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Warm water temperatures are just around the corner as we head into July later this week and will be even warmer as we get closer to August.
Walleye fishing seems to always get a bit tougher, you can still catch them but patience is the key.
I love jig fishing and I always try and get my guide clients on a jig bite. If there are three of us in the boat I’ll have one on a jig and minnow, one on a jig and leech, and one on a jig and crawler.
Working the edges of the deep weeds and the edges of the humps and bars should produce some fish. If jigs aren’t doing it then a live bait rig might do the trick and if that doesn’t work pulling some spinner rigs usually will get something going.
As the water warms the bass fishing really kicks into high gear. Early and late in the day, topwater baits will get their attention up shallow. As the day progresses focus on those deep water weed edges with plastics and you should catch plenty of fish.
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Crappies are setting up now on their summer spots, I love using small jigs and plastics and working those baits very slowly right through the deep cabbage you’ll catch some fish. They don’t always hit real hard so when you're retrieving that bait set the hook on anything that feels different.
If your not sure, set the hook sets are free and there just might be a fish on the end. The third annual United Way of Bemidji Area walleye and bass tournament is Saturday, July 23, from 6 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 24.
You can fish any lakes in Beltrami, Clearwater or Hubbard County. Last year's Kraus-Anderson Legacy Award winner, Sam, and I fished the bass division in 2021. In addition to the Legacy Award, he also won a lifetime Minnesota fishing license. For registration or more information go to unitedwaybemidji.org/fishing-tournament.
Please remember to practice selective harvesting, by doing so we will continue to have great fishing for years to come.
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 www.dickbeardsleyfishingguide.com.
