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Posted

I'm new to the whole trout fishing I'm wondering some general good areas and pointers and tips and tricks on how to catch trout out on Watab. How long to give a single hole before you should move. Thanks

Posted

I was going to post something about this this morning... I was wondering what kind of gear is needed as far as rods and tackle. Type of bait, that sort of thing. I'm guessing a trout stamp is needed, but does the no live bait, barbless hooks, those sort of rules apply to watab? Thanks in advance for the pointers, everyone.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I was going to post something about this this morning... I was wondering what kind of gear is needed as far as rods and tackle. Type of bait, that sort of thing. I'm guessing a trout stamp is needed, but does the no live bait, barbless hooks, those sort of rules apply to watab? Thanks in advance for the pointers, everyone.

Big Watab is not a Dis, Trout lake. You can use any gear you want but will need a Trout Stamp if you take any trout from the lake. I just use my light Walleye gear, small jigs and a crappy minnow. It is a tough lake during the winter how ever. Good Luck.

Posted

I spear out there from time to time and I always see them but they are really spooky and never seem to be interested in any of my presentations. Had a group of guys setup next to me today, as soon as they started making noise the trout disappeared for good. I got out there before sun rise.

Posted

I was out this morning for my first time. Unfortunately I came home empty handed.

Posted

As Leech and Dooley mentioned Watab is tricky in the winter. The fish that are out there are not the "dumb" stockers anymore, and yep, can get spooked easily. Trout are not as much structure orientated, so depth and location is not as important as, in my opinion, as getting away from other people, travel lanes, and BEING QUIET. For the most part usually go after the fish that are cruising right under neath the ice looking for whatever is melting off, they seem to be a little more eager to bite…a small hook/ice jig, waxie, bobber or deadsticked about 2 to 5 ish ft….prefer a meatstick/noodle/ultra light type rod for this. The fish will also be found cruising all throughout the water column…..for these a small cast master, do jigger, pimple, even twister tails can be used to try to get them to chase. Electronics are crucial for these, and when on a wide angle in deep water can be just a hoot when you see one coming in like a freight train.

Posted

I used to setup in 15 to 8 feet on a steep drop just off weeds and drilled 3 or 4 holes together to make a mini spear hole. On days they r hungry jigs spoons minnows all work but most days I would use a #6 octopus hook packed with waxies or piece of crawler. no weight the slow fall and soft movement would make them bite when not much else would. sight fishing was important to determine their mood and when they ate the bait. I would not move much only try shallow or deeper till I found the depth they were cruising at. Once you start seeing fish stay put, because trout always move and trying to stay on top of them is pointless. always caught fish doing this.

Good luck

Posted

Did anyone catch any today?

Posted

Thanks everyone for the input! Now the next question- anyone going out this week and feel like letting me tag along? I've never fished watab and would like someone to go with.

Posted

I was rewarded yesterday with one treat for the smoker

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I saw around 10 trout all day, had a few attempt to take my jig with a small crappie minnow but I think the lively minnow actually scared them from hitting. This one raced in and meant business though, I will mention I had a group of guys setup around me and my friend and after that the trout all disappeared, I sat all day. I started seeing more towards dark. If I wasn't spearing/ sight fishing I wouldn't have caught that fish, he came in hit the jig but I struck and missed, he swam straight to the bottom and started rooting around, I thought maybe he thinks the bait fell down there so I dropped it down and he inhaled it.

Posted

is there much of a a night bite on glow jigs? I have no idea but it would seem to me if you could find an area that had fish present in the early light hours that there should be fish there during the night too. Anyone have any experience night and late night trout bites?

Posted

They feed by sight 1st and smell 2nd, never had luck for trout after dark(rainbows). Browns however are well known to feed after dark, but I have only got 1 brown off watab and never had much luck for trout after dark.

Good Luck if you try it

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I have caught all kinds of trout after dark. The Rainbows my brother and I caught this weekend 2 were caught before sunrise. One was caught 4 minutes after it opened on a glow jig. My brother had the 2 he caught before the sun came up and I caught mine at about sunrise. We used to use lighted floats when I was in college to catch trout. Best way to fish lakes with browns in them, but we also caught some of the bigger rainbows and brookies after dark. Also have caught lakers on Superior before the sun comes up in the morning.

Posted

Monster,

Would you say you had better luck after dark versus day? Rainbows, browns, splake, brookies, lakers seem to bite better at nite versus day? I have never done much after dark trout fishing and never had much luck when I did. Just interested in what you have encountered.

Thanks and good luck

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Browns after dark, the rest during the day. However I have some awesome night bites for Rainbows and Splake. I have caught lakers on Burntside and Superior when it was dark as well, but I would not say it was better at night. I caught my biggest Brookie on Miners Lake after dark as well. I have never fished Watab before, but some lakes where the trout are skittdish the after dark bite can be pretty good.

Posted

I think it'd certainly be worth a shot to night fish watab for trout. At the very least you might hook into some walleyes.

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Anyone been by here lately? Is the landing plowed out for parking a trailer?

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Anyone been by here lately? Is the landing plowed out for parking a trailer?

Jeez, something must be going on out there? Can't even get a Parking lot report! whistle

Posted

There is a path plowed through the lot out to the lake, but you could park in the lot, a few people are.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Thank for the update.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Anyone been out on Watab since all the snow and winds? Is there a road plowed out at all?

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
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