Where to go for opener

[TYMAN]

This is the first time we are going out for the opener where can i catch fish but not the crowd? thinking of white bear?

[Fisher Dave]

If you dont want the crowds .. charge up your batteries and hit the inner metro lakes(trolling motor only).

Pull Lindy's with a leech between the pavillion and the north side beach on Harriet in 14'-25' of water, or near the rose gargen fishing dock, stay close to weeds. Nokomis can be good under the bridge bouncing jigs around. Calhoun can be great fishing all the *traditional structures* with live bait usually being choice this early in the year... fish shallow before deep.

Any popular lake around the metro will have excessive traffic on the opener.

[MedicineMan]

I agree, if you have good batteries go fish the inner city lakes. I'm going out on Medicine....naturally. If you enjoy catching Northerns as much as Walleye, head out to Medicine. There's never a crowd out there on opener, plus you can also pick up a few Walleye's out there as well.

[TYMAN]

where is medicine?

[MedicineMan]

Medicine is located in southeast Plymouth. You can actually see the southern end of Medicine from 169. Here's a map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&searchtab=address&searchtype=address&address=&city=MedicineLake&state=mn&zipcode=&search=++Search++

[TYMAN]

where on map is it? what should i use? what kinda fishing they got?

[Mighty Mitch]

Im going to Wacoina

[TYMAN]

what ya fishing for? btw medicine man ure going sunday right? u wanna hook up or something? also i have a radio if u do we can chat with that cause i'll need some help since i never been there afore, finally i checked it out with the dnr website ****! most northerns from 25-28 and over 200 sampled total! only other lake i seen that on was tonka but that dont count

[This message has been edited by TYMAN (edited 05-13-2004).]

[MedicineMan]

TYMAN,the big red star on the map is where Medicine is. Medicine is just west of 169, east of 494, and north of 394. I'll be going out Saturday for sure. I'll most likely be going out again on Sunday as well. All depends on th weather and how tired I am.(I deliver papers on the weekend) So if I go out I'll either go out at the crack of dawn, or I'll sleep untill 1-2 then go out on Sunday. But if you wanna meet up I'll be more than happy to help you.

[TYMAN]

meeting up would be great by the way what do ya usually catch there?

[MedicineMan]

Medicine is a good lake for almost anything. Its a great Northern lake, its not unusual to catch a 34+inch Northern. Its also one of the best Bass lakes in the Twin Cities. Lots of Sunnies and Crappies. The Walleye's are finally taking hold in Med after 5 years of stocking. I've had fairly good luck catchin' eye's in Medicine. But note: every Walleye I do catch, I release right away. I think others that do catch a Walleye in Medicine should do the same. There's only so many and we should help them out by releasing them.

[TYMAN]

what do ya use for the pike and are the panfish eaters?

[MedicineMan]

You can use almost anything and catch Pike in Medicine. Crankbaits and spinners are my favorite lures. Deep Diving Reef Runners are my favortie Pike lure, stick to natural or dark colors. There are some decent panfish out there. You might have to weed through them to get a meal, but you can diffenetly get a meal.

[TYMAN]

ok cool cause id like some fillets but the pike are that deep?

[MedicineMan]

The majority of the Pike are in 4-14 feet of water. I have seen them in 1 feet of water, then all the way down to 30 feet of water. The DNR sprayed weedkiller in Medicine early this week, I don't know how fast this chemical will kill the Curly Leaf Pondweed. So the fish could still be in the weeds, or they could have moved around since then. I'll find out this saturday. Oh yeah, will you be out in a boat TYMAN?

[MedicineMan]

If you need tackle, bait, or even some grub. Stop by Harty's on the south end of the lake.

[This message has been edited by Paul Waldowski (edited 05-13-2004).]

[TYMAN]

mdicineman ill be in a lund fisherman 1700 with a grey yamaha 4 stroke 115 hp btw im the 14 year old kid and if ya want ill bring my radios so we can talk to each other if u have one or i can give ya one of mine also when can u go out?

[This message has been edited by TYMAN (edited 05-14-2004).]

[MedicineMan]

I'll be the kid in a red lund with a 30 Nissan. I don't know exactly when I'll go out Sunday, most likely in the afternoon.

[TYMAN]

what kinda boat? also a lot of people have been saying theve seen fish, is it that clear down there?

[TYMAN]

what kinda boat is it on? also i hear alot in the old medicine lake thread that they were seeing fish is it that clear?

[TYMAN]

what kinda lures and bait work well for the northerns walleyes and panfish? and where is a baitshop close by?

[MedicineMan]

TYMAN, I'm guessing that you're asking what kinda boat I'm in. I'm gonna be in a 14' orangish-redish Lund with a 30 horse Nissan. Its an older boat, but its been modified. It's got a deck and bow mount trolling motor with floor and red carpet. The entire inside of the boat is red. You really can't miss it! As far as water clarity, the water has become really clear. I'm guessing that you could see bottom in 6-8 feet of water.

[MedicineMan]

The lures that work well for Northerns also work well for Walleye's. That is: Beatle Spins with a leech, minnow, or artifical baits. Or an inline spinner or anyother type of spinner bait. Crankbaits also work very well for both. Stick to natural colors or dark colors. For panfish, small spinner baits work well, Creme Worms are exellent Crappie and Sunnie lures. 1/4-1/2oz Daredevils work well both Northerns Walleye's and Crappies. Then you have the usual panfish lures: Small Jigs, bobber fishing with live bait. As far as bait shops, there is a Baitshop on the lake. Harty's Baitshop is on the southeast end of the lake. If you're on the lake and you need bait, just tie up to the end of his dock and stop in his shop.

[This message has been edited by MedicineMan (edited 05-14-2004).]

[This message has been edited by MedicineMan (edited 05-14-2004).]

[TYMAN]

ok sounds good do u know =what stage of spawn the crappies and sunnies are in? also what would an average day be like i.e. 30 sunnies 10 crappieas 20 northern 100 walleyes (i wish ) and what kind of structure will we be fishing ?Crappies/sunnies: , northern: , walleyes: ,

[This message has been edited by TYMAN (edited 05-14-2004).]

[MedicineMan]

TYMAN, I really couldn't tell you what an average day would be. I never go after panfish, I know where they are, I just don't fish them. 20 Northerns a day isn't out of the question. But if you get into that many they're gonna be smaller 20-24in fish. I don't go for quantity, I go for quality. Usually when I go out I'll average 6-8 Northerns, but they're almost always 30+ inches. 100 Walleye's in a day, HA! Thats half the Walleye population in Medicine. The most I've caught in a day is 6. Well, I've caught more than that in a day, but they were the size of my hand.

[MedicineMan]

As for structure and location. Thats what I'm going to be doing tomorrow.... finding them! I was out last thursday and I found out where the fish were and everything but....The DNR sprayed chemicals earlier this week to combat the Curly Leaf Pondweed. 90% of the fish I found were using this weed as cover. But I don't know at what stage of decay the weeds are in. They could be completely gone, or they could still be healthy and die off next week....I don't know. If the weeds are decaying, they would use up oxygen as they die off. This would push the fish out of the weeds. One of two things could happen. The fish could be suspending out in open water relating to nothing. Or they could have moved out too some of the islands or they are using any other type of structure in the lake. All I have to say is, you better have a good map and a good depth finder!

[This message has been edited by MedicineMan (edited 05-14-2004).]

[This message has been edited by MedicineMan (edited 05-14-2004).]

[TYMAN]

30+ in on a beetle spin, 6-8 nice? are there any bass? also do u know what the weathers gonna be like? i think its rainy? oh well gonna hafta bring a jacket hehe

[MedicineMan]

Medicine is an amazing Bass lake! You can very easily pick up a few 6+ pound fish. Most people catch the big bass in early June untill early July. Once mid-July hits most people have a harder time catching them. But once again, you CANNOT target Bass untill May 29th.

[TYMAN]

hehe i forgot oops! but yeah ill havta get out there later in june then. btw how do u wanna meet up? dock, radio, bait shop?

[MedicineMan]

I'm thinkin' we could meet up at the baitshop. I'm gonna get out there between 12-1 on sunday.