Minnesota Lake Reports 2016

[FishingMN]

1 hour ago, Jeff H said:

I'm done.  Was out for 4.5 hrs on Chisago today and banged a bunch of 3 lb'ers on jerkbaits and football heads but no big bites.  Very happy to end season on a good bite.

Also caught at least 8 gators and donated 1 Lucky Craft Pointer 100 to the cause.  I hope that slimebag gets it stuck in his throat and feeds himself to the turtles!

Water temp was 50-51.5.  Pretty warm yet for November so still good fishing to be had. Would love to go again next weekend but I gotta do some hunting.

what depth were they in?

got just one fish today, on a spinnerbait in about 3 feet of water, among lillypads.  Still trying to figure their location out after their last move.

[Jeff H]

36 minutes ago, FishingMN said:

what depth were they in?

got just one fish today, on a spinnerbait in about 3 feet of water, among lillypads.  Still trying to figure their location out after their last move.

3-6 ft depths.  I was throwing Rapala Shadow Raps on the shallower side and the Pointer 100's a bit deeper.  Dragged the footballs in the same areas  What lake were you fishing?

[geneoh]

Weird morning of fishing. Had a dink bass on and a huge pike attacked it while I was reeling it in and I almost landed both. Also caught a walleye ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[rascalP]

Jeff,   we fished Chisago last thursday and really struggled. We saw dozens of nice fish cruising around remaining patches of cabbage in 3-4 fow, but could not get them to bite. Came back several times, even at dusk, and they would not bite. Tried it all. Knowing there were so many fish in these areas meant a lot of switching baits. We did catch a few small ones in another part of the lake, similar weedbeds.  Water temps were 52-53.  Tough.

  Today I fished another area lake that has been real reliable and got blanked on bass.  I only had a few hours and only got a few pike.  Water temp was 50-51.   I read an article not long ago about rising water temps in the fall tend to shut down bass. Speaking for myself, it's been true.    Heading to the Croix tomorrow.

[Fiske]

Alas...the lake I know so well hasn't been very kind to me this fall.
Fished her for 4 hrs yesterday with little to show. WT 51.8

Anyway,,,time to put the gear away,,,prepare for winter,,,and maybe see a chiropractor,,,

 

[NathanDLTH]

Fished St. Croix this Sunday, my friend and I hammered the smallmouth bass. We easily caught 30+ fish from 7am-3pm. The big hitters were swim bait w/ 3/8 oz and jerkbait Bream color. The morning bite was the best, afternoon it died off hard. 

Also after fishing with a Shimano Curado reel for part of the day, I think I've fallen in love lol! My top reels now are Abu, Shimano, and Diawa. 

[IamNewbie]

Been skunked the last two times I've been out. 4 hours each day with nothing to show... not even a single Pike.

 

It's getting real slow, folks.

[FrogFreak]

Went out last weekend and caught 6 on a jig/craw in 4-6 feet of water on wood mostly. In my yak since my boat is winterized so no idea what the water temp was. Biggest was 4.02 on the scale. 

I fish up around the Park Rapids area. I'm planning on going this Sunday again. My experience lately has been that they are quite inactive in the afternoon and I have to be very patient. Much better bite in the morning. I have been sticking with a jig/craw combo but now that I hear about you guys throwing swim baits with success, I may try some of that this weekend. Thank you for all the reports! It's quite helpful.

[rascalP]

Fished the Croix wed. and thurs.  Bite was pretty good. The numbers were better on wednesday, but size was better on thursday with quite a few 14-17" and one tank at 201/2".  All were caught on a tube or jig/pitboss in 12-20 fow.  The water temp was 48-49 wed.  47-48 thur.  It was a nice change from chasing LM with 6 or 7 different rods.

    It's still not over. I had one of my best crankbait bites ever at 42 degree water temp.

[geneoh]

Had a couple of hours on Medicine this morning. Worked the back cove for most of the time and got nothing but small northers in the deeper spots. Went out on the main lake and fished a small sunkin island for 30 minutes and caught a 4 and 4.75, both on a deeper running jerkbait. WT: 47-48

One thing worth mentioning, last last time I went out the fish wanted a long pause, I was waiting 5 seconds on the pause. Today they were more aggressive and liked a shorter pause, I was waiting 1 second. 

[NathanDLTH]

Going to put this hear simply because you're all Minnesota folks therefore you get first dibs. Dumping my *** 8:1:1 in favor of a slower speed in either Shimano or Abu. Let me know if anyone is interested. Also I haven't gotten out in a while because of school work. 

[Jeff H]

The coolest thing is....we're still catching bass in November!

[geneoh]

On 11/14/2016 at 2:13 PM, NathanDLTH said:

Going to put this hear simply because you're all Minnesota folks therefore you get first dibs. Dumping my *** 8:1:1 in favor of a slower speed in either Shimano or Abu. Let me know if anyone is interested. Also I haven't gotten out in a while because of school work. 

Check out 13. I love dem reels. 

[geneoh]

Another good day for me. Best 5 was 16.16 and I got a 5lber. Same thing, Jerkbaits on weedlines in 6-8ft of water. WT:47

[NathanDLTH]

Trying to get rid of my 13 *** reel actually, the size is just to small. 

[punch]

I went out tonight for like 2 hours. Was a little windy and cold and overcast, and I tossed just a #4 mepps (gold and brown) which is one of my go-to cold water lures on windy days and I got a lot of bites! Put 6 bass in the boat, one was a 4lb 4oz big boy.. and a nice 29" pike. Not bad to (possibly) end the year on. I brought a bunch of lures but really just felt like tossing the Mepps around since it was getting bit. 

 

[geneoh]

Anyone go out today or have plans to Sunday/Monday? Today would of perfect. I'm going to try to get out Sunday or Monday. High of 50 on Monday in the cities!

[gim]

I don't think I would call 37 degrees perfect

[geneoh]

15 hours ago, gimruis said:

I don't think I would call 37 degrees perfect

It was 45 and sunny in Minneapolis. 

I got out Sunday afternoon for a few hours. Water temp was 40 but they were still biting jerkbaits. Caught 4 for a total of 10lbs. All we're caught in 6-8ft off a point. 

[Jeff H]

6 hours ago, geneoh said:

It was 45 and sunny in Minneapolis. 

I got out Sunday afternoon for a few hours. Water temp was 40 but they were still biting jerkbaits. Caught 4 for a total of 10lbs. All we're caught in 6-8ft off a point. 

Good job!!

[gim]

Looks like the deep freeze is coming next week.  I just heard that we had the second warmest November on record.

[Jeff H]

It certainly was a fun November! Geneoh goes on record as the last of us to score... getting bit on 11/27/2016!  That's incredible for up here!  See ya'll next summer.

[rascalP]

That's it for me ( I think). The boat sits in a heated pole barn, so it's always ready to go, but after this week, the river looks to be the only option. Geneoh's got me beat. Way to go.  I watched a John Gillespie show over the weekend with them up around Iron River, WI last week and they were smokin the bass - numbers and size and a couple big pike most on lipless cranks.  Got me fired up all over again.  But, time to get some home jobs taken care of and get ready for ice. Got some nice bass through the ice last year sight fishing.  I'll keep you posted.

[Jeff H]

I hope we get a LOT of rain next spring.  I want the lakes WAY up again! 

Don't want too much snow, but a good bit of safe ice wouldn't hurt.  Would like to get after some bruiser 'gills in a couple months.

[NathanDLTH]

Is getting into ice fishing just as fun and expensive as bass fishing lol! I'm kinda tempted to try it out for one season.