Bait?

[NilesBayHusker]

Does anyone know who is selling crappie minnows yet? Nothing in Cook until the first week of May. The Lucky Seven thought they might only have worms by this week-end.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

The Y Store in Tower may have some left.???

Cliff

[CigarGuy]

Good to hear. I better buy some on the way up tomorrow. If someone needs some, I can pick up extra, you will have to meet me between Cook and The Landing-sometime after dinner. I could call you when I'm getting close.

[shamrock7]

We have some frozen shiners if anyone wants to try them.

[PSU]

Heading up today for the Opener and cant wait to see our beautiful lake again!

I know it depends on what the fish will be biting, but is the general consensus minnows (I like rainbows) and leeches for live bait?

Thanks and see you on the lake!

Andy

[Cliff Wagenbach]

PSU,

Both should be a good choice this year for the opener.

Cliff

[neptune]

Any idea on local minnow or leach stock especially at the Y or Shamrock?

[MarkB]

Neptune

The Y Store is pretty well loaded up with minnows: rainbows, pike suckers, chubs, etc. 2 bins of rainbows although they were fairly smallish compared to what I personally prefer. They have a nice supply of really good pike suckers(at ~1/2 the price($3.75/dz) of the price of $6/dz rainbows!) I can't comment on leeches. The warmest water I found yesterday was still mid 50's and I generally wait until the temps are consistently in the low 60's before I get serious about leeches.

Good Fishing,

MarkB

[Netman]

Call me odd but I'm a crawler man even as early as the opener.

[neptune]

Mark,

Your post about fishing locations for opener is making me think I might fish off the dock this year...but that's no fun. Any idea how many extra boats we will see out due to the governor's opener?

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Mark,

Your post about fishing locations for opener is making me think I might fish off the dock this year...but that's no fun. Any idea how many extra boats we will see out due to the governor's opener?

I wish that it was decent fishing off of my dock! I always did enjoy sitting back on a dock in the evening and waiting for that bobber to go down!

Cliff

[MarkB]

Neptune

I've never been on any lake hosting the Governor's opener and I don't have stats of the number of fishermen from those lakes that have. However, purely guessing, I believe the Governor's entourage fishes with locals, Casey being one of them. If that is the case, those boats would be on the lake anyway so no big increase there. I would have no idea how many people would want to come here BECAUSE the Governor is going to be here but my guess is the number would be negligible. I guess we'll find out.

Good Fishing,

MarkB

PS Don't forget that ice out this year is 25 days EARLIER than last! IF weather conditions after ice out were the same as last year, opener this year would be the equivalent of June 7 last year! Fish where you fished June 7 last year If nothing else, it would be a good place to start.

[neptune]

I worked for Crestliner when it sponsored it on Pelican back in 2009 I think and they were trying to get 100 host boats. Not sure if that number will hold for this weekend but that would make me think there will be a lot of non-locals. As always thanks for the tips and happy fishing.

[neptune]

Oh and I wont be fishing where I fished around June 7th last year cuz that would most likely be the entrance to Everett Bay and I bet that will get a bit crazy. I like to fish but I don't like pinball