Minnesota Fishing Reports - 2018

[FishingMN]

13 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

Small lake nears Alex tonite WTemp was 73, really good action 2-5 ft. Zero topwater, but great on chatter and fluke. Boated a 21,an 18, and about 20 bass that were 15-18. Almost without fail, there would be a bed near submerged logs/timber. A great time. Probably try the actual Alex Chain this weekend, but temp on CARLOS still only 64.

water clear or stained?

[Jmhalvo]

52 minutes ago, FishingMN said:

water clear or stained?

More towards clear- could see bottom up to 6 ft...as opposed to the Chain where sechi disc is over 20ft

[FishingMN]

3 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

More towards clear- could see bottom up to 6 ft...as opposed to the Chain where sechi disc is over 20ft

I think a lot of lakes are starting to get to the clear stage, before they become stained/green again.

I am impressed they were biting the chatterbait in the clear waters is why I asked.   

I have been doing ok with a keitech with a very slightly weighted hook and/or a minus 1ft mini crankbait.  I like the fluke Idea.  Did you have any weight added to the fluke?

[Jmhalvo]

Yes, added weight to the fluke...they were not hitting on top or I would’ve gone weightless fluke. To me it was not “clear” water but just not quite stained

[sully420]

Females are starting to bite pretty good. 

Still pretty shallow.

[Jmhalvo]

Where have Wacky ring-installation pens been all my life 

[sully420]

I really wish i had the patients to fish a wacky rig. I don't even skip them any more, and they catch so many fish. One thing I've noticed so far this season is that the life cycle of the fish is more advanced than the life cycle of the vegetation. That seems to really dictate where good fish are holding even though the water temperature is rising so fast. Fish seem to be gravitating towards the best vegetation weather that's on shore emergent or submergent vegetation.

[punch]

8 hours ago, sully420 said:

I really wish i had the patients to fish a wacky rig. I don't even skip them any more, and they catch so many fish. One thing I've noticed so far this season is that the life cycle of the fish is more advanced than the life cycle of the vegetation. That seems to really dictate where good fish are holding even though the water temperature is rising so fast. Fish seem to be gravitating towards the best vegetation weather that's on shore emergent or submergent vegetation.

I find that having a really expensive & overpriced rod & reel make finesse fishing way more enjoyable! So try that. 

[sully420]

34 minutes ago, punch said:

find that having a really expensive & overpriced rod & reel make finesse fishing way more enjoyable! So try that. 

Yea i know but the most important thing about fishing to me is knowing the kind of fisherman i am and being that. I am an admirer of of fitness fisherman and i learn so much but herr in Minnesota I'll  do me.

[Jmhalvo]

11 hours ago, sully420 said:

I really wish i had the patients to fish a wacky rig. I don't even skip them any more, and they catch so many fish. One thing I've noticed so far this season is that the life cycle of the fish is more advanced than the life cycle of the vegetation. That seems to really dictate where good fish are holding even though the water temperature is rising so fast. Fish seem to be gravitating towards the best vegetation weather that's on shore emergent or submergent vegetation.

Are those big jigs getting bit?

[sully420]

Yes. Its not about what there bitting its where why how. I know i can get bit on a senko, i want to get bit by the biggest fish the most. I want to fish the best the fastest. 

Big jigs allways get bit. My only decision is how fast can I fish that big jig. I ask myself should I go to a big punch rig?

[drscholl14]

Haven't been out there this year yet, but the end of last year it was VERY brown.  Frogs are always a good bet out there as well as dock fishing and punching.  If it's as dark as it was last fall make sure you bring loud lures with you.

[thatbasschigger187]

On 5/26/2018 at 9:36 AM, NathanDLTH said:

Anyone fish Bald Eagle? Fishing there for a local tournament series and that’s the first lake. Suggestions? My teammate was throwing senkos yesterday, but nothing over a pound. 

It depends on water temp. I used to fish Bald Eagle alot when I lived in Whitebear. That place sees alot of stick baits. I would avoid them unless you're just looking to get your limit quick. I would suggest punching the thickest/healthiest grass you can find. I never avg lower then 14 to 16lbs there doing that. You wont get alot of bites but when you do they'll be the better quality fish your looking for. I would hit up those 3 major points on the left side of the lake. Flip in those. The weeds should come up to 10 to 15 ft when they topped out. Good luck on your tournament.

[thatbasschigger187]

Anybody been out on Tonka? It crazy busy over there. Having a super tough time locating anything big. Went there 4 days in a row this weekend. Day 1 had only 14. 7lbs. Day 2 i had 14.2lbs. Day 3 had 16.2lbs. Day 4 only had 12.4 lbs. There's not much healthy grass out there yet and the deep bite isn't working, even with the super hot weather. Fish must be in a transition period. I can't quite figure them out yet. Can't compete with those Denny boys if I can't avg at least 18lbs per outing.

[JackKlassen]

Has anyone fished Lake Marion in Lakeville? I have a highschool tournament there in a few weeks and plan on getting out there sometime this week. Was wondering if anyone had any tips. Judging from Navionics I'm guessing its a stained milfoil lake but could be wrong.

[OperationEagle]

1 minute ago, JackKlassen said:

Has anyone fished Lake Marion in Lakeville? I have a highschool tournament there in a few weeks and plan on getting out there sometime this week. Was wondering if anyone had any tips. Judging from Navionics I'm guessing its a stained milfoil lake but could be wrong.

Marion was treated for zebras last year by the launch so check your boat and trailer a little extra...and encourage others to do so as well.

 

I will PM you on some thoughts.

[drscholl14]

On 5/29/2018 at 12:08 AM, drscholl14 said:

Haven't been out there this year yet, but the end of last year it was VERY brown.  Frogs are always a good bet out there as well as dock fishing and punching.  If it's as dark as it was last fall make sure you bring loud lures with you.

This was referring to the previous question about Bald Eagle Lake.

[FishingMN]

water temp 75ish mid size west/north lakes today.  Was near 80 earlier this week.  CRAZY.

[gim]

On ‎5‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 2:57 PM, misho187 said:

Anybody been out on Tonka? It crazy busy over there. Having a super tough time locating anything big. Went there 4 days in a row this weekend. Day 1 had only 14. 7lbs. Day 2 i had 14.2lbs. Day 3 had 16.2lbs. Day 4 only had 12.4 lbs. There's not much healthy grass out there yet and the deep bite isn't working, even with the super hot weather. Fish must be in a transition period. I can't quite figure them out yet. Can't compete with those Denny boys if I can't avg at least 18lbs per outing.

That lake gets absolutely pounded by competitive bass fishing virtually every weekend and several nights a week.  Combined with ultra clear water and you get what may be a perfect storm in terms of very pressured fish that are spooky on top of it.

[drscholl14]

Figure out where the weigh ins have been..... .

[thatbasschigger187]

6 hours ago, drscholl14 said:

Figure out where the weigh ins have been..... .

LOL!!! If only it were that easy. They use to release them directly at the docks of Lord Fletcher's, but now they take em to random spots now.

13 hours ago, gimruis said:

That lake gets absolutely pounded by competitive bass fishing virtually every weekend and several nights a week.  Combined with ultra clear water and you get what may be a perfect storm in terms of very pressured fish that are spooky on top of it.

Yeah the lake does get pounded, but it makes you a better fisherman if you can find them and get them to bite. I like the struggle of figuring out the fish. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy pounding them in un-pressured lakes too but that's way too easy. I usually head to one of the Chisago area lakes if i just want to smack 'em.

[starkeer]

Had a great time this morning whacking smallies on topwater on the Mississippi. Caught about 15 small-medium fish all on a spook. Nothing pulls like a river smallie. 

[gim]

I went to Mille Lacs on Friday, June 1 and fished the east side of the lake for about 5 hours.  Tough bite overall.  My Father and I caught 4 bass, 1 walleye, and 1 pike.  We saw a lot of fish in super shallow water including a couple on beds but generally when we saw them, we couldn't catch them.  I think the bass began to guard beds when it got really hot but it got down into the 40's up there the last couple nights and I think they moved back out because we saw a lot of beds without fish - and I don't think they spawned yet because the water temp was only 50-53 degrees.  All four smallmouth we caught were over 17 inches and I caught probably the second biggest smallmouth I've ever caught - a 20.5 incher.  A saw a TON of bass boats out there.  I think the fishing pressure has finally got to them.  Slowly fished soft plastics in natural colors was the only thing that caught fish.  I tried a jerkbait for a long time and saw a lot of other guys trying that too.  I only saw one other bass caught the entire time out of at least 40 boats I saw out there.

[JackKlassen]

Pro tip: don't use trash hooks

[FishingMN]

have the fish started to move deeper?