French Lake

[ia_muskyhunter]

First time poster. I fished French in the past but never in the fall. Whats the fall musky bite like. What is everyone using if u dont mind me asking. Was gonna fan cast the rock piles and weed beds maybe 6-8 feet of water. Any suggestions...Hopefully im on the right track. Thanks.

"Muskies are always shallow, deep, or somewhere in between."

[Matt C]

Welcome ia_muskyhunter.

I usually see them rolling on the south side near shore around the rocks under the trees, and also on the north end, in shallow sandy bottom.

Good Luck!

[Team Otter]

Welcome to FM!

[delmuts]

first! welcome to this GREAT SITE!!

the rock pts., weed lines( inside and out side) even once in a while around the docks by hoys resort. there is a hump also. but have never have any luck or seen any action there. del ( i'll be there in about a week and a half! )

[ia_muskyhunter]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Figured Ill be up there real early sunday morning w/ my brother. Ill let you know how we do.

[luckycrank]

if you have any origanal grandma cranks(before reproduction)

of the original try them, also if the water is still real green witch im not sure of because i haven't stepped foot there in at least 5 years, but a white bucktail with a white blade was the ticket also less bulky dressed bucktails seem to produce better than bulky ones

[french_lake_kid]

My suggestion is way smaller baits than you think, or suckers is a NEVER FAIL!!!!! I know you hear a lot about fall and you have to "match the hatch" so in fall that means bigger. Its so preasured by every single musky boat throwin top-raiders that they simply just dont really even look at the big baits. Use bass chatter-baits, daredevils, smaller dressed meps buck-tails. Another great 1 is a Rizzo-tail. I had a homemade version for a few years and it was amazing. The way I lost it was I had a smaller 36" fish hit it the 2nd time and ate over a 12" leader. They are just basically a oversized bass tube with a colorado blade in front of it. I have about 15 homemade vesions so get a hold of me if you want and try a few out. [email protected]

[bcon2005]

Is'nt your brother a fairly well-known kicker?

Maybe I've got the wrong guy.

[delmuts]

i know many of you are busy with deer hunting, but? any current reports on the area lakes?( roberds,mazaska, kelly dudely, or sheilds) plan to panfish,toss spinners for bass, and pike, and atleast one afternoon or morning on french .

[luckycrank]

I was on mazaska just b4 the cold front this weekend

and all I can say is the dock bite on mazaska was excellent

to say the least however there was a major filemtagiuos algae(moss) bloom that took away the in between dock bite

hope that helps...

[delmuts]

what is the water conditions on french, and roberds? pea green ? or not to bad. del

[french_lake_kid]

Havent been around for a while but b4 it started geting hot again, it was just stained, but after the rain and now the sun, I'm sure she has another good bloom left her b4 winter. The conditions are right 2.

[french_lake_kid]

del, I just e-mailed you AGAIN, hopefully it works this time...

[delmuts]

got it! thanks!!

if any if you guys see a white F150( it has fishig minn on the back window!) with iowa plates, pulling a ranger,in the faribault area this weekend . say hi!! del

[french_lake_kid]

del, how long are you sticking around, if its anytime past sat. am I might drop the boat in and see whats up on french or give 1 of my rock spots on roberds a try after the last morning of early goose

[delmuts]

our plan is to fsih til some where around noon on sunday , then head back home.i think i may try french fri. morning. hopefully not as much pressure as on the weekend. we are staying at roberds resort on the east side.if you see a "fat guy" and a gal in a ranger fisherman . probably us!

i'll probably be checking out the pts. around the island, and the weeds . may try for bass around the shore line too! will see! del

[french_lake_kid]

del, saw ya thursday afternoon, you pulled into the old "Lake's Bait" then you left then I saw you again a little later.

[Matt C]

del, it was nice to informally meet you. It was hard to hear in the wind, yelling off my dock. Hope you left us some fish in the lakes!

[delmuts]

we had to do some looking to buy our licenses.( the two bait shops i use to go to are closed) ended up out at the conveince store at sheildsville) got on the water at french. relalized i left my muskie lures back at the cabin . so very limitted . never did get to use my new compre muskie rod! did catch one northern about 10 # and a smaller one on small bucktails. maszaska didn't produce much with either northern or panfish. we could locate lots of suspended fish, but only a few little crappies would bite. talked to a couple of guys drifting with lindy rigs,( with a floater ) they had caught a couple of walleyes and four nice crappies on that)saw three 14-15 in. craps another boat had gotten. went to kelly dudely. not much.( but that was as the high pressure sys was moving in!) we went to kelly again to day, so as not to have to deal with the wind did ok. caught 6 northern, one lg. mouth, and missed a few others! we had a good time. got my girl freind driving the boat.( she had driven a flat bottom with a 25 years ago!) she told her daughter when we got back, it was kind of scary , but fun!

[delmuts]

i wished it hadn't been so windy! good to meet some one from here though! everything was released this weekend!del

[french_lake_kid]

Too bad it dint work out 4 ya, hope ya had fun though.

[delmuts]

we had a good time, and it was great to get back up there!