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.

Walleye fishing on Minnetonka


Recommended Posts

Anchor man,
I will post the report in the morning.

To bad you weren't going to make it out there tonight (Good walleye chop...hehe!).

I Would like to meet a few of you FM's. We all have the same interest and believe we could benefit each other in our outdoor adventures. Maybe next time. Let me know when your going next. I have alot of friends that like to fish, it's just that there not quite as "sick" as I and most of us when it comes to time on the water. I will have my Brother in Law in the boat tonight, but he is ready to go home in 1-2 hours on the lake...bummer.

I have high hopes on the flat tonight and hope your's and my last experience on Browns Bay flat doesn't hold true this eve.

I will be all over in that Browns/Wayzata Bay area.
With the heat I just may make a stop at the local watering hole also (Fletchers)

Rip Some Lips!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 291
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Autumnhunt

    63

  • wmn luv me walleye fearme

    25

  • buzzsaw

    21

  • Mr Special

    19

Anyone going to Tonka tonight? I should be there at Gray's bay access at about 6 this evening. Plan on fishing Brown's Bay mid lake flat and the Big Island points/weedlines.

(Party of two-three-- 2003 Blue/Gold Crestliner Sportfish w/ 115 HP Yamaha-4 stroke)

Give me a hollar and let's share some tips and rip some lips!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, what a nice night to be on the lake after the wind subsided!

One rock bass and two nice walleye, lost two nice fish also.
All fish were caught on Browns Bay. Fished until 11:00 last night. No fish were caught after dark. The best action was around 9-9:30.

Night Crawlers on floating Lindy's seemed to be the ticket in 18-20 ft of water just off the breaks on a rather quick drift.

I think I just may go back tonight smile.gif

Good Luck!


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good deal glad to hear your getting on some fish. I'll have to taek lesson form ya in a 2nd here. Sounds like you're really starting to know the lake. Just goes to show that time and effort will be rewarded. I'm sure you know where the big milfoil patch on Wazayta is, the one in front of the Waterworks beach in the middle of the bay. I've picked up almost every species on the edge of that patch. Oh, watch out for the big muskies that like to hang around there too.

Keep up the good work,
Kick butt and take names

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mr. Special,
Time on the lake does pay as I really learned the structure and the behaver of the lake. Every lake has a different attitude and I find you need to make adjustments from lake to lake, some lakes are not so particular, but some are, and Tonka is one of those lakes you just have to figure out before success comes your way.
I was beginning to wonder if the lake still had walleyes in it with the slow start to the season!

Just move around and find the fish is what I found, don't wait for them to come to you and try many presentations cause you might be there awhile otherwise--skunked.

I know of the milfoil spot your taking about. Seems like a great spot with the fast break right off the edges. Tried it last night for a bit and moved on. I'm sure it can be pretty productive at times. (Should cast a couple Giant Jackpots or some bucktails in there!) May try it again tonight, but I know exacly were I'm going first tonight--Browns Bay.


Thanks,

Autumnhunt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Autumhunt,
Giant Jackpot is a grat way to go. I just got tried of throwing those huge lure. But that very steep drop is exactly what I'm talking about.

Good Luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mr. Special,
Stopped by the (Boatworks) area last night and did pretty well. We picked up a couple there, including a 6 lb 6oz pig. All fish were caught just before the storm hit (8-9:30) Lost a few nice ones including one instant bite off--possibly a big Pike? Horse Shoe Reef-Browns bay produced the 6 lb'er.

It was a really slow start, then the action really picked up just before dark.

Nightcrawlers/leeches on floating Lindy's just off the milfoil weed line.

22 ft of water seemed to produce most action.

Good Luck,

AH.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good Stuff, now I'm jealous. We'll have to meet up sometime and trade spots. Do you bass fish at all. Cause as the weather warms the wallys slow down and the bass, northerns, and muskies heat up.

Till then Good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the big milfoil patch that you guys are talking about the one thats by the boat launch (the one ramp launch on the north side of wayzata bay) If thats what your talking about i've fished it with good success on pike and bass but never any luck with the walleyes. Theres a lot of good spots out in wayzata bay but unfortunately it seems most of them have to be fished at night or in bad weather when the rec boats die down a little so I;m going to start trying to fish more at night and dusk and see if that improves my luck

------------------
To be the man you have to beat the man....Wooooooooo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, In a month or so I will SLOWLY make my transition to other species. I am just having to much fun right now and a definate lack of sleep from the late night excursions to Tonka. (ZZZZZZZZZZZ)

The tips and tricks that were shared on this forum from you and others really helped me fiqure this lake out, so yes, no problem--we can trade places. cool.gif

I love to Bass fish-top water action, including muskies! As you may know by now walleye is my true passion, but, Let's give it a go later in the season as the walleye bite slows.

Right now walleyes are really starting to pick up.... It's been a nice substitute to what I can expect on the weekends at the lake home. unforchantly, I live and work here in the cities, so it's nice to find action during the weekday blues.

I may go back out Thursday night. I would like to go back out tonight, but I need to get caught up on rest. Let me know if your intesrested.... or possibly later in the season?

AH.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Autumnhunt,
Thanks for the invite, but I'll have to pass this time. I've already made plans to go after cats. Which is my first love. I'm a riverrat so I have to get back to a river before I start smell all nice and fresh. But yes we'll have to go out sometimes.

Good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wmn Luv Me,
Yes, I think there may be a small acess spot next to the fishing deck, but this location is right out front of the old boatworks building/Beach, just on the outside edges of the bouys in the middle of the bay.

Good Luck,

AH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Autumnhunt,

I have really enjoyed reading your entries throughout this post. I fished Minnetonka quite a bit late last summer and had some success with the walleyes. I have only been out once this spring and pretty much got blown off the lake that day. Anyway, I was thinking about heading out really early tomorrow morning, have you had any luck fishing the early mornings or just the evening bite. Also, any colors on the floating Lindy's that seem to be more effective than the others? Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Minnesota River-Black Dog Rd and 35 W has some of the best Cat fishing I've experienced, Big ol' cats! Give that a try sometime if you haven't already.

We'll have to hook up later in the season, let me know when your ready.

Have a great time and good luck,


AH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a picture of a cat I caught right at 35W and black dog if one of the pro staff can help me get it on here.

I totally agree Autumn...I only fished that spot once (last July 4 because ALL the local lakes were full for launching my boat), and it was a blast. Caught close to a dozen of them. (wouldn't dare keep those fish though, the water looks awful)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mont,
I 'm glad you been reading from this thread. I hope it helps others as it helped me. I maybe a little late getting this to you, but green, green,green,is the awnser to your question.Work the deep drop offs and weedlines in 20-22 ft of water. Wayzata/Browns Bay. I have only tried the evening hours since I start work early in the mornings and fish out of the cities during the weekends.

Right before dark has worked best for me,but I'm sure there has to be a good early morming bite. Let us know how you did--Good luck and Rip some lips!

AH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished Wayzata bay on Tuesday night before the storm. Jig and a leech. Missed a couple of nice Walleyes. Caught a nice pike. The Blugills would not leave my leech alone. Even in 22ft of water the bluegills were on attack. My graph looked like snakes from Raiders of the Lost Ark(sonar was picking up the school of gills). To bad that 6" is probably the largest gill out there. There are to ways that I have had success on Tonka for Walleye. First, is what they all say. Weedline, Weedline, Weedline..... Second, the bottom lip of the drop-off on the Big Water, could be as deep as 35-45 ft. I spent some time in the deeper water on Tuesday too. I was marking all kinds of bait fish with larger fish surounding the bait fish in 43 ft of water. Sorry to report no bites there. (Near Excelsior Bay). I haven't fished Tonka since two weeks before. Did not seem like it was picking up. Autumn Hunt what do you think? Is the bite picking up or what? I should be out this weekend.

Reefdawg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reefdawg,

The bite is definatly picking up! I
will be out there tonight around 6 or so grin.gif .

I have beed told not to shy away from 50 ft of water for walleye as the water gets warmer. July/Aug.

May have to make some changes as
the transition takes place.......

Sounds like you had some fun!

Good luck this weekend Reef,

AH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

montanagriz,

A bit off-topic, but are you a U of MT grad.

I was there in the early 90's - Forestry.

Pete

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Montanagriz,

Thanks for the report!
Sound like you had fun in the wind\rain anyways! I was so close to going last night until the rain started coming down hard-- so I passed. Didn't make it out last night, but should go out on Monday after my weekend fishing trip to the Alexandria area. grin.gif

Crawlers have worked well for me, but need to give them a good 2-3 second count with a open bail to get a good hook set and not just loosing half your crawler.
I will leave my bail open on a troll while holding the line between my forefinger/rod handle and as soon as I feel that tap or tention, let the line go and count, 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand ,3 set the bail and let her have it! This happened many times to me as well (loosing half the crawler) and just took on a different approach to get them suckers to hold on.

Give that a try if you haven't already, it worked we'll for me and you even get those little buggers such as sunnies and perch that would most likey not get hooked otherwise.

I've noticed the same, the walleye definatly have gone deeper week to week. I remember a week or two ago the action was in 15 ft or so.

Winds 10-15 MPH are perfect for the walleye action on Tonka, but anymore than that boat control is tuff and very little success!

I hope next time you'll have better luck and less wind.

Have a great weekend,

AH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out from 10 - 2 today. I started with a lindy/leach, trying for walleyes and didn't have any luck. The wind got tough so boat control was an issue. After a while I drifted and noticed schools of baitfish surrounded by bigger fish so I started casting and got on a fairly nice pike bite! I landed one 2.5 lber had abouta 4 and a 6 come off at boatside and also had about 3 more fish jump out of the water at boatside after my lures. I got my hits on big spinners, in-line spinners, and a giant swimbait (crappie colored). All of this action took place around a windward point off an island in the upper west lake. Hope someone finds this useful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished Wayzata and Gray's bay last night from 7-10 pm. It was an absolute hurricane out there and almost impossible to fish. Picked up one northern and had several nice bites that took off half my crawler. The bites seemed to be in deeper water, 22+ It would sure be nice to be able to fish without all that wind. Both times I have been out there this year I have been practically blown off the lake. Oh well, we'll just have to give it try again next week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Failin'OnPhalen,

I graduated from Montana with a Business - Information Systems degree in the spring of 2003 but I played basketball for the Grizzlies for 5 years (redshirted my freshman year), so I did some graduate work this past year. Anyway, I am back in Minnesota now. There really are a lot of Grizzly alumni from MN, I met quite a few kids out there from the Twin Cities area. Go Griz!

Autumnhunt,

I was surprised I wasn't hooking the walleyes, I was actually giving them a 7 or 8 second count and still getting bitten half off. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to switch to a crawler harness or at least have one hook trailing. I guess we'll have to wait and see, I won't be able to make it back out until Thursday. Hope you slaughtered them this weekend in Alex!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to the U of Montana...Lived in Missoula for a while and I also lived in Big Sky, MT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out Sunday a.m., fishing muskies. You guys may be fishing under these walleyes? Caught a fat, fat 25"er which weighed 5.9lbs on the digital scale. She ate an 8" Bulldawg fished in 20 ft. of water about 3 ft. down. Windward side, deep edge a couple of long casts off a weedline. About 8:30 a.m., bright and sunny. Clear water. No muskies caught, but raised six and had two bites, one almost in the net.

BrianF.
Twin Cities

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out last night about 8-10:30, fished in Wayzata bay. Trolled for the first hour with a little joe spinners on the weed line caught 2 pretty decent pike. After that switched over to the lindy going for walleyes, fished a hump that I had done well in the winter, and as usual caught nothing. Every year I tell myself this year I'm just going to go after pike and bass, easier to catch, better fight, but every year I get sucked back into trying for walleyes and seem to do terrible unless I'm out of the metro. (obviously the name's a joke)
I'll be out there most of the morning on wednesday (got the day off since I have to work saturday) but this time if I catch a walleye it will be by accident

------------------
To be the man you have to beat the man....Wooooooooo

[This message has been edited by wmn luv me walleye fearme (edited 06-14-2004).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BrianF is on to something - I was throwing bucktails for muskies and caught a nice walleye on Friday. Was burning them over the weeds. Lots of northerns in the 2 to 4lb range but not one musky showed up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Walleye fear me, your funny!! I was out this past Saturday the 12th and started in Wayzata bay off the bouy's in 20-22 ft and as usual I scared ALL of the Walleyes away! I had zero luck for walleyes but we caught some Ok largemouth bass, one smallmouth and a rock bass... a dozen cagey northerns.... Where are the walleyes?? I was jigging mainly with a leech and did some long lining..

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw about a 30" Walleye floating dead in Wayzata bay yesterday.

Not Good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't like hearing about floating 30" walleyes or any other fish for that matter. I just hope the thing died of old age and not some *****'s mishandling!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • 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.