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We are coming up to Big Boy the week after July 4th. Never have been there and would appreciate any and all tips you can provide. Where do we find the Bass, Walleye, Crappie, etc. Day fishing or night etc. Whatever advice you can provide would be helpful. Thanks!!!

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Been a few years since I have fished Big Boy but I know they have good largemouth. The lake is shapped somewhat like a U. We stayed at Timber Trails. If you head out of Timber Trails to the left (not sure which direction) you will end up going around the bottom of the U There used to be a ton of weeds/reeds which almost formed an island. Did very well there on bass. Keep going past it and I believe the point is pretty rocky and had good structure. I know there is decent walleye fishing, however I'm not much of a resource in that regard. Nice lake. Good luck!

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Thanks for you input! Hoping we will get some more info soon. Thanks to all that have viewed. Please don't hesitate to add your thoughts. We will be staying at Maple Trails Resort.

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No problem, not much traffic on this site. I know there are good numbers of smaller northerns and even some Muskie. Dad is on different lake 10 miles west having luck with walleyed on leeches.

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Thanks Zero G. Any good spots to try in the area of Maple Trails Resort?

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Fished for years out of Timber Trails resort and had success all over the lake. From Maple Trails resort, head across the northern basin of the lake and work that shoreline in 12-15 ft of water, particularly morning and evening. On the south side of the lake work the shoreline past the point to the east of timber trails. At dusk, the flats right in front of timber trails is good for walleye.

Good luck!

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Thanks Jaypo! Looked at the area across from Maple Trails. I'm sure we will try that a few times. Will also check the spot you mentioned by Timber Trails. Do you know if you can go up and down stream on the Boy River to the lakes on the river?

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  • 3 weeks later...

We are only 10 days out!!! Does anyone have anymore information that might be helpful while we are fishing Boy Lake. Has anyone been on the lake recently? Any and all info is appreciated! Thanks

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I was just up there two weeks ago. It was my first time on the lake and It might have been the most odd fishing experience of my life. I often target bass and from other reports I had seen along with pictures from the Timber Trails website, I thought I would be pulling em in left and right. I did NOT find one bass over the 4 days spent on the water. mad I did find a lot of rock bass but I was looking for large mouth.

I know the season is kind of messed up from our late winter/short spring, but it is rare that I am skunked when targeting bass. I fished from shore out to 30ft and could not find em. Hopefully you will have better luck if you are looking for bass.

We did find A LOT of pike. We pulled cranks along the weed lines in about 10-11 fow. Largest pike was 36". There is no shortage of them. Probably caught 50+ over the 4 days.

We did find a few walleye. Some by jigging in 10 fow with minnows and leeches in the morning and some by pulling cranks and lindy rigs along the weed line in the evening. One area was just to the right/NE from Timber Trails. The rest were just across the lake from the resort, again right on the weed line.

We also found some very nice, chunky sunnies and crappies jigging with minnows and leeches. One crappie was over a pound. I didn't measure it but it was huge.

The highlight of the trip came as we were trolling the weed lines in the morning. I had grabbed the wrong rod when we left the dock and was rigged with 12lb fluorocarbon line pulling a crank. This little guy decided to make the morning very entertaining. shocked

full-33929-34603-muskie.jpg

It measured 42". This is my first muskie and obviously the biggest but it may also be the biggest I will ever catch. And no, I did not eat it. We happened to be close to our dock so I brought him in to show my wife and daughter. He was released to swim another day.

As far as bass go, I searched all the places that I thought would hold bass but if anyone has any ideas, please help a guy out. I am going back up there again in early August so maybe the bass will show up this time. I did not try any part of the lake north of the channel. Maybe that should be my first move next time.

dakota.1950, it would be great to hear how you do when you are up there.

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Thanks Mudpuppy. We are going after Walleye and Bass. I will let you know how we do when we get back. Again thanks for the input.

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I am heading up to timber trails monday morning and staying for the week. I hope I can get you a report as well dakota.1950. Im very interested on how we will do. My main targets will be bass and some walleyes as well. And thanks mudpuppy for the info as in it will benefit me as well.

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Chaseub. You will have to jump online and let me know how the fishing is. We don't head up until the 5th.

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MudPuppy good report and awesome fish! To all, if you get a big musky or pike do not hold them upright from the jaw like pictured. It is bad for big fish to hold them like that and can cause mortality. Hold under the jaw with one hand and support the belly with the other hand.

Did you have any other muskies follow while pitching for bass?

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To all, if you get a big musky or pike do not hold them upright from the jaw like pictured. It is bad for big fish to hold them like that and can cause mortality. Hold under the jaw with one hand and support the belly with the other hand.

Feathers, I think of that every time I look at the picture. This was the biggest fish I have ever caught and was rather excited. I should know better than not to hold such a large fish that way. I am an avid fisherman and mostly practice catch and release. You gave good advice and I will certainly remember for next time that I need to support the belly.

I did not have any other follows as far as I know. I did catch a 36" pike as well but I did not see any other muskie.

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We are starting to pack. Are there any last minute words of wisdom out there? Sure could use your advise about Big Boy Lake to make this fishing trip a success! Thanks again.

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MudPuppy, you may not know this since it's your first musky. But that's a tiger musky. Very nice fish!

Aaron

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 10 years later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
1 hour ago, hymie said:

Any thoughts for sunfish?

Their probably bigger after 10 years! 🤭

  • Yayyyy 2
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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
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