Minnesota fishing guide Matt Johnson of Matt Johnson Outdoors gives his latest Lake Minnetonka fishing report on July 9th, 2024.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: 7-9-24
Lake Minnetonka and the surrounding Metro area lakes have been fishing well as the summer heat hits. A variety of species are being caught and the fishing has remained good even as we enter the dog days of summer.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Bass
The fishing has been best early in the morning and late in the evenings. There is a slow period between 10 am and 4 pm. Bass have moved deeper with the water temps rising to the mid-seventies. The best fishing has been in twenty to twenty-five feet of water with a majority of the fish coming off the bottom. We are still seeing some fish shallower still but it seems like a majority of the active fish have moved deeper.
We are finding a lot of the fish are grouped up right now. This has lead to some pretty great fishing. If you can find one it’s a safe bet more are close by. Look for bass on insides turns, sunken points, and along the deeper weed lines. Take advantage of your electronics. Utilize 2D sonar and mapping to locate the key areas. Focus on the taller and more sparse weeds, instead of the super dense stuff.
Baits:
The Ned Rig has been the number one producing bait for fish. Use heavier heads to get down to the deeper depths. A 1/4-ounce head with a green pumpkin trailer is going to be very effective. Drop shots are also producing fish. A watermelon and green pumpkin trick worms on a drop shot rig has been very effective especially for those fish a little higher in the column. Jig worms continue to produce bites as well.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Walleye
Walleye are still being caught eight to fifteen of water. Those fish are really hugging the weed lines and are sitting in the weeds even more than the bass. Fishing slow has been the best way to trigger bites. The walleyes are so tucked up into the weeds it really helps to take your time dissecting the weed beds. Ned rigs and other weedless soft plastics are catching fish.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Panfish
The bluegill and crappie have been schooled up and are easy to find on electronics right now. The crappies have been super aggressive and the fishing is just as good as it is in the spring. Look for turns in the weediness, humps, or points. Similar to last week the fish are suspended in water deeper than ten feet up and can be found as deep as twenty-five feet. A majority of the time they are sitting high in the water column sometimes only four feet down. 2-D sonar and side imaging have worked great for locating these schools of crappies.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Pike and Muskie
Pike are being caught on DT10s trolled in open water off of deeper weedlines. Some nice fish are being caught. Muskies can also be caught casting jerkbaits or spinnerbaits off of those deeper weed linesl. Muskie fishing has remained good and with blades still producing lots of fish. Anglers also having some success fishing rubber baits deeper.
