Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Just curious if anyone has seen any shiners in the rivers/shallows? Do you think the bait guys will have any for the opener?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've found a few.. Going to try and seine again Friday. Bait shops may have some, but I can imagine it will be slim pickins based on what we've found. Good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw the bait guys at their normal shiner spot the last few days on my way buy. Not sure what they go though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Heard bait guys are getting nothing in rivers/creeks...finding them as deep as 14' in sugar sand bottoms and heard water temps have gone down since last Sunday. If sun comes out this afternoon should make it easier for bait guys to get them as they should move in and bunch up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

surface temps were 50 last sunday and I was told 47 this morning but we had some good sun this afternoon with wind so that will warm things up a bit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pelican on Saturday - 45-46 main lake; did find some 48 west end, south shore where it was calm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Does anybody know what bait shops have spottail shiners? Just thought I'd ask here before calling around. Thx.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was told by a local bait shop that it is illegal to transport personally seined shiners (12 doz or less), even if they have been taken out of the lake water and put them into tap or bottled water. I have read the rules a couple times over and it seems it is perfectly legal as long as you are not transporting the lake water?

What are your interpretations of this law? I think the dude at the bait shop was blowing smoke. Maybe he didn't like that I was catching minnows and not buying from him??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think he was blowing smoke. I heard last year that the DNR was cracking down on minnows taken from a body of water to be sold. Sounds like they are requiring the person have a separate set of nets for each body of water. I was told by a volunteer on Big C last summer that I was required to throw away any leeches I had left over that day. He said that when I touched a fish or washed my hands in the lake water and then put them in the leech container, I had contaminated the leeches. It's becoming a rich man's game when you can't save your bait for another day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frustrating when you can't bring your bait home without a $50-$100 refrigerated and aeriated live well system in the back of your vehicle too. I made the mistake of trying to bring shiners from my house in a 5-gal bucket one morning, set the bucket in my boat, use them as needed, and then take my minnows back home when done fishing in the same bucket. Ha, nice try. DNR guy at the landing put the brakes on that and said, "Sorry, I trust you but still have to make you dump the water and discard the minnows. Once you took the bucket from your vehicle and put it into your boat it's now considered lake water. If you would have left the bucket in your [hot] truck it would be legal to transfer the minnows back into." So there I was, no cool water and 3 dozen perfectly good shiners. I figured I better not press the issue about not having any cold water because the next thing they'll do is drill wells at all the landings and my taxes will get jacked up even higher. grin At the end of day I should've known better...it's my own fault. I can't blame him...he was technically right...I was wrong. Just frustrating a guy doing everything safe to not contaminate other bodies of water and still have to junk $20 of minnows. I guess it's dump bait or buy some portable livewell system for the truck. Rich man's game indeed. $$$ My 2c

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frustrating when you can't bring your bait home without a $50-$100 refrigerated and aeriated live well system in the back of your vehicle too. I made the mistake of trying to bring shiners from my house in a 5-gal bucket one morning, set the bucket in my boat, use them as needed, and then take my minnows back home when done fishing in the same bucket. Ha, nice try. DNR guy at the landing put the brakes on that and said, "Sorry, I trust you but still have to make you dump the water and discard the minnows. Once you took the bucket from your vehicle and put it into your boat it's now considered lake water. If you would have left the bucket in your [hot] truck it would be legal to transfer the minnows back into." So there I was, no cool water and 3 dozen perfectly good shiners. I figured I better not press the issue about not having any cold water because the next thing they'll do is drill wells at all the landings and my taxes will get jacked up even higher. grin At the end of day I should've known better...it's my own fault. I can't blame him...he was technically right...I was wrong. Just frustrating a guy doing everything safe to not contaminate other bodies of water and still have to junk $20 of minnows. I guess it's dump bait or buy some portable livewell system for the truck. Rich man's game indeed. $$$ My 2c

The solution is dont use live bait. I've caught limits of walleyes for 2 weeks now and havent bought one minnow...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya know...that is absolutely the best solution. Problem is I grew up fishing live bait and it's like pulling teeth trying to get me to use plastics on walleyes. I wish I knew how to better and was more confident when I do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want a cold water in your truck waiting put an ice cream pail of water in the freezer, drop the block of ice in a good cooler and you have your cold water waiting for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use 2 coolers----one for the boat and the other I leave in the back of the truck. Come off the water ---drain the minnow bucket water

(leave the minnows in the bucket) and then dump them in the cooler in back of the truck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what I figured. I guess the local bait guy wasn't being so truthful after all. He must be a fisherman.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.