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Posted

I was going to fish Cannon Lake with my dad this morning but changed our minds at the boat launch, the lake was pea soup. Couldn't find the public access for French and ended up fishing Fox lake and seeing no fish in the boat. Does anyone have any recommendations for fishing lakes near Faibault that aren't soupy? Are the lakes around Mankato any better? Maybe it was the hot sunny, still day, but but how are the fish biting in water with all this algae?

Thanks

Tom

Posted

tom. most of the lakes there will have the pea soup look with the warmer water temps. many times it will be on the down wind side( but not always!) the ramp for french; turn off the road to go to hoys resort. when you come to the stop sign, turn left (instead of right to go to hoys) follow the road around to the parking lot. del

Posted

hey sleepless i was at lake francis today over by elysian, and i did well on crappies and a few small eyes. most were caught in 10-20 feet of water with crawlers and a silver spinner

good luck and have fun
P.S. the lake wasn't too green

------------------
no-no boys there's two O's in goose!

Posted

This is the second tip to try Lake Francis. I guess I'm going to have to try over there.

Thanks,

Tom

Posted

sleepless - if you want a nice clean little lake, try Kelly-Dudley which isn't too far from French. They hold pike, crappies, lm bass and sunnies - no walleyes that I know of. The 2 lakes are connected by a navigable channel. They are small but have a buffer of land around them that isn't farmed so they stay fairly clean all summer.

Posted

those two little lakes will get a little green tint to them also, but nothing like the other ones in that area since they are so deep. and yes they can be a riot to fish. good bass and panfish. we have caught many small northerns in there. the lakes have a special reg for northern. del

Posted

I have fished these a couple of years ago and the northerns are fun. Has have you guys fished the lakes when they're really green like Cannon? I'd be concerned on how the fish would taste if I wanted to bring one or two home for supper. Also, what would people recommend for colors in green water?

Posted

Yes, wouldn't it be nice to have signs put up so "just any one" could fish French Lake. It is not eazy ( imposable ) to find unless you have Co, Road map. Or you could pay to use the landing at the north side of the lake. I think he has a good thing there.

Posted

Dark days dark colors. Under the green slime it is always dark.
The algae only grows as deep as the light will penetrate . The more the algae grows the less the light can penetrate . It all end with a big die off and it dosn't smell good!!
You could fish the slime as structure. fish the edge ? The wind blows the algae down wind so look for clear spots . Or where the algae is churning and mixing . Take notes..
I wouldn't eat them.
The main thing is keeping the fish alive ( fresh ) while your on the water . Fish use up a lot of oxygen in warm water and warm water dosn't hold a lot of oxygen .
Place a small split shot about 2' up your line. The algae will slide down your line and stop at split shot.
Once the water column warms up to the mid 70's the fishing will slow way down. Maybe not so much for Bass and Dogfish. In the 80's forget it.
This time of year fish the deep lakes ( Ones with active springs ). With a good source of 54 degree water coming in to a lake the fishing stay active all summer. The water is coming form under ground not the farmers fields so the algae will not be as dense .

I hope this is helpful .

[This message has been edited by Red_Ball (edited 07-10-2004).]

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