we were on the potholes water at sunrise, ran north, and started fishing well into the west-side dunes. channels between the dunes are easily discernable now, as the annual irrigation drawdown is well underway. water depths were 8 to 15 feet with lots of fish showing up on sonar, and plenty of carp on the surface. but nothing bit, so we then trolled walleye spinners along the face of the dunes in 20 to 30 feet of water, with a “spin-n-glow” spinner on one rod and a “smile blade” on the other. again, no hits except for a lone perch that gobbled up the slow-moving spinner worm.

earlier, at the launch ramp, a bass-boat fisherman who was launching said he encountered slow action the day before.

there were about 10 fishing boats along the westerly edge of the dunes, all well spread out. one that we passed close to reported no fish action, and we didn’t notice any nets being readied or other activity that would signal “fish on.” surface water temperature outside of the dunes was in the upper 60’s; the cool night-time temperatures and breezes apparently have helped keep the water temp down some.

by 9:30 or 10:00 the water-ski and wave runner activity picked up some, and we decided to head home and take a nap.

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