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2020 Crane Lake Kabetogama-Namakan Fishing Reports - Click Here. Great info below. Newer reports are on pages that follow. Post your Crane Lake Kabetogama - Namakan fishing reports here!!

Howdy and thanks for taking the time to give some advice. My family's renting a houseboat from Ebel's the 2nd week of June and would appreciate some advice on specific locations for northern pike/smallmouth bass on the Eastern end of Lake Kabetogama. We'll have a 12 foot motorized boat with us so moving around won't be a problem. Want to focus on the Eastern end of the lake to minimize a long haul with the houseboat. Any advice on specific bays, islands, or points would be appreciated! Thanks, Steve

Wondering if any of you ever fish the inland lakes throughout Voyageurs and if so which ones? I have fished the Locator chain, Ek and Net lakes. My favorite of those three is definitely Locator. Seems to have a lot of northern and I also caught a good sized largemouth. Had a rough day on Ek. Was fishing with light tackle because I’ve been told it’s a good crappie lake and was broken off once otherwise nothing. One small pike on Net. This is a picture of the bass from Locator.

Hey guys. I’m new to this site. I’ll be visiting the park early June. While I have made several trips up there I’ll be bringing a friend who never has. He is a very experienced angler, but has yet to catch a walleye. A lot of his experience comes from using down riggers on Lake Michigan. He was asking about using them on a vacation this year and I had no answer for him. I can’t recall ever seeing anyone using that method in Voyageurs. Does anyone have a thought on this? I’d appreciate any advice. Want my buddy to have a great trip! Tight lines! Fully Kraeusened

Voyageur Park Lodge on Lake Kabetogama recently purchased brand new Ice Trek brand fish houses to rent on Lake Kabetogama. The houses themselves are all aluminum with spray foam insulation, clean, warm and comfortable! If your looking for something different from the usual LOW, Red experience check us out. These are day use houses only and we will offer lodging at Voyageur Park Lodge. We will only have one lodging unit open in the winter, so fishing parties will be the only guests at the resort, so lots of privacy and no other parties around. Fish houses will be private out on the ice also! We are excited to be the only angling houses on Lake Kabetogama! If your looking for something different let us know! Voyageur Park Lodge (Reef Runner Ice houses)

Good opening weekend...great weather for opener and more boats than normal I would say. Fishing was good, not great. I'm sure others have differing opinions, but for us we found larger walleyes in 6-12 feet when pitching jigs. You had to put up with the large number of small northern that must have been hungry! Most of our walleyes came by way of a jig and minnow, in 30-35 ft of water...most of these 9-13" and went back, but every 4-5 fish was keepable and a fair number of sauger's were in the mix. Problem was you could catch 3-5 fish in a spot and then you needed to move. So, lots of boats running all day Saturday. Saturday night/evening the bite improved and keeper fish were coming from 22-28' of water, again with a jig and minnow for us. Sunday sunny and beautiful day to be on the water! Similar patterns with the evening bite producing most of our keepers that day. As far as scenery, you simply can't beat this area. Kabetogama, Namakan, Ash River, and Crane lake is truly beautiful and the fishing is just bonus. Listening to other fisherman, it seems the slot is frustrating some people...again lots of small fish (future fish) and many 20-22" walleyes but not many trophy's and eaters were tough to find. All and all, great opener again on Kabetogama, hope everyone else had fun and a safe opening weekend. Happy to talk fishing on Kabetogama, enjoy the season... Kab Kid http://www.kabkid.com

Hello Fishing MN Family, As a resident of White Bear Lake, and fishing guide on Kabetogama I'm attempting to reach out and ask for a little help to raise awareness and some donations or prizes for White Bear Lake high school fishing club. I understand it is in a "club phase" currently and hoping to get recognized as a team sport in the next few years. They are hosting a banquet to raise money and prizes on May 1st, and reached out to some fishing people...I'm turning around and asking if anyone has tackle still in the package, access to hats, bags, or boxes in like new condition that they would be willing do donate. We are looking for donations for these kids as prizes that they will earn through challenges and fishing activities this year. If you can help I can get you a tax ID number for your donation. Please let me know or I can give you information to contact the coach of this fishing club. I'm a huge fan of getting this next generation on the water! My email: [email protected] www.kabkid.com

Wind set the pace for anglers this past week. Some thought it was too much of a good thing. Windblown shorelines were good to anglers that could manage boat control and stay in the 10-15’ depth. Baitfish get directed into those shorelines which usually leads to good fishing. If the wind dies down at anytime, or the following day, concentrate your efforts accordingly for great results. A suggested method of fishing while the winds are blowing, is troll artificial lures at depths between 12-16’, or use lead line and troll deeper waters. All fish species relate well to this, and boat control isn’t as critical. The walleye bite remains very scattered, reports of anglers catching fish on all baits, shallow and deep, the only common denominator is, only a few fish from each location. It’s safe to say walleyes aren’t schooled up as would be expected. Live bait rigs, a slip sinker or bottom bouncer, with a 3’-5’ snell, plain hook or spinner and beads using a crawler or leech is the preferred methods these days. Pike taking artificial crank baits by casting or trolling deep weed edges is attracting pike of all sizes. Casting stick baits, spoons or buck tails up to weed edges or clearing is working well for pike and smallies. No favored areas of the lake to fish with them being so scattered, however best reports coming from say Sugarbush Island down to the Ash River entrance into Kab. Some deeper water success on Namakan using jig and minnow in the 30’ plus depth range. Biting flies still a nuisance as are evening mosquitoes - be prepared. I might add, lots of UV rays so lotion up and enjoy your time in Beautiful Voyageurs National Park. BINGO continues on Kabetogama at the New Community Hall on Tuesday and Thursday Nights at 8:00pm. Great Time for Planning a Trip, See you Soon, Crabby Phil & Ellen Hart

Any idea on when it might happen this year?? TIA

Hi all, Wondering if the big hatch has happened yet. I was up 2 weeks ago and seen a few here and there water temps around 67. Fishing was ok, got a few nice eaters on fatheads in Lost Bay in 18' of water. Blackduck looked like the hatch was just starting this weekend, water temps about 71. Heading up next week so hope the flys are gone but I think we may just hit the big hatch!!! Well good luck to all and thanks for any updates.