2021 Minnesota Fishing Season

[CM-fisher]

I finally got out fishing for the first time since february this morning. I caught 15 or so 5-8 inch bluegills with a slip bobber rig. I caught them on my new UL setup (Okuma Aveon with 4 lb Trilene). This was my first UL setup, previously I had just fished with $15 shakespeare combos. I will probably head out for some spring crappies this weekend. Who else got out on the water last weekend?

[throttleplate]

i went out for first time today, had a choice between a 3 mile drive to the Red River here in north dakota or a 16 acre lake 23 miles away.

I chose the lake, I never been there before but according to a fellow i met all he ever catches are small northerns.

 

So i start out at 2 pm throwing spinners, chatterbaits, shad raps, square bills, suspending jerks and no luck so i was gonna go but it was just a beautiful day out and better than being at home.

 

So i tried a 2 3/4 inch spook looking popper translucent and tossed it out and walked it and got a little explosion on the surface and had me a little northern.

 

I will drive over to the river this week and then to Detroit Lakes area in Minn this weekend for some roadside crappie action weather permitting.

[gim]

I intend to get out sometime in the next 3 days for the first trip of the season.  I'm hoping the sun comes out one of these days and there's a light breeze.  The target will be panfish, specifically, a behemoth slab crappie or two.  Plus I just need to get my boat/motor running to ensure that everything is working properly too.

[Deephaven]

The snow sort of put a damper on my trips.  Was too eager early in the year and went before the fish were moving, but am ready to try again this weekend as I have seen action now walking around the lake.

35 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 Plus I just need to get my boat/motor running to ensure that everything is working properly too.

That was actually a primary goal of my first two trips.  A new boat brings new challenges.  Have the boat torn apart right now, but can easily fish in a moments notice.  Lots of parts on order to finish personalizing it.

[gim]

13 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

That was actually a primary goal of my first two trips. 

Always important to make sure equipment, gear, and everything else runs as it should from a mechanical or electrical stand point before "opener" gets here.  I can't tell you how many times I've seen people take their boat out for the first time in 7 months on opener and the outboard won't fire up.  Its like waiting until opening morning of deer season to check on your stand.  Success favors the prepared individual in these situations. 

 

I will post a report after I go.

[Deephaven]

Not a knock on the previous owner.  Boat is in great shape, but here is what I found:

-Starting battery was shot (disclosed at time of purchase, but I was hopeful)

-No main battery shut off (I prefer to do this when charging)

-Flow-rite valves don't hold water (big surprise, hate those things)

-No interior lights.  I don't understand Ranger???  Ok, there is a small one but that is nearly useless for night time fishing.  I get migraines from bright lights so headlamps are a no go for anyone else on my boat.  Ordered up some LED's to fix that

-No stereo.  I know, it's a fishing boat...don't need one.  Well I've never owned a boat without and will put one in for times I find it appropriate or desirable.  Plus LED speakers add light.

-No ethernet network, just NMEA.

-Engine idles rougher than I think it should.  Can't say I've had my hands on a 2 stroke tiller this big before.  Either way, Rock Auto just delivered a new set of plugs

-Ship to shore radio won't turn on

-One livewell pump (baitwell...of course I bought minnows since bass season is closed) is shot.  To be fair, it is wired to switch A3 which means I think I left it running while the boat was out of the water.  Not the previous owners fault.  He also gave me 4 pumps so again I can't feel bad.

-Needs more tackle storage.  Boat came with a large casting platform...that I will have to modify to hold another 20 3700's.

Everything else was stellar.  Most of these are upgrades.  I have a severe case of upgrade-itis and modify the hell out of everything I own so I consider the list above really small.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Everything else was stellar.  Most of these are upgrades.  I have a severe case of upgrade-itis and modify the hell out of everything I own so I consider the list above really small.

Sounds like you're gonna be busy when you're not on the water. Have fun.

[gim]

8 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Needs more tackle storage.

 

That is shocking to hear on a large fiberglass tiller.

 

My Ranger doesn't have a stereo/radio either and it didn't come with an option for one which is a bit odd.  I used a portable when I want to which is about half the time.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, gimruis said:

I used a portable when I want to which is about half the time.

I got about 40gb of music on the tablet's Micro-SD card - Media Monkey plays it for me through some mini-stereo speakers.

[Deephaven]

21 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

That is shocking to hear on a large fiberglass tiller.

 

My Ranger doesn't have a stereo/radio either and it didn't come with an option for one which is a bit odd.  I used a portable when I want to which is about half the time.

This is the tackle storage box:

I also have the cooler full.  I'd like the cooler back   Part of it is I'd like to have this locker in the back for walleye and crappie stuff when I'd be by the tiller and then would like all the bass/muskie stuff up front.  Having a place for a "co-angler" to bring 5-8 3700's as well is helpful.

The off colored carpet is a casting extension.  I am going to change it some so that 1) the carpet matches, lol, 2) it has a dry storage for 3700's....will be 44" of space which if they are all 2" ones means I can carry 22 up there.  That will greatly open up the rear storage.

 

As for the stereo, I am partly cheating.  I have no night time lights in the boat.  I will embed some LED's in the casting extension and the back battery access.  Having 4 LED's inside speakers in the glass will greatly help as well.

 

Plus, I will be using this to teach my kids how to waterski.  They are scared to do it behind the Malibu and Tonka is a terrible place to learn as no matter when you go there are others making waves.  So yes, I will be the guy in the tiller pulling watersports.  My theory is anything that extends my day on the water with my little ones is a good thing.

[gim]

11 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Plus, I will be using this to teach my kids how to waterski.  They are scared to do it behind the Malibu and Tonka is a terrible place to learn as no matter when you go there are others making waves.  So yes, I will be the guy in the tiller pulling watersports. 

 

LOL

[throttleplate]

The detroit lakes area is supposed to be sunny and 50 both sat and sunday and then later on sunday gonna cloud up and possible rain.

 

The water temp is only in the low 40s but whats a guy to do wait till june so off we will go and bank fish for the crappie as the weather doesnt look good for the following week.

[Deephaven]

6 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

The detroit lakes area is supposed to be sunny and 50 both sat and sunday

Miss it up there.  Grew up on South Shore of Big DL.  Wonder if my spring hot spots are still hot. 

[throttleplate]

3 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Miss it up there.  Grew up on South Shore of Big DL.  Wonder if my spring hot spots are still hot. 

i fish alot around Frazee area, especially the lakes that have very little boat traffic or houses on them. The area on DL where lots of people congragate are at Long Bridge where many people fish on and under the bridge as i have.

 

The crappie are crazy in abundance under the bridge and using small plastic tubes and crappie minnows is a sure thing but as with all fishing after the spawn the crappie and panfish litterally dissapear from the bridge.

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Miss it up there.  Grew up on South Shore of Big DL.  Wonder if my spring hot spots are still hot. 

I think a lot of us who lived 'up nord' miss it.

 

I still miss fishing Blackduck, Little Bass, Big Bass, Leech and George - as well as trout on the Straight River in Park Rapids - from when I lived in Bemidji.

[Deephaven]

26 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

The crappie are crazy in abundance under the bridge and using small plastic tubes and crappie minnows is a sure thing but as with all fishing after the spawn the crappie and panfish litterally dissapear from the bridge.

I was a short boat ride from there.  That bay gets dead after though.  Name is right, lol. Deadshot Bay.

[gim]

First outing of the season was a successful one.  Caught some panfish on Tonka and everything seemed to be working good in the boat from a mechanical stand point.  Always a great feeling when you turn that key and the outboard fires right up after sitting in storage for 6 months.

 

Couldn't find that 15 inch slab I was looking for but did manage 12 inchers, all of which were released.  Not a consistent bite but enough to stay interested.  Water is still very cold - 48 on the main lake and 51 in the bays.

[Deephaven]

I like how you found the only shore line on the lake without a house in camera view. 

 

Glad the boat is working well.  Spent a couple hours getting mine updated yesterday.  Have some more parts coming on Tuesday and then I can button it up.

[Deephaven]

Getting ready for opener.  My boat now has tackle and rod storage lights, a stereo, all graphs linked on ethernet and nmea, interior lights, a quick phone mount with waterproof wireless charging, a 4 speaker stereo and a master kill switch.  I have a few more projects before opener but going to take a break working on it and do some crappie fishing.  I hate pulling wires.  A few hundred feet later and I am done.

[Deephaven]

Some proof

 

Full RGB, but I like red at night.  3 zones.  Speaker, interior and storage can be in unison or separate.  

[nosdog2]

Looks great!  Well done.  I am eager to get out this year and figure out how/where to fish in this state after moving here late summer last year. 

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, nosdog2 said:

Looks great!  Well done.  I am eager to get out this year and figure out how/where to fish in this state after moving here late summer last year. 

Look up In-Fisherman articles and videos - Also 'Angler's Edge' is a good source... Al is based here in MN and puts out a lot about fishing here.

 

Another one to look up is Seth Feider - there's a number of vids with him fishing MN lakes...primarily Minnetonka, but he's known to branch out.

 

Omnia Fishing has a section where they post fishing reports from various lakes - detailed with lures used and techniques.

[gim]

I went this morning for a few hours and caught about 15 crappies. Just over 12.5 inches was the biggest.

[throttleplate]

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

I went this morning for a few hours and caught about 15 crappies. Just over 12.5 inches was the biggest.

i went today also and i caught 5 bass, wife caught bass and 1 crappie. The crappie started biting at around 8.30 pm as 4 people next to us started catching them like mad using crappie minnows but they were all small.

 

Wife caught hers on a jig with tiny red and white tube and it was the biggest of them all so we gave it to them. I started packing and then the bite went crazy but i had allready broken down the rods and what the heck theres all next week to come back as i am retired.

[Deephaven]

I went out Fri for a couple hours after work.  Found a bucketful of dinks.  2 nice crappies...which I forgot to let go until we got to the launch and one strange looking crappie.