Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

I'm coming up for some looper fishing in April. I have a few questions for the looper/steelhead fishermen.

1. Is there anyplace where you can buy eggs for spawn sacs?

2. Does anyone use artificial eggs or powerbait eggs?

3. What is a good color to go with?

4. Are looper bugs and waxworms or crawlers just as good or better than spawn sacs?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I caught more than half my loopers/cohos on nightcrawlers or looper bugs/bobber.

When the fish were farther offshore I liked the spawn bags because you can really gun them way out there, which you can't with a crawler. But you can also get the weighted Rossbobbers way the heck out there.

I never found eggs for sale when I was looper fishing around Duluth, but that may have changed. I always just bought the mesh bags and tied my own up fresh as soon as I caught a hen with eggs. Pink or chartreuse worked equally well for me. I don't know if color made that much of a difference with spawn bags.

If I was back down doing the looper thing right now, I'd just buy spawn bags already tied as I needed them and would focus more on the looper bugs and crawlers. Less hassle that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if you are fishing in the rivers, yarn flies work about as good as spawn(at least after the water warms a little) and way less hassle and stink as spawn. Cripes I had to leave my fishing vest outside during season when I still used a lot of spawn, man did that thing stink \:o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Al, at Al's Bait and Tackle in Two Harbors, gave me a quick tutorial when I was new to the whole looper thing on how to tie spawn sacks. You can buy spawn sacks there or at other North Shore oriented tackle shops. Then all you have to do is catch your first hen looper, go back to same tackle shop for mesh and magic thread, and you are set.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll be staying in Two Harbors, so I'll be sure to visit Al's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trade you a day of lopper fishing for a day of flatheading?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If anyone is in need of Looper spawn just let me know. I have several small packs in the freezer. Just use my e-mail below and put something about Looper spawn in the subject line. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Catfishhunter - would you believe I've never fished flatheads? Although since I started following FM and have seen some pics, I think I should start. I'm more of a walleye guy \:D The Minnesota River is a great fishery.

BD110 - Thanks for the offer. I'll email you if I need some when I'm in the area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harbi, You will wish you could use walleyes for bait when get into flats.

BD you have mail

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can anyone give me a desent rundown on what rivers to hit for April Loopers ? Going to give it another try after 15 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For loopers stick closer to Duluth; Lester, mouth of the french, Sucker. You'll find some loopers north of 2 harbors for sure, but most of the stocking is in the lower rivers. Stewert, Gooseberry, split rock are all good rivers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Matt,Catfish & Harbi,

I just checked my e-mail and replys have been sent. Catfish I'll get you my cell number.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The new question is if spawn from the Great Lakes is legal.

I heard this topic is coming up since the new diseases showing up. Especially, if used on inland trout lakes. Was talked about on the "Fishing Frenzy" on the radio in Duluth on March 13th.

Anybody know the exact law?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Regardless of the law, it is probably a good idea to only use spawn or other bait collected from Superior on the Great Lakes and not inland lakes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, but what is the official ruling on that one? I started a new topic on smelt regs. Kind of wondering about smelt much as the Colonel is about the spawn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I wonder if freezing smelt or spawn kills a virus?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would think so, but maybe it just goes dormant? So can we use these in waters other than lake superior???

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I called the Fisheries Dept and yes you can still use Lake Superior smelt for bait on Inland lakes. Of coarse just as always they can't be alive. Spawn is also allowed for use on Inland lakes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was told by a Wi. DNR that we cant use smelt inland is that even if you freeze them they can still spread different sorts of "Stuff" into other waters.

Thats why Canada dont let our smelt in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I was referring to Minnesota.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It makes no sense for MN and Wi to not have the same regs on this. The smelt are from the same lake and will have the same issues no matter where they are transported.

Hypothetical example here guys so bear with me.

So I live in Superior, go to park point or lester to smelt, catch a ton of smelt and then transport them home. Sell them to friends, give them to friends, sell to baitshops in Wi and Mn and take them all over Mn and Wi to fish with them.

Does it make sense to anyone that Mn should be different than WI on this?

Last year MN DNR let shops by smelt from smelters. Wi DNR told their baitshops not to buy smelt from lake superior or tribs. Go figure? crazy.gif

Thats why the minnow transport thing is so foolish. More gets transported on trailers/boats than any minnow bucket.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey All,

I was wondering about a couple things about Superior..

First, when do you expect ice off?

Second, if the wind is right, does it pay to fish the shorelines shallow in the early spring early May, or whenabouts? Lakers?

Third, can you fish out in front of creekmouths by boat?

I've only been to Madeline Island in July and there was a good Noreaster that day, so fishing was tough with the riggers.

I haven't reviewed the regs closely, but would for sure.

Any advice would be verryyy appreciated.. Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First time using this site so i hope this all works right. I was just wondering if anyone has done any good yet for loopers from shore? Thinking about getting out this weekend but just wondering if its even worth it. Any little info would be great. Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

UMD welcome. When the ice isnt mesing with ya you can get a few.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

UMD welcome to forum. Now how did we get from spawn bags to smelt and who knows what. Even our mods cant get it right. Must be withdrawls. Anyway Most of the spawn comes from the big lake. Yet some of it comes from michigan. As far spawn going inland its anybodys guess.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Nope not me.  May want to go nextdoor and ask around?  
    • smurfy
      Looks to me like Leech brought his chair home!!😅😆
    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.