FishingMN

I have frog fished quite a bit over lillypads in the past and done ok, but on a recent outing I had about 10 missed blowups in a row! It was sunny and windy and I was fishing in the heavier/denser lillypads. I had a new lunkerhunter (although i usually use spro) frog on that was smaller, popping, and i had shortened the tail significantly to try to increase hits, but it didn't seem to help. I was moving the frog very slow and pausing for up to 3 seconds in the tiny spaces between pads. Even odder I could throw back to the same spot and get another blowup or even a 3rd blowup from the same fish! I tried throwing a texas rigged creature in but they didn't take it. It was to far back and a bit to thick to throw a followup worm I think. What can i do to increase hookup to blow up ratio? Was it the bright sunlight that caused bad aim? The blowups weren't small, so i don't think it was just small fish. Were the bass just trying to knock the frog into the water for a second hit? Did i make it worse by shortening the frog legs? I can't help but imagine how the fishing trip would have been so much better if even 25% of the blowups results in a catch! How can I convert that interest by the bass into an actual catch??

I use a 1/4 weight and a plastic bead. I have to retie about every 20 casts because small nicks/damage on the 12lb fluorocarbon line that seems to form around where the bead is. Does anyone else have this problem? I don't like retying.

Thanks. But what's curious to me is these bass aren't really pinned to a bed. They seem to be roaming in the general area of where beds are, but not on a bed.

I have a question for everyone.... When surface water temps hit around 65 to 68, in the past, I will see plenty of bass up shallow in 1 to 4 fow. They may or may not be on beds. Most will look like they are just cruising. I might see 30 bass in a day, and cast for hours, so I am sure my bait passed double that number.. but with no bites. Maybe 1 or 2 max.. and those are real little ones. Are they just thinking about spawning so much that they won't bite? Is there anyway to coax them in to biting? What method would be best? Or is this the normal, impossible behavior at this water temp?

any shore, river, smallie fishing spots I should check out before the rivers freeze? nw metro would be best

try to find pencil reeds next to (interspersed with) other weeds with the most life around in 4fow on cass lake. Try texas rigged, wacky or, chatterbait. see my previous posts from a few days ago on cass lake

cass lake seems much better..btw. long idle over there, but 10 bass with largest being almost 4lbs

Well so far I've caught 3. so I guess I am doing ok in a non bass lake. Actually, i think they pull into this lake in the spring and then thin out later in the year is my guess. Thanks for the info I should have looked up dnr info Thanks! We did bring trailer. We will try Grace. Sounds fun. I did find a few on wolf using a keitech or a chatterbait in the pencil reeds.. 4ft water. Thanks guys for the help. Did find 3 bass on wolf. (2+, 2+, 3+ lbs) but appears population of bass is thin.. haven't yet ventured to the other lakes.

Does anyone know if there are largemouth bass on Wolf Lake up near bemidji? I will be spending a week in that area. Curious if there are any good tips on finding the bass. Last time there only found northern (smallish) and some walleye, but couldn't connect with a single bass. It does connect to Andruisa Lake and Cass Lake if I wanted to spend a long time idling through a mile of channels. So kinda curious about those lakes too. Any pointers would be helpful. Have a great week everyone!

have the fish started to move deeper?

water temp 75ish mid size west/north lakes today. Was near 80 earlier this week. CRAZY.

I think a lot of lakes are starting to get to the clear stage, before they become stained/green again. I am impressed they were biting the chatterbait in the clear waters is why I asked. I have been doing ok with a keitech with a very slightly weighted hook and/or a minus 1ft mini crankbait. I like the fluke Idea. Did you have any weight added to the fluke?

water clear or stained?

that's what i've been noticing too.

finding lots of .5 to 1.5 lbers shallow. Some on beds. Water temp 63-65. Where are the more sizable fish?