Dubtee

Dang Kid, that's tough, hoping your fix is easy and works out. Quick report: I went to Waconia this morning with an old friend who was in town on business. Had to cater to his limited abilities a little but definitely the first day for me that the bite seemed tougher. There are bluegills and crappie everywhere in the shallows and inside weedlines - the bass we caught were all dinks. Bluebird, post front with not a lot of wind out there, so I'm sure that didn't help. Also, tons of giant carp in the shallows spawning and carrying on dirtying up all the water in areas. i don't tend to find many bass around them when they are doing that, curious of other's experience? I would have just flipped the grassline if I was by myself, not sure if that would have been more productive or not.

I refer to these bass as cruisers, whether they are looking for a spot to make a bed, get on a bed, etc. doesn't matter to me. I feel like I can catch them as long as they don't see me or I spook them first. Depending on the conditions, I try to cast way ahead of me in the high percentage spots and hope I land it near one. I also think some of those cruisers are looking for the first bluegill spawners as well. Even if I can't get the super shallow fish to bite, I feel there are always good fish on that first piece of cover away from the spawning areas or that first line of grass - whether they are coming or going, not sure, but I believe I can entice them into biting. I'm with Gim and don't spend much time on a bedded fish, too slow for me.

I had a couple hours to kill on Saturday so I went out from about 2-4 pm and braved the wind. Water on the little lake was back down to 58-60. I caught a few decent ones shallow including my Minnesota PB, the good ones were on the reed line somewhat protected from the wind, but almost in it if that makes sense - like right on the seam. Once I got out in 6-8 fow in the teeth of the wind, the only thing I could effectively cast was a red eye shad. I did pick up a few bucks out there on it. The leeward side of the lake was calm and clear and I did see fish on beds - nothing giant. I could not get them to bite anything but I didn't spend much time on them either. I'd be really interested to know what the water temps are back down to after Sunday's cold monsoon.

I ended up getting out yesterday afternoon as well and destroyed them. Caught some real good females in very shallow water (warmest I found was 65). Biggest female was 4.85. Main lake was like 55 and I happened to stop at a point leading into a large bay and caught so many 1.5-2 lb males it wasn't even funny. Actually got tired of catching them, there must of been a giant group of them down there. Shallow fish were caught on a 3/8 chatter (but I think they would of ate anything), point fish were caught on a red eye shad and jerk bait in 6-10 fow, scattered grass.

Nice report fellas. Pretty much the same for me on the opener, went to small west side metro lake. Water was colder than I expected, warmest I found was 53. Wasn't a numbers day, but most all I caught were good ones. Best 5 went 20 lbs on the nose. 6-8 FOW, weed flats, lipless crank and chatter did the damage. I did get out yesterday as well and could not get bit in that 6-8 fow zone. I started seeing 60-63 degree water in the very back bays where some scattered lilys are starting to grow. Once I moved shallow, I started catching them on the chatter, but mostly males. I'd have to think those females are going to be right behind them here soon.

Hard to beat a good jig day, nice work. IS IT SATURDAY YET?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Does anyone have a good shop around the metro for reel repair? I have a 3-4 yr old revo winch that I have not used much that will simply not cast very far anymore. I've tried cleaning/lubing everything I could and it still won't cast - used to be able to sling a 6XD a mile on this thing. I've been reading this may be common with these reels, but thought I'd get a shop's opinion before I dumped it. Thanks in advance.

Could anyone tell me when the free 7'3'' shows up on the Duckett sale? I go to check out and don't see anything saying I'm getting a free rod.

Nice fish Star! I like the look of that spinner bait.

Had a buddy in town and we fished hard from Friday-Sunday morning at some of the west metro staples and absolutely got our butts kicked. Water temp was everywhere from 53-59 those days, wind was brutal on Friday and I don't think my hands have unfrozen yet. Threw the kitchen sink at them from 4 to 15 fow trying to focus on greenest grass we could find. Green Coontail in 7-10 fow was about the only thing I felt any confidence in - if you could find it on a wind blown point then all the better. I saw some curly leaf still having some green clinging to it, but everything else seems to be dying off pretty fast. Besides a couple randoms on a jig, swimbait, and chatter, the red eye shad had the most bites by far (and still not very many). Biggest was only 3.5 lbs. As @gimruis says, the pike are definitely on a rampage so my red eye shad supply is very short right now. It did seem the afternoons were better than the mornings as it was flat freaking cold starting out the day on Friday and Saturday. I couldn't help but think I needed to be in the deer stand this past weekend instead of on the water.

Anyone have a metro report form the past few days? I have a buddy coming into town this weekend and want to put him on a few. I tried last night on the west side and got my butt kicked although the pike were active.

Fry, this may be too late but with the breeze this morning, I'd focus on the movers - chatters, lipless, spinnerbaits even. If some chop, I like a buzzbait if there is shade or a little cloud cover. Guys, I am thinking about taking the family west to camp in a couple weeks. Has anyone fished Green Lake lately and could chime in on how the lake was? I have never fished out that way and looking for a lake or two to focus on while we're there. Thanks in advance for any input.

Got out Saturday morning, west side metro lake. Had water 68-70, slight breeze picked up as the sun came up. I ended up kind of junking around for the day. Not a numbers day at all, but the bass I did catch were quality. I noticed right away that the pads are starting to recede, like very noticeably in a week. Started off near the pad line with heavy grass near a deep water hole, and stuck a 4 on a popper as my first fish - I thought it was going to be the day of all days. Caught another 2lb on the popper then moved on to a main like point as I wanted to throw the whopper plopper. Got to the point, long one, 4-6 FOW with submerged grass - had several swipes at the plopper, but none would eat it. I had the 110 size on and thought about downsizing to the 90, but didn't want to waste time. Started throwing a red craw colored red eye shad, ripping off the grass and caught a couple shorts and several slimers, but nothing notable. Moved to another underwater ridge, 5-6 fow submerged grass and caught a skinny 3.5 on a jig. Threw a chatter a lot in this area and nothing. Lastly, moved to a 5' grass flat where I normally catch them good on a jig. With the wind picking up and blowing directly on this area, I traded the red red eye shad for a blue colored one and first cast caught a nearly 5 pounder. Next cast caught a big ol pike and I thought I had something going. Had another real good quality bass come unbuttoned, but I felt like I was on to something then. Then I had to go, so I couldn't really finish out the pattern, but it did seem that the fall bite is coming on quick. I bet the weather coming in next week really gets them chomping. One thing to note. I definitely got caught up by KVD a while ago when he says to switch out your stock trebles for the short shank EWGs. It seems like once I started, every fish literally has a face full of hooks - like so many in them I feel bad sometimes. I didn't switch them out on the blue red eye shad I was throwing as it was new and I got lazy. Not saying the one I had come off was because of that, but you never know. I do know the lures I have switched them out on are a pain to get out of the fish. Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone having trouble losing fish with trebles.

Nice TM punch, you'll love it. Nice report Fry. I'm headed out tomorrow morning for a 1/2 day bite and have a plopper tied on and ready. Supposed to be a little chop, so I am expecting some mega blow ups!

Great report guys. I'll make it out later this week and report back. Need to try that scrounger head it looks like! Nice fish @sully420. Spent a week in central IN for work last week and took the sticks to fish with a buddy. We fished a Tuesday nighter on a decent place and freaking 3.5 lbs won it. Talk about pressure and tough fishing! We sure have it good up here in MN.