I am a little worried about Sprague Lake. The water temperatures are starting at 54 deg. (1 foot depth) and reaching into the high 50's to low 60's. This should have the Walleye on a serious bite. The normal start of hot fishing for this lake is usually Mother's Day Weekend (last week). After two straight weekends of fishing, my fish count is 2 walleye (15-1/2" and 17-1/2") and one bass (16-3/4"). By informal survey I may be about the only one catching anything. Note that I usually catch and release about 20 per day this time of year (water temperature adjusted), I know my walleye.

I talked to a gentleman who seems to know the lake and methods, and he claimed that the two previous years of low water and overpopulation have left the lake sick. He claimed he caught walleye a month ago with leaches on them. Now this would not bother me if bass had leaches on them (some of the healthiest bass lakes show that sign), but walleyes should not show that problem.

Has anyone else directly observed any problems with this lake?

Good luck and good fishing.

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