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Now that the temps are so nice out, it's easier for folks to move around on the lakes and are getting good results fishing.

At the smaller lakes in the Blackduck area the panfish bite has been really good, with sunnies and some crappies being reeled in from those anglers fishing in the 15-20' depths. A red or orangish glow jig tipped with waxworms has gotten the fish interested, and the bite has been good throughout the afternoon, with one angler limiting out on sunnies in less than a couple hours over the weekend. Travel for the most part is pretty good on the smaller unplowed lakes, with ice measuring around 20", the snow is a hard crust and spots where there are some drifts, many folks are traveling around in the truck, and a few are still using wheelers.

Blackduck Lake is starting to kick back into gear. Pretty decent perch bite in the 16-22' depths during the afternoons and a walleye bite that is starting to kick back in during the evening hours in the same depths, working the bars. Folks are spreading out on the Duck, setting up along the island and different points. Travel on the Duck is going good for vehicle traffic. When the temps were in the 20-30+ below zero range anglers were setting up and not moving, but now this week with the warmer temps folks are able to move around easier and finding more action.

Those going to Upper Red the past few days have been getting a nice mix of fish. Hard to find the rough ice, but still some crappies are being caught as we are waiting for "March Madness". For the most part the mix includes a few crappies (one couple had two, a group of three had 9, etc)., with the best bet for crappies being reported as a red glow jig tipped with a minnow, in the 13-14' depths. Walleyes are giving anglers good action throughout the day again now that the temps & pressure have stabilized, with keeper walleyes and a lot of catch and release. Some anglers are swearing by the red glow, while others are liking the shiny gold lures, working the walleye off the bottom by dropping the bait to the bottom and jigging it a bit before letting it rest about 6-10" from the bottom. Some are also getting into a perch bite, finding some 10" keepers, and still some northerns ripping it up too.

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Hey Drake thanks for the current updates that you give for the area it helps make alot of peoples trips much more enjoyable. Not to change the subject but I just built a shack se of blackduck and was wondering if you could reccomend any of the small lakes in the area that a guy might try pioneer on. I would like to hit lakes with no plowed roads or big cities I have the sled ready but have not had a chance to make it up there yet.Any Advice would be greatly Appreciated!

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I'll second the great info the Drake provides. It's also a top notch motel for: a clean, comfortable place to stay, great fish cleaning shack, great service and the price won't break the bank either. Thanks for all the info you give to this site. Looking forward to Memorial weekend to get up there again!

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Keep the info coming Drake! I am looking forward to invading your place this weekend, will see you Friday. All the hints you can provide are always welcome!

B@ssmaster......

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Alright B@ssmaster, I got the camera ready for you guys and all the fish you're going to catch this weekend~you'll have your own photo page! Just got done adding a couple more pictures to our photo page from the weekend. Definitely had some die hard anglers up over the weekend~~the week was great, temperatures in the 20's and the fish were definitely cooperating, then the cool down came and with the winds it was definitely wicked (-35 to more than -40), but that didn't stop folks from going out on the lakes. With those winds, folks didn't move around much..set up the houses and hunkered down, but still managed to reel in some pretty nice ones.

It was a really good week, lots of fish fry's going on. Blackduck has done well on the perch, several limits of the little footballs (keeping the 11-12" perch), then as the temps did the cool down (and folks stayed in one spot) perch fishing seemed to slow down some, some were still getting limits, another guy had 17, and some just had a few. While the perch fishing was going good in the afternoon, one group said they didn't get any until around 4pm. Also had a couple of jumbo sunnies were caught and even seen a few eyes come through, and got a good picture of one of the guys before he cleaned it up.

The other half scouted some of the different smaller lakes in the area and also headed to Upper Red with some of the guests (he has to check out the lakes so he can give out starting spots when you guys check in-we try to give our guests at least a starting spot~tough job, although with the cold temps the past couple of days he's more comfortable on the recliner than the lake). The smaller lakes in the area have been doing really well, just using a jig tipped with waxies (and some have used minnows) has been what the gills and some crappies (11-12") were wanting. HonkerDown, you'll find that the smaller lakes in the area are unplowed. The travel on the lakes has been pretty smooth, and trucks have been able to get around pretty well. (Folks have really been spreading out to many of the different lakes and they have all been producing the panfish and some have the walleye and pike, also great open water fishing so you're going to love being up in the area.) At the access on Blackduck there's some drifted snow so you have to give it a little boost when you first get out there, but other than that travel is good all over the lake. They will be plowing the access when it gets closer to the fishing derby. For Upper Red,the results varied from the different groups, some anglers said it was great and the walleyes gave them a lot of action and managed to get a few crappies in the mix, and others said there had a good time and caught their fish but the numbers weren't enormous like their fellow anglers. And Saturday with the winds a lot of our anglers stuck to the smaller more protected lakes as they said it was pretty wicked in the wide open on Upper Red. But I'm sure Bassmaster and his crew will be checking it out this weekend!

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Hi Drake - hoping to come up this weekend and looks like a nice weekend taking shape. I will be just east of Northome. Have you heard any reports around this area? Or is Red Lake still the best bet??

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Haven't heard anything on Island Lake in a couple of weeks. They were getting some eyes, with a few keepers in the mix, but again it's been a couple of weeks ago.

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Yep, thanks for the update Drake.

Now we need to get Walleye Guy, Fish Killer, Fisher_king2004 along with the rest of the crew engaged in some pre-trip trash talking...........

Have you noticed that after Fish Killer and son and Bassmaster Jr. and I kicked all thier butts a few years ago the pre trip trash talking has been pretty limited? They must still be feeling pretty sheepish about that....... ;\)

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B@ssmaster

I've seen you fish. I'd be willing to bet you $20 you catch more fish than I do this weekend.

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B@ssmaster I noticed you said a few years ago.... So your still living on past memories???? Do you still have those crappies filets in your freezer?

Don't forget there are very few green or brown carp swimming around in URL. I'd leave the senko's, buzzbaits and jelly worms at home.

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Of course I had to say "a few years ago". Needed something to set you all off. Figured that'd give everyone enough ammo to work with. Nobody else was instigating....

I'll leave all those things you suggested at home if Fisher_King2004 leaves his Chubby Darter at home. I don't want to hear anymore about his Chubby Darter......

And A-Body, no need to wager your hard earned retirement bucks. A Crown and Coke will do....

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I figured my bet was as good as money in my pocket. I don't drink crown, so it looks like you'll end up buying me a beer.

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Diane,

Can you pull out some of the 2005 pictures of B@ssmaster and his son Sean so Steve feels OK about himself if he doesn't have a good weekend fishing?

Thanks,

WG

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I guess I'll just have to prove it again. I try to lay low and let them catch more fish to boost thier confidence then they harrass me about not catching much.. Then I kick their butts once in a while to prove my superior skills, then they harrass me if I don't do it all the time. I just can't win. Try to be nice and look what it gets me..........not sure why I hang out with you guys........

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Ah, that explains it. I guess I will have to try to get the new truck stuck to entertain you all....

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Careful what you imply...we wouldn't want to slide into driving skills conversations...I have no tailgates or bird feeders on my record.....

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