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The Pike River is now open below the dam and out as far as Pike Bay with an open channel also open to about half way to Duffy Island!

I am starting to see a few fish surfacing in the river in the evening, (probably suckers).

The fish traps are ready to be put out as far as I can tell. Won't be long now!

I will keep you posted on the progress there.

Cliff

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Thanks as usual Cliff.

Reading about the hatchery is spring ritual, like seeing the trees bud and the birds return.

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You would never know it's spring the way the snow is coming down right now. ')

"Ace"

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14 hours ago, guideman said:

You would never know it's spring the way the snow is coming down right now. ')

"Ace"

:( There is about 3" on my deck already!

:( Make that 6" this morning! :tired:

Cliff

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It's snowing again. Where is this thing called spring?

"Ace"

"It's just fishing man"

 

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I saw the Hatchery crew working over there today. Getting ready I guess!

Cliff

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SA,

There is usually a very good sucker run at the hatchery.

It looks like they will probably get the nets in soon enough to get a good catch again this spring!

Cliff

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Just returned from checking the progress at the hatchery.

They dropped the trap nets for the first time a couple of hours ago!

Said that they checked the holding net after about 1/2 hour and already had 3 or 4 walleyes in it!

River water is only about 34 degrees yet.

Cliff

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Stopped at the hatchery this morning again.

They were milking the very first walleyes for the season!

So far they have netted and sold around 1,700 pounds of suckers.

They have been averaging around 400# to 800# of suckers per day now.

Cliff

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The walleye run is in full force now.

There are already about 300 quarts of eggs in the batteries and that does not include today's take!

Lots of big fish in the traps this morning. Even the males were larger then normal I think!

_____________________________________________________________________Talked to the Hatchery guys a few minutes ago and they think that tomorrow may be their last day of netting!

Cliff

Edited by Cliff Wagenbach
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Still netting over here as well, I talked to somebody that's on Little Cutfoot yesterday & they said that they were still manning the nets.

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The walleye egg take is over already at the Pike River Hatchery!

They harvested around 700 quarts of eggs.

They will be pulling the nets tomorrow.

Cliff

 

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I talked to one of the DNR crew at the Y today and he said it was the fastest egg take he's ever done.  Big numbers of 14 to 16" fish in Pike bay.  Sounds like good news for Walleye fishermen this season.

"Ace"

"It's just fishing man"

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  • 11 months later...

I saw on the lake association page that they, the lake association, were going to start selling suckers on Monday.

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I think that they put the trap nets in yesterday!

Should be fish in the trap this morning! They are probably not ready to spawn yet but it will not be long!

Cliff

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I talked to a DNR guy at the y store this morning and he said they were operational but things would really get going later this week. I'll be bringing the kids by sometime today probably just to check it out.

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Today was the first day of the sucker sales at the hatchery.

They had around 1,400 pounds in the trap yesterday. I saw quite a few trucks there this morning.

They also had caught around 600 smaller male walleyes yesterday!

Cliff

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darn that gives a fella hope!  Thanks for sharing dgdg

Edited by Wheres_Walter
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  • 2 weeks later...

The video shown in the link posted above shows most of the fish they're handling going back because they're not ready or too green. The video was from 4/14 so I would bet they are done as that was 1 1/2 weeks ago. Cutfoot was done in less than a week. Cliff will be able to tell you for sure when then finished but I'd guess they were done by the end of last week.:2c: 

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Yes, they are all done at the hatchery. Finished up two weeks ago this Saturday (4/15). Just waiting for eggs to ripen and hatch to go back out to area water bodies.

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They should not be  going  back to area waters or traded to  other dnr  districts they should go right back into LAKE VERMILLION !!!  Don't ya think its time the dnr   should start to listen  to the paying public, us ! [trappers, hunters,  fisherpeople ,boaters and snowmobilers ]  :eek:

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Creel/lake surveys show Vermilion is very healthy and the DNR continues to use new technology.  It's only going to get better.  If we listened to arm-chair QB's, fishing would be as shi#TY as the West side. :)

 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
    • smurfy
      got mine done........for the cabin.....ready for summer festivities!!!!!!   there was still frost in the ground...........but good gawd are the lakes low!!!!!
    • CigarGuy
      Just 1, 50" muskie🫣
    • SkunkedAgain
      How many walleye were on the stringer on their way out??? 
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