Over the years I've fished them all. Collectively referred to as the "big four" reservoirs north of Duluth, they include Wild Rice, Fish, Island and Boulder. They all have their own personalities, and they fish a little differently, but collectively they are pumping out a lot of fish this summer.

Honestly, I stumbled onto this bite. The main goal was to escape the heat. This past weekend, I shuttled boatloads of our own kids, neighborhood kids, and nieces and nephews, along with their parents to a campsite for an afternoon of splashing around. Island, Fish, and Boulder are lined with public...