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Any guess on what a person may look forward to on opener?

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open water the lake was mostly froze over this morning.the ice went off last friday

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Stained water and shallow will be a good start. An arsenal of jigs, cranks and bobbers will be a must. grin.gif

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Stained shallow water with a fair amount of current.

Slip bobber rigs, jigs, and cranks are the ticket. Along with 4 layers of long johns, carharts, and 5 pairs of chopper mits.

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wow this lake musta changed in the last year never had any current strong enough to alter techniques and usually first couple weeks of season lake is fairly clear in shallow. glad you found someone to fish with boilerguy since i have to work and wontr be able to make it out there a guy call me asking to partner up with him and had to say no.

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Usually good fishing all over the lake on opener. A lot fish the south end by the islands and a lot go to the north end. You will probably do fine wherever you go. Usually a long cold ride if you want to explore in the spring...

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Does the fishing stay pretty good even into May, I'm contemplating fishing either Big Stone or Shetek for MN opener... My dad hasnt caught an 'eye three straight years now so I'm hoping to put him on one this year! :-/

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Look shallow in the morning and evening to pitch jigs and plastics or with a minnow, whichever you prefer. I am anticipating cooler water temps which will put the fish shallow especially if the water is stained. During the daylight hours look deeper and pulling cranks 7-11' on the breaks adjacent to the rock shorelines. this always seems to put a limit or two in the boat. If its like any other openers on Big Stone dress like an eskimo, because its probably gonna be windy and cold. grin.gif

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Actually, you can hit them both as the opener on Big Stone is April 21. It's a border lake.

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Looks like rain again on april 21st. You will find out that their is no such thing as 100% waterproof rain gear! Its like waders some how they always seem to leak! Good luck to everyone that goes I will be out their...

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Big stone is goofy, It may be good fishing than and it might be tough. Depending on weather, water quality and It usually gets pounded real hard with tournements in the spring so you might have a 100 boats zipping back and forth to every point on the lake.

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What do you guys think? Walleyes on bigstone start to spawn already with the cooler weather? Or do you think the main spawn is done already? Does anybody know what maybe the water temp is? What do you guys think about next weekend for walleyes, great bite or hard to get em? confused.gif

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I know the lake froze over again after ice out. I doubt it has warmed up a ton. with warmer weather forcasted maybe done spawning by opener either way I would guess the females will be busy or recovering and the smaller males will be catchable.

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That would be picture perfect. lets hope the the males are easily catchable

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If we get warmer weather next week i look for the walleyes to start spawning dont think they will be done spawning by opener. I will be out there opening weekend with my daughter.

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my guess is the spawn is over.but i am not sure there are a few places that i wont give up but when the run is on they are stacked with fish. after the ice went out within 3 days these places where stacked with fish then 2 days later the weather got crappy and cold and the lake refroze.the fish pulled out of the creeks and spring areas and have not been back. the lake is about 75% froze as of right now. my guess is there will still be some males in shallow and still milking. but the big fish will have pulled out and gone back deep. but that is my guess

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I dont personally believe the fish have spawned in the lakes the water temp has not been much if any over 40degrees on any lake and thats just a bit to cool of water if you ask me

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Done spawning has the lake been warm enough prior to our recent cold snap to trigger them to spawn? I'm confident I'll still catch several walleyes opening weekend.

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i am sure the fish will be biteing.i just think the major spawn is over. but that is my opinion.i dont know for sure what the water temp was i heard that it got to 42 but i dont know that for sure it is just hear say.time will tell

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Hey Ortonville any tips or spots your willing to share? I know i am asking a lot but thought i would ask. It would mean a lot to me. I've got my normal spots but helpful tips or other areas would be fun to try. blush.gif

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I am really excited to get out this year on big stone. I have a new boat, motor going on next friday the day before the opener. Still working on getting the trolling motor installed not to mention some electronics.... The early opener is killing me, cutting it way too close but I can't wait.

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I hear ya. I really want to get my boat in the water, shake the bugs out of it, and get on Big Stone!!

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spoonbill,i usually start on the south end and in shallow.there reallyis not any givin spot that produses better than any other.just stay shallow and find the males that are still milking and you will have good luck. as of today at noon it looks like the lake is mostly back open.the only ice i could see on my way home at noon was from the foot to the pier.i will keep my on the little feeder creeks to see if the fish move back into them or not

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Thanks for the info. We got a little piece of hunting land just 1 mile south of clinton by old cemetary road. Can't wait to get back up their. Looks like the forecast for next weekend is rain...........hopefully it changes

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Sounds like we are heading back out to Big Stone for more torture... a buddy & I have tried opener the last 2 years out there & we have yet to catch an eye... My inlaws have a cabin south of Mallard Point & seems like we have tried about everything up there to put some fish in the boat with no success (except for some sheephead!) I sure hope this year is different, but the confidence is not very high at this point. Hope the weather is better than the last 2 years anyway, but I am not holding my breath for that either... Will be good to get on the water regardless....

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Fish are always biting. laugh.gif Just gotta find them. Like others have said the typical bite is shallow early and late in the day. But some days they are there all day and others day never make it up shallow. A few years we had our best bite in the middle of the lake in basin.

Good Luck guys. Looks like I'll be heading out the following weekend.

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  • 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.
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