Minnesota Fishing Reports - 2018

[thatbasschigger187]

16 hours ago, drscholl14 said:

There's enough room out there to get away from the crowds and it can be beneficial also. Before I bought my boat last fall I had some shore fishing spots that would out produce some of the popular spots where you had to play "bumper boats".

Dang those spots must be hot! Yeah I can't stand the crowds. Especially on small bodies. Even medium bodies like Tonka are super annoying with the yachts and powerboats running everywhere, especially on tournament days.

[punch]

On 3/12/2018 at 6:05 PM, starkeer said:

Hey guys, 

 

I just wanted to say what's up. I've been a forum spectator for about a year and thought I'd finally join the discussion. 

 

I moved to Minneapolis in June 2016 and have had a lot of fun discovering the lakes and rivers around the metro area. I've been confined to the banks so far but am about to purchase my first kayak. I've just recently got much more serious about fishing and I am looking forward to another fun season.

 

Hope to see some of you around this summer! 

 

Welcome! Nice to see some lurkers come and post. What kind of kayak are you looking at? 

 

We really should do a Bass Resource MN meetup at a lake one of these days. I'd be happy to organize it. Maybe some of the guys without a boat could pair up with some of us who have boats. Could even do a little tournament or something for fun. 

[drscholl14]

10 hours ago, misho187 said:

Dang those spots must be hot! Yeah I can't stand the crowds. Especially on small bodies. Even medium bodies like Tonka are super annoying with the yachts and powerboats running everywhere, especially on tournament days.

Yeah, I work nights and 4 days a week so I'm usually out when everyone else is at work. It's much less stressful.

[FryDog62]

18 hours ago, punch said:

 

Welcome! Nice to see some lurkers come and post. What kind of kayak are you looking at? 

 

We really should do a Bass Resource MN meetup at a lake one of these days. I'd be happy to organize it. Maybe some of the guys without a boat could pair up with some of us who have boats. Could even do a little tournament or something for fun. 

Should at least have a get lunch/beers, or something this spring ... could plan something or just get the locals together ..

[punch]

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Should at least have a get lunch/beers, or something this spring ... could plan something or just get the locals together ..

Good call, we could hit a taproom or something? 

 

Is anyone going to the Sportsmens show next weekend? I'll be there. Either Friday evening or Saturday. Haven't decided yet. Great show to oogle all the new rods/reels/electronics and get a buncha gear at 20% off. 

[MN Fisher]

Thought I'd jump in here - just joined BR a couple days ago and still wading through posts.

 

I agree that Tonka is busy, but you can stay away from the ski/speed crowds fairly easily in some of the back-water areas. I'll be going out this year in a new canoe - find out if I need stabilizers too.

 

A meetup sounds good, a beer or two and gab about the good holes in the area sounds like a sweet time.

[thatbasschigger187]

On 3/15/2018 at 8:57 AM, punch said:

Good call, we could hit a taproom or something? 

 

Is anyone going to the Sportsmens show next weekend? I'll be there. Either Friday evening or Saturday. Haven't decided yet. Great show to oogle all the new rods/reels/electronics and get a buncha gear at 20% off. 

Yeah I'm going the Sportsman Show. It's one of the things I look forward to during the year. I'm in need of some new spinning set ups and a new boat. Plus there's always a smaller vendors that offer unique baits/rigs.

[gim]

On 3/14/2018 at 12:42 PM, misho187 said:

Dang those spots must be hot! Yeah I can't stand the crowds. Especially on small bodies. Even medium bodies like Tonka are super annoying with the yachts and powerboats running everywhere, especially on tournament days.

Most metro lakes get to be pretty intolerable with recreational traffic if you're talking a weekend or holiday and its warm and sunny out.  Two things I've found that help avoid these problems: fish early in the morning and get outta there before noon, or target days with inclement weather in the forecast.  You'd be surprised how many people avoid the lake when there's a little rain in the forecast.

[Jmhalvo]

I’m hoping to hit the SD smallies in April. Heard good things and I’m dying to get out soon

[punch]

3 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

I’m hoping to hit the SD smallies in April. Heard good things and I’m dying to get out soon

 

Any specific lakes/areas? 

[Jmhalvo]

8 hours ago, punch said:

 

Any specific lakes/areas? 

Probably Webster, but might do Roy Lake. Could do Horseshoe- recent state record smallie there of 7lbs. Just hate all the wind so we’ll see

[sully420]

I'll be fishing roy lake apirl 26 - 30 i hope the ice is out by then.

[punch]

16 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

Probably Webster, but might do Roy Lake. Could do Horseshoe- recent state record smallie there of 7lbs. Just hate all the wind so we’ll see

I've always wanted to go to enemy swim. 

[rascalP]

On 3/21/2018 at 10:32 AM, punch said:

I've always wanted to go to enemy swim. 

Enemy Swim and Horseshoe would be on my list.  Maybe throw clear in there.  Roy has some pretty cool looking bays that would be nice to get into if there was alot of wind.

   We'll be down in SE MN trout fishing 4th week of april and then things start to jam up leading up to our annual trip to Basswood Lake the end of May.  I might have to open up some time 1st week of May just in case.

Got a couple nice bass through the ice on Wednesday - 16 and 17", and my buddy got a 17".  They seem to be waking up a bit.

[FryDog62]

The last 4 years I hoped/attempted to fish SoDak in April.  Between wind and weather I made it 1 out of 4 years.  Fun when it works but it is one badazz place when that wind kicks in... and usually cold/rain/sleet with it.  Hard to predict, and best if you have job/family flexibility to go at the drop of the hat those few days in the spring when it’s nice.  If not, it’s easy to circle a date and say you’re going... and then find out it’s better to stay home and try again later in the year..

[punch]

Anyone doing some spring cleaning and selling some gear? I got a few sub $100 spinning combo's that have been sitting in the rod rack for far too long that I'm looking to move. Shoot me a PM if anyone's interested. I'll give BR members a hookup! 

[punch]

Anyone do some damage at the NW Sports Show? 

[dsidle61]

3 hours ago, punch said:

Anyone do some damage at the NW Sports Show? 

I got my fill in! Quantum had a great deal, new reel get the rod for free, no restrictions. Grabbed the new Smoke 7.3-1 for 30% off and a Vapor 6'10" MH fast.  $118 bucks all together.  Also got my eyes on the Lund renegade 1775.  Slick looking boat.  I'm running a tracker 170 now and this could be a near future upgrade. 

 

[punch]

2 minutes ago, dsidle61 said:

I got my fill in! Quantum had a great deal, new reel get the rod for free, no restrictions. Grabbed the new Smoke 7.3-1 for 30% off and a Vapor 6'10" MH fast.  $118 bucks all together.  Also got my eyes on the Lund renegade 1775.  Slick looking boat.  I'm running a tracker 170 now and this could be a near future upgrade. 

 

Boy I'm glad I didn't swing by the Quantum booth! Be gone vile temptation. That sounds like a killer deal. 

 

I did buckle and pick up a sterling silver Diawa Tatula LT "limited edition" reel to pair up with my tatula elite dropshot rod. Got 20% off at Joe's, plus a $25 gift card (that i'll use at their spring sale), plus a free Huk Diawa jersey.. and they even tossed me a trucker hat because I asked nice. I'll double up and do the online rebate for a 2nd Huk jersey and toss them both on Ebay. This combo just looks siiiiiiiick together. 

 

These new Daiwa LT (tatula & ballistic) reels are the real deal.. there's a couple good tear down videos of them on youtube and they have some real high quality gears. Diawa really stepped their game up with these reels.. pretty sure I'm going to get another one for my Steez. 

 

I sold some rods this weekend though so I can sleep a little better at night knowing I blew almost $200 on a spinning reel.. and i'm about to do it again.

 

Side note, one of my favorite things about the NW Sports Show is that I got have some long conversations with some of my local fishing hero's. I got to talk Tony Roach's ear off for a bit, got to talk to Feider, and got to have yet another nice long conversation with FLW pro Josh Douglas. He's such a cool guy and every time I talk to him I learn something new. He'll literally sit and answer any possible question you could have with very specific information. He's my fishing spirit animal. 

[dsidle61]

On 3/25/2018 at 9:52 PM, punch said:

Boy I'm glad I didn't swing by the Quantum booth! Be gone vile temptation. That sounds like a killer deal. 

 

I did buckle and pick up a sterling silver Diawa Tatula LT "limited edition" reel to pair up with my tatula elite dropshot rod. Got 20% off at Joe's, plus a $25 gift card (that i'll use at their spring sale), plus a free Huk Diawa jersey.. and they even tossed me a trucker hat because I asked nice. I'll double up and do the online rebate for a 2nd Huk jersey and toss them both on Ebay. This combo just looks siiiiiiiick together. 

 

These new Daiwa LT (tatula & ballistic) reels are the real deal.. there's a couple good tear down videos of them on youtube and they have some real high quality gears. Diawa really stepped their game up with these reels.. pretty sure I'm going to get another one for my Steez. 

 

I sold some rods this weekend though so I can sleep a little better at night knowing I blew almost $200 on a spinning reel.. and i'm about to do it again.

 

Side note, one of my favorite things about the NW Sports Show is that I got have some long conversations with some of my local fishing hero's. I got to talk Tony Roach's ear off for a bit, got to talk to Feider, and got to have yet another nice long conversation with FLW pro Josh Douglas. He's such a cool guy and every time I talk to him I learn something new. He'll literally sit and answer any possible question you could have with very specific information. He's my fishing spirit animal. 

Nice work! For some reason I have a hard time dishing out for spinning reels.  Maybe bc that’s what I used as a kid and to me I think “well they must be all the same”.  I just got myself back into finesse fishing last year, and it paid off.  Might have to look for a high quality spinner next year at the show.  

I got the quantum at joes to I thought.  Maybe it was Thorne?  They weren’t advertising it, just overheard some guy buying one at the register and the lady told him to go get his free rod.  Couldn’t pass it up after that.  

[starkeer]

As someone who grew up in Michigan, does anyone know why bass are not C&R year round in Minnesota? Just curious 

[MN Fisher]

We got plenty and some of us, while practicing C&R on the larger fish (4#+), bass in the 2#-3# range are good eating.

 

I remember watching a vid recently that the expert states that 'weeding out' the smaller sizes allows more to grow to larger sizes. So keeping those in a certain size range (12"-18") allows more 'trophy-size' to develop.

 

I got no objections to that, Bass are mighty tasty in that keeper-range.

[punch]

19 minutes ago, starkeer said:

As someone who grew up in Michigan, does anyone know why bass are not C&R year round in Minnesota? Just curious 

We have a lot off stupid and outdated rules & regulations in this state, that's why. It's irritating. 

[FryDog62]

56 minutes ago, starkeer said:

As someone who grew up in Michigan, does anyone know why bass are not C&R year round in Minnesota? Just curious 

There is one and only one true answer to this...

 

One must understand that the only fish that that matters to 90+% of Minnesotans is the sacred walleye.  Period.  And if people are able to be out fishing bass/pike before the walleye opener (even if it’s C&R) there is concern they will “accidentally” catch walleyes.  Has nothing to do with protecting bass at all, its all about the state fish - the almighty Waldo!

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

There is one and only one true answer to this...

 

One must understand that the only fish that that matters to 90+% of Minnesotans is the sacred walleye.  Period.  And if people are able to be out fishing bass/pike before the walleye opener (even if it’s C&R) there is concern they will “accidentally” catch walleyes.  Has nothing to do with protecting bass at all, its all about the state fish - the almighty Waldo!

Except Walleye and Pike open mid-May, Bass C&R only for two weeks before 'keeping' Bass is allowed the last weekend. So the 'Holy Walleye' for keeping has two weeks on the 'Lowly Bass'.

 

Walleye, Pike and Bass seasons are all closed until then, so unless you can prove you're panfishing and accidentally caught that Bass/Walleye/Pike, you're in big trouble.