Yesterday, my boys and I did a little pre-fishing on Lac La Belle and caught a few crappie, several perch and a couple rock bass. Bugs (no-seums) were bad and Bruce, my 6 year old was getting eaten up bad so we went back to the cottage early. 
Cooked up one of the crappie for a bed-time snack… very tasty and delicate fish! For recipes, see http://www.crappie.com/recipe/all.html
This morning at 6:40, I casted off my dock with the 19 foot Harbercraft, the “Helm-n-Buoys” for a morning out with Doctor Mike, Professor Doug and Mother Deb. Tried for a short time near shore on Bete Grise, but was too windy to stay, so we fished the inland waters. Picked up a couple smallmouth, pike, rock bass and perch, but nothing really big. 
Caught the small mouth bass on live perch that we caught the day before and had another one on, but was lost at the boat. Bass are also good to eat this time of year… try this: http://www.bassonhook.com/fishforfood/bassrecipes.html
A copper color meps spinner was the lure of choice for the pike, liver perch for the small mouth bass and crawlers on leaded jig heads under a bobber for the perch and rock bass. No sunnys and, not suprisingly, no crappie in the middle of the day.
The “Longest Day” fishing tournament is going on today here at Lac La Belle, (also out of Eagle Harbor, Lake Medora and Copper Harbor) with about 170 boats involved. The biggest prizes are for Lake Trout, Splake and Walleye. Good luck to all the tournament fishermen!
Lake Superior is a little nasty now with a strong east wind. Taking the next couple of days off, back to it again on Tuesday next week.
Brian Helminen
