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

Given our late spring and with ice out looking more and more promising for opener, I wanted to get a thread going and talk about some early season strategies for walleyes and smallies.  I am planning to spend quite a bit of time with the electronics trying to figure out where the walleyes are at and then either jig, lindy rig, and maybe slip bobber fish. 

This year, I am lucky enough to get up and open the cabin during opener and put the boat in the water. I've never had the luxury of fishing opening weekend (usually I don't get to wet a line until Memorial)!

Can't wait to be back up in God's Country! 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wakemup,

All good tactics That will work on opener and most of the early season! You may just have to shift locations as the season advances.

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Wakemup and welcome...I look forward to reading more about your scouting and findings.

Keep your fingers crossed for water temps above 50 degrees asap :)

~Tripp

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wakemup,

If the water temps are still low, below or around that 50 degree mark, when you are watching your electronics and following the first or second drop off edges from typical spawning areas, try swinging out over the deeper water off the last drop off and look for suspended Walleye.  When the water is cold like that, you will find schools of Walleye suspended over deeper water just off the edges of the spawning beds.  Harder to find, but if you find them, drop your jig down and have some fun.

Be safe everyone!

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't be afraid to fish deep flats in the main lake if the ice is gone. Not all Walleye spawn in shallow water and typically you can find some good action as deep as 30ft in the spring.  Jigs with a minnow and slip bobber rigs, especially in the evening hours are my faves. Trolling cranks and pulling a plain lindy rig can also be very effective.  I live on Pike bay so I typically start there and if the action is good I might stay in Pike bay all day. I do however also fish Big bay and Stuntz bay on the opener. It just depends on where the best action is. ;) 

"Ace" ;) 

"It's just fishing man"  ;) 

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone know how the local bait stores are doing with minnows?  Pleanty of shiners, rainbows, and fatheads? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure about shiners but they are stocked up with fatheads and rainbows. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lucky 7 in Cook has shinners, rainbows, crappie, light Pike, fatheads, crawlers and leaches..... Didn't check Northwoods....Part of our crew is here, let the fun begin!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That should be "shiners" :cool:.  They need to add an "edit" feature on here! 

BTW, coming up from the cities we had 4 or 5 different areas where 35 was down to one lane.  It's going to be a rough summer-travel wise!  Not to mention in about 2  weeks, the construction of the new "roundabout" in Cloquet is going to start. 

  • Wow, ❤ 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems to be plenty of bait at the local bait shops right now. Even a few shiners!

Cliff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

That should be "shiners" :cool:.  They need to add an "edit" feature on here! 

BTW, coming up from the cities we had 4 or 5 different areas where 35 was down to one lane.  It's going to be a rough summer-travel wise!  Not to mention in about 2  weeks, the construction of the new "roundabout" in Cloquet is going to start. 

Cigarguy, I think if enough of us from the cities band together, we could get our own float plane and fly up each weekend :)

I thought the last 2 summers were terrible for traffic and I think this one will be worse. I drive form the cities north each day for work and exit in Forest Lake on 97, that stretch is usually as much fun as a stick in the eye due to the split and now it'll be real rough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Wakemup said:

Cigarguy, I think if enough of us from the cities band together, we could get our own float plane and fly up each weekend :)

I thought the last 2 summers were terrible for traffic and I think this one will be worse. I drive form the cities north each day for work and exit in Forest Lake on 97, that stretch is usually as much fun aanes a stick in the eye due to the split and now it'll be real rough.

Couple more years I won't have to worry about it, I'll be retired ?. I take a lot of Fridays off and head up Thursday after work.  Only have to deal with Sunday driving home.  Holiday wknds, I take Friday and Tuesday off, makes the trip more bearable.  Fishing was slow tonight, only 2 crappies for 5 of us. Black Bay was busy tonight.

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Raven77 said:

Nice Bill!  I'm going to have to start following you around!

Even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while ??. Only took 3 days for them to move into this particular spot! I like spring, it makes me feel like a "real fisherman". Like I've said many times, this lake has humbled me".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Heading up tomorrow! Goal for tomorrow is to get the place opened up and if I can get the boat in the water for the evening, that’ll be a bonus!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice fish!

Even Phil manages to get a fish on occasion! :lol:

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Yayyyy 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/15/2018 at 2:01 PM, Cliff Wagenbach said:

Still biting this morning but a much slower bite.

Lindy rig /chubs in 26' to 29' depths.

Even got 3 bonus perch today!

Cliff

20180515_132449_Burst01.jpg

Looks good Cliff! The perch look mighty tasty!

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.