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.

Annandale-Buffalo-Hutchinson fishing reports


Recommended Posts

Was on one of the smaller lakes in the area and found crappies tight to a good weed edge in 3-5 ft of water. Water temp was 74-77

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SKUNKED on Walleye/Pike 4 straight days, Thursday - Sunday. Actually not even a bite. {{{Caught quite a few small Bass (C&R)on Saturday though.}}} Baited up using all the reqular baits, even ran cranks at night. Electronics showed fish suspending off the shoulders/drops in 15 feet. Tried floating jig heads to suspend bait up off the bottom but....you know the rest.

GLTA

Faner

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi everyone!

I was out quite a bit this weekend, but fishing was mediocre at best. The biggest eye was 22 inches and we must have caught 30 eyes under 12 inches.

I also caught a few pike in the 24 inch range. It was a tough bite for us. I did hear some good reports in the area and am hoping to get out and try them.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

hi everyone am going camping by or on belle lake for fathers day was wondering if there is access to fish from shore and if the bite is any good????????????? just wondering cause have never fished here before thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went to Collinwood this morning for only the second time this year but didn't do very well. Wind was gusting out of the west with cloudy skies and the fish were not cooperating at all. Hooked up with a perch and a pike and that was it. It was nice to have some westerly winds for a change and I didn't mind it being choppy, but apparently the fish don't agree. Oh well. It was nice to get out since it's been a while for me. With the fronts moving through one after another this week I figured it would be tough and it didn't disappoint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good morning!

I was out Saturday morning from 6:00 am to 12:30 pm. The bite surprised me. We targeted crappies and we found them in about a half hour of fishing. They were on a breakline in 10 ft of water in front of a flowing creek. We had about 35 crappies from 9.5 inches to 11.5 inches. We kept 14 under 10 inches and released everything over 10 inches. We also caught some walleyes. We had 3 eyes. A 15, 17 and a 23 inch. We also had pike and catfish. We found all of the active fish in front of the creek. We tried a couple other spots and had no success.

Our weapon of choice was jigs and minnows trolling at .75 mph.

It was a great morning. So next time you go out to your favorite lake, look for inlets with flowing water. Try to find the breakline and work it. You might be surprised at what you find.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Limit, lidy rigging\jigging\trolling raps?? How deep did you try?? I Got a fridge full of leeches and crawlers, might have to get out there this week to start using them up. I'll try whatever you didnt.

We did o.k. out there a few weeks ago, but that was a few weeks ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did a little of everything except jigs. Seem to be graphing more fish in the 10-14' range.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took my daughter out yesterday for a multi species trip. We launched at Maple Lake and tried casting for pike. No luck at that, and Ms. electronics proceeded to break out the Nintendo. Moved to the north end and tried sunfish, caught some but they were tiny and present in the thousands, so I decided to move. Went back to the main lake to a promising looking bar and anchored. Right away we had fish under the boat and some nice ones as well. Nintendo was put away as there were more interesting things to do. Had a great time catching fish, then we went for a drive back to the landing and I let her drive (10 yrs old, slow speed just to get the hang of it). We managed to come home with about 20 fish and had a great sunfish sandwich dinner! (froze a couple of bags of fillets for later as well!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tried swan yesterday. What a pathetic waste of time. Fished for three hours without a bite. The water looked like chocolate milk. Tried everything everywhere and nothing was goin. The carp have all the underwater vegetation gone. They were sloppin EVERYWHERE. To bad the stupid pelicans and cormorants cant eat those things.

They also paved the gravel road on the north side all the way to the north landing. They put a fairly steep bank with no shoulder so most of the shore fishing opportunity is gone from there, and they made sure that when they salt the road all the runoff will go straight into the lake. Sure could have found something better to do with all that money. That road was just fine, but I guess when you have such a huge budget surplus projects like that become real important.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad to hear they paved that road. That ramp is much better than the primitive access on the south side and obviously has more room in the parking lot. Too bad that the fishing wasn't better for you though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Good morning!

I finally got to go fishing around here again. It had been a couple weeks. My goal was to find some big bluegills and I went out to Lake Minnebelle. I thought I had a chance to find some along the deep weedline.

I fished hard from 5:30am - 9:30am and only caught 4 bluegills worth keeping. I couldn't believe all the little ones. I went through 3 dozen leeches. The bass were very agressive. I had fun setting the hook on them. I bet I caught 20 bass. Most were in the 1 pound range. There was plenty of action, but was disappointed with the bluegill size.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good morning!

I had a chance to make it out on Saturday morning and it was a good one.

I started fishing about 5:30am and was trolling for crappies. I didn't have any success early, but I noticed that the crappies were feeding on the surface. I was trolling too deep so I made a change and started to smack them. They were only about 1 to 5 feet below the surface. I slow trolled with a dropper rig. I used a trout fly with a waxie. They seemed to like that. Before I knew I had a limit of nice eater crappies. 8.75-10 inches.

I switched to fishing eyes and caught six of them. Biggest was 16.75 inches. The others were small. I did get a 28.5 inch pike. For the eyes, I was using an 1/8 oz orange fireball jig tipped with a minnow. I was in about 7-9 foot.

I then chose to see if I could find some bluegills. I worked a 3-4 foot deep area of rubble outside some pencil reeds and hit the jackpot. I caught probably close to 30 bluegills. I kept a few females and immature males, but released all the mature males. They averaged 6-8 inches.

It was a great morning. The best part of it all was that no one was out there until 9:00 am. Even then there was only one boat and he left before I did.

I find it amusing that quite a few of my fishing buddies quit fishing this time of year. A lot them say that the walleyes don't bite or have some type of excuse.

The fish are there and they are feeding. You just have to go out there and figure them out. The big key for me is to find those gravel and rocky areas that drop into deep water fast. Deep water is all relative to the lake you are fishing. If the max depth is 15 feet, I consider that deep.

Have a great day and good luck fishing.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WOW...this guy is good. So far on this thread he's caught....

5/17...30 walleyes

6/1....30 walleyes

6/21...35 crappies 3 walleyes

7/12...20 bass

7/19... limit of crappies 6 walleyes 30 bluegills

So when does the book come out? ""Secrets of the Avid Angler."" Hopefully there is a chapter on "How to's" when fishing cormorant infested, millfoil infested, alge infested, phosphate infested, prairie lakes.

If not a book, how about a seminar at the Litch bandstand ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Faner I sense a little sarcasm, but hey it's all good.

It is funny that you mentioned that I should write a book. I would love you too and might just do that.

I would call myself a very astute student of the fishing game. I read alot of articles and books about fishing. When it comes to fishing, I read, listen to other anglers and do a lot of lake research before I hit the water.

Unfortunately, a lot of the walleyes around here that I have been catching are the little guys, but I do catch some decent eaters mixed in.

Probably my most valuable tools that I use when fishing is my GPS, depth finder and my jigging rod. I am constantly watching them and learning every trip on the water. Once you find a honey hole and mark it with the GPS, I can go back to it every time. I like to get a half dozen spots on each lake if available. It is amazing how much time it saves you when you hit the water. You can eliminate a lot of dead water and hit the prime areas.

My favorite fish to go after is the walleye, crappie and bluegill. I read a lot about these species and where to find them year around.

One of the big things about fishing is paying attention to detail. Some times all it takes to trigger fish is a different color bead on a lindy rig.

I am not bragging when I post my results. I am giving a fishing report like this forum is for and if you notice, I do give out hints of how to locate and what I am using. So best of luck out there and you can be the first to buy my book. Just kidding!

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote

It is funny that you mentioned that I should write a book. I would love you too and might just do that.

Please don't get this website mixed up with MATCH.com........Glad to see you guys are getting along though......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see my grammar was lacking this morning.

Oops!

Faner, I forgot too mention that I did get a 31 inch walleye in June that I am putting on the wall, but I caught that one up north. I thought you would like to know.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Keep doing what you're doing. Sounds like you're having a great season and thanks for the updates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My biggest walter is 33" last year on Lake Mille Lacs which I have fished winter and summer for almost 30 years. I did not mount it. We have done really well this year also, nothing over 28 but some nice fish from 24- 27".

I don't much read the fishing mags anymore. My wife asked me to dump the pile but before I did it was fun to look at those old issues from the 60's on up. There is not much more you can say about walleye habitat anymore but for the youngsters, they will eat up all of todays articles and learning the how-tos.

I grew up fishing without electonics until about the 70's when I started fishing on Mille lacs. Had an original Tom Mann Super 60 flasher. I learned to "trust" what I was seeing and fishing improved a bunch. Now running higher end GPS (with Minn chip) and Lowrance electronics.

Back in the day I also experimented quite abit. I made my own floating jigs at about the time LindyLittle Joe came out with the pill shaped floaters. I also experimented with wire and rubber core sinkers. Slide the sinker up the wire and you have what they market today as bottom bouncers.

Today, I buy most of my fishing needs from JRs near my home in Mpls. It is owned by Jim Betker. A mud/gravel flat on the west side of Mille Lacs still holds his name (Betker flat). Its fun to go into his shop and jabber with the guy. Tons of stories about the big lake and the launch he ran when he was younger.

As far as the Hutch area, my family has owned property on one of the "Alge Chain" of lakes (Washington, Stella, Manuella) for the last 50 years. I used to autumn fish on the south shore of Stella just off the old gravel road which is no longer there, with my grandfather. Lanterns, bait casters, steel rods with the old black nylon line. Frogs baby and a big sinker. Wade out as far as you could, cast it out, wade back and wait for that reel to start clicking. Fished the same way on the south side of Manuella near where that big tin shed sits. Grandpa got some pallets to stand on and cast. Some nights it was incredible, some nights skunked. I continue to fish those lakes today both winter and summer. This year, well, I've had fun on Mille Lacs but the "alge chain" has been tuff. Probably be up at the lake this weekend or the next and try em' out again.

Continued go luck to you Avid !

Faner (who drank too much coffee tonight)

PS..Old Jim Betker quote "Bass fishing is the only FAIR sport because the I.Q. of a Bass and a Bass fisherman are about the same.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow Faner!

It sounds like you have put some miles on and have many years of experience. It is guys like your self that I like to learn from and fish with from time to time. My dad and grandpas got me into fishing, but were not walleye guys. I give 90% of the credit to a college friend of mine that got me into walleyes. Thanks Jessie!! Now I have become a fishing addict and can't get enough. I think the big kick for me is to fish a new lake every time and put together patterns that work.

I give you my respect for the 33 inch walleye. That is a nice fish and I think it is cool that you released her. I don't plan on ever mounting another walleye.

Mille Lacs is a great lake, but I very rarely get out there. It has been probably four years. I have never fished the Algae chain of lakes on open water. I concentrate on a couple of other areas that don't seem to have the pressure.

Faner I wish you the best of luck and hope you can bag them up.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Avid...try this technique if fishing deep water gravel where snags can be a problem. This is my standard walleye rig on when fishing Mille Lacs or the Mississippi River in the spring.

Its basically a standard lindy rig set up. Only difference is I slide a "guick change" spinner blade clevis up the line. I then attach a bell sinker to the plastic clevis. I then use a standard swivel, 8 ft 6 pound Vanish leader and a small circle hook. When I get snagged, I pull hard on the line, the clevis will then bend and the bell sinker will pop off. I only loose the sinker and not the whole rig. Snap on a new sinker and your good to go in seconds rather than having to tie those knots again. The bell sinker comes with a wire loop at the top as well as some lindy style sinkers also manufactured with wire loop at top rather than the type with the hole drilled through the lead. This works for me and its easy to change sinker weight due to wind or depth change.

For the 'Alge Chain' I just use a standard bullet sinker when fishing the milfoil edges and hey, hit those garage sales. There are always necklesses for sale for a quarter or fifty cents full of multi colored beads for spinner or lindy rigs.

Later bud,

Faner

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the tip.

I will have to add that to my arsenal of tricks.

I hope to get out tomorrow and Sunday. I will report next week.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good morning!

I have two reports from over the weekend.

First report:

Friday night, my good friend Jessie and I hit up Lake Koronis. I had never fished with red tail minnows before and he wanted me to experience the fun of it. These minnows are huge. They were from 4-7 inches long and ready to fight.

We were working a deep edge of a big flat in about 18 to 26 feet of water. We both hooked up a 5 foot snell with a #4 octopus gami hook. We hooked the red tail through the nostril and sent her down into the abyss.

Jessie told me to get ready. He was seeing alot of fish in about 23 feet. The big kick for me is when the red tail minnow starts to go nuts, get ready because you are about to get smacked. Sure enough, the minnow started going crazy and all of sudden I got whapped!! I gave the fish about 15 feet of line and then gave her the gusto.

After about a 5 minute fight I landed a 37 inch pike. This was my personal best in Minnesota. She was a beauty. After a quick photo, she went back. We trolled this break and caught two more pike. A 33 inch and a 28 inch. We also had a couple smallmouth that were 15-17 inches.

We then decided to get supper and went after some bluegills. We rigged up some four foot snells with small Gami hooks and a small leech. We trolled the weedline and ended up with 16 gills in the 7.5 inch to 9 inch range. It was a successful night.

Report # 2

I went out locally yesterday. I started fishing about 11:45am and went til about 4:30pm. I hadn't fished this lake before, so I started trolling along the breakline with my little rattle trap and picked up only 4 crappies in the first hour, but I did find an area that seemed to hold quite a few fish. I made a mental note and kept going because I wanted to explore the lake a little bit. This lake supposedly doesn't have many walleyes, but I ended up getting a 16.75 inch eye to hit the rattle. I was pleasantly surprised. After about another hour or so I couldn't really dial the crappies in. I had even worked the area that I thought the fish were at, but had worked it with the rattle not the jig. I decided to make one last pass over the area of interest with a jig and minnow. Bingo!! I found a large concentration of crappies along the break in 9-12 feet. In the last hour I probably caught 20 crappies. They were not very big though. They averaged between 8-9 inches with the two biggest being 9.5 inches.

I was happy with how the day ended. It took a little effort, but got the job done.

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went out last night with my four year old son for a couple of hours.

What a nice night for fishing. We had about two hours to get after it. My son has the patience for about two minutes of fishing, but I usually bring some matchbox cars and trucks and a cooler full of snacks to keep him occupied. He enjoys that.

I checked out a couple of deeper sunken trees for crappies. The first spot yielded 5 crappies in no time until I got snagged and scared them out of the area. I then went to spot number 2 and got one and the third did not produce. We then trolled a rapala for the last half hour and picked up a couple of small 11 inch walleyes and a decent perch. In all I had gotten 6 crappies, 7 little walleyes and a perch. The crappies were about 9 inches.

Those sunken trees are money spots. I found them trolling rapalas and getting snagged on them. Most people would get mad and not think about what to do next. I slowly went back to the snagg and watched the depth finder. I could tell it was decent sized tree. I marked it with the GPS and got the rapala. Those spots are now my first spots I try when I go out. They yield almost every time.

Happy fishing!

Avid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went out last night with my four year old son for a couple of hours.

What a nice night for fishing. We had about two hours to get after it. My son has the patience for about two minutes of fishing, but I usually bring some matchbox cars and trucks and a cooler full of snacks to keep him occupied. He enjoys that.

I checked out a couple of deeper sunken trees for crappies. The first spot yielded 5 crappies in no time until I got snagged and scared them out of the area. I then went to spot number 2 and got one and the third did not produce. We then trolled a rapala for the last half hour and picked up a couple of small 11 inch walleyes and a decent perch. In all I had gotten 6 crappies, 7 little walleyes and a perch. The crappies were about 9 inches.

Those sunken trees are money spots. I found them trolling rapalas and getting snagged on them. Most people would get mad and not think about what to do next. I slowly went back to the snagg and watched the depth finder. I could tell it was decent sized tree. I marked it with the GPS and got the rapala. Those spots are now my first spots I try when I go out. They yield almost every time.

Happy fishing!

Avid

Sunken trees?

I think I know where you were, but I've only fished one lake out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to Annandale-Buffalo-Hutchinson fishing reports

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
×
×
  • 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.