Report 1/23

[uwleagle]

Went today and fished close to the big group of people acrosse from Bayport. Once again I marked a ton of fish on my vexilar but they were not very active. Ended up catchin 4 very small crappies and one small white bass. Was in about 38 feet of water and fished from 1:00 to 4:30. Ended up breaking my hand auger that was just brand new at christmas. Luckily I found someone nice enough to drill a couple holes for me when I moved in shallower to try for some eyes. Fished on the MN side north of where you drive out. Fished here from about 4:30 to 7 in 20 feet of water. Didnt catch any fish. Dont know how any walleyes can get at my bait when those darn mud puppies are on my hook the whole time. The guy next to me caught one small eye. Will hopefully make it out Friday if I can scrounge up some money for an auger. Think I'm goin to have to splurge for a gas one this time. Drilling through 20 inches of ice is no fun by hand.

[ChompChomp_YANK]

check out the for sale forum i think i saw a couple on there

[croixeyes]

UW...Dont put your offering so close to bottom.I jig as much as 3ft off bottom sometimes more if im raising one up.Ill go down and bounce my jig off bottom from time to time but never stay there.Believe me,the active fish will rise......

[sjburnt]

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[JBMasterAngler]

I believe mudpuppies are also called waterdogs. Supposedly they're excellent bait for walleyes and pike. Caught one nightfishing the kettle river awhile back, freaked me out at first. But they are pretty cool. I would never have the heart to use one for bait, but are they're any baitstores that sell them anymore (if it's even legal)?

[uwleagle]

The Mud puppies look like a salamander but have gills and a bigger tail. I bet they would be pretty good for bait. I've never used them though. Some of the ones I was catchin were almost a foot long. I'll try jiggin further off the bottom. All the other places I have fished walleyes I jig mostly withing about 6 inches of the botton. I catch alot of fish that are huggin the bottom so tight I cant see them on the vexilar, then if I see a fish higher I will just bring my bait up. Probably better to be higher on the river so the mud puppy are takin it the whole time. And dont worry I bought a brand new jiffy auger today so i wont be drilling any more holes by hand.

[croixeyes]

As stated above Mudpuppys are salamanders of sorts,but they are not waterdogs.Waterdogs are a younger stage of the tiger salamander which are excellent bait for bass and walleye.UW its good to hear your drillin will be easier.Anyone wanting to see what a mudpuppy looks like,just goggle mudpuppy.Though you may not want to see whats roaming around the bottom of our rivers.

[tunrevir]

Just a little side note for all of you river hounds. In the spring when the water is high and dirty, and the current is fast you can use these ugly little creatures to get you into some dandy fish! Use a heavy jig sometimes up to three onces and fish a plastic lizard like for bass. Fish slow, and chunk the bait along but never really lifting it more then three or four inches off the bottom. Look for some of the usual holding areas and work them slowly while chunking along with the plastic lizard. You may be surprised at some of the fish you run into. It will not be fast and furiouss fishing but when you get a fish typically it is gonna be a hawger!

Tunrevir~

[slipperybob]

Darn slimy's mudpuppies

Darn mooneyes

Darn shads

Darn sheepsheads

Darn rockbass

Darn yellow perch

LOL's

[TRZ]

mooneye are very good smoked, but they don't seem to be as plentiful as years past, and the yellow perch actually seem to be in a up cycle on the river i have actually gotten some keepers this year-over 9 inches. Now Mudpuupies are the most disgusting thing i have ever seen they make me sick! luckily i have learned how NOT to catch them now. STAY OFF THE BOTTOM!!!! I'm going to try the river again this wekend my buddie was down in the cold thursday and got 2 nice white bass and 2 small crappies in the bayport colony, i guess an old asian guy caught a big sturgeon and got tangled with other lines, pretty funny scene i guess.

[sjburnt]

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