Mosquito Lake's Summer Walleye

By Jeff Knapp

Mosquito Lake continues to be the state's top inland walleye lake. Though saugeyes have replaced walleyes in many of the state's impoundments, Mosquito continues to provide a top-notch walleye fishery.
Mosquito could be considered the state's walleye factory. The lake produces the 'eyes needed to fuel the Division of Wildlife's walleye and saugeye stocking programs. The state puts a lot of fish back into Mosquito to ensure its status as not only an excellent fishing lake, but a good source of brood stock, as well. Over 15 million fry were stocked in Mosquito during the spring of 2004. Based on 2004 creel survey results, the average size of a Mosquito Lake walleye keeper is 15.2 inches. While it's possible to catch walleyes in the 20-inch range there, this is not a place with trophy potential. Mosquito is where you go hoping for a few fish for the pan.
At 7,241 acre, Mosquito Lake is one of the larger inland waters in the state. It is a fairly shallow lake, one that can catch quite a bit of wind, especially when the wind comes from the north or south. The oblong-shaped lake lies in a north/south configuration.
Anglers can expect to find stained water in Mosquito Lake, particularly in the northern part of the lake. When conditions are stable, though, the water can clear up quite a bit in the southern end. I found this to be the case last summer.
The lake is divided into two separate basins by the Route 88 causeway, located near Mecca. Boats can move from one end of the lake to the other simply by passing under the causeway bridge, but clearance can be an issue. If the lake is up, or you have high windshields on your boat, there could be a problem. Windy conditions, which make the ride under the bridge bumpy, add to the hazard. If you store rods in vertical racks, lay them down. Stern lights can be at risk too, as I found out one day when I had mine yanked out of the boat and deposited into the water. Obviously, pontoon boats and other tall craft are a no-no here. There is good boat access on each side of the causeway on the east side.
Summertime walleyes on Mosquito Lake can be found in a variety of areas and depths. Gizzard shad make up a good portion of the walleyes' diet, so there is a strong connection there. Walleyes feeding on shad often suspend, and will show up well on the sonar unit. But in a large, diverse system such as Mosquito, it's a good bet some fish will be eating young panfish and minnows, fish likely to be using the cover of shallow weeds and wood.
A good summer game plan on Mosquito is to spend some time working shallow flats that hold stumps and weeds. Such a stump field exists along the west side of the lake, south of the causeway. Pulling spinner harnesses tipped with either live crawlers or artificial ones behind bottom bouncer sinkers can quickly cover water. Berkley Power Crawlers and Gulp! Crawlers are effective, and provide a good option when perch and panfish are picking off the tail of the crawler. Walleyes can be pulled out from the weeds by casting a jig back into open pockets, much like a bass fisherman does. Swimming style jigs tipped with a small piece of plastic worm or a live ribbon leech are very effective for pulling â¤˜eyes out of the weeds.
The spinner/bottom bouncer tactic is good along the weed edge and out over stumps. When working over the stumps, pull in enough line so the sinker just ticks the top of the stump. Otherwise you'll spend most of the day hung up. Move the boat along at about 1 mph. A good GPS will allow you to work along weed edges with precision, thanks to the trail feature. A mapping program will show bottom structure. I used Navionics' Premium map card last summer and the Mosquito map was unbelievably accurate. It was almost like playing a video game; watching the boat move along on the map and seeing the contour changes take place on the sonar. Good electronics like this are a definite asset for precision fishing.
Getting back to the lake, there is also a good extensive stump field located off Rattlesnake Island, in the northern part of the lake. The lower end of the lake is productive near the cemetery.
While the shallow water bite can be good, it also pays to plan on spending some time trolling open water for suspended fish. The main lake portion of the southern basin can be especially good, with fish suspended over the 15 to 20-foot depths. Last summer, I took fish on crankbaits and spoons. It's also a good way to take oversized crappies.
Bait shops are located near Mecca and the state park. A public launch just south of the causeway puts you in the middle of things. A private landing on the north side of the causeway has a ramp for a nominal fee, and will help you with your boat. This can be a nice touch during a windy day or when you are by yourself. On the southern end of the lake there is a good access at Mosquito State Park, as well as another private marina nearby.
The lake has no horsepower restrictions, though speed limits are in place. Refer to the posters at the access sites.