With all those anglers chasing walleyes, Johnson said almost nobody knows there are huge northerns in the lake. The cabbage breaklines are best for pike in 12 to 16 feet of water. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are mostly found near the mouths of the Otter Tail and Dead rivers. Crappies are also found on the lake, and Johnson said they are tough to catch in August. But if you do catch one, expect it to be big.

Contacts: Walleye Hunter Guide Service, (218) 367-3494; Meister Guide Service, 1-877-540-6087 or www.meisterguideservice.com; Perham Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-634-6112 or www.perham.com.

LAKE WASHINGTON
Washington is busy in summertime with personal watercraft, water-skiers and anglers all jockeying for their share of the lake. This would deter many anglers, but Geoff Mead of the Bobber Shop in Mankato said that's a big mistake. "We've fished Washington when it seemed like every jet-ski in the world was out there and we've always done well."

Call it a lucky coincidence, but it speaks to the bountiful multi-species possibilities that can be found on Washington. The lake is sprayed for weeds in the summer, and Mead said finding the areas where the weeds remain is the key.

"The area around the grassy island is great for a number of different fish, including crappies, walleyes, northerns and largemouths," Mead said. Trolling is a popular technique for walleyes in this location. There is also a sunken island in the main bay that is good out to the deep water near the adjacent point. Lindy Rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or small chubs are the best choices for attracting these fish, especially walleyes.

Just because there aren't any weeds doesn't mean that there aren't any fish. Mead said a lot of large walleyes come out of Baker's Bay when trolling the flat in 8 feet of water during the evening hours. Jointed Shad Raps are excellent for all species, with the best colors being fire-tiger and black.

Contacts: The Bobber Shop, (507) 625-8228 or www.bobbershopfishing.com; Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-657-4733 or www.greatermankato.com.

WOMAN LAKE
Dan Krone spends a lot of time on Cass County's Woman Lake, both as a guide and as a commercial crayfish harvester. He's guided on the lake for seven years but has fished the lake for 27 years. All of this makes for a lot of time spent on the water, and Krone is excellent at reading the lake.

Woman Lake has a very healthy population of walleyes and northerns, an ample supply of largemouth bass, crappies and sunfish, and a catchable amount of smallmouth bass. "I take people out fishing for all of those species and we usually catch quite a variety no matter what we're going after," Krone said.

An exotic species of crayfish have pretty much decimated the lush weeds that used to line the lake, but when you find weeds, chances are there will be fish in the area. In the summer, walleyes, northerns, largemouths and crappies tend to relate to clumps of sandgrass and coontail on the main lake. The walleyes also relate to the deep breaklines found along the numerous points, bars and rock humps of the main lake.

Krone said big pike are a good bet along the thermocline thanks to a healthy forage base of tullibees. "There are a ton of northerns in the perfect eating range of 2 to 3 pounds in the walleye areas, and I'll usually catch 20 to 25 pike in a half-day."

Contacts: Lake State Taxidermy & Guide Service, (218) 363-2767 or www.fishingminnesota.com/lakestate; Longville Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-756-7583 or www.longville.com.

Enjoy your fishing smorgasbord!