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Posted

Just returened from 3 days on the big pond and it was a little different than the last trip in January. <BR>We managed to put 18 decent eyes in the bucket between 16-18 1/2". If the small eyes caught are any indication of the years ahead it will be something else. We caught well over 150 6-12" fish. You couldn't keep them off the hook. A 26" eye was the largest caught Thursday night around 630p. It was measured, photoed and released to swim again.<BR>The highlight of the trip was a 41" gator which my son cuaght on Thursday afternoon on a Glow Devil. It took almost 20 minutes to get her through the hole. What a fish and what a heart thumpin' time it was. <BR>We fished near the gap in Riverbend houses in 20' of water.<BR>The lure color really didn't seem to be particular. We cuaght fish on Glow devils, Buckshot rattle, Angel Eyes and plain red hooks. Bubble gum, blue/white, gold, orange all seemed to produce. The action was continuous, but as I said a lot of small fish. Hopefully everyone had a good weekend and iced some fish. Good luck and hang on. Bill<BR>

Posted

Seems like you had a good trip Bill.<P>I know that you had been really looking<BR>forward to it. There really is lots of <BR>those "dinks" arent there. They have been<BR>there all winter.<P>RiverBend houses back in 20 feet of water<BR>huh....thats interesting.<P>Curt Quesnell

Posted

Curt: They only had four houses in the shallow area. They still have the rest of their houses out in 29 to 32'. On Friday we went deep at around 1100am and picked up 3 eyes and 1 Saug in 30 minutes. Two hours later we went back shallow as the Vexi was totally void of any action. That night between 600-630pm we iced 7 nice eyes in the 20' house. Brian at Riverbend said they will slowly start the houses back to shallower water over the next few weeks. We're headed back again in 3 weeks.<BR>Yes you're right Curt I always look forward to a trip up there. Hopefully the next trip will find some concentrations of bigger fish in the shallows. Good look to you and hang on. Bill

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    • JerkinLips
      You called for it.  The north wind blew strong today.  The ice was disappearing fast.  Pictures below are from 4:30pm and 8:20pm.  Just a small sheet of ice left in the south-east bay.  Should be gone by tomorrow.  Think I will put the boats in the water tomorrow.   I have never eaten smelt before.  Will be interesting to see how I like them.  I'm waiting for the call to help clean them.  Have never done that before either.   Need not be present at the smelt fry to win, unless you want to make sure I don't lose your $2,500.  Drawing will take place live online on May 18th.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus along the south shore is watching the ice disappear from back bays, big pike sliding into the bays and ditches for the spawn and of course ice out on the main lake (Big Traverse Bay).   From now until the Minnesota Fishing Opener on May 10th, anglers will be targeting northern pike (and sturgeon on the Rainy River). Ditches are running and shallow bays are starting to pop open. Now is the time when the big pike are moving in, staging for the upcoming spawn.  This is a great spring fishing opportunity not available in most parts of the state. Various techniques for spring pike are effective.  A dead bait under a bobber, casting spoons or trolling shallow crankbaits all can be effective. However you fish, shallow bays along the south shore such as Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are a prime spot to hook into a true trophy. The pike limit on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods is three fish per day. All pike between 30 and 40 inches must be released, but one pike over 40 inches can be kept. Many anglers choose to take measurements and photos, release their fish, and order a replica mount to remember the catch. All great options! On the Rainy River...  Now that walleye season is closed, sturgeon fishing is in full swing and the bite is very good.  Anglers are catching solid numbers of these prehistoric giants. Some of the feeder creeks have opened up, increasing the current. That added flow has lowered visibility of the water a bit, but sturgeon primarily feed by scent, so fishing has not been affected. Most anglers are using 4 to 6-ounce no roll sinkers with their sturgeon rigs to stay on the bottom in the heavier current. A typical sturgeon rig includes an 18-inch leader, a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook, and baited with nightcrawlers, or crawlers paired with frozen emerald shiners. Local bait shops and resorts are well-stocked with everything you’ll need. The sturgeon season is open through May 15th. Here are the upcoming dates to keep in mind: Catch and Release Season: May 8 – May 15, and again October 1 – April 23. Harvest Season: April 24 – May 7, and July 1 – September 30. Closed Season: May 16 – June 30. Up at the Northwest Angle...  Progress is being made with more and more open water this week. Other than some local airboats, travel on the ice is pretty much done.  The focus is on the upcoming open water season.  Resorts and area guides are already preparing.   Based on the ice fishing season, expectations for fishing success naturally are high.  Lake of the Woods is healthy. Now’s the time to plan your spring or summer fishing trip!    
    • Kettle
      Most medium sized lakes around grand rapids went ice free today. Closer to bigfork they still have ice pulled away from shore. Turtle by Marcell is still pretty covered but that's a big deep lake
    • smurfy
      Hey I didn't get my nap today 🫣
    • smurfy
      🤣 I just reread my post! Dat feller I was referring to is our very own Kettle!😴 DOAH!
    • smurfy
      hookmaster.....our cabin is 7 miles west of talmoon. what lake would that be????   there's a fella on another site many may know, is a dr. posted some small lakes in the area opened up completely last week.......he's between and rapids and Marcell.   that white is a good possibility the top is is nothing more then very honeycombed ice.  i've been watching several webcams up there 1 being on bowstring and that ice is moving away from shore more everyday.  that ice turned from very dark to whiteish also!!!!
    • Hookmaster
      I was out in a boat on Minnetonka on March 28th. Only a handful of bays were ice free. That lake maxed out at ~24" of ice this winter where I fished. Talked to a friend in the Grand Rapids area and he said the lake where his parent's cabin is near Talmoon is still white and not pulling away from shore yet, and the cabin is on the east side!!
    • leech~~
      Blow you son-a-batch blow!  We need wind now!  🤣 Oh, how do they make their Smelt, I like um really crunchy!  Maybe I'll swing by for some smelt when I pick up my $2,500!  😎 🤭
    • leech~~
      So, your saying I an't gona win!  🤣
    • gim
      26 inches of ice still?  Man, that's ridiculous.   The lakes have been open by me since April 1.  It's amazing how much of a difference there can be just a few hours away.
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