace Lake in 12 to 24 feet. Bass fishing has been excellent with plastics off the deep weed edges, while bluegills and crappies are hitting plastics off the deep cabbage of most lakes.

Bemidji area resource can be contacted at (218)Ìý556-7172.

Blackduck area: Walleye action has slowed, but some fish are being caught with a slip bobber and leech or jigs and a piece of crawler in 10 to 15 feet throughout Blackduck Lake, Round Lake, and Island Lake. Bluegills and crappies are active along the deep weed edges on Blackduck, Gull Lake, Pimushe Lake, Gilstead Lake, Rabideau Lake, North Twin Lake and South Twin Lake. Largemouth bass and pike are also weed-related.

Blackduck area resource can be contacted at (218) 835-4636.

Cass Lake area: Muskie action has picked up with bucktails on the cabbage beds in Pike Bay Lake and Kitchi Lake. A few walleyes are being taken on Cass Lake and Lake Andrusia by trolling crankbaits on the bars in 6 to 10 feet during the evening hours. Perch reports have been light, but the 6- to 8-foot weeds on Kitchi are kicking out bluegills.

Cass Lake area resource Sunset Cove Resort can be contacted at (800) 279-4831.

Contributed

Lake Winnibigoshish: Walleyes continue to be caught, but they’re a bit more spread out and hitting a variety of presentations. Slip-bobber fishing, and to a slightly lesser extent jigs, remain solid options on the points in 12 to 16 feet. The main-lake bars and humps are kicking out walleyes on spinners and crawlers or slowdeath rigs and crawlers in 20 to 22 feet.

Lake Winnibigoshish area resource Lake Winnie Resort Association can be contacted via its website,

Leech Lake: A slip bobber and jig with a leech or piece of nightcrawler continues to produce walleyes. Better areas this week have been Five Mile Point in 18 to 22 feet, the Snakepit in 13 to 15 feet, and out from the campground in Portage Bay over 9 to 13 feet. Muskie activity has been better on the shallow rocks rather than weeds, especially in the Submarine Island and Mokie’s Reef areas.

Leech Lake area resource can be contacted at (218) 547-1505.

Upper Red Lake: Walleye action has again picked up with crankbaits along the north and east shorelines in 6 to 8 feet. Purple and blue crankbaits seem to be working best. A spinner and crawler are also turning walleyes along the north shore in 6 feet and on the rock pile in 9 feet.

Upper Red Lake area resource can be contacted at (218) 647-8998.

Dick Beardsley is the owner and operator of Dick Beardsley Fishing Guide Service in Bemidji. He can be reached at (218) 556-7172 and dick@dickbeardsley.com. For more information, visit