2023 MN Season Thread

[gim]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Any idea on the frog bite?

I haven't tried it.  I did try a buzzer the other day and had one blow up and miss.

[Hawkeye21]

How are the water levels up there?  Are they as low as Iowa right now?

[MN Fisher]

A little low, but not as bad as last year.

[gim]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

A little low, but not as bad as last year.

I agree, they are low, but not as low as last year.  At least locally they aren't.  Some areas to the north and the south might be, as they are in worse areas of drought.

 

There are signs of precipitation in the forecast next week, which would be very beneficial.

 

[gim]

Pretty good bite this morning in the north metro.  I caught all 18 largemouth and 3 pike on moving lures around weeds and docks. For the first time this season, a pike snipped me clean off.  Water temp is 67 degrees.

[Hawkeye21]

After a few days of fishing around Alexandria, the fishing has been very slow but the bass have been quality. Multiple over 4lbs and the biggest was 5.6lbs. 

[Fishin Dad]

I agree.  The quality has been better lately.  We are still very low on water in Southern MN.   It rained a lot last night and we are supposed to get more later today, but lakes are LOW!   Fishing for the most part here this year has been worse than I can remember.  A few lakes have been really good, but overall it has remained tougher to catch fish.  I am looking forward to trying to get on em a little this fall before hitting the deer stand with my bow.  

On 9/20/2023 at 8:02 AM, Hawkeye21 said:

After a few days of fishing around Alexandria, the fishing has been very slow but the bass have been quality. Multiple over 4lbs and the biggest was 5.6lbs. 

Those are quality fish for up north.  I love the Alexandria area.   Plan on looking there to retire in a few years.  

[gim]

17 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

It rained a lot last night and we are supposed to get more later today, but lakes are LOW!

I got 3.5 inches of rain here last night.

[MN Fisher]

19 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I got 3.5 inches of rain here last night.

Watertown (next town west of me) got 2.6" as of 4:30 this morning.

[Fishin Dad]

Wow, you guys did well up there.  I think we had 1.8”.   Areas around here had 2.8”.  We really needed it for sure.   I really wouldn’t mind 3 or 4 more of those storms coming through.  I usually love nice dry fall weather, but we have to catch up sometime. 

[Tlauz]

Got out Saturday.  Very light rain most of the day.  Best bite of the year. The water temp was 66 degrees.  Fished reeds, and weed beds, and tried rocks.  Best luck was over weeds.  Threw spinner bait all day.  Never needed to try anything else so I didn't.  I was the only boat on the water until I left and someone was putting in.  Hoping to get out a few more times.  Fall is my favorite time, but also when I get to fish the least. 

[gim]

This is getting to be kind of ridiculous with the rain. I’ve received 7.5 inches since last Saturday, and it’s pouring again tonight. It’s more in one week than I got the entire summer.

[Glenn]

Oh, you guys are getting what we got all last week. 

 

27 minutes ago, gimruis said:

It’s more in one week than I got the entire summer.

Yup, same here.

 

The good news is that the sun finally came out today, albeit 25 degrees cooler than a week ago.

[Fishin Dad]

Crazy weather around here.  More rain in one storm than the whole summer, then 90 degrees in October.  I hate to think of what might happen January, February, and March.  Yikes. 

[gim]

18 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

Crazy weather around here.  More rain in one storm than the whole summer, then 90 degrees in October.

I was about running about a 7.5 inch rain deficit since May here. In the past 7 days, I have now gone to a surplus. 9.5 inches of rain in one freaking week. Unreal.

 

It does look like a nice weather change later this week. Much cooler temps.

[MN Fisher]

37 minutes ago, gimruis said:

It does look like a nice weather change later this week. Much cooler temps.

We did set the new record high yesterday - 91 at the airport...+4 over the old record that was over 100 years old.

 

If the forecast for today holds - we'll match the old record high...one more degree to do it.

[nosdog2]

Well my first time Rainy Lake trip was a success.  I spent 5 days up there camping at one of the boat-in sites within Voyagers.  We packed everything in and the fishing didn't disappoint.  We couldn't have asked for a better week for weather, slight winds, 70-80s, and the rain waited until the last day to make an appearance as we headed off the lake.  Caught a metric ton of Smallmouth and Northerns, and even kept a few walleyes for a nice mid-week evening fish fry.  Capped off the week with a perfect showing (and first time seeing) of the Northern Lights.  We anchored the boat out in the middle of the bay with a few cocktails and enjoyed the show, which was incredible to see. Can't wait to head back next year again.  

[gim]

There is a really good bite out there right now.  I went this morning with a friend and caught 22 largemouth and 4 pike in about 5 hours, just north of the metro.  Water temp is 57 degrees.  I plan to target smallmouth on Wednesday.

[DaubsNU1]

What lures / techniques were putting bass in the boat @gimruis??

 

Water temps here in Nebraska were 59-62, and I was not successful : (

[gim]

3 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

What lures / techniques were putting bass in the boat

Slow moving chatter baits or spinnerbaits today in shallow water.  Had to be reeled in slow, just enough to get the blades moving.  About half the docks are out now so any remaining docks are good shallow cover in the absence of weeds that are beginning to die off.  This particular lake is pretty murky so brighter colors like white or neon green were effective.  I was on a lake last week that had clearer water and more natural colors were better there.

[DaubsNU1]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

Slow moving chatter baits or spinnerbaits today in shallow water.  Had to be reeled in slow, just enough to get the blades moving.  About half the docks are out now so any remaining docks are good shallow cover in the absence of weeds that are beginning to die off.  This particular lake is pretty murky so brighter colors like white or neon green were effective.  I was on a lake last week that had clearer water and more natural colors were better there.

 

THANKS! My "home lake" is 220 flood control reservoir in Omaha...they left the timber standing, and created a bunch of brush piles in the 12-15 foot range. Deepest this lake gets is right close to 20'.

 

Lots of weed beds, and that sticky green moss.

 

Spinnerbaits have worked lately...but only two on Saturday. Appreciate the words here!

 

 

[gim]

In case anyone is thinking of a trip to Mille Lacs, go.  There is a good bite going right now.  Water temps are in the mid 50's.  Don't bother with live bait or plastics either.  Just toss jerk baits and crank baits.  You'll get bit.  Keep your outboards trimmed way up by the access though.  The water is quite shallow.

[Standard]

Spent some time on the Mississippi about 2 weeks ago.  They had the feedbag on, already moving deeper but still willing to come up to the surface and eat.  Ended up using my fly rods most of the time and caught some nice fish.  Swinging a streamer through a current seam was almost a guaranteed eat.  And that big one smashed I hopper I was drifting with my 4wt, that was a hell of a fight.  Headed up again this weekend, we'll see how it goes after the rain and colder weather.

 

[gim]

Anyone still fishing these days?  Weather looks like its gonna stay warm all the way through Thanksgiving.  If I hadn't already winterized my boat in late October I'd consider going again.  I don't think anyone will be ice fishing until Christmas as this rate.

 

The annual Upper Red Lake ice fishing circus is going to be delayed big time.  Usually it starts up right around Thanksgiving.  People may want to bring their boat instead.  Or their pitchforks.

[BassinBrett]

I am head to Mille Lax on Monday.  I hope there is no ice yet!