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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | I remember my first full summer of guiding on LOTW was 2009 like it was yesterday. The season started cool and wet and the water temps never stabilized above 70 until Labor Day weekend. I recall listening to the Kenora radio station and if I recall correctly, the average high temp for the month of July in Kenora was 59! NOAA reported the upper Midwest as "Much Below" the average temperature and the Ohio valley was seeing record low highs for July 2009.
The start of this summer seems a lot like 2009 with lots of precipitation and cold front after cold front.
I will say that as far as LOTW the early season was actually very good from opener until late June. Even with cool surface temps it was probably one of the best top water bites I have seen on the woods in a while. As I recall July and August were spotty but early September was incredible! Mid lake structure fishing was pretty sad in July as surface temps only topped out at about 68-69. Water temps peaked the first week of September and it was like July with fish crawling all over mid lake structure. Never forget having the lake mostly to myself after Labor Day weekend and fish going crazy!
Any thoughts on this summer weather pattern?
Heading to the woods this weekend and Kenora forecast is looking pretty good but everyone knows that a weather forecast for LOTW is not all that reliable.
Ed |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I hope the water up there warms up...  not like last summer tho, that was too hot.. prefer a nice stable 75 degrees. Good luck up there! |
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Location: oswego, il | I remember that too. Our club had an outing on lotw in september and they creamed the muskies fishing like it was july. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | That was a great year. The big fish seemed to stay shallower pretty much all season. Now if I could find time to get out...... The salmon are liking this weather for sure. So that's keeping me occupied in the mean time.
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Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | tuffy1 - 6/26/2017 2:56 PM
That was a great year. The big fish seemed to stay shallower pretty much all season. Now if I could find time to get out...... The salmon are liking this weather for sure. So that's keeping me occupied in the mean time.
It is nuts, people still getting quick limits of coho like it is march and april. You should see 70 degree surface temps on an east wind it is still mid 50's
Edited by ToddM 6/26/2017 4:29 PM
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Posts: 43
Location: Central IA | OK , the kid and so I are going to be up on LOTW the 3rd week of July and temps are supposed to be under historical averages until then. Any suggestions where fish will be found. Not asking for your secret spot but in 2009 were the fish up in the shallows or on the rocks or out deep. We were up last year in August and I missed more fish in the week than I had seen the previous 2 summers. Our boat is having a tough year so far and I was really looking forward to better times. Thanks for any help. |
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Location: Not far enough north! | For me in 09 they seemed to be more on major shorelines not the mid lake stuff. |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | DM,
I wouldn't worry about it just yet. If when you arrive the water temps are in the low to mid 70's the mid lake bite should be going strong. If the summer continues to be cooler than normal like it was in 2009 I would still check out mid lake structure but fish it differently. Those fish are still there just not on top of the structure so cranks or probing the deeper nooks and edges around the structure is key. The heat (not too much) gets them up on top of the structure. If your not seeing fish on the mid lake stuff early in the day try back later in the day as some days it takes the fish some time to crawl up on top after the sun starts beating on the rocks.
2009 like was said before was a very bad mid lake structure year. Most of the fish I caught were caught along shorelines that had structure that extended out from shorelines. Also sand bays were very good as they tend to hold the heat better. During cold fronts tobacco clumps and nooks can be very good but you have to slow down and pick them apart with twitch baits or jerk baits.
The third week of July will be very busy around the NW Angle as a couple musky schools will be there during that week. Don't get frustrated if you can't get on the obvious mid lake stuff. Open your map and move away from the pressure.
Ed |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | ToddM - 6/26/2017 4:26 PM
It is nuts, people still getting quick limits of coho like it is march and april. You should see 70 degree surface temps on an east wind it is still mid 50's
Todd, It should be great for Salmon A Rama up by us in 4 weeks if it stays like this. The fish are all full of bait. I mean exploding with bait. We're finding anywhere from 3-7 magnum alewives in the ones we're cleaning. It's making it tough to musky fish. Although, the waves this week are brutal, so making it tough to get out. |
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Posts: 267
| I remember 09 being very cool. However, 85 all next week. |
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Weather setting up for another 2009 summer?