Minnesota Fishing Report - 2019

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

If you had to guess - - will it be caught on a river, large lake or smaller body of water?  

Probably an out of the way lake that's not fished much. Current official record, 8-15 on Auburn Lake in Carver County (290 acres). In 2011, some lady fishing up by Embarrass caught one and released it...measurements (wasn't weighed) put it around 9.9#.

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/1497631-Was-Moorhead-womans-fish-a-largemouth-bass-record-Well-never-know-for-sure

[gim]

So what did Santa bring ya'll this year?  I got a new pair of Costa sunglasses and a Megabass jerk bait.  I could never get myself to buy one of these expensive items myself with my own hard earned money so this was the only way I was gonna get either one!

[FryDog62]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

So what did Santa bring ya'll this year?  I got a new pair of Costa sunglasses and a Megabass jerk bait.  I could never get myself to buy one of these expensive items myself with my own hard earned money so this was the only way I was gonna get either one!

Awesome, so did the jerk bait cost more than the Costa’s??  Haha, Megabass Visions cost a pretty penny!

[NathanDLTH]

On 12/22/2019 at 7:17 PM, FryDog62 said:

If you had to guess - - will it be caught on a river, large lake or smaller body of water?  

I’d say lake over river, don’t have to fight current and I know little of targeting big fish other than big baits help. I could see both large or smaller lakes, but the unknown lakes or less pressured have a better chance of producing monsters. Let’s look at Mil Lacs, people are catching World Class Muskies up there and we know it has big smallies. So what allowed those fish to get so big? I think some human intervention along with bait/forage and space. Tournaments have seen a consistent 5lb average for winning bags. It’s gonna take an unknown lake that isn’t pressured. 
 

This is a nice change of pace from the guys on Facebook loosing their minds about ppl using live bait in Monticello by the power plant. It’s gotten stupid. That’s all. 
 

I’m gearing more for targeting bigger fish, even though I’m a bank angler, at least once or twice a year I catch a 4+ or high 3s. Lost a couple high 4s early summer. So higher end gear helps, but knowing my equipment and what it can and can’t do too.  

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

This is a nice change of pace from the guys on Facebook loosing their minds about ppl using live bait in Monticello by the power plant. It’s gotten stupid. That’s all. 

What are they worried about? Mutants?

 

SMH

[NathanDLTH]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

What are they worried about? Mutants?

 

SMH

They are complaining about the treatment of the smallmouth and being that it’s stupid easy with live bait to catch them. Gut hooked, swallowed hooks etc. Its stupid imo. 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

They are complaining about the treatment of the smallmouth

Then either don't fish or don't go to where people are fishing. Despite rumors to the contrary, fishing is a sport that's traumatizing to the fish.

3 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

being that it’s stupid easy with live bait to catch them.

Let me guess - PETA wannabes who want things harder for the fishermen. If someone wants to catch fish, they'll use the best lure/bait available to them. If that means live bait...so be it.

 

5 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

Gut hooked, swallowed hooks etc.

Have the right tools for removing those hooks...it's not impossible, just takes patience.

5 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

Its stupid imo.

No argument here on that.

[gim]

22 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Awesome, so did the jerk bait cost more than the Costa’s??  Haha, Megabass Visions cost a pretty penny!

Fake Santa (aka my wife) claims the Costas were acquired about half price but I’m sure that was still quite a bit more than the mega bass jerk bait.

[gim]

5 hours ago, NathanDLTH said:

They are complaining about the treatment of the smallmouth and being that it’s stupid easy with live bait to catch them. Gut hooked, swallowed hooks etc. Its stupid imo. 

Didnt smallmouth harvest ended in September, did it not? So people are targeting them with live bait and intending to release them? Or are they actually trying more for walleyes and catching bass?

[NathanDLTH]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

Didnt smallmouth harvest ended in September, did it not? So people are targeting them with live bait and intending to release them? Or are they actually trying more for walleyes and catching bass?

They are doing catch n release. It's kinda nuts now. Everyone and their brother is complaining about the fishing out there and how it's nearly shoulder to shoulder. I'm a bank buster and I see the point, but man chill out. Treat the fish with respect and they will be there for years to come.

[gim]

I see. I guess I can’t blame them too much because fishing in a river for bass definitely beats any kind of ice fishing.

[umdivx]

On 12/27/2019 at 10:18 AM, MN Fisher said:

What are they worried about? Mutants?

No, just that the "live bait knuckledraggers" just chuck out over weighted hooks with minnows and just leave the poles on stands and such and aren't feeling for bites and by the time they realize they have a fish on it's too late and the hook is way too far down the gullet of the fish. 

 

I've not personally seen that happen much but i'm not there during the busy times, mostly week days when no one else is around. 

On 12/26/2019 at 12:58 PM, gimruis said:

So what did Santa bring ya'll this year?  

Wife bought me a pair of the Blackfish Endure rain bibs. Pretty sweet gift actually. 

22 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Let me guess - PETA wannabes who want things harder for the fishermen. If someone wants to catch fish, they'll use the best lure/bait available to them. If that means live bait...so be it.

Actually no, its from other hard core bass guys. They just want to see better treatment of the fish and preserve the fishery. 

I can see some of the merits to the argument, but at the same time not. 

16 hours ago, gimruis said:

Fake Santa (aka my wife) claims the Costas were acquired about half price but I’m sure that was still quite a bit more than the mega bass jerk bait.

I picked up two pair of Coasta's from Nordstrom Rack of all places, they were like 60% off, crazy cheap.