Lake Lookout Shoals
Published: Updated:
Lake Lookout Shoals Fishing Reports
Filter by
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Boulders
Species
Catfish
Season
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
82°
During the dead of summer, I went out to the river to see if I can even catch anything. Usually during this time of year, it’s so hot nothing really wants to eat. The best way to catch any fish during this time of year when it’s so hot is to use live bait. Today I used a cast net and caught some shad and use them as bait. I was free lining the live shad on my megabass orochii enforcer spinning rod with a vanford 4000. I had 20lb braid to 20lb mono leader. I was using a size 1 hook for free lining because the smaller hooks allows the bait to swim more freely. I casted the bait out into deepest areas that was atleast 10 ft deep and let the bait swim around until it got bit. I was able to get a couple big blue catfish using this method. This technique allows me to catch almost any species in the river. But this day, only catfish was biting the live bait.
Species
Catfish
Season
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
82°
On a hot summer day, I decided to go out to the river where there is some moving water and bait running to fish. This particular part of the river I’m fishing is relatively shallow with some deep holes. I went out early in the morning and threw the cast net around to get some live shad to use. The shad I got was about 4-6 inches long. I would free line these shad out into those deep pockets for whatever bites. I was free lining these big shad on my st croix mojo bass spinning 7’1 MH with a shimano vanford 4000. I had 20ln braid with a 20lb mono leader for abrasion against rocks in the river. I was using a size 1 mosquito hook to hook these shad. I like using a smaller hook with this technique because the smaller hook allows the bait to swim more naturally. The deep hole I was fishing was about 10-20ft deep. In one of those holes, I was able to get a big flat head catfish to bite my free swimming shad. When it’s dead of summer, the best technique is to find moving cooler water and live bait.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Carolina Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
This is my favorite time of the year to fish this lake not to mention it has a lot of quality bites to offer. Start early at sunrise covering as much water as possible by paralleling the shoreline with a buzzbait or most moving topwaters. Alot of bites should come early. By mid morning move up river and look for rock piles and use a natural presentation such as a carolina rig and drag it slow. Then as the sun gets up higher target some docks near the lower end as they should generate a few bites. Always be ready when setting the hook as it could be a 5+ pounder on any bite because this lake holds big fish!
Species
Catfish
Season
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Dam
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
80°
Today I went to a dam in the dead of summer to try to catch some fish. With the dam not running and really hot summer day, I decided to use live bait. I was able to cast net some live alewife shad and use them as bait. Today I was just free lining these shad on my st croix mojo bass spinning 7’1 MH with my stradic 4000. On my stradic 4000, I had 20lb powerpro braid and 20 mono leader to help with abrasion against the rocks. I was throwing these shad on a 1/0 owner octopus hook to let it swim freely. If you throw a hook too big, it will weight down the bait and won’t swim naturally. I’ve caught a handful of big catfish just letting my shad free line. Because it’s dead of summer and no current, throwing live bait is one of the most effective techniques to catch any type of fish. Almost anything will eat a live bait, especially at dams.
Species
Walleye
Season
Summer
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
78°
This morning was mostly cloudy and little to no wind. As I was fishing today, I caught a walleye on a jerkbait. Walleyes are really rare in lakes around here. I’ve never seen a walleye till today. I caught this nice 3lb walleye on the megabass vision 110 jr in about 5ft of water. I was throwing this jerkbait on the megabass orochi x enforcer paired with a daiwa ballistic 2500 lt. I had 15lb braid with 12lb mono leader on it. I was also using a snap today. I like using a quick snap when I’m throwing jerkbait because it gives the jerkbait more action and it is easier to switch out a bait. Beside this walleye, I also caught a couple spotted bass on the jerkbait. Although I caught this rare walleye and a couple bass, today was still a slow day. In the hot summer season, it seems like I catch way more fish early in the morning when the sun isn’t all the way up yet or after sunrise when the water is cooler.
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 13'+
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Shad
Look for deeper water near points with rock or rip rap. If you're getting snagged, you're fishing it right. A lot of bass will chase the lure into the shallow water, so be sure to fish it all the way to the boat.