Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

It's early for that time of the summer when the fish get maddeningly selective, but it might explain things. Usually it's early August when the perch get big enough to be noticed and they flip-flop between perch-midges-damsels but this year who knows. Most of the perch have moved out into 20-30 feet. If you're trying to escape the perch, good luck. Wherever you go next... they'll be waiting for you. I've been hearing people say that this is going to be a great year because the lake is going to get really low. Unfortunately, a really low lake is great for next year but not necessarily this year. The further the lake drops the less defined the inlet channels are but the more they'll be scoured out for next year. It doesn't mean this year will end poorly, just that the fish will be less concentrated. The trout seem to move in and out from day to day with deeper water still being better. It might be that there are fish in shallow water near stream mouths but it's hard to search thru the weed beds to find out.

The trout are getting more selective especially in shallower water, and now they are getting selective out in deep water as well. Be aware that the currents are usually stronger than you would ever guess, without sufficient weight, in 25' of water you might actually be fishing 4' down 20' away.  Late morning the trout bite tapers off into only perch but move around, the trout are eating at different times at different places. The fish are really scattered now. McGee Bay, Sandy Point, Christmas Bay and Hilton Bay have been the most consistent spots but lately Hilton has had the spotlight. Just drive by and you'll see what I mean. Out in deeper water the fish are eating much smaller food than usual and some really wild combinations have been working so change flies frequently.