Minnesota Fishing Reports - 2017

[punch]

On 10/31/2017 at 8:12 AM, FryDog62 said:

Thanks, it was very unexpected.  Younger than me, a special needs guy.  Out of the blue, he had a massive stroke and just like that is gone.  Count your blessings everyone, life is good but can be short.  

 

Sunday does look a little warmer - and if it isn’t raining too hard or windy will try to get out.  Thx again everyone...

Thinking Rum ? 

[FryDog62]

55 minutes ago, punch said:

Thinking Rum ? 

Good question... I think they draw the water levels down on the Rum now after the Halloween parade in Anoka.  I actually was on the water 4 years ago when this happened... Lake Commandos was filming a show and we were the last 2 boats off the water that day as the water levels went way down.  Was barely able to get back to the dock and on the trailer!  That being said, the water temps were about perfect and we were all catching fish (I think they filmed a really good show).  

 

Probably best to call the city of Anoka and check when the draw down is.  If it’s this week, I would probably choose a metro lake with a decent ramp.  When it’s 40 degrees, it’s good to know you’re going to make it back safely to the ramp...

 

Watching the weather now, not sure there’s going to be a good day again to go fishing but I’m going to try anyway!

[rascalP]

22 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

 Lake Commandos was filming a show and we were the last 2 boats off the water that day as the water levels went way down.  Was barely able to get back to the dock and on the trailer!  That being said, the water temps were about perfect and we were all catching fish (I think they filmed a really good show).  

 

 

    I saw that show.  Been meaning to fish there, but being so close to the upper croix, thats where we go to scratch the fall, river, smallmouth itch.  We fished it last wednesday and did ok.

 

    I meant to fish Green lake monday, but after I dropped the boat in the water, my motor said "no thanks". I forgot to switch off my gps reciever,  and a run down battery has a hard time starting a cold motor.  So, I got back out there today from noon to 5. Water temps in the back bays were 38 degrees and nothing going. I moved to the big weed hump separating the bays from the main lake where the water temps were 41-42.   Big difference and the fish were there.   I caught 8 bass, only one under 15". No slonch donkeys but a couple of 18 inchers made for a good day.  4 baits got the fish and all came from 5-7 fow. A husky-jerk baby bass color got 3, and KVD squarebill crawled through the weeds, swimjig, and a swimbait got the rest. I was surprised I only got a couple pike, both on the squarebill.  I gotta tell you, if you haven't fished these KVD 1.5 squarebill's, I have found no other crankbait for fishing weeds better than these.  They snake through the weeds without hanging up, and they absolutely catch fish.

 

    The forcast doesn't show any warm up, but I don't think we'll be making ice either, so we'll see what happens next week.

[FryDog62]

10 hours ago, rascalP said:

    I saw that show.  Been meaning to fish there, but being so close to the upper croix, thats where we go to scratch the fall, river, smallmouth itch.  We fished it last wednesday and did ok.

 

    I meant to fish Green lake monday, but after I dropped the boat in the water, my motor said "no thanks". I forgot to switch off my gps reciever,  and a run down battery has a hard time starting a cold motor.  So, I got back out there today from noon to 5. Water temps in the back bays were 38 degrees and nothing going. I moved to the big weed hump separating the bays from the main lake where the water temps were 41-42.   Big difference and the fish were there.   I caught 8 bass, only one under 15". No slonch donkeys but a couple of 18 inchers made for a good day.  4 baits got the fish and all came from 5-7 fow. A husky-jerk baby bass color got 3, and KVD squarebill crawled through the weeds, swimjig, and a swimbait got the rest. I was surprised I only got a couple pike, both on the squarebill.  I gotta tell you, if you haven't fished these KVD 1.5 squarebill's, I have found no other crankbait for fishing weeds better than these.  They snake through the weeds without hanging up, and they absolutely catch fish.

 

    The forcast doesn't show any warm up, but I don't think we'll be making ice either, so we'll see what happens next week.

Great report, still hoping to get out this weekend.  Yeah, all of a sudden 42 degree air temps sound good!  It’s all relative I guess...

 

Was expecting a pike fest but that’s encouraging you’re still finding the bass.  I’m going to try anyway!!

[punch]

KVD 1.5 is one of my favorite shallow baits! Great for pond fishing too. 

 

@FryDog62 the water on Rum is WAY high right now. Drove past it this afternoon. 

[FryDog62]

7 hours ago, punch said:

KVD 1.5 is one of my favorite shallow baits! Great for pond fishing too. 

 

@FryDog62 the water on Rum is WAY high right now. Drove past it this afternoon. 

Hard to choose... but have never fished the Rum this late.  They must be “pulling the cork” soon...

 

Man, the weather just isn’t showing a break.  Normal highs now are 50... doesn’t look like we’ll hit that again until April right now - -

[FryDog62]

Well I probably should have opted for the Rum.  Instead went to a West Metro Lake hoping to find some still green weeds with fish in them.  Cooooold, 31 degrees and line freezing in the guides.  A couple of 15 inch LMB and a 4 lb pike in 4 hours.  

 

But at least I got out after a 5 week layoff... may go once more if temps get back into the 40’s as predicted next week.  Or maybe some muskies?  We’ll see - -

[geneoh]

Went out yesterday. Like frydog said, 30 degree air temp meant every 10 minutes cleaning the guides from ice. WT was 38-39. Thin layers of floating surface ice around. My wife thinks I'm insane. 

 

I was out for 5 hours, caught 7-8 all on a finesse jig except one on a underspin. Largest was 3.5lbs. The bites were liiiiiiight. 

 

One thing i found out, diawa tatula reels with the TWS design are great in the winter, frozen braid can move freely. My one three fishing concepts not so much. 

[FryDog62]

On 11/7/2017 at 8:45 AM, geneoh said:

One thing i found out, diawa tatula reels with the TWS design are great in the winter, frozen braid can move freely. My one three fishing concepts not so much. 

Funny thing, I used three rods yesterday but was down to 2 after about 15 minutes ... and they were both TWS..  the other was a hunk of metal and plastic with a sno cone shaving on it..

[shimmy]

On 10/9/2017 at 11:17 PM, geneoh said:

Couldn't get out this weekend but got out for a few hours this afternoon. It was cold but water temps still 61. I didn't catch many, I had to make an adjustment from a jig to a smaller profile t-rig to get big bites. It worked though, I got the biggest bite of my life! One of my goals this year was to get a 6lber. I finally got it today with a 6.28lb toad. I've been fishing for big bites lately and its been paying off. Jigs, Texas rigs basically all of the time. Once the water temps get lower I'll change things up but this has been working really well for me. 

 

 

Not sure how i missed this, but WOW!!! Great job man. What a monster out there. Texas rig as well i might add. Good for you. Very well deserved. 6 pounder under 21 inches is a pretty fat fish. Congrats on a 6+ fish. Very hard to do in MN. 

[rascalP]

Got out tuesday and wednesday and it was tough.   Went to 2 different lakes and only got 1 fish.   Water temps were 40 on one lake where I fished and the warmest I could find on the other was 38.     Short day the second day - no fish by 2 , and my buddy had to cut out and I still have some outside work at home, so we pulled the plug.    That will do it for lakes for me this year, but I still hope to get on the river next wednesday.     After that it's bass through the ice.

   Tight lines everybody!

[punch]

Guess I gotta dig out the ice gear.. 

 

*side note: Me and my buddy got accepted into the Wednesday night Greenhorn league! @rascalP don't beat up on us too bad! 

[FryDog62]

9 hours ago, punch said:

Guess I gotta dig out the ice gear.. 

 

*side note: Me and my buddy got accepted into the Wednesday night Greenhorn league! @rascalP don't beat up on us too bad! 

Hey, middle of next week might hit 50 degrees - maybe don’t throw the towel in quite yet!

[NathanDLTH]

Wow!

[punch]

People are up fishing the river in Monticello and catching a lot of smallies wading. Apparently the bite was great this weekend. 

[rascalP]

On 11/10/2017 at 10:13 AM, punch said:

Guess I gotta dig out the ice gear.. 

 

*side note: Me and my buddy got accepted into the Wednesday night Greenhorn league! @rascalP don't beat up on us too bad! 

   I'm sure you'll hold your own just fine, punch.  We're generally a middle of the pack team, getting a few fortunate bites on occasion.    I'll have to get down to Coon Rapids dam early next year and try and figure something out.   New water for me and I don't know if the league has fished it.

 

    I still haven't thrown in the towel, but I've pulled it out of my pocket.  Not fishing tomorrow, but we'll see about next  wednesday.  Lots to catch up on at home.

[punch]

@geneoh and I wacked some Smallies on the Mississippi yesterday up in Monticello. They were stacked up as we would catch several fish out of the same holes. I was getting a lot of bites on a DT6 and Gene did really well with a football swing jig and a craw. Water was like 47 degrees. We were out on his boat, but i'm guessing that'll be it for boat use this year. Still a lot of opportunity for wading. 

[rascalP]

7 hours ago, punch said:

@geneoh and I wacked some Smallies on the Mississippi yesterday up in Monticello. They were stacked up as we would catch several fish out of the same holes. I was getting a lot of bites on a DT6 and Gene did really well with a football swing jig and a craw. Water was like 47 degrees. We were out on his boat, but i'm guessing that'll be it for boat use this year. Still a lot of opportunity for wading. 

  We did the wading thing a few years ago. Was it crowded?  Did you fish above or below the bridge?

  BTW, if geneoh is your partner in the GH next year, then you guys better take it easy on us.

[punch]

1 hour ago, rascalP said:

  We did the wading thing a few years ago. Was it crowded?  Did you fish above or below the bridge?

  BTW, if geneoh is your partner in the GH next year, then you guys better take it easy on us.

It was pretty dead, a couple waders and one other boat. We were above the bridge I believe. 

 

Gene isn't my partner at GH, I'm fishing with my buddy Josh. 

[Jeff H]

You'd be surprised how hard core some of the winter rats are.  I've known guys to chisel out the ramp area to get to open water and fished with one guy who'd use his boat to break ice away from favorite spots.  I love to fish but i'm not going to spend hours breaking and moving ice.  To witness such passion is awesome though.

[geneoh]

I brought a shovel and my waders to the boat launch the other day to break ice at the ramp but just ended up going to the river instead 

[FryDog62]

50 degrees today... I knew I winterized too soon.  I guess I could go out on trolling motor only.. no wind today anyway - -

[punch]

5 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

50 degrees today... I knew I winterized too soon.  I guess I could go out on trolling motor only.. no wind today anyway - -

Right? I'm jelly of people who are out today. Weather looks good.

 

Side note - if any of you locals are looking, i'm selling a Dobyn's Fury 703C MH rod. 

[NathanDLTH]

How did everyone do for Black Friday sales?? I don’t ice fish but man everyone is selling ice gear locally. I might grow my rod/reel collection some more lol! This is a problem lol!

[geneoh]

15 hours ago, NathanDLTH said:

How did everyone do for Black Friday sales?? I don’t ice fish but man everyone is selling ice gear locally. I might grow my rod/reel collection some more lol! This is a problem lol!

I bought my Christmas gift to my self. Dobyns champion extreme HP 784 jig rod from TW. Pretty stoked about it!