Minnesota Fishing Reports - 2018

[ThatOneBigKid]

Got out yesterday evening to the river chasing smallies. Caught a 2lber on a jerkbait on the fourth or fifth cast. Didn't catch a single fish the rest of the night. Thought it was going to be on, but no luck. River was 51 degrees and surprisingly clear. 4-5ft viability. I think the fact that it was sunny all day and then got cloudy at 3pm right when I hit the water may have fouled the bite. At least that is what I'll tell myself. There also wasn't much current compared to previous trips so that wasn't helping either. 

[FryDog62]

43 minutes ago, ThatOneBigKid said:

Got out yesterday evening to the river chasing smallies. Caught a 2lber on a jerkbait on the fourth or fifth cast. Didn't catch a single fish the rest of the night. Thought it was going to be on, but no luck. River was 51 degrees and surprisingly clear. 4-5ft viability. I think the fact that it was sunny all day and then got cloudy at 3pm right when I hit the water may have fouled the bite. At least that is what I'll tell myself. There also wasn't much current compared to previous trips so that wasn't helping either. 

I was out earlier in the day until about 2:00.  Water temps started out at 48/9 and peaked at 51 about the time you came out.  But I had about the same luck even though it was sunny.  1-2 fish right away, then crickets...

[OperationEagle]

Was on a south metro lake today.  Water temp at 54. 

 

Threw jigs and spinnerbait. Got several strikes but landed nothing. Got zipped. 

 

Will be be out tomorrow.  Looking for a lake with a deeper weedline to see if that changes my luck. I expect the bite to be slow. Hope I will have the patience!

 

 

[Jmhalvo]

I think it’s muskie time

[rascalP]

On 10/4/2018 at 8:56 PM, FryDog62 said:

Nice fish.. you might be right about the long term forecast.  The only thing I’d add is that 2 of the 3 last bodies of water I’ve been on the fish have not started to gorge yet... and a few were down right on the skinny side.  Makes me think if the right conditions and temps for people/fish align there could still be some very good days ahead.  If not, I switch to muskies until ice up...

 

On 10/5/2018 at 7:48 AM, sully420 said:

I think the bite is on the verge of being explosive. Just make sure you get on the water as much as possible.

This!!  For Sure!!

[Jmhalvo]

9 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

I think it’s muskie time

It worked!

[FryDog62]

13 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

It worked!

BOOMCHUCKALUCKA to Jmhalvo!!! Way to go? You made the right decision obviously!

 

 

I did get out this morning... 54 degree water... nothing on Plastics, Chatterbait... one on a jerk bait.  

 

Then switched over to a Mop Jig in the remaining pads near deeper water and got an 18, 19, two 20’s and a 21 incher in a little better than an hour.  Best 75 minutes of the year?

 

 

[SmallBlockMuscle]

Was out Saturday 7:30am to 3pm and crushed them. Caught one 4.5, and two 5s to go along with over 40 others, many of which were in the 3# range. Started out with a KVD square bill and caught about 10 until a northern sawed it off. Switched to a terminator spinner bait and the bite was on big time. All in all I think the count was 43 bass and 15 northern. Water temp was 53

[ThatOneBigKid]

Wow FryDog. That sounds like an insane flurry! Well done. Do you use a trailer on a mop jig? I have a few but not much experience using them. 

 

Makes me feel better you had similar luck on Thursday even with the sunshine. 

 

I got out on Mille Lacs Sunday. Fished from 10-5 and only managed 2 smallies on drop shot that were both mid 3lbs. It was blowing pretty good out of the east which made boat control a bit tough for the stuff we wanted to hit, but was still an ok trip. Water was 51-52 degrees. 

[FryDog62]

42 minutes ago, ThatOneBigKid said:

Wow FryDog. That sounds like an insane flurry! Well done. Do you use a trailer on a mop jig? I have a few but not much experience using them. 

 

Makes me feel better you had similar luck on Thursday even with the sunshine. 

 

I got out on Mille Lacs Sunday. Fished from 10-5 and only managed 2 smallies on drop shot that were both mid 3lbs. It was blowing pretty good out of the east which made boat control a bit tough for the stuff we wanted to hit, but was still an ok trip. Water was 51-52 degrees. 

I switch off on trailers - smaller profile I use a Pit Boss, or when I want to go big in the Fall (or slow the fall rate) I use a Gambler Megadaddy..

[punch]

1 hour ago, ThatOneBigKid said:

Wow FryDog. That sounds like an insane flurry! Well done. Do you use a trailer on a mop jig? I have a few but not much experience using them. 

 

Makes me feel better you had similar luck on Thursday even with the sunshine. 

 

I got out on Mille Lacs Sunday. Fished from 10-5 and only managed 2 smallies on drop shot that were both mid 3lbs. It was blowing pretty good out of the east which made boat control a bit tough for the stuff we wanted to hit, but was still an ok trip. Water was 51-52 degrees. 

 

You need an ultrex

[ThatOneBigKid]

10 minutes ago, punch said:

 

You need an ultrex

Oh trust me, its on the list. I need of a new unit regardless. My Fortrex is in very rough shape. The stumps on Lake Fork have taken their toll on the old girl. 

[Jmhalvo]

Is it true that the fall bite is over at 50 degrees water temp?

[sully420]

Went out on Monday and caught some really nice bass fishing rock piles with a football jig and a dt14. Seems like the fish are acclimated to the water temp now and are feeding pretty good. The challenge it finding the bigger fish and figuring out what they want. @Jmhalvo I'll be bass fishing until there is ice. Just keep slowing down your presentation as the water cools.

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

Is it true that the fall bite is over at 50 degrees water temp?

A lot of years... yes, but I think it dipped so quickly this year that the bass are still transitioning and feeding - for awhile anyway.  A few years ago, caught quite a few smallmouth in 43-45 degree water on the Miss near deeper wintering holes.  Key is to keep moving because they are bunched up in more isolated areas - if no ones home, off to the next spot.  

[gim]

I went on Monday with a friend in the drizzly overcast conditions during the middle of the day and it was pretty good.  5 bass, 11 pike, and 2 muskies in about 3 hours.  Biggest bass was 19 inches.  Neither of the muskies were real big.  The pike are still on a rampage too.  The bass we caught were like dead weight.  Once they got hooked, it was like a wet shoe coming in.  Water temp was 54 degrees.  I'm about ready to hang it up with lows in the 20's the next few nights.  Boat has to be winterized, stored, and I got some hunting to do now instead.

[JackKlassen]

Went out on Calhoun/Isles today in the boat. Water temp was 53 but the fish were not biting. Flipped mid depth milfoil for a while as well as the wood in isles without a bite. Ended up catching all 8 of our fish throwing chatterbaits over the tops of weeds and jigworms off the breaks. Biggest went 3.5

[FryDog62]

17 hours ago, gimruis said:

I went on Monday with a friend in the drizzly overcast conditions during the middle of the day and it was pretty good.  5 bass, 11 pike, and 2 muskies in about 3 hours.  Biggest bass was 19 inches.  Neither of the muskies were real big.  The pike are still on a rampage too.  The bass we caught were like dead weight.  Once they got hooked, it was like a wet shoe coming in.  Water temp was 54 degrees.  I'm about ready to hang it up with lows in the 20's the next few nights.  Boat has to be winterized, stored, and I got some hunting to do now instead.

Nice!  Tigers are on my bucket list (some day)

[JackKlassen]

Gonna put it on here first in case any local guys are interested. I have a Dobyns Champion XP 703C, 13 M.U.S.E. Black 7'3 MH XF, and a Lews Tournament Lite 7:1. spooled w/ 30# 832. All 3 are in great condition, low use. Asking 165$ for the Dobyns, 115$ for the M.U.S.E. and 100$ for the Lews. Pics won't upload on here so shoot me a PM if interested.

Thanks

[OperationEagle]

Out in the west metro. Water temp was 47-48. 

 

Fishing was slow. Caught 7, mostly on a crankbait.  All fish hit 5-7 feet of water. 

[gim]

Question for all the MN guys on the thread here.  What do ya'll do with your boats during the winter?  I get mine winterized and then pay for 6 months of storage at a storage facility (indoors).  I see a lot of boat owners simply put the cover and/or a tarp on it and then just park it outside (like in their driveway), which I will not do.  Just wondering.

[FryDog62]

13 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Question for all the MN guys on the thread here.  What do ya'll do with your boats during the winter?  I get mine winterized and then pay for 6 months of storage at a storage facility (indoors).  I see a lot of boat owners simply put the cover and/or a tarp on it and then just park it outside (like in their driveway), which I will not do.  Just wondering.

I winterize and keep it in my garage for the winter, so when I get bored about Feb can go out to the garage and start cleaning reels, put on new line, reorganizing tackle, and dream of open water...

[OperationEagle]

3 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I winterize and keep it in my garage for the winter, so when I get bored about Feb can go out to the garage and start cleaning reels, put on new line, reorganizing tackle, and dream of open water...

What frydog said. I have been known to sit in my boat in the garage in March looking at my waypoints on my graph...planning my opener strategy. 

 

An additional question is about the batteries. Do most people unhook them and remove them for the season?  

 

I have left left them in connected and charged them occasionally.  I think this was hard on them as there was a small slow draw.  I had to replace two of the three and they were only a couple years old. 

 

This year im debating whether to disconnect them entirely and charge them occasionally....or just keep the charger on them the whole time.

 

What do people do with their batteries?  My garage is warmer than outside but not heated so it gets cold. 

[FryDog62]

8 hours ago, OperationEagle said:

What frydog said. I have been known to sit in my boat in the garage in March looking at my waypoints on my graph...planning my opener strategy. 

 

An additional question is about the batteries. Do most people unhook them and remove them for the season?  

 

I have left left them in connected and charged them occasionally.  I think this was hard on them as there was a small slow draw.  I had to replace two of the three and they were only a couple years old. 

 

This year im debating whether to disconnect them entirely and charge them occasionally....or just keep the charger on them the whole time.

 

What do people do with their batteries?  My garage is warmer than outside but not heated so it gets cold. 

I have a Minnkota onboard charger and was recommended to me to keep the batteries plugged in all year.  It’s a constant low trickle charge.  Guy said batteries are lasting 6-8 years vs. the normal 4-5.  I’m going into Year 3 so ask me again in a few years if it mattered   

[ThatOneBigKid]

7 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I have a Minnkota onboard charger and was recommended to me to keep the batteries plugged in all year.  It’s a constant low trickle charge.  Guy said batteries are lasting 6-8 years vs. the normal 4-5.  I’m going into Year 3 so ask me again in a few years if it mattered   

This is good to hear. I replaced my Noco charger this summer with a Minn Koat after the Noco fried itself. I put a new cranking battery in last spring so I do care about that one. My 3 trolling motor batteries need to be replaced so I don't care about those. Will be replacing in the spring. Sure hope I can get 6 - 8 yrs out of the new ones. I typically just leave the charger plugged in all winter with the boat in the garage.

 

 

Got out in the NW metro yesterday. First time ever fishing in the snow. Water was 47 degrees. Ended up catching close to 20 largies on a Ned Rig before my wife called saying she locked her keys in her car. All fish were on banks that dropped quickly into deeper water. Debating on going to Mille Lacs next weekend or to go back to this lake and hit the Ned rig again. Was a very fun day even with it being freezing outside.