Aitkin Lake

[MN-FishGuy]

Staying at a campsite on Aitkin Lake in mid-August, never been to this area before.  How is the fishing on Aitkin?  Am I better off going into Big Sandy, and how navigable in the channel connecting the two?

Thanks for any help.

[knoppers]

you should be fine going into big sandy, just keep your motor trimmed a little and take it slow. I have no reports on the lakes, but I am sure you will find fish.

[MN-FishGuy]

Thanks

[Crappie2760]

I always go through the narrow flowage on plane to get from Big Sandy to Aitkin and back.  It can get a bit close when there are multiple boats in the flowage since the channel is small but I do it all the time.  I'll be up this weekend.  I'll mainly be fishing the main lake of BS with a jig and fatheads.  I'm not sure if that'll work but it's worth a shot.

[Big_Jman]

I always go through the narrow flowage on plane to get from Big Sandy to Aitkin and back.  It can get a bit close when there are multiple boats in the flowage since the channel is small but I do it all the time.  I'll be up this weekend.  I'll mainly be fishing the main lake of BS with a jig and fatheads.  I'm not sure if that'll work but it's worth a shot.

Crappie2760, you are an (word edited) who should be shot in the head. Playing dodge on plane with other people and families is stupid, dangerous, and mean.

I am sure you are a capable boat driver, but why take the slim chance? It's fishing, you in a hurry? Could you live with yourself if you hurt someone? Have fun when your alone, but four years ago, I was in the channel with my 3 year old daughter and someone blew past really close. Today she will not get into any boat unless I promise we will not go through the channel.

Please share the outdoors. 

"

Edited August 24, 2015 by knoppers

[Avid Angler]

Wow!! The moderators must have missed this post!! I didn't know you could swear on here. Ill have to give it shot.

[Marshall1116]

shot in the head? people need to stop with this crap..yes may not be the best of idea's to fly through the channel and it would suck if my daughter didn't want to get into the boat after someone who shouldn't be driving a boat came that close to me..i would be upset too, but wouldn't have a comment like that one. I don't like when sitting on the main lake anchored and people come close. there are people out on the water that should not be operating a boat at all..when i was up the last time we had dense dense for. I had my lights on (like suppose to) and while my son and I were anchored fishing we had boats blast past us where you couldn't see them within 50 yards..wide open with no lights on..you have to be on the defensive side while driving your boat for sure. I didn't even have to point this out to my 10 yo son who looked at me and said those guys are going too fast in the fog. 

[Crappie2760]

Haha that's a pretty entertaining post considering I go through there about 20 mph and stay to the right side no matter what.  I've damaged 3 props in there on logs and rocks going slow.  I've also only ever seen people go through there on plane so I'm definitely not in the minority.  I've also never dodged anyone.  If you meet a boat or come up to a boat you HAVE to slow down and go around them.  It's common sense and exactly what you'd do in a vehicle. 

[MN-FishGuy]

So we went up last weekend and struggled with the fishing, I don't know if the heat just shut down the bite or we just weren't using the right tactics out there.  Really cool lake though with all the Wild Rice.  We took the channel to Big Sandy, and just before we got to the entrance a large bass boat flew by, and we saw some kayakers exit the channel shortly after.  I'm sure the boat scared them pretty good.  Being that it was the first time in the channel, and we do have a relatively small boat, I kept it at 5 or 6 mph and enjoyed the drive.  I could see if someone fished those lakes more frequently that they would speed up the drive.  Minimum depth I read was around 2 feet, and it got pretty narrow in spots.  I wouldn't have wanted to meet another boat going 20 mph, thats for sure, but there are plenty of straightaways where you could see other boats if they were nearby.  It really didn't take that long to get through the channel though.

We did have a nice largemouth up to the boat on Big Sandy, but it broke our line as it took off under the boat once we got it close.  Still a nice time.