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Birch Lake, Ely, Need Help.


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I spent the last 3 days on Birch Lake by Ely and caught next to nothing. I jigged off the points, casted the bays, pulled cranks deep... everything I could think of. I'm coming back on Labor Day weekend with 4 other guys and am not very optimistic.  Looking for pike and walleye.  Anybody have any tips? We're staying at River Point.

Edited by Mike Ravenhorst
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Can’t tell you particulars about Birch since I haven’t fished it but I’ve fished the area and plan to be there in about a week.  This time of year can be tough.

 

Are you marking anything on your electronics?  If yes, it’s probably a tight bite window.  Make sure you’re fishing The first and last hours of daylight plus the major moon phase.  This time of year we fish at night quite a bit.  We’re in the waxing full moon right now so it should be decent at some time.

 

If you’re not seeing anything, try zooming in on the bottom and see if they’re laying low in the mud.  Work them at them at the peak times if they are.  Try half crawlers, they might be eating bugs.  If nothing is laying on the bottom, they’re probably shallow.  Troll raps shallow or bobber up shallower than you might think, like 5-7  fow, maybe even less.

 

I think Birch has decent weed beds.  Try those too.  Walleye will get into them in the daylight hours. 

 

Good luck and report back!

 

And feel free to be my 1000th like, lol!  I just noticed the funny number when I submitted. ?

Edited by Wanderer
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Thanks Wanderer,

 

For the most part, I was marking fish all over the place. Spent most of my time in that 12'-18' range off points and running raps.  It just felt like they weren't biting at all, so maybe your tight window theory is the issue.  Hoping the next few weeks will change things around a bit.  Thanks!

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Mike I was on vermillion last week and couldn't get fish to hit cranks at all. Try running  Lindys and spinners through them with half a crawler. That's how I got them to go. Oh and by the way I'm pretty sure you know my in laws. Im married to Laura Edwards.

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@Mike Ravenhorst

 

Just got back from Ely.  We did alright but not phenomenal.  7-9 am and 6-9 pm were the times to be on the water for us.  Earlier than 7 might’ve been even better but I didn’t feel the need to get out earlier.

 

The morning window was best snap jigging in 18-20 feet.  The evening window was mainly trolling rapalas in 4-9 feet.  I did some snap jigging in the shallows one night and did fine.  Crawlers on spinners took some fish as well but nothing really cleaned up better than dragging the Rapalas around at 2.75 mph for our group of 6 boats.  

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44 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Just got back from Ely.  We did alright but not phenomenal.  7-9 am and 6-9 pm were the times to be on the water for us.  Earlier than 7 might’ve been even better but I didn’t feel the need to get out earlier.

 

What lake(s) were you on Tracy?

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1 hour ago, chaffmj said:

 

 

What lake(s) were you on Tracy?

 

The one with GEL on it. ?  I’m sure you and the other regulars will pick up on that.

 

Sorry, but I’m still a fisherman... ??

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15 hours ago, Wanderer said:

The one with GEL on it. ?  I’m sure you and the other regulars will pick up on that.

 

Ha ha. Well it sounds like you guys had a good time!

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