First Time Fishing Minnesota

[Wnt2BupNorth17]

Hi, my name is Dan and myself and nine of my friends just graduated high school and are coming up on a trip. We are renting a houseboat for a week on Kabetogama through Ebel's. All of us really like to fish, and I am curious about what the lake is like. I am looking to catch any type of fish I can, but I especially Northerns or smallmouths. Any tips on colors, spots, times, or anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[Wnt2BupNorth17]

I guess no one likes the young guys...

[Kab Dreamin]

If you are going to be on Kab and want some smallies, I would try the Lost Bay area. There are a couple of decent houseboat tie-ups down there, its very well protected in case of storms or wind, its really pretty down there and it has some really good year-round smallmouth fishing. We also catch our fair share of Northerns down there, too.

I would start by fishing the rock marker and the surrounding area that is out in front of the Eagle View campsite. It is a decent walleye area, too.

Next, the mouth of Long Slough always seems to have a few northerns in it. My dad got a 15lber out of there several years ago. The rock wall at the mouth of the slough has some rubble along the bottom of it and there are usually a couple of bass hanging out there.

Farther back, just as you come into Lost Bay, there is a rock marker off to your right that can have some good sized smallies on it.

The northern shoreline from Ek Bay all the way east to the Agnes Lake trailhead, especially around the little island in front of the Lost Bay campsite holds a lot of smallies and northerns. We also catch a decent amount of walleyes around that island and my brother caught a 13 lb northern off the weedbeds there a while back. We usually lose a few jigs to northern bite-offs in that area while walleye fishing.

Further up the lake, you can try for smallies off the rocks at the west end of Cuculus, out in front of the mouth of the Clyde River, the entire south shore of Sugarbush, the reef with the red channel marker on it in front of Slatinsky Bay, the rock marker out in front (south side) of Knox (also known as Pine) Island, basically any place where there is a rock marker or a rocky shoreline.

Hope this helps.

[Netman]

When are you guys going to be up there? Sounds like a party! Any of your dads going with?

[Kab Kid]

Being the "young" guy you need to prove yourself...but anyone interested in Kabetogama is GOOD in my book.

I'd add some insight, but Kab Dreamin gave you a great trip itinerary...good houseboat beaches and good fishing in that area for smallies and pike...I'll only add that small great smallie action can be on the EAST shoreling just before entering EK BAY!

Have FUN!

[Fishing-Around]

want2b,

The first time you fish a lake of this size you first need a VERY good map. On Kab the map will show you some really nice structure points and alot of HAZARDS that seem to disrupt alot of vacationers good time. Second, make sure you have exellent electronics. That is a must on this outstanding peice of water. Remember to "think out side of the box", I've fished the same species of fish in several different states and for me at least I've found my self doing better fishing differently then I would in my own territory.

Kab is a large body of water and an amazing fishery so stay smart while your up there, she can turn quickly with incoming weather and you'll need to keep your witts about you. Have a graet time!!

Or you could call KabKid and see if he is open for a day, its been said that he might know what he's doing up there

[Wnt2BupNorth17]

Thanks everybody for all the advice. We will be up there on Tuesday the 7th until the next tuesday. We are pretty much a smart bunch of guys, and are grateful for all the tips. We have a GPS coming with us and all that good stuff. Looks like the weather is going to be fairly coopertive, so I will keep my fingers crossed there. You guys are awesome. Good Luck Fishing

[bugsbunny]

Some advice,Buy a Fishing HotSpots map of Lake Kabetogama,its a superior map,with added fishing advice.To catch smallmouths on kab,best to fish 1/2 hour before sunrise to around 9am,then again concentrate last 3 hours till dark.Use6 to 8 lb test line.

[Kab Dreamin]

I always find it interesting how different people's experiences are fishing on Kabetogama. We usually fish for smallmouth in late morning and in the afternoon after we have taken a break from the walleyes. We have also had great action just before dark, like bugsbunny suggests. We have found the action to be pretty consistent if you find the right structure. There have been many times when while we were having shorelunch down in Lost Bay that we have watched the bass cruise along the rocky shoreline a few inches beneath the surface. That usually sends the kids scrambling for the boat to get a rod.