Chanhassen Bassin'

[rundrave]

Well it depends if you want to catch and release or keep.
But if you looking for chanhassen area try Lake Ann. You cant keep any bass there, but there are lots of fish in there. I have been having good luck from shore/docks, and have trolled around with the boat. Few northerns in there as well but restricted to keep only if there are larger than 36". As for sunnies and crappies bite has been right on for those as well.
Ive heard that Steiger Lake is good, I might try that this weekend.

[danny berg]

Hey Captian,
Bring your rain gear, looks like rain off and on all weekend. Did you ever hook up with Stratocaster?.
Bass fishing around Chanhassen is good, You have the above mentioned lakes plus Whaletail in St Boni/Minnetrista, Parley, just east of Waconia, Goose Lake, just west of Waconia, just to name a few. There are plenty of good bassin' lakes in the area.

I am going to be in Duluth July 3rd thru the 9th, helping my nephew and his wife paint the new house, might have some time to wet a line, don't know for sure yet. Will look for you on the Duluth forum when it gets closer to July.

Later,

Danny

[Captain B.R.K]

Danny,

Was hoping you were going to repond, nice to hear from you!

Have you been out to Waconia recently? I know we were going to hook up that time this past winter out there, but things got muddled up on my end. Have been reading that crappies are going ok there. Any bets there.

I'm going to be getting out Friday all day and then possibly Sunday with the girlfriend. If the bass fishing isn't great, I'd like to get her into catching some crappies.

[Captain B.R.K]

rundrave- thanks for the info about Lake Ann. I heard that just trolling motors are allowed. If it isn't to windy, that might be an option.
I'll pack the rain gear...hoping that these reports the forecasters are talking about are dead wrong!!!

[Sergeant Slabber]

When you're in Chanhassen you don't have very far to go to hit the best bass lake in the metro. I can't believe nobody has mentioned Minnetonka yet! Can be crazy with pleasure boaters during the weekend, but with the crappy weather being forcasted it's perfect for the anglers.
Good Luck!!

[wmn luv me walleye fearme]

I'll also second the ANN suggestion. Good lake, and even though its just trolling motors its not that big so pretty easy to get around. Also its tough to beat a lake without people water skiing or jet skiing right by you, all cathc and release but a lot of good bass and most people dont keep bass anyway. I also caught the largest pike of my life there (37 inches) while fishing with a crappie minnow and 6 lb test in April of 2 years ago
good luck

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To be the man you have to beat the man....Wooooooooo

[Captain B.R.K]

I had heard about Tonka as well, but just thought that with traffic, wouldn't even try it.
I was hoping to try littler lakes.

[tbeck]

Hey Captain. Ann is great, I have to say that Steiger is also a great catch and release lake. A great shot at a 20" largemouth everytime.

[Matt Johnson]

B.R.K.,

I was going to reply to your e-mail later tonite, but it looks like you have things under control here Give me a call sometime after 9pm tonite and we can talk, or else tomorrow.

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

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Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

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[bassman186]

B.R.K

You can give Ann I try, not a bad choice.

You could give Waconia a try, There was a tournament out there all last weekend so it was fished pretty hard.

But for the best catch and release lake try Minnewashta. You can't beat it anywhere.

If you want tips on artificials for them let my know I got a few tricks!

[This message has been edited by bassman186 (edited 06-09-2004).]

[Captain B.R.K]

I'm coming down for a long weekend (Fri.-Sun.) and lookin' for some bassin' action. Only heard of excellent things in the metro area, but never tried it...Until this Weekend!
Hoping you guys can give me ideas to hit for bassin'.
I know of Waconia, but any other lakes to try?

Much appreciated for any info.

Tight lines!

[danny berg]

Captian
Too bad I won't be around this weekend, would take you out to a couple of spots. I haven't crappie fished since walleye opened, although I did hit a school of nice perch on Waconia Saturday. I can honestly say these were the biggest perch I have ever caught on Waconia, but I let them all go to get a little bigger before they make it to my dinner plate. Waconia Temp was about 62 deg when I was out there last, according to my locater. I haven't heard much about Crappies lately, now it is about the bigger game fish.

Later,

Danny

[Tonka Boy]

As long as it's not hot and sunny (too many water skiers), Lotus is good. Try small cranks around the 15' depths...especially in crawfish colors. I often pick up some nice crappies using the same method.

[Captain B.R.K]

Lake Ann and Stieger it is I believe. Now that I've talked about my plans, I might have the whole weekend to be in the boat!! COULD THAT POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO ME?!?!? I'll keep my fingers crossed

Thanks everyone for the tips. I'll let you know how I do when I get back Monday morning.

[schr0563]

I heard a rumor from a trustworthy source that several years ago when the DNR was doing some electrofishing sampling on Lake Ann, they got a fish that was larger than the state record at the time. This same person told me that in the fall right before ice up is your best chance to score on one of these pigs. Not many fish that time of year, but every one you get will be a trophy.

Anyway, another lake I would suggest is Lotus Lake. I had about a dozen nice fish there the other night in a little over an hour. A guy I talk to at the landing said he had been getting many walleyes there as well. You'd be surprised at the sized of the lotus bass as well

[Guest]

i dont believe anyone has mentioned reily. my sis lives there, so im there alo9t, but has been some of the best fishing of all mine, but it has also been the worst.

[Captain B.R.K]

Was out on Stieger Lake Friday before the storms and couldn't locate a bass. IT wasn't that I couldn't locate them...it was that I've never fished milfoil before! Tried from the access, go right looking out from the dock..that whole shore line. NOTHING. Had the girlfriend with me and found a school of bluegills. I was impressed with the size being it was a metro lake.

Fished Auburn Saturday morning before it got real warm. Again, didn't know how to fish the milfoil. Did find an area with lil'pads and darker color water. Threw a spinner bait up against a tree...BAM.......Reeled in a 19" LM Bass. What a beauty!!

Might be out again Sunday morning, just don't know where yet.

[DTro]

I have had my best luck on Steiger on the other side. If you are standing on the pier, it would be off to the left and then also straight across. I've had really good luck right at evening using topwaters. The bass in that lake have been "spoiled" by all the sucker minnows used at the pier (I'm just as guilty as anyone else, although I always use circle hooks). A good tactic to use is the same tactic used down in Florida. Take a float and large minnow (shiner or sucker) no weight and some slack and cast to the shoreline and let the minnow do the work.
Work the shoreline finding pockets in the weeds and don't let it sit too long, or the minnow will find a good hiding spot.