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Just got back from Babbitt, MN - Birch Lake


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I just got back from Birch Lake up near Babbitt, MN (just south of Ely). We were up there for a week or so... just AWFUL fishing. Absolutely nothing was biting (except the black flies and mosquitos). I did manage I NICE smallie the first night during the twilight hours. Two weekends ago, I dropped my dig. camera in the water for the third time since I've had it, so my wife would not let me take the new Sony H9 that I bought for us out on the lake. I was about 250 yards from the houseboat we were renting on my little 12 ft boat when I caught it. My crappy old 9.9 engine just puked, so I had to troll back to the houseboat to get a picture, which took me about, oh, 4 minutes or so. I got the pics and then spent about 2 or 3 more minutes getting the smallie revived again... good news, though, he was released successfully, so that made me happy.

Below are some pics...

BirchSmallie2.jpg

BirchSmallie1.jpg

BirchSmallie3.jpg

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I was on birch a few years ago for a few days...the family managed one perch for all the hard fishing we did.

so you're not alone for having bad luck on that lake.

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In light of your experience there I'd extend the invitation to drive another hour to Rainy Lake next time you head north. My oldest brother from FL and I were out last Tuesday from 7-11 am and caught around 20 smallies from 12-18.5" + a few pike (mostly on topwater!) and this was our first time ever in this area of the American side of Rainy. Within a 40 minute drive north of here in Ontario there are numerous lakes where the average smallie is 16" or better. WxGuy can you imagine those on a fly rod???

The Ft. Frances Canadian bass championship just finished Saturday with a 15 bass total for 3 days weighing in at over 58 lbs. and taking first prize at 50G.

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I would LOVE to go up there to chase smallies on the fly! There are quite a few from 'round here who go up there just for that.

Having caught a few around here in the 16-18" range lately, I know that I'd have to upgrade some equipment to catch that size of fish regularly. cool.gif

Good to see you back here, pete! I hope the nort is treating you well.

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