elk river Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora Fishing Reports

[amateurfishing]

great reports and pics 1eye, very nice info and glad ur havina great time

[1eyeReD]

Plankton maybe. Did it start deep and get higher in the water coulumn after dark?

Yes. See, in the pic where I'm holding the walleye, it was just starting. From bottom to about 20ish ft, it was getting fuzzy. Later on that evening it got worse and came all the way up to the 18 ft mark. I seriously spent that evening trying to troubleshoot my flasher (turn up gain, turn down gain, power off, power on, choose different beam, play with the noise control, etc. etc.). It was frustrating because I was trying to show my dad the ropes in reading the flasher, but it wasn't happening.

[FishSystem]

Sounds like the plank to me. It can be a royal pain to fish in, but can be worth it too. Plankton rises later in the evening, and bring in a chain of life. Baitfish with it comes predator fish that we're after.

Plankton= baitfish= fish= fishermen. lol

I read a good article on plankton, and I don't remember where it was from, but there was a lot of stuff I didn't know. I used to move and get so angry at that green mass on my eloctronics. I've since fished in it maybe 2 or 3 times, and caught nice fish. It seems to me that fishing in the plankton can produce anything at any time(Pike at night). Look for a good article on it and you might learn a thing or two. I don't remember much about what I read, but now that am refreshed on it, I'll be reading on it too now. I could be wrong on this, but I think that all lakes have it but only Some spots have it.

[rosspj59]

Nice walleye 1eyeRed! I like cblt sandwich idea. I might have to try it tonight with a walleye fillet instead though.

[monstermoose78]

Went fishing to day with my cousin, his son, and my cousin's buddy. I got them on sunfish and crappies. My cousin wanted to have his parents and our grandma over for a fish fry and he went home with enough fish for a good fry. I got to the lake early and scouted the area I was planning on fishing. white diamond jig with a waxie was the hot bait or a yellow diamond jig. I lost one white diamond jig to a pike. I did catch 3 large mouth the biggest around 17 inches sure was fun. We fished a bay which ranged from 6-8 feet of water where we were fishing. Most of the crappies showed up on vexilar as you dropped the jig down. They must have been seeing just as if cleared the bottom of the hole. Crappies that were kept ranged from 9-11 inches. We kept gills from 6.5-7.5 inches. I caught some nice big gills which went back in to the lake. When the wind picked up the fishing shut down. We packed up around 345pm and we started around 10.

[monstermoose78]

I made it out today with out getting stuck!! I headed out around 8 this morning the roads were slick seeing I took back roads to the lake. I thought about walking out but I walked on the lake and there did not seem to be any slush so I drove out. I thought I was in the spot I wanted but after cutting a couple holes I grabbed the rod and the vex found out I was in deeper water then I wanted. I did drop the jig down just to check and see if I could call any fish in, but no such luck. I headed back into the bay where I had fish not to long ago. It is so different with no ice houses on the lake. I moved a few hundred yards from where I was before and cut a few more holes. I grabbed the rod and the vex and BINGO 6 feet of water and fish on the vex. I caught lots of little gills and some very nice ones. I also caught lots of crappies but mostly small 4-6 inches, but also caught 15 in the 9-11 inch range. It is not uncommon to catch large mouth on this lake, but today I caught 13 of them from 9-15 inches. They are fun on light set ups I am using. I was using 3 different rigs today. One of them is a spring bobber rod with a white diamond jig tipped with a waxie, the second rig was a lindy toad jig with pink top and yellow underside, and my last one with rasto jig with white head and lime green plastic. I caught most of my fish on the white jig and the lindy toad. The ice is still in great shape darn near to the top of the auger. The area I fished started to get a little slush around the holes but that could have been from the melting taking place from the sun. Also all fish were released to be caught tomorrow. I will post a few pictures later.Good Luck.

[monstermoose78]

I tried not to bad for a one handed guy!The crappie was not that big but it stayed still. My boot in the one picture is a size 15

[amateurfishing]

when out late a.m./early p.m. try to take advantage of pre storm bite. lots of fish in 15FOW but all dinks perch/sunnies/gills. wonder where all the 10-12 inch crappies went that i was nailing in mid Jan

[monstermoose78]

Drove out today and fishing was ok for 4-8 inch crappies and gills under 7 inches. Highlight was 9 inch golden shinner. The fish were biting so light maybe it was they were so small. If I knew someone that wanted some big shinners for pike or catfish I would have saved them. I caught about dozen golden shinners from 6 inches to 9 inches.

[monstermoose78]

Went out yesterday from 1-345pm fish were in shallower then before. 4-6 feet. I caught one nice gill about 9 inches which was a pretty bull male which I felt so good releasing him back into the lake to hopefully make a bed this spring. I caught lots of tiny crappies 4-6 inchers and one that was like 2 inches. I did catch a fair share of gills but most were 4-6 inches as well. I did get a couple nice largemouth that are a blast to catch. I did not bring any fish home with me, but I am thinking I might go out and try to get some from a fish fry for my uncle. cousin, my wife, and I today. I will not keep any gills over 8 inches or crappies over 11. The ice was still over 2 feet thick but it is starting to get clumpy on the top few inches. I did see some turkeys on my way home and they 2 toms were in full strut and chasing the hens around the field.

[ozzie]

got out to a local lake on Sunday morning and enjoyed a nice bite. Crappies, gills, and perch were going like crazy. Wax worms were the hot bait. The lakes are softening up alot and some are getting harder to get on. Only a little time here and the ice will be gone!!

[Juan Grande]

At this rate we're going to have ice in May!

[monstermoose78]

Well I got out with my brother on the Rum River for some fishing. The walleyes are on the munch. It seemed that were hanging out in pockets of deeper right after some shallow fast moving water. We used crawlers on a lindy rig and 1/4 oz lead heads and 3 inch twister tails. We got more fish on the jigs but once we fish a hole for while with the jigs we soaked a crawler and caught a few more. The smallmouth were starting to get active and we got bite off by a few pike. The water seemed clear but if get the rain they think we could get it will be muddy and slow fishing with the jigs for a little bit. Also heard they still get some walleyes up in Milaca at the dam. We fished the river just south of Milaca.

[Juan Grande]

Fished Blue for bass on Sat. and Sun. Water temps were between 58-60. The bite was tough to say the least. Found some bedding bass on Sunday along a shoreline, but they wouldn't hit anything. Some nice fish though and the water is super clear right now. You can see down 10+ feet. Some curly leaf starting to grow in spots, but very little vegetation overall.

[CHM]

Just moved here in January. Two of my grand kids want to go fishing from shore this Saturday. I have no idea where to go. Too busy to fish yet and the boat is not ready. All I need is a place they can catch one sunfish. Close to St. Francis would be nice.

Any help to put a smile on a kids face would be very much appreciated!

[Dylan33]

Hey CHM- If you and the kids aren't too worried about the size of the sunnies- check out Norris lake.

Right in St. Francis. Decent amount of places to fish from shore. Lots of small sunnies.

map

[CHM]

Good to know. I am not concerned at all about size. They have new rods and want to try them.

From shore on highway 24?

Thanks!

[Dylan33]

It's been a few years since I was there, but We'd always turn onto Norris Lake Rd off of hwy 47, park alongside the road and walk down a little hill to the lake, right on Norris lk rd.

[HNTNBUX]

On the SW corner of the intersection of Norris Lk Red and 47 is another place to park and stay out of traffic.

[CHM]

Thank you!

[Wanderer]

The east end of Norris is shallow for a ways out. Doesn't mean the pannies aren't there but the west end is a little deeper.

You could also head over to Lake George. The park has fish able water from shore and its loaded with small fish. Sometimes you get some nicer ones but the point is, they should be able to catch something.

[JeremyCampbell]

I agree st cloud lake George is nice for the family.,sunfish,bass,I caught a small cat out of there once too.Very small fish most of the time.Bring a lunch with you,if you go.The kids will have a good time

[CHM]

Went to Norris. Kids had a blast! 13 sunnies and one perch. 4" average!

[CHM]

The best part is that I built their rods. I use MH CRB IS561L colored blanks. I've done 5 of them, and three have been in use for about 4 years with no breaks. I put $15 underspin reels on. Mom and dad can buy the upgraded reels when the time comes. This way they can make the transition to a spinning reel.

[ozzie]

That right there is AWESOME!! Good for you gramps!!! The kids look to be enjoying themselves and that is what it is all about!!!

[Dylan33]

Well done CHM!!! This picture made my day! Thanks for posting.

[CHM]

Thanks guys! It's pretty special to be able to teach your kids and grand kids how to fish.

[Juan Grande]

Great Pic! Where can I get a shirt with Darth Vader playing the drums?

[CHM]

From this guy!

LOL

[monstermoose78]

nice work with the kids