RIVERBEND 12/28 AND 12/29

[bturck]

As always a trip to LOW is a great time, if the fish cooperate so much better. Three of us managed to limit out even though the bite was slower than past trips. It did take both days of fishing and chasing any fish that showed up on the electronics. Saugers outnumbered the walleyes. Plain red hook and shiner caught a lot of the keeper sauger, with Buckshot and minnow head accounting for a lot of small fish. The dead sticks outfished the jigs for sure. We were set up with Riverbend in 35' about 7 miles past Pine Island. There were a couple of the houses that did better on the eyes, we just didn't get into any number of eyes on this trip. As always though good time, good food and good service. Headed up again in two weeks, so perhaps a different story then. But for these two days it was fishing hard and watching the electronics.

[your_bobbers_down]

Hey Bill, was there any talk of going to the reefs yet? We have a group going up 1/21-1/22 through Riverbend and we would love to fish the reefs again.

[bturck]

No there wasn't any talk of the reefs yet. I would not be surprised however that if the bite stays deep like this, that they may head up that way earlier than normal. I am headed back on the 17th of January and again on Feb 21st. Last year they did go to the reefs late January, so I would think it would be a possibilty. I did note quite a few sleds with porties headed farther out than we were Tues and Wed, but did not hear if they went all the way to Knight and Bridges. Sorry don't have any other info for you. Bill

[Dry_Fly]

No there wasn't any talk of the reefs yet. I would not be surprised however that if the bite stays deep like this, that they may head up that way earlier than normal. I am headed back on the 17th of January and again on Feb 21st. Last year they did go to the reefs late January, so I would think it would be a possibilty. I did note quite a few sleds with porties headed farther out than we were Tues and Wed, but did not hear if they went all the way to Knight and Bridges. Sorry don't have any other info for you. Bill

Bill if you remember the bite on the reefs was nothing last year and the best fishing was in the mud 30ft to 31ft. Shallow bite wasn't much this year either so IMO stay in the mud and look for suspended fish. I fished the reefs last year by sled and ended up back in the mud. I was up Wed. just fished one day caught lot's of fish at 30ft. Eye's I caught were mostly suspended already l had a great day of fishing. Wanted to get out before the strom moved in had our limits so took off early Thurs. Still bad roads heading back.

[bturck]

dryfly: I agree with you regarding the reefs last year. Went up one day in February, nothing exceptional, fished the mud in 36' the next day and had a great bite. In years past the reefs have done well but for some reason last year it was spotty at best. We did not mark a lot of suspended fish where we were at on Tues and Wed. I was surprised that some of the suspended fish, 8-10' below the ice were 8 and 10" sauger. Also had a couple of tullibee up there as well. I agree that ride home on Thursday was an adventure. The only thing I didn't drive into was green grass to mow otherwise pretty much covered all bases.

[Dry_Fly]

Surprise to me the suspended fish you caught were Saugers. I've teased them off the bottom up that high and caught them but never one I marked that high and came up to catch. Tullibee I've caught that were marked suspended also. I was in 30 ft and had great success with the Walleyes Wed. Brought the wife along she fished the bottom with no elec. to use and had fun with the Saugers. I was happy to catch enough Eyes for us both and threw some back. One 24 1/2" fun day all in all.

[bturck]

Sounds like you had a good day out there. Yes I too was surprised at the saugs. Caught the first one at 800am on Tuesday. Saw the flash up high 8' down ran upstairs with a Macho Minnnow and an 8" saug. Are you headed back anytime soon?

[Dry_Fly]

Heading back up the 5 & 6 with my son for 3 days. It will be my 5th trip this year. I switch around a lot between portables and day houses. Like using Riverbend myself they do a real good job of taking care of people. Really like the breakfast there. I like using the portables because I like fishing the border area a lot and being able to move around and with my replaced knee getting them out of the holes is much easier. Taking along a real comfortable chair helps as well. It just seems to get tougher and tougher as we get older but still enjoying every minute of it. Nice to get out with my Son on most trips he really enjoys fishing as well. He takes me out on the St. Croix in the fall for some great Walleye & huge Saugers some around 20" 21" great fishing in Stillwater.

[bturck]

I can certainly attest to the "getting older, getting harder". Yes it is a great time. My wife will go back with me on the 17th, she absolutly loves fishing and is pretty darn good at it. Good luck on your next outing, and I'll have the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon.....