Balsam Lake
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Balsam Lake Fishing Reports
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Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Panfish / BluegillTechniqueVertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')SeasonWinterStructureLedges- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSummerStructureSubmerged VegetationFish were scattered due to the recent cold weather. Most fish were found deep 7-12' and in cleaner water.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueStructure JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureRock Pile
Outing date 04/06/2024, fished from 8am to 230pm. Cool morning, clear skies, warming up. Wind was light to begin and picked up throughout the day, to end quite breezy. Water temps ranged from about 41 to 47 at the warmest. Saw largemouth and pike and panfish up shallow in the warmest water, but no interest in baits. Tried drop off near rocky point and caught two sow bellies in about 9 to 10 feet of water flipping and dragging an All Terrain jig with Yamamotocraw on back. 19.5 and 18 inches within 5 minutes at about 1pm. Had another biggie follow to the boat in the same location, about same size or bigger. Tried the Mastiff line but didn't notice much difference over my typical Invisx and Spro Gouken fluorocarbon lines, more time needed to see if it is better or not. Overall a good day with the two big fish.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueNeko RigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureDocks
Tough day! Water temps still pretty low. Find warmer water and you'll find the fish whether or not they bite anything is the question!
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueStructure JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePoints
The outing was for 4/12/2025. Fished from about 8am to 2pm. Water temps were primarily in the 43 to 44 range. Found up to 47 in a very small protected bay. This is where I caught my one small fish of the day on a senko. Otherwise very slow day. High pressure, blue bird skies for the start of the day with wind builing all day out of the south. Started out with air temps below 40, eventually warmes up into the 50s. We tried some of everything in the normal prespawn areas outside of obvious spawning areas. Jerkbaits, nope. Jigs, nope. Drop shot minnow baits, nope. Bloody mary at the Thirsty Otter was the highlight of the outing!
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueStructure JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureBrush PilesFlipping Cage Fighter within floating bogged lily pad roots for this 5.3lb Wisco GIANT
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureSubmerged Vegetation
The warmer weather front from last weekend pushed them up to 4-10 ft of water. Chatterbait was productive along with crankbait
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureLaydownsPre spawn stained water is a great time to fish laydowns. I like to cruise areas with a chatterbait and then slow down with the jig thorough key areas or areas that just look extra good. I like to fish the chatter on straight fluoro this time of year in particular. It slows everything down a bit. The jig I also like on straight fluoro. Look for wood with warming dirty water and you should find some big ones.
