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.

What's Sand Lake like for walleyes and other fish?


Recommended Posts

Four of us retired old boys from the Des Moines area will be fishing Sand Lake [next to Bowstring]. The resort owner has told us to bring plenty of green [not chartreuse] leadheads, 1/16 to 1/4 ounce and says we'll be tipping with smaller leeches. Any thoughts on this?

In general, is Sand a pretty decent lake for walleyes, northerns, bass etc.? We've been thinking about perhaps doing some evening and night fishing for walleyes, anyone out there with night fishing experience on Sand or for that matter any info at all will be appreciated.

I've been up to Kabetogama twice this year, fishing was good but I'm not to fond of their slot limit plus with the water level being so low, Shield lakes like Kab are dangerous as all get out with lots of rocks just under the surface. I never felt very comfortable going anywhere on that lake.

Fished Bowstring last year. Darndest thing, we caught zero walleyes but did get a limit of northerns by the marked rock pile every day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sand can be good for walleye. On bigsand the flats on the south side of the island, the horseshoe just west and a little south of the island are a couple of good spots,but there are many more. Little sand is also very good just off the weed line 10'to 12' of water.It seems like the fish like it simple,hook,splitshot,leach. Night fishing is not that good seems like the best bite is durring the day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Willowcat, thanks for your reply. I appreciate the info. When you say horseshoe, are you referring to underwater structure in that shape?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sand lake can be very good for Walleyes, the northern are thick and the perch fishing is great with nice fish The SW end of the island is full of little sunken humps and as you go out the channel there is a huge sand flat there are some humps on the east end of the island also with lots of structure on the shoreline try the west end shoreline too I never have jigged with a leech though I always use minnows. Hope that helps alittle
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes,the horseshoe is a long somewhat "V" shapped hump that comes up out of 18'to 20' of water and top out to 12'to 14'. It cuts out from the island and runs to the SW to the shore line, then cuts back out along a point back out into the lake. I've been fishing it for about 8 yrs. and found the best way to find it is to run along the west shore line just past the island,until you come to the deepist spot close to the shore. You'll have to stay out on the edge of the weedline and fallow it in. I hope this way works for you,if a problem maybe the lodge owner or someone staying there can help you out.GOOD LUCK!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Again Willowcat thanks for your reply, we will try to find the horseshoe you refer to.
Have you been fishing Sand recently? The resort owner says fishing was not so good last week with the stormfronts and mayfly hatch on.

Jason, thanks for your reply as well. Do you like to troll with a jig tipped with a minnow? Do you have a color preference? You mentioned a channel with a large sand flat, not having fished Sand before, could you tell me where it is?

We're due up there this Saturday, staying at Chapel Hill, the owner Mark sure seems like a nice guy. I'll be fishing out of a Ranger Pro Crappie boat. Most of you fellows with the nice Lunds get a chuckle out of a boat with a Pro Crappie name on the side. If you see me out there come on over, if you keep from laughing I'll buy you a cold one and make a friendly wager on the Gophers against the Hawkeyes in football this fall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The reason he said to bring a lot of green jigs is because the little northerns just love them. Any time you get close to the cabbage weeds you won't be able to keep them off. I was out last weekend with no luck for walleye. Last year though around the big hump in the center of the lake we did really well in July, so who knows. Good luck!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The big flat is out the channel from the P.A. right when you hit the main lake The backtrolling with minnows is what I do I have no real preferance in jig color but I do like alittle blue in mine.good luck fishing and we dont all have Lunds some of us have real boats Alumacraft and we dont even laugh at crappie killer boats
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Have the recent rains brought the lake level up at all? It looked like it had only come up about 3" by July 4.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • 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.