August is here!!! Warm water, cool nights, GREAT FISHING!

Park Rapids Area Fishing Report
Smokey Hills Outdoor Store

Time to get outfitted for Walleyes!

Fishing Report updated 08/1/2011
The water is perfect for outstanding fishing. Crappies, Bass, Northern, Sunnies and Walleye are red hot and the stories are flooding our store with great catches. Make sure you check us out on Facebook and 'Like Us' then upload your pictures of your fishing trips.

Walleye: Coming on strong as the seasons progresses. As they are suspended about 15-25 feet, they can still be found in the bullrush and rocky shallow reefs. Fishing in deeper water, we suggest using Fly Way spinners. Whether you slip bobber, Lindy Rig, or cast your spinners you will find some good keepers in our beautiful clear water lakes. Worm or single hook harnesses are are effective for your walleye. Tip them with a leech or a nightcrawler and fish late evening or night for best results.

Northern Pike: Pike are feeding on anything that are crossing their path. Activity is hot, with many area lakes boasting above state averages for both numbers and size. Look for deep cabbage weeds and drop in your Mepps Syclops and other spinner baits to draw them out. The bite is soft still, but let them take the lure and set your hook deep. It is never a bad idea to have a set of jaw spreaders in your tackle box to make life easier when retrieving your treble hooks. Other hot baits will produce great results like the: 5 Of Diamonds (Eppinger Dardevle Spoons), Fly Way Spinner baits, and much much more! Recent testing results show that the Hart Spinner with the ball-bearing willow spoon is proving AMAZING results.

Crappie: Bright colors and light colored shiny jigs are finding these great tasting fish about 10-16 feet deep in clear water lakes. If you are up in the reeds, don't be suprised to see them hunting little worms like wax worms or other larva. Crappie are active hunters this time of year, and if you find a school, stay on it until thy stop for garanteed fun. Using a Northland Thumper Crappie tipped with a Fathead minnow will certainly bring success!

Bass: Rock Bass are biting strong 4-6 feet deep on nightcrawlers with simple bobber fishing (perfect for anchoring great memories for kids). Largemouth Bass are hanging out in the shallows near the reeds and lilly pads. Casting plastics and drawing them out are certain ways to increase the action. Go weedless, of course, and use hooks of black adn blue colors with a crawfish or chunk bait.

Muskey: Mepps Muskykillers and other large spinner baits are deadly this year for great fish hunters. Look for warmer muskey lakes with temperatures 64 degrees and up. Bright colors and large action spinners are in stock at Smokey Hills Outdoor Store, so stop on in and let the fun begin!

Pan Fish: They are biting strong on nightcrawers, wax worms, angle worms and scented plastics. If you are looking for a easy meal or entertaining the kids with some fishing, you ca't miss! Try baiting a small weighted jig with a little plastic tube bait instead of a bare hook, and you will extend your times between rebaiting. The sunnies will certainly bite quicker on live bait, but if you are spending your time fishing for worms from a container for kids instead of fishing yourself too, you will enjoy a great alternative to constant re-baits. A red tube bait with flecked yellow or silver tails will work wonderful for this method.

Any questions on what to pack your tackle box with or just wanting to check which lakes are hot, please stop in to see us. If you stop in today (7/4) we have free soft drinks, and watermelon in celebration of Independence Day. Have a great holiday and stay safe out there fishing!

 

Best lakes around Park Rapids:

Fish Hook Lake

Island Lake

Portage Lake

Two Inlets

Potato Lake

Long Lake

Best Lures:

Come in and check out our full line selection!

Best Baits:

Fatheads, Golden Shiners, Leeches, Crappie Minnows, Wax Worms and Nightcrawlers