Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

First open water fish


Recommended Posts

Hey all,
I was fishin in the boat today, it was great to be back on the water, we headed down to redwing and pulled 7 saugers between 12 and 19" and one eye that was almost 19" and a bonus 18" smallie and a nice crappie, just thought i would let everyone know, it was a lot of fun, all on a jig and plastic, no live bait, my dad tried it and i was out fishing him without bait, so he took the minnow off and started catching fish, it was wierd, but a lot of fun
JS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

good to know...

never been down there. fishing structure? drifting with current? off the bottom?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

was in depths ranging from 9-21feet, the bigger fish were shallower, but less plentiful, we used 3/8 jigs with stingers and plastics, i never lifted my jig more that 6 inches off the bottom, we mostly drifted with the current, that worked the best, it seemed you would get more bites when your line was straight below the boat instead of behind it.
JS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What Lake? Peppin, River? I was hoping to head south for open water next weekend, but I figured there would still be a lot of ice in southern Mn. There's still over 12" in the metro.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was on Pool #4 of the Mississippi, lots of other boats down there, but great to get on the water,
JS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since I'm without a boat, I walked on over to the shore of Coon Rapids Dam area and cast out just above the dam. I've never fished this early before but it was more of a get back used to casting and retrieving deal. Had a couple strikes but no hook-ups. Spent half the time fixing the kids reel. Caught a frog! The kid didn't like it down his shirt. Hehe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I picked up my first last saturday.A nice average white bass.
Fished the MN RIver out of Chaska.It was great being in the boat again.And the long rods felt a little weird after playing with ice rods all winter.
Went out in search of white bass.Could only find one.He got fooled by a Catch-n-Tackle ringworm with a jig spinner.Fooled one walleye with the same rig.Its a little early yet but its just around the corner!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.