2021 Minnesota Fishing Season

[gim]

32 minutes ago, Primitive fisherman said:

Bush lake

I think it’s electric only isn’t it?

[CM-fisher]

I went fishing on the opener at a small local pond pretty early in the morning. I was out in my kayak. I thought that spinnerbaits and chatterbaits would do the trick, but the only thing that I could get a bite on was a wacky rig. I caught only two bass, but they were pretty good sized, measuring 18" and 19". Used a 6'6" M Berkley cherrywood spinning rod with a Daiwa revros spinning reel and 20 lb braid. The wacky rig consisted of a black and blue Googan lunker log and a VMC Neko hook. I caught the bigger one in the shade of some overhanging tree branches, and the other one next to a submerged stump.

[BBug]

Made it out today but with only one little woman. She landed a couple healthy 14 inchers and I managed a few more. The surprise of the day was when I hooked into an landed a Muskie of around 40” with my bass jig.  Bass were all pre spawn and very shallow. The majority of the fish were taken on a homemade jig or a vibrating jig that I made over the winter. Great weather and companionship rounded out a day to remember. 

[gim]

Went to Mille Lacs today for about 5 hours. Only caught 5 bass, but they were all toads. Every fish was a chubby prespawn female between 18-19.5 inches. Caught all 5 of them on a jerk bait. I saw some beds too but no fish on them. Water temp was 62.5 degrees.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, gimruis said:

Went to Mille Lacs today for about 5 hours. Only caught 5 bass, but they were all toads.

Wish me luck - my Wednesday trip got cancelled, but I'm heading out about sunrise tomorrow to get some fishing in before the wackos hit Tonka.

[MN Fisher]

On 5/21/2021 at 5:41 PM, MN Fisher said:

Wish me luck - my Wednesday trip got cancelled, but I'm heading out about sunrise tomorrow to get some fishing in before the wackos hit Tonka.

Should have wished me luck

 

North Arm: Surface temp 65-67 (7am-10:30am)

Wind: 10mph (average) S-SW

Mostly cloudy turning mostly sunny by the time I was off the water.

 

Fish caught: 1 dink bass (maybe 10", I didn't measure it)

 

 

That was it - had sunnies following everything I threw, but no takers and no other bass even sighted.

[throttleplate]

 

wife and i went to favorite bass lake in detroit lakes fri and from 6pm till 8.30 the bass just wernt out to play. I caught 2 on spinnerbaits and 1 on a jerk bait rip stop along with a couple pike.

 

The weather has been cloudy and rainy all week and the wind was blowing onto the shoreline and usually i get lots of action but it seems with the current weather pattern they shut down.

 

I put the bass lures away and caught crappies along with the wife and took alot home.

[CM-fisher]

2nd trip: didn't get skunked, but got 'dinked'. I only caught 2 bass, both under 8". Switched to crappie fishing halfway through and caught some nice ones, including a few good bluegills as well.

[MN Fisher]

Just in case we're all forgetting what we're really shooting for...this is the Minnesota record largemouth - 8lbs15oz - caught in Lake Auburn, Carver Park Reserve in 2005. The shot was taken outside Cabin Fever Sports in Victoria.

[gim]

 

I remember this.  The individual is Mark Raveling, a semi-pro bass angler.  When he caught the fish, he kept it alive.  And then he started hauling it around and tried to start a bidding war on who was willing to pay the most to display it.  He did eventually get in some legal trouble for transporting a live fish without a permit too.  Only later on, after the fish died, did he receive state record credit for it.

[RiggityBop]

Heya Guys, 

 

It's been a while... I hope everyone is doing well and have had a great start to the season. 

 

I've recently been doing a bit of fly tying, and got into making some marabou jigs. Wowee, don't sleep on these bad boys!  I love me some paddletails, but the SMB just went nuts when i switched up to black marabou jigs. they almost look like a leech in the water...  find the right weight for the water you're fishing and give 'er a go. 

 

I fished the marabou jigs up in the boundary waters last week and popped walleye's, pike, and SMB all day. 

 

On Wednesday I decided i'd head over to the 'ol mississippi to try out the marabou jigs and proceeded to slam 2-3 lbs SMB until I lost my last jig. 

 

What's everyone rigging up for this weekend? 

 

Looking like it's going to be a nice long weekend of chasing LMB for me...

Have a great memorial day holiday everyone!

 

tight lines. 

RB

 

[gim]

I hope to go on Monday.  I generally try avoid fishing on major holiday periods unless there is inclement weather that keeps riff raff off the water.  Monday looks like my best chance with potential rain/clouds in the forecast.  I think that the bass were either in the spawn or post spawn until the last couple days with these colder temps.  The northern half of the state was in a freeze warning this morning.  That can't be helping.

[MN Fisher]

Ya, my next planned outing is Tuesday - maybe tomorrow early if I'm up...couldn't get me on the water during the main part of the day on a weekend/holiday if you paid me...just too many idiots in high-powered boats.

[throttleplate]

a few days ago they predicted nice weather on sunday for detroit lakes area but as the hours pass the prediction is getting more suspect as now it looks like more clouds throughout the day with rain at 2 pm.

Monday still looks to be on schedule for all sunny day so i may go later in the day around 4 pm at a lake with no boat ramp or try to wait till tuesday hmmm tough call.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

I got no choice in the matter. Between the gear in the canoe and my age/lack of fitness...I gotta use a ramp for the trailer it sits on.

[MN Fisher]

Well, I'm gonna try to get up super-early and hit the water tomorrow before the nutsos get out. Got my rigs ready except for the plastics, and the one's I'm starting with are in their own box so I don't have to search my two bags for them.

 

Still looking at Tuesday morning as well - and with the weather report the rest of the week...I might just go out a few more times for some morning fishing.

[Deephaven]

Hope you slay them!!!

 

[Deephaven]

Find Moby Dick?

 

Bass have retreated from their nests on the East side of the lake, Sunnies on the other hand are starting to stack up.  I assume where you are is even a bit further ahead. 

[MN Fisher]

Nope - just a couple 14"/1.5#-1.7#

 

 

On 5/31/2021 at 9:42 AM, Deephaven said:

Bass have retreated from their nests on the East side of the lake, Sunnies on the other hand are starting to stack up.  I assume where you are is even a bit further ahead. 

 

They were in 8'-10' of water - weed tops in Phelps are already only 2' down.

3/8oz Chartreuse Z-Man Original Chatter with a 4" Pit Boss in Skeet's Chartreuse Shad was what they wanted.

 

Did try some wacky near docks with a GYCB Senko in Watermelon Cream Laminate - something wanted it, but after it stole 4 of them, I gave up.

[gim]

I did pretty good this morning. North metro, wacky rig.

[Deephaven]

Wait?  Memorial day and NO BOATS behind you?

[MN Fisher]

Phelps was pretty quiet too this morning...I think everyone was waiting for the afternoon.

[gim]

There was a fair number of fishing boats where I was this morning. When I left, the lot was full and there were 5 recreational boats waiting for a spot at 11:30am.

#riffraff

[MN Fisher]

I think about 5 fishers came through Phelps, 3 stopped for a bit but left within 1/2-3/4 hour

 

When I left, the lot was full - course it only holds 4 trailers, no non-trailer parking, and boat was launching as I came in...gave him my spot.

[Deephaven]

Carson's launch was full before 7:30am, lol