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Camped on Big Lake Sept. 29 - Oct. 2. Campsite was great except the surrounding area was too shallow to fish. Caught only four walleyes ranging from 12 - 16 inches in 17-18 feet of water, on orange jigs and minnows in the evening. Day bite was uneventful except for a large northern smacking and missing a spoon. No Smallmouth. The water temp was 54 degress. Marked a fair number of fish but could not get them to bite. When they did bite it was quite aggressive. Could the lake have just turned over? Also, one of our boats failed to start - never had a problem previously but I suppose the 12 year boat was due. The other boat became crowded with four guys and a dog, but we managed.

At least we had good food, friends, and weather. Even got a grouse near the Echo trail on the way back. Beautiful lake and I would go again - the fishing can only get better! smirk.gif

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Brawler lots of the lakes are turning over with some already done up that way.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

FishBrawler, thanks for the report.

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FishBrawler: thanks for the report. It is a beautiful lake and my wife and I still look forward to giving Big Lake a shot on Friday.

Do you mind sharing what flavor minnows you used?

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Spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon on Fri.

Oct. 6 on Big Lake. No fish, but still had a great time. It was very windy and my 14 ft puddle jumper was thrown around pretty good at times. Spent the rest of the weekend enjoying the Ely area driving around, hiking, and taking pictures. Can't wait to get back to God's country again. grin.gif

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Should have been hunting grouse around that area in the week i was up there i did very well. Watched a little guy get grouse near ed shave lake that was cool.

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Tell me about it monstermoose. I think I saw more grouse this weekend than the rest of my life put together. It was a romantic getaway weekend with my wife so there was no hunting for me. I've only grouse hunted a few times and still have not gotten one. Of course I had numerous grouse standing 10 yards away from me when I was only armed with a camera. Hope to get up there again this fall to grouse hunt. grin.gif

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • 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.
    • monstermoose78
      Guys slim creek on burntside is the place to load up on smelt
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