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We're right in the throes of hot July weather and I'm told the bass fishing on area lakes couldn't be better. I spoke with the guys at Frankie's Live Bait and Marine this morning, and reports are that despite the scorching, humid weather, the bass fishing on area lakes has been tremendous. Concentrate your efforts near docks, weedlines and submerged stumps with jig-worms and Texas-rigged worms. Also, try throwing fat-bodied crankbaits along weedlines and into the lily pads.

I should once again remind you that all largemouth 12-inch and larger must be immediately released on both Chisago Lake and South Lindstrom Lake. The intensive management regulations imposed seven years ago have produced world-class bass fishing on these lakes, and it was reported again this season that Chisago Lake is indeed one of the Midwest's very best bass lakes.

Although the walleyes begin to move to deeper water this time of year, they are by no means impossible to catch. Work the soft-to-hard bottom transition zone in 18 to 24 feet of water pulling live bait rigs, or, suspend a jumbo leech under a slip-bobber. Needle Point on South Center Lake and the area around Nelson's Island on North Center Lake have given up fish during the evening hours. Pulling leech rigs or night crawlers behind a floating spinner rig are time-tested summer approaches.

Personally, largemouth bass have never tripped my trigger, but after talking to Brad at Frankie's Bait this morning, I just might take up my 7-weight fly rod and give those big boys a whirl this weekend. And if nobody's looking, I might even yell "Hooey son! Nice bass!" once or twice like the pros do. Well, probably not. I couldn't live with myself if I did.

Dan Brown's weekly outdoor column is brought to you by Frankie's Bait and Marine, in Chisago City, and St. Croix Outdoors, in St. Croix Falls, Wis.

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