The main lake walleye action is heating up in 15 to 25 feet of water, according to Don Wilkins. Anglers are finding great success using slow death rigs with crawlers or minnows, while a subtle switch to dragging jigs on the bottom or trolling way out the back is keeping the bite consistent when things slow down. If you’re looking for lake trout, head deep to the 95- to 105-foot flats where working a heavy laker jig and paddletail 10 to 15 feet off the bottom is producing excellent results. Here’s Don’s report as of July 3, 2026:
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Walleye– lots fish 15-25 FOW on most of the main lake areas we fished this week. Slow death hook with a crawler or minnow with a small prop blade or single bead was the deal for the most part. When it got tough we switched to jigs and crawlers or minnows and drug them slowly on the bottom.
We also picked up a few nice walleye dragging a 3/8 ounce jig with a minnow way out the back of the boat while we were pulling bottom bouncers. Speed was 1-1.2
Lakers– Deep flat areas 95-105 are holding lots fish. Best luck for us was a Walleye Hunter Tackle 3/4 ounce laker jig with a 4.8” Kietech paddletail worked 10-15 feet of the bottom
Editor’s note: Corrected the intro to reflect the guide’s report that laker jigs were worked 10 to 15 feet off the bottom, not just off the bottom.
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