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French Lake Fishing Reports

Sherman
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Sherman Enthusiast

Sherman

Posted
Posted

How's the fishing down in the faribult area? Haven't fish there lately. Just going to be shore fishing. I'm pretty sure the water level is low too. Any report would be great. Thanks

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Paul_Kramer Contributor

Paul_Kramer

Posted
Posted

I was thinking about testing my new 9 weight fly rod for French lake muskies next week at French. I hear the lake gets really green stained in the summer, do you think it would affect the fishing much (since a fly dosen't really put out much vibration/flash)? Does anyone know if its started to turn green? I'd probably also bring regular gear anyways. Any general tips would be welcome. Thanks!

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KTapper Experienced

KTapper

Posted
Posted

I don't know about the water quality, but I hear the landings are pretty shallow.

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Hodgy17 Contributor

Hodgy17

Posted
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yeah i just got back from fishing there today and the public landing sucks it is extremely shallow, i really don't know about the private landing at hoy's resort. The water quality is already starting to get bad also.

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Doop Proficient

Doop

Posted
Posted

You would think the DNR would fix the landing problem since it happens year after year. Once that water warms...it will turn VERY green. I doubt it's at that point yet....need to get a little warmer.

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nsnutter Enthusiast

nsnutter

Posted
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Have not hit up French in a few summers now, but there are some nice Muskies out there for sure! Would love to hook into a few this summer, keep us posted if you have any luck!!! Sad to hear the water quality is plummeting, sure is a bummer that our lakes seem to be souring lately.

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Muskiefool Collaborator

Muskiefool

Posted
Posted

Efforts are underway to help the water quality.. I guess if the lake was not too over loaded with people casting that day you may have better luck with the fly, these fish are more sensitive than I ever imagined; I saw one snapping at the line where it entered the water breaking the surface tension the other night,, so I would say nothing is too subtle...

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  • 1 month later...
Matt C Grand Master

Matt C

Posted
Posted

IF you can get a boat in, its OK, not HOT by all means. If your looking for Musky, its much better then any other species out there.

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local laker Enthusiast

local laker

Posted
Posted

I was there last saturday,trolled bucktails for 3 hours & got 1 northern.Then got stuck on sand dune,2 of us had to jump in & push a 17'er with a 90 4 stroke.Fun way to end it.....All of 6" of water out in front of the public access.

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  • 1 month later...
toaster Rookie

toaster

Posted
Posted

I am going to French hopefully in the next month a few times. With my old boat, a Crestliner 1850 sportfish on a roller trailer, I could always get it in on the public landing. Sometimes with chest waders and walked it out. I just bought a Ranger Reata 1850 on a Ranger bunk trailer. I have my doubts that I will be able to get out and in at the public landing. I imagine the water levels are at their normal low or am I wrong. Is Hoy's landing any better? Will Hoy hook your trailer onto his tractor and get you out & in? I heard that he does that, true or not? I fully expect to pay him for such a service.

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jereth Newbie

jereth

Posted
Posted

In the last week, I've gotten my 1775 Skeeter in/out of there alright and it sits on a bunk trailer. I'd be careful along the south shore. It is very shallow in one spot and will likely take your lower unit out if you hit it.

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jereth Newbie

jereth

Posted
Posted

It's kinda patchy, fairly clear in some areas but really green in others. In some areas I could see my lure up to 3-4 feet and would be able to see a follow. In other areas, forget it, you can't see much.

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zepman Grand Master

zepman

Posted
Posted

Exactly...the windblown side of the lake is really ugly but the rest of the lake was actually pretty decent.

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TSchultz Enthusiast

TSchultz

Posted
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toaster the Reata in my opinion is going to be hit or miss, so I would have a back up plan. Earlier this year after they dreged the landing I still could not get my 619 off I need 3 more inches of drop. I went out there last week in a 16' Lund and the landing did not look like it had improved at all. Hopefully the Reata bunks are a little lower than my 619's. You might try Hoy's resort landing just down the way, but that is very shallow as well.

They really need to just create a new landing out there. I thought the DNR got a bunch of money here 3 or 4 years ago to improve landings. Why wasn't French on that list?

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  • 4 weeks later...
french_lake_kid Rising Star

french_lake_kid

Posted
Posted

Very touchy subject so lets veer from that but I stopped at the access today and noticed a sign that says French has Eurasian Millfoil in it....is this very recent or have I just been blind for half the summer??

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zepman Grand Master

zepman

Posted
Posted

I've seen some of those signs recently posted on other lakes too. I asked myself the same question..."these been here all summer"? Honestly, I don't know.

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Scott M Grand Master

Scott M

Posted
Posted

It was discovered about a month ago. Fox lake in Rice county also has it, and Rays and Roehmildts in LeSueur will be listed on the infested list for 2010.

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katoguy Experienced

katoguy

Posted
Posted

Does anyone have good reference material on how to tell the difference between northern and Eurasian and possibly other lake weeds? Thx.

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luckycrank Mentor

luckycrank

Posted
Posted

I read an article once that it needs a certain mineral or something in the soil for it to grow which not all lakes have

so that is why it grows in certain areas of a lake in not others i can't remember where I read it though !

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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