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.

Bass locations for opener


Recommended Posts

Hello everyone so this weekend any tips on bass locations? I myself have seen that on shallow lakes they are still on the weed edges with just a few venturing out shallower. On deeper lakes finding them on the inside weed edges. With the cool weather coming up thinking wacky worming, small jigs to start with and then get to more reaction lures. Anyone else want to share some ideas or what they are seeing in there neck of the woods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The cooler temperatures could affect the fishing for sure. If it were me, I would head to the west side of the lake since that side should have the warmest water right now.  I think the key may be just slowing down and fishing slower with the colder temperatures. Jerk baits With long pauses, Mid depth crank baits, possibly dragging a football Jig and spinner bait. If you don’t have any action shallow right away I would definitely check the first break line in the 6 to 10 foot range.  Main lake points, secondary points and break line near large flats.  I will be fishing Saturday on a lake I’ve never been too. It’s a real small lake so crowds should be nearly nonexistent also I want to go there because there was a 2019 fish survey that resulted in pretty good quality numbers of good size fish. So I figured why not give it a shot. Best of luck to you out there. I will check in after Saturday and let you know how it turned out, hopefully with some pictures.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds good I have been finding the west and north sides of the lake warmest also. Good luck and hope to hear how your opener goes. I as well go to smaller lakes with less people?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I assume you're talking largemouths…

I'll likely be chasing smallmouths in the Missi with shallow spinnerbaits. 

(I started landing some bycatch hogs trying to catch the end of the sucker run (using nightcrawlers) this past weekend.  The river went "pop" this weekend!--warmed up almost instantly by at least 10 degrees and now the fish are going ape!)

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lake city Mn , lake pepin Mn side along the rocks for smallmouth???

Edited by Djsnej123456
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Austin12345 said:

where on the miss is a good spot to shore fish 

Where you at?  (It's a pretty big river ya know...?)

I'm in St. Cloud.  There's great shore fishing around SC.

 

The stretch from the St. Cloud Dam (By SC state U) for ~20 miles downstream is a world class small mouth fishery--there's a lot of public land on both sides of the river right near the dam and lots of easy parking.  (The west side (SCSU) has a nice cement fishing pier:  the east side is really rocky--wear good shoes/boots though cause you'll be clamoring over rock.  (I prefer the east side)).

The area below the Sartell dam has the area where the Watab river dumps in and that is always full of smallie fisherman when the dam is running (which it is now)

People catch quite a few North of the Sartell dam, but that's a tougher area to find good public land...

 

River Rats are an interesting breed:  I find ~half of them have no clue what they're doing (and consequently catch little), but the other half are usually happy to chat and share their tips. 

(unlike lake fisherman who tend to share secrets about as well as a mafia hitman)

Q:  "Whacha catching?"  A:  "fish."

Q:  "Where ya catching 'em?"  A:  "the water."

Q:  "Whacha fishin' with?" A:  "pole."

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lol, Donkey I hear ya. I grew up fishing rivers, but moved to MN and fish mainly lakes now.  I will tell anyone who asks what lake and what I was using. They still have to catch them even if I tell them. I’m a bass fisherman and could care less if I’m spilling the beans. Fishing is meant to be enjoyable by all. There are plenty of fish out there to be caught. I’ve many times been fishing from shore catching fish and have kids/adults ask what I’m using or how I’m doing it when they are having no success. I don’t mind given tips or baits to set them up for success. 

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve also never fished that Saint Cloud area. Have always wanted to float that with my kayak and hook into some good Smallies 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Djsnej123456 said:

I’ve also never fished that Saint Cloud area. Have always wanted to float that with my kayak and hook into some good Smallies 

You should!  (FYI the river is PERFECT right now--It's a little high and like it a little high; the dam has a nice flow of water but not too crazy)   Put the yak in at SCSU (there's a boat access) and see if you can't get somebody to pick you up at an access ~10-20 miles downstream.  Pack a lunch/beverage and prepare to have fun.  (oh, and be prepared to lose a few lures...  the river is hungry.)

The stretch is loaded with fat, feisty smallmouth bass and they are a joy to catch!
(...and If you catch nothing, it's still a beautiful stretch of river and a day well spent!)

 

2 hours ago, Djsnej123456 said:

I will tell anyone who asks what lake and what I was using.  Fishing is meant to be enjoyable by all.

You're a good one--Spoken like a true River Rat!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh sorry I should have said that I live near White Bear Lake

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like to help people catch fish too I'm a sucker for a family going out. I almost run out of tackle giving them what they need ? pay it forward I say.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree Mrpike. Several years ago I was on my boat when I caught a bigg’in under a dock, 5lbs 4 oz. There was roughly a 10 year old kid bobber fishing from a dock a couple docks down. When I pulled it out of the water the kid lost it, lol. Couldn’t believe how HUGE of a fish that was. I asked him if he wanted to hold it. He said yes of course. Grinning ear to ear he was so excited.  Something so small makes a big difference to some people, especially kids. This is why I love the outdoor!!

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The season is about to start for me. The lake to myself... Good luck everyone, be safe and hope to hear about it!!!

8B8346C5-B428-4B97-BD59-FEC71C30D231.jpeg

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also the fish I caught came real shallow. Less than 3 feet. They were also grouped up in certain ares. They rest of the shoreline spots were dead. Wind blown shorelines was the ticket also.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Holy crap man looks like you slayed em bladed jigs or chatterbaits as I call them are some of my very favorite baits at this time of year when I am casting otherwise I am actually useing a slip bobber with a fat head or shinner for bass I catch them and this may sound silly but I find them more effective then ones from the bait shop they are more natural I feel like plus they are free!!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah chatterbaits catch them good spring through fall. Especially with a little wind. I’m strictly a soft plastics guy but if a guy likes using live bait I’m all for it.  The spawn will start rolling here shortly in southern MN. Maybe a week or so some will start.. Fish are already shallow so lots  of ways to catch them

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya I use chatterbaits in the wind cause you get a bit more weight then plastics other techniqes I like are running a sqaure bill over grass or on the edge of cover frogs are fun when it is dead calm I really like it when it is real hot out with no wind and then I like this thing called a neko rig which is basically a fancy wacky worm with a nail weight on one end if you search up videos of it you will see the amazing action it has and then I have also tried the new Toyko rig and I am starting to be a fan of that so some days these new rigs work and you can tell why they are gaining popularty but there are some days you just can beat the simplicty of a square bill or chatterbaits   

image.png

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yea I know all those rigs. I throw a neko rig often on outer weed edge with a magnum trick worm. I havnt gotten into the Tokyo rig craze yet but it’s great in milfoil lakes. I’m a swim jig and frog guy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found the fish I caught in super shallow water too.  The temp seemed to be about a degree warmer there.  Unfortunately I didn't stumble upon this area on purpose and it took me 2 hours into my trip to find it.  I went 2+ hours with only 2 fish and then all of the sudden caught 4 more and lost 2 this area.  Wish I woulda tried it earlier.  Nothing big, 17.5 inches was the biggest largemouth but it was nice to target a real gamefish again instead of pannies.

  • Thumbs Up 1
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.



  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • 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.