cass lake 2020 Cass Lake Fishing Reports

[cluelessfisherman]

Any reports from the Cass chain? I've been traveling all winter and haven't been able to do any ice fishing, but am finally headed home ane looking forward to a little 'ice' time!

[FishMaster007]

Was up by cass last weekend and had a good time. Started out on a lake north of leech lake looking for some sunnies caught 100's of little perch and a couple 7-8 inch sunnies this was in 23 feet of water and they wanted wax worms and tungsten jig vertical worked better than horizontal. The next day we went and fished the chain looking for crappies.Took us 45 holes and three hours to find them but when we did they bit. 35 feet deep hole mud bottom. The fish were at the bottom to 10 feet up. caught them on tungsten jigs horizontal with pink or red plastic minnow imitation ones with the forked tail. They wouldn't bite minnows or wax worms. The only reasoning I could think off was they were eating blood worms so they liked the red or pink color. Also on a side note I caught a big whitefish in both the lakes 3-4lb I didn't even know they were in there. I wonder if the leach lake band stocked them? If so thank you they will be put on the smoker tomorrow!!!!

[Borch]

Just got settled in at Cass last night and made a quick trolling run for a little over an hour.   Can you say bugs?!!

I ended up throwing back a half dozen little ones and kept one 17 incher.  Lost a lot of heavier fish.  Water temp was almost 68 degrees.

[bowhunternw]

Borch when you says bugs are you talking mosquitos? My family and I were thinking of coming over there camping this weekend and have fears on how bad the mosquitos are getting. Thanks

[Chris Haley]

Borch

Jigs and minnows on top of boathouse bar.  I talked with a guy that said they practically caught a walleye on every cast!!  45 mins to get 3 limits.

[Chris Haley]

Well the fish have finally started to move deeper.  Cass and Pike are on fire right now in depths of 20 - 22ft.  Doesn't really matter how you fish them.  Live bait rigs as well as jigs and minnows vertically jigged are working great.

[WalleyeChamp]

That's good to hear Chris. Thanks for the tip.  I assume you are talking early morning and low light hours but have you heard of anything going during the daytime?

And what's with the nighttime crank bait bite being so slow,,or for the most part slow?

What's your prediction on the next Mayfly hatch?  Do you think we have a couple week window here where we wont have to worry about it?

[Chris Haley]

Actually we caught them right in the middle of the day.  As far as the nighttime crank bite.  It might have something to do with the fact that the last week and a half has been the waning to waxing crescent phase and the storms moving through make it difficult for the fish to effectively forage at night.  The mayfly might be another reason your crank bait bite has been off.  If the big swarm is close, the emerging nymphs are a great food source for all, keeping the fish out away from the flats.

[WalleyeChamp]

Thanks Chris.  I appreciate that.  Middle of the day sounds good to me.  Looks like a full moon next week.  Now just keep the storms away.

[Rick]

Thanks Chris.  I appreciate that.  Middle of the day sounds good to me.  Looks like a full moon next week.  Now just keep the storms away.

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[Borch]

The day bite is definitely better than the night bite right now.  At least more consistent.  During the day I'm still catching fish from 12-20 fow.  When there's a chop sitting over a school with a slip float has been very effective.  Otherwise pulling live bait rigs or jigging has been good with jigging getting the nod on most days.  I stuck this 28" eye on a jig and a leech last evening in 16 fow. 

[WalleyeChamp]

Awesome Fish!! Congrats!    Are you up there all week long again?

[Borch]

Heading back on Saturday.  I'm sure you'll do very well.

[minnesotakid25]

Any recent info on how the walleyes are biting lately and what has been working? Heading up this weekend. Any info would be appreciated.

[Chris Haley]

I've heard a lot of small ones are being caught in 20 - 22ft.  With all the structure on Cass I would get out and graph the windward side of the bars and points first looking for archs.  Then come back and either drop a bottom bouncer and spinner with a crawler on em, or a heavier jig and minnow.

If you get a really windy day, they might move up on top and a blue and chrome crankbait works well out there also.

[minnesotakid25]

Chris,

Thanks for the info. Only going to have an afternoon to play with so I'll give it a shot an see what happens!

[Jim Panfish Uran]

-2 right now in Cass Lake! Making ice!! I went out last night out on Pike bay, I found 5" of ice all the way out to 20' of water so I fished from 20' to 16' and couldn't keep the perch off. A mix between 4" up to 9", I also caught 4 walleyes, none bigger than 14".  It was nice to get out FINALLY!

[Weathertite]

Thank you for the update Jim . Please keep us updated on the ice conditions as I cant wait to go after some nice Jumbo Perch.   Mike

[Jim Panfish Uran]

You got it! Local bait shop said that he sold bait to guys heading out to Cass, Big, Winnie, Grace, Andrusia, and Wolf. We are still at the beginning of the ice fishing season so caution is advised.  The layer of ice that I fished is solid, nice clear ice. I was planning on going today but we have high blue skies, high pressure, and last but not least it's football sunday!!!  I'll be out this week though, and I'll keep everyone posted. It was -2 when I got up this morning :)

[Weathertite]

Thanks again Jim , We really need more guys like you out there giving good and safe information. Good luck fishing and stay safe.   Mike

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Went out to the south side of Wolf Lake this evening, got out there about 4 and fished until 6... Got some small perch right away out in 24' of water but nothing big. Biggest were at 9" and kind of chunky. Marked some high flyers out in 26' but couldn't get them to commit to anything!!! Only a couple in the last half hour I was out there but I'm guessing they were crappies!!! 6" of ice is what I measured all the way to 28'

[IceHawk]

Jim Glad to see you posting again always enjoyed your posts and top notch detail you put in to your fishing reports!

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Went out from the wayside rest out on Cass tonight, I noticed there was some hard houses out there so I ventured out that way. I found myself out in the river channel so I presume. I was using my flasher to find the depth as I scooted along. It went from 14' down to 16' then back up to 12' so I set up along that channel break. I fished in 16' of water from 4 until 6:30 and iced some pretty decent perch until dark time and then it went blank!  I was hoping for a walleye or 5 after dark. There was at least 6" of ice all the way to where I was fishing tonight. 

[Weathertite]

Thank you for the information Jim . I was going to hit you up for some information tomorrow but I believe you are physic as you told me what I needed. Jumbos ?

Thanks again Mike

[Borch]

Nice job Jim!  As you get a chance to fish that area more you'll find it has a lot to offer.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

10"ers Mike! 

To me those are quality perch, I know it's not like the old days but they sure were fun to catch last night. I should have went this morning but the bed felt too nice, lol. Here is a pic of one of them. 

 

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Walked out from the marina just north of the way side rest on Cass. I walked straight out a couple hundred yards and hit the first break, it dropped from 10 down to 18' and evened out so I fished there the last half hour of light and about 15 minutes after that and only marked a few fish. Not even sure what they were, small eyes or perch. I did measure a solid 7" + of ice though. Plenty of guys driving sleds and side by sides, pulling their wheel houses around. I even saw someone set up just south of Star Island.  I'm going to try to make it out a little further tomorrow and hit that 30' mark at least. 

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Went out on Cass in front of the marina again, got out there about 6:30 and fished until 8:30 and only caught 4 fish. All small perch, I found a nice inside turn along the main bar out there, I fished from 24' to 12'. I did mark some nice solid red marks in 18' of water before light but they wouldn't bite. I also marked some tullibees about half way up, I thought that was pretty cool. Thinking on trying Pike Bay this afternoon and fish until kickoff of the big game! 

[Tom Sawyer]

Don't feel to beat up Jim. Coldfronts SUCK.

[Weathertite]

I used to fish about 300 yards NW from the landing at the wayside rest in about 12 ft of water and just crushed the jumbos. Give that a try Jim. If you do will you let me know how you do please ? 

Thanks Mike