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

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

  • Thumbs Up 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks as usual Cliff.

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

"Ace"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

"Ace"

"It's just fishing man"

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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
  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

 

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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"

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

darn that gives a fella hope!  Thanks for sharing dgdg

Edited by Wheres_Walter
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 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: 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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. :)

 

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • 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.