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Heading up to Wabana in about a week. Haven't been up there yet this year. Anybody got a SMB/LMB report? I DON'T need spots. Shallow or deep would be nice. Heck, I don't even need to know what you're using. Just want to know if anyone has been up there for bass and if they did any good. Thanks.

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My wife and I spent an afternoon/evening out there over Memorial Day weekend. Panfish and bass fishing was slow and we didn't see hardly anything up shallow. Water temps were in the mid-60 degree range. I'm thinking the bass will be pre-spawn or might be spawning by the time you get here. Walleye fishing was OK and I've heard of some big fish being caught up there too.

Brian

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They hadn't spawned in Wabana yet? I fished a small bass lake by my folk's place on memorial and the females were all out, lots and lots of small males on the beds but that was it.

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Fished Wab all of Memorial weekend and caught all the bass we cared to catch.... most were small males with a couple decent females (spawned out)... The bluegills were all over... they were on the beds and they were easy pickens... the walleye bite was decent and so was the size.... good luck and enjoy....

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  • 3 weeks later...

Any updates on Wabana? We will be there 3rd thru the 12th. I have never fished there, any suggestions on what type of lures to use for bass, walleyes? I suppose more natural colors since the lake is so clear?

Thanks for info.

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throw a jig in the weeds for the bass and the walleyes have been out in the deeperr water jig, leech or crawler with a lindy or even a spinner have been getting the walleye

Jason

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Spinnerbaits with gold blades, lipless cranks, and top waters always work, especially up in the north end. Swimbaits over the rock piles. If the smallies are there, you will know. Walleyes, bah, trashfish grin The only time I've ever caught them was on deeper rock pile edges when it was cloudy and windy.

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  • 5 months later...

I haven't heard any reports yet from Wabana. I know there is a spring out off of the SE access, so that area can be trouble at first ice. Deer Lake north of here just froze over w/in the last week or so and I think Wabana usually freezes about the same time. It might not be ready quite yet.

Brian

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Do people ever drive full size trucks across Wabana? Seems to me it should freeze thick enough by mid-January because it is much like Pokegama.

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Yeah, I've seen plenty of full trucks on Wabana ... but most often they stay fairly close to shore. I normally go on at the north public access, heard too many bad stories about the other access.

I'm sure with this cold weather we will be on the lake soon ...

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Any recent reports here? This would be a great week to give it a try ...

If you've been out that way, let me know if there are 4-wheelers or sleds going out on Wabana. Thanks!

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I went by the north landing earlier in the week and atv's and snowmobiles have been going out. Also seen a few houses out both spearing and angling.

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Was on the lake 12/22 ... about 8 inches of clear ice out in the middle with about 8 inches of snow on top. had some water come up through the 10 holes I drilled, but not too bad. A few vehicles were parked on the ice near the landing.

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I discovered yesterday that trucks have not been driving to the East landing. By the time I discovered that there were only snowmobile and 4-wheeler tracks on the road, I was already heading down the hill toward the access. Without 4WD and good, new tires, I wouldn't have gotten out of there. No plow has been to the access all year, but plenty of snow machine and ATV traffic. Guys must drive their trucks to the Wakeman access. I would like to get out once you can drive, which I imagine won't be until late January or into February. My small lake near by still only has about 10" ice.

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hey all, I will be staying at a friends cabin on wabana in simmons bay on the east side this weekend. She has only fished the lake in summer, and I have never fished the lake before. I have the option of bringing the sled, but it would mean extra gas for the vehicle to pull it. I was wondering if there is good fishing in the bay that we could use skis to get out there, or is the fishing better in other parts of the lake. Don't really care what we catch, preferably pike or panfish as I will be with a bunch of girls who have never really fished before and I only have one flasher.

any info would be greatly appreciated.

my email is chad0050atd.umn.edu if you prefer not to put it online,

thanks.

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Skiing or snowmobiling will do you no good up here right now. You will spend all your time digging out or scraping the frozen slush off. Slush on area lakes is really bad right now and the cold is not helping yet.

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This last dump of snow we got really screwed up the lakes for fishing. More than likely you'll be fighting 0 to 6 inches or more of slush beneath 8+ inches of snow.

Sorry to rain on your fishing plans, but it is what it is. I think I'd bring the sled and enjoy the numerous snowmobile trails we have in the county.

Brian

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  • 3 weeks later...

Was out on Wabana Saturday and Sunday. Well Saturday was a bust! We spent the better part of the day trying to deal with the slush/12" of water above the ice. We ended up finding some decent ice and were able to get fishing.

The bite was slow! Sunday morning we didn't get out early enough due to the cold weather. We were fishing in Wakeman Bay, north side of the bay.

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  • 8 years later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
On 10/18/2019 at 11:12 PM, Doug Kelder said:

Fished Wabana for a week in September. Walleye were slow, pike was pretty fair, blue gill were nice with some decent size.

Thank you for the report.

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Trout/Wabana were really nice lakes, the one and only time I got to fish them 2 years ago. Would love to make it back up there some day. Too many places, too little time!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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