Shallow vs. Deep

[Fishing Realtor]

Important debate for L.O.W. in general, but I'll be over Pine Sun.-Tues. and am thinking of ignoring the 30+ depths because of all the dinks and staying in the 17/18 ft. area. Of course I know the #'s are out there and there are more saugers, but I can't take anymore seven-inch fish. Would it be agreed that the chance for a trophy is a bit better in the shallows no matter what time of hardwater season? I'd much rather come off the ice with six 16-in. walleyes and let a bigger one go than come off with a limit of 14 11-13 in. sauger and walleyes. We've tryed the whole shallow low-light bite and rush out to deep water mid-day, but you lose a lot of valuable fishing time; especially on this lake where that noon bite can be intense. Throw your thoughts out there. I have this same debate with the same group of guys every time I go...new strategies would be more than welcomed.

[boener]

I would start and stay in 32 feet of water. I'm not a big fan of moving either but I think there are more hogs out in that area during the day and more in the shallows towards evening. Oh, by the way, i love them "dinks"!! I remember back not very many years ago when I would drive three hours to fish LOW and not see my bobber move at all!! I'll spend an extra $2 on minnows and feed them all day! The only way they are going to get to be hogs is to feed em!!!! have a wonderful day!<BR>p.s. thats my 2 cents

[Guest]

Hey Realtor, Shhhh, let the guys tell you to stay deep. I think you should experiement, and set up int ath 18-22 foot range....you will discover NOONE is set up around you when you find that place, and maybe that is the reason for the better fishing, but I have had much better luck on nicer fish, away from everyone in shallower water.......just my 2cents as well.

[fiskyknut]

Thats a great ? with no certain answer! Ideally, especially at this time of year if you looking for nicer Wallys you should be set up on/near some structure, you have both deep and shallow nearby and everything thats between. I'm spoiled being near the pond so mid-winter I'm usually in deeper water for the mix of fishes. I tend to do my Big Walleye hunting at times of winter when they're easier to locate, ie. being they pile into certain areas at times. Last nite for a change I fished in 17-18 feet, pretty slow too, but that exact spot will kick out #'s and size within a few weeks. It does every winter. For me the toughest bite of the winter is usually late jan thru feb. So I fish deep flats get a good mix and an occasional large fish, and 9 out of 10 of these larger fish are suspended. Fish in the basin roam around more than fish that relate to the structure, therefore its more hit and miss. Over near Pine early/late I would have confidence fishing shallower over near the gaps I suppose, around where the green can sits in the summer, Morris area too, but odds are you'll have more action deep, and if they wander under your hole there's big fish to be had. It all changes soon too!<P>My vague 1/2 cent....Fisky

[HOGEYE]

I would agree that shallow could be good. Since the area doesn't have any structure, try to focus on other things that may hold fish. Examples of this would be next to current areas (the gaps) or maybe next to big breakers. I have not tried fishing next to breakers, but it wouldn't surprise me if baitfish use the breakers as a holding place. The ice juts out underwater as well. The ice can be very thick in these areas do to overlappnig of the ice so it wouldn't surprise me if you needed a long extension. <BR> I have notice people fishing shallow in the morris gap area recently. I don't know how they have been doing though. Just going with a new strategy usually will put one on fish that are less jaded and have not been pressured as much. Be carefull of thin ice if trying to get close to the current. Zipple creek produces a current and the rainey river has been sort of forming a new channel as well going through the 4 mi bay area. This is an interesting topic. This is also my vague 2 cents. Good luck.

[Guest]

Interesting debate, Fishing Realtor. By the way, good career to pick based on how much you fish. Anyway, my 2 cents is that I'll be there on Sat. and plan on going deep (want filets to last me till opner). My point is that it amazes me every year at how all the houses line up along the Canadian border even 12 miles out. How do they know where it even is? In the past I have gone by the resort rentals, but now I have a remote border crossing from fishing the Rainy this past spring, and want to try it out. It seems like a no brainer. Has anyone done this/got checked out there? How'd you do away from the crowd of other gold jigs? Reply.

[upnorth]

You guys keeping the 11-13 inchers? I threw back about a dozen last weekend. <P>Not to be sarcastic, but ain't that kinda small?<P>Are most people keeping them that size?

[Dan Thompson]

this is just what i have done this year to try a change of things and have had the best luck i have ever had all year a LOW fishing in 12 being the shallowest and the deepest being 18 real good luck my brother just this last weekend caught a 8.5 pound and 29 inches in 15 feet of water so i have been fishing shallow the bite is later but the fish on average are much bigger

[johnnyC]

upnorth,<P>Just had some of those 13-14 inchers last night. MMMMMMMMan. You don't know what your missing. Those little fillets are what I'm after. Don't get me wrong a 16-19 " fish will go in the pail. But, those smaller fish are soooo good.<P>johnnyC <P>

[swamptiger]

yep. I'm with you, FR. Try 14'-27' near some current if your fishing by Pine.<P>To each his own, but I think you would really have to stretch the imagination to even get 11" out of the average "dink" out there.

[widetrack]

Shallow Vs Deep.<P>For periods of time during winter I’d favor fishing deeper water during mid day fishing. Mid to late January through February, I’d favor fishing 30+ foot depths from 9-3. Early ice I like to fish rock piles in the 21-25 ft range.<P>Mid March through mid June I’d favor fishing shallow water shoreline areas. 12-20Ft depths. That’s not to say you won’t catch fish in the shallows during the winter… the early morning, late evening bite can still be good all winter long, but the active feeding periods in the shallows during the Jan-Feb time frame are pretty brief, and I feel most of these fish are moving in chasing forage from deeper water. I’m sure you will still catch some fish during midday here as well, but I don’t think the odds favor it, and to me fishing is all about putting the odds in your favor. Don’t forget the old infish saying.<P>F+L+P=S<P>My ½ penny.<BR><p>[This message has been edited by widetrack (edited 02-27-2003).]

[upnorth]

JohnnyC<BR>Don't get me wrong I don't go just after the big ones, I prefer fish in the 15 to 17 in range for the most part. Bigger than that and they don't taste that good. But 11 or 12 inch seems small to keep, especially Walleye. Just my opinion

[HOGEYE]

I've never had a walleye that didn't taste good(yes even big ones that couldn't be saved). I keep the smallers one for the fact of fisheries management. It is more exciting to catch bigger eyes too!

[swamptiger]

Don't worry. There's a gadzillion of the smaller eyes out there right now. They'll get bigger.

[Fishing Realtor]

Speaking of those little ones-I'm sick and tired of everyone thinking that they are a result of a "good year class." Those 7-in. dinks have been there like flies on you know what for the last five winters I can rememberand. This lake is a factory and I love it...but these fish are not a sign that fishing in 2 years will be excellent, like you'd think on a DNR stocked metro lake; they are always there. Since when did we all become fishery biologists? All I prentend to do is sell houses...<P>------------------<BR>

[swamptiger]

Last time I was up there, we had a steady bite all day long - never let up. We released a lot of little ones, and still didn't go home with a limit. (more than enough to eat, though )<P>I've been fishing the lake for 30 years, and I don't ever remember having non-stop action like that.

[widetrack]

Fishingrealtor:<P>I'm curious, if you don't think the bumper crop of little eyes is the result of a good year class, what do you propose it is from? Perhaps they are all stunted at that size?<P>The last couple of winters there have been more little guys then normal. I'd say most people who fish low would agree. It is the result of a good couple of year classes. I could get you some facts from the DNR if you would like.<P>Granted, there are always a pile of little eyes in the lake, that is a good sign of the health of the lake, but the past couple of winters there have been more then normal.

[Old Guide]

Swamptiger, I agree, the lake has a "bumper crop" of small walleyes/sauger. I had a report from the fisheries people.They reported that the spawn a couple of years ago was perfect, nice weather, no wind ect. Widetrack or fisky maybe you could add or quote this report. (sent mine to a fishing buddy wintering in Tx.)

[HOGEYE]

Anyone fishing shallow this weekend? Thinkin about given it a try.

[jlm]

I will be up the weekend after next and plan to fish shallow around Pine. Let me know how you did. Shallows should begin to get very productive but you never know, this has been kind of a weird year for me!

[Little Joe]

I realize every year is different but - once the shallow bite gets going (walleye), does it tend to be an all day bite or just early morning/late afternoon? I'll be up a week from today and need a little help on a game plan. Have been told to fish shallow early/late and then move deep for mid-day saugs and an occasional walleye. One bonus to staying shallow would be the jack bite. What's the consensus?

[Guest]

I eat a lot of fish and I have no problem killing the 12-14 inchers actually those are the fish I want to eat. They clean up easy and cook up even better. I am fortunate to live close to a solid Walleye fishery so I am not so conserned about filling the freezer. It is good for the fishery as well as my mercury in-take. I am honestly to the point of throwing back 18 inchers. With all the pollution in the(Canada)border lakes I really think it is becoming more and more of an issue. The Canadians for years up there did not have very good scrubber systems in place for all their factories. Granted it has gotten better in the past few years but those heavy metals don't biodegrate. I want to cut back on my heavy metal intake. Someone out there will have some statistic for me about the recomended fish in-take but those are exstremely genral. I am just looking at it for the long haul because I sure like eating Walleyes.<BR>