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Trying to pin down a location for summer vacation next year. I'm thinking Pelican, but I have heard that Pelican has lots of rocks that could pose a potential danger to any lower unit that would happen to run into 'em. So what is the danger? Are all the rock dangers clearly marked, or are there additional dangerous areas lurking just under the surface unmarked? Any information would be greatly appreciated!!! BTW, I am looking at a resort on the north side of the lake.

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Pelican is not well marked. Go slow, avoid traveling between island and out from points and you wont have much of a problem (we hope, anyway). Also watch where the majority of boats are traveling.

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Thanks sledneck. What about mayflies, are they a factor mid-late june? I'm a multi species kind of guy, but would definitely like to get the kiddies onto some panfish action. But walleyes, lm, sm, pike are all game. Thanks!

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I dunno about the mayflies on Pelican, I doubt that they will prevent you from catching any other species besides walleye. The gills in pelican are pretty easy to catch. The bass seem to be too as long as you work the typical bass structure. You can load up on pike all day long speedtrolling.

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I am new to Pelican Lake this year. I did manage to find and mark with black paint and chrome flakes some rocks near one of the islands. The lake is not currently buoyed for the many navigation hazards. After my encounter, I spoke with the Saint Louis County under-sheriff and the head of the resort association about the need to mark hazards. The sheriff’s department would be responsible for maintenance but wanted the resorts to indicate the locations needed. They did not say "no" to the idea.

Hopefully, the markers will be in place for next season.

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It's not just rocks. You have to worry about floating logs that move from year to year and stumps that seem to grow more numerous daily. Take your time and learn where and where not to go. It's a great lake. cool.gif

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The best fishing we ever had on Pelican involved us boating through loads of hatching mayflies. The hatch has not had an impact on our fishing on pelican.

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Quote:

The best fishing we ever had on Pelican involved us boating through loads of hatching mayflies. The hatch has not had an impact on our fishing on pelican.


Do you fish Pelican much this time of year for bass?

I was thinking of going next weekend and I have never fished there later than the first week of august.

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We have fished it during mid-September with great results if you can overlook the weather. cool.gif

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Im going on saturday, will give a few things a try. Gonna need a go-devil to navigate through Orr bay!

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I hope to be there the following weekend (9/8&9). Leave a few fish behind for me.

I'll stay out of Orr Bay.

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I'll be out there the following weekend too. I have a buddy coming from the east coast who is a mad basser so thats why Im fishing it this weekend to see if its worth it.

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Wow....Pelican needs some rain!

Fished 2pm to 8pm on sunday. Was kind of disappointed, but still managed to catch some fish. Kept count this time for reference.

25 bass (between me and my 9 year old)

21 Largemouth 4 smallies. Missed tons.

Most bass caught on senkos. Watermelon and grn pumpkin blk flake.

Had lots of hits on Northland jungle jig (blk n blu) with real porkrind. Maybe caught 3 on it...but didnt use it as much as the senko.

Missed an absolute pig on a buzzbait. right off a piece of driftwood, 6 inches from shore. Made a splash like a fat kid cannon-balling into the water.

pellie5.jpg

pellie2.jpg

pellie1.jpg

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Well, fished Pelican on friday in the wind. We did much better than expected for the conditions. We caught fish all day, pretty much everywhere. Lost 2 fish that were very big. One might have been a pike. But the other was a very big largemouth.

Couldnt find but one smallmouth of any good size. We hammered the bucketmouths on the jig n pig. Senkos worked well also. Buzzbait was not working, spinnerbait was worthless.

After the sunset the bass were just drilling jig n pigs in shallow water, thats when I lost the big one.

Fished it on saturday morning and the fishing was so bad, we just left for another lake.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am finally making it back to Pelican this weekend.

Has anyone fished it lately?

What's biting?

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I fished pelican on sunday. Horrible! Didnt catch any bass and caught 1 pike on a jig n pig that was about 7 pounds. Im done there till next spring. I'd skip pelican and just go walleye fishing at vermilion....atleast they are biting.

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The only mark on my lower unit came from Pelican, and the rock wasn't marked. That was several years ago when the water levels were higher.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Suspect the water in Pelican has come up as the weather has been showing rain in that area. If you are in the Orr area and find low water, you can fish at Elephant Lake (less than 1/2 hour from Orr)without much danger of hitting rocks away from shore. There are three rockpiles in Elephant that are usually marked with a bottle, but if not, you can get a map at the Lodge showing where they are. Species found in Pelican, except bigmouth, are in Elephant. Eyes can be almost jumping in the boat sometimes.

A friend read my post and said to be fair I should point out that sometimes the eyes seem to have their heads stuck in the bottom of the lake. Of course ya'all know that.

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Pelican was pretty low late this summer, but its never so bad you cant fish it. Just use common sense and go slower.

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