Weekend Report - My first time there-opinion

[KJB]

I will start by saying that the reports on here are great and provide alot of information- I will change it up a bit and give you a report on my first ice experience on LOTW, what I was encouraged by and what I was not, and then some items I would love to have someone comment on. <P>The Report:<P>Saturday fished off 16 mile, east side, started in 20' on the rocks and moved to 28' then back to 20' for the evening. We caught around 30 walleyes, a couple sauger and a couple perch. One fish around 15" the rest 11-13". I hole hopped outside and that helped- the bite never happened in the house, in the pm, in 28'. Arneson's had two houses by us, moved them both, and the report we got was best house had 4 fish. Best lure was the glow/red small buckshot rattle spoon. My glow rapala was doing well early, then snagged it in the rocks and lost it- not happy with that! Dead sticks were very slow. We kept 11 fish and a perch- threw back around 20.<P>Sunday, we decided to try Zipple Bay. We setup in 30' of water and it was slow till around 10 then fish here and fish there till 2:30- then we moved in to 20' for the evening. Caught some there as well but size was small. We did get a couple around 15". Ended up keeping around 20 walleye/sauger mix and probably caught around 35 or so. Deadsticks ruled the day, gold hook, three- five inches off the bottom. Very finicky on the jigs but the glow deamons and very small rapalas seemed the best when you could get them to hit. <P>My unbiased, untainted opinion, now, on the experience for other first timers- or those thinking of coming. I traveled from Milwaukee and fished with my brother and nephew- that experience is priceless and I will be back to do the same again- we were portable and my nephew has it all together for that method out there. The fishing, was what I would say, disappointing. The size of the fish is what causes me to say that- I have a real problem being forced to keep 12-13" fish in order to bring some home to eat. I heard reports of "everyone has 17" limits in Zipple Bay", but we saw nothing but 13"ers at the cleaning station. I am not saying people do not catch nicer fish, I think that, however, the vast majority of what is being caught is small. To expend the time and money to get there, and then hope to catch a 15" fish, to me, is not worth the effort. It may have been the time of year, it may have been being in the wrong place, etc, but not being a local, you are somewhat at the mercy of the fishing gods in picking the right 10' piece of mud out of 3 square miles of it! To summarize for other first timers, expect action, just not much for size.<P>Now for help- I am very impressed with the number of fish, to stop in the middle of nowhere and catch 40 fish in a day is a testament to how many fish are there. I know there must be bigger fish in the winter, as we catch them in the summer- but where? I will come again, next year, but it will be early- perhaps early December, or else later, maybe early March, and am looking for help on whether that strategy is better for nicer fish. Also, if anyone has input on whether this is just a bad time of year, in general, or was just a bad weekend, I would appreciate it. <P>Sorry for the length, but wanted to help other "thinking about it" types like me help make an educated decision. Thanks againg to WalleyeSnob for a great weekend, for great gear, for having tiny, tiny spoons and to my brother for helping make the trip so much fun. <BR>

[WalleyeSnob]

KJB,<BR>You could not have said it better. Like I said before I think I am going to retire for two or three weeks from Lake of the Woods.<P> This was my 7th trip up there this year and I have one 5 lber to show. My next biggest is 15 inches and that is truly pathetic. The rest of the year will be dedicated to knights and bridges area. The big ones have to show there face sooner or later.<BR>Last year I rarely went into a fish cleaning station and saw someone without a fish that went atleast 4 lbs. There were times last winter early december that i saw more than 5 or 6 eyes at once in the cleaning station that went all over 8 lbs<BR>what is going on???<BR>I know some people might get a big one here or there, but it isn;t even close to like last year.

[fiskyknut]

KJB, yes time of year and location would be your factors. Late January and February are the toughest time of winter to get on fish {Walleye anyways} reliably. I pretty much target Perch thru this timeframe for this reason, and 'cause they're so tasty. After 1/10 or so I don't venture east of the LP area till mid/late March. 16 mile gets pounded so hard thru the winter I won't bother going out there, if I do I'd fish midday away from the crowd in water deeper than 30 foot for sure. Quite a few lesser known reefs out of Babblers to fish where a guy has a better shot. Sand to mud transition areas in the basin, and a few little humps here and there, out there are my key locations at this time of year. They bite out here thru midday, sleep in, have breakfast and be set up by 9-930, they bite till about 3-330 or so. Good mixed bag fishing, use Perch type baits and you get Jumbos with some Walleye/Sauger thrown in, use Walleye baits and you get Walleyes/Saugers with some jumbos thrown in. These little humps come out of 33-34 foot and top out at 28-31 foot. Transition areas are 33-36 foot deep. Very hard this year to get off beaten paths, without a sled a guys pretty much stuck on the established/maintained roads/trails due to snowcover. Come March the nicer fish will come nearshore again over near the gaps on the eastside as they prepare for the spawn in the river. Spots in Muskeg bay near spawning areas come alive, as do the some of the mainlake reefs. The early ice of November/December, and the late ice of March/April are the times I'd consider prime for getting on the bigger fish.<P>Use the search function and type in 'things' and 'pond' as keywords. You'll find a post I put up a few winters back that kinda runs down my thoughts on fishing thru the winter season up here.<P>fiskyknut

[iceholeguy]

we fished out of border view in one of the sleeper shacks. 5 guys and caught 30-40 walleye/saugers, 3 pout and 6 perch. The size is disapointing, but sometimes the big ones bite. Yes, the price out weighs the size of the fish, but the five of us had a great time and were just happy to catch fish. If there is a east wind blowing like this past weekend, the big ones just don't bite. But you are being controlled by the weather and fishing gods on a trip up there.<BR>I've never done it, but I've heard the bigger fish usally bite in March. Later is better. I hope to try that this year. Good luck fishing.<BR>

[Doc Madison]

KJB - It might have been nice if those 4-8 pounders had gone back down the hole that were seen at the cleaning station?!

[KJB]

Fiskyknut,<P>Thank you for the response and the information. I realize I am at the disadvantage of weather and time of year due to having to book a flight in advance, etc. and will do it different next year. Nice to know that we were not all off base on our take on the fishing. I know someone, somewhere got decent fish, but too much of a gamble to come that distance. You also feel so helpless in place like Zipple that has nothing to differentiate you from the other people out there in terms of where you are fishing. Pick some mud and hope, in my opinion. Your comments on the gently rises, etc. are interesting as that is the type of thing we would love to fish as at least you are fishing something different than the surrounding area. Being mobile with the snowmobile and shelter would allow us to fish them easily as well. Thanks again, I appreciate your openess and next year will be a different story, I am sure.

[WALTERCRAFT]

KJB, <BR>GIVE IT TIME AND THE BIG ONES WILL COME.<BR>I ICED A 29 INCHER THIS LAST WEEKEND AND ITS THE BIGGEST IVE CAUGHT UP THERE IN 5 YEARS.<BR>

[KJB]

Waltercraft,<P>I figured someone did that, but if I can ask a follow-up, how many over 15" did you get this weekend, how often do you fish there and how many would you say you get over a weekend, typically? I think I have seen your name here on a fairly regular basis so curious what type of success you had/have this winter. <P>Fiskyknut, found your post from 2001- very informative and wish I had found it before I went up there. It is in the file now!<P>I did forget to mention in my report that size definitely mattered, as you would expect on small fish. We were using the smallest rapala, spoon, etc. we could find to get fish to hit. I would assume that if bigger fish are around, that would not be such a factor?!

[Iceman12]

KJB, where did you find that post from Fiskynut? I would like to read it as I am heading up to LOW in March for my first trip ever. Thanks <P>I found it KJB. <p>[This message has been edited by Iceman12 (edited 02-03-2004).]

[hawksguy]

kjb:<P>i think we need to consider a fishery as great as LOW has to have a 'down' time every year; even comparing year to year I have to rate last year as great, this year as fair, two years ago good. i only have to drive 320 miles one way to go to LOW, and with the inland season closer 2 weeks away, i am planning at least 3 trips this year, maybe 4. Am i disapointed when i only catch 13-14 inch walleyes? sure. the reason i come back so often is the potential of LOW, the excitement of the big lake; seems like once a year we are stuck in a blizzard overnight or caught 4 miles off pine island in a lightning storm. i just dont get that sitting in my permanant house on white bear lake for 4 hours every weekend. i think all the time and effort i put into a LOW trip is the best value and excitment i can get for my dollar.

[fiskyknut]

ttt'd it for you Iceman.

[widetrack]

I tend to use a larger presentation, and fish it higher off the bottom. This won't do you any good if all you are over is 10-12 inchers, but if you are in a mix of fish you will tend to catch better quality. I will still bounce my spoons off the bottom, but for the most part they start at 2' from the bottom and up.<P>Personally I'd rather not mess with catching the 10-12's in the first place. If that's all I feel is around, and it's not -30 to -90, I'm out of there.

[curt quesnell]

KJB,<P>I talked to the Lake of the Woods fisheries<BR>guy last spring just before the opener and<BR>he told me that there were going to be lots<BR>and lots of little fish caught due to some<BR>incredible hatches a few years ago.<P>Last year these fish were 8 to 10 inches<BR>long and pretty pesky. This year they are<BR>11 to 13 inches. NEXT year they will be<BR>14 to 16 inches, so you see the picture <BR>get better.<P>The Fisheries guy made sure to point out<BR>that the bigger fish are still there in <BR>good numbers but by shear masses these <BR>little guys get to the hook first.<P>I wont say "all" but I will say "most"<BR>of the posters claiming limits of 15 inchers<BR>havent meassured the fish on a tape. (these<BR>are fishermen remember)and I dont recall<BR>a nicer, fatter 13 inch Walleye that I have<BR>every seen.<P>15 strong year classes swim in the lake<BR>this year with no sizeable holes in it.<P>Now, some harsh reality, a little research<BR>on your part before hand and you would have<BR>known better than to come to LOW to windmill<BR>big fish the first of February. Fishing<BR>is good in mid winter but if I was commin<BR>all the way from Milwaukee I would get here<BR>on early or late ice peak times.<P>But, you live and learn. I hope your next<BR>trip includes some bigger fish.<P>Thanks for comming to paradise in the first<BR>place<P>------------------<BR>Curt Quesnell<BR>NorthCountry Outdoors Radio

[WalleyeSnob]

Just wondering if anyone has coordinates to the border bar. You don't have to post them but it would be great if you could shoot them to me by e mail. [email protected]<BR>I have been trying to get these coords for a few weeks now and am not having very good luck. Has anyone fished this area lately. Fisky, its good to have you back. The forum misses people like you

[KJB]

Thanks again to all who responded to my report- as always, very good info. The info on the fish populations is interesting and certainly explains some of what I experienced- On "doing my research", I wish I had the ability to be there at the drop of a hat, or when they turn on, or whatever, but when you have to travel 600 miles, and you have to fly, you can not come at the drop of a hat, unfortunately. I was somewhat worried about the timing, but not much I can do about it- this year. Also, to say that I expected to "windmill" big fish on the first of February is really inaccurate. I said I expected "nicer" or "bigger" fish, not big fish. I did, however, expect to catch at least one fish out of 70-80 that was over 16". That is a far cry from "windmilling" big fish. The bottom line was that my post was to help others in a similar situation, who only have one crack at it a year, to get a dose of reality on what it is like up there at this time of year- only based on my experience. I think I was very clear in my post that I really enjoyed it and will be back, just not this time of year. Hopefully that will help someone else, who does not have the ability to get up there more than once a year, to pick the right time or at least have the correct expectations. Thanks again.

[grumpyoldman]

I'm with you Doc Madison. If these people want to complain about not catching as many big fish, then they better listen to what they are saying. Why keep a 4-8 pound eye to eat? Just take that old Rocky boot off and boil that for a while and eat it. They won't cherish what they had until it's gone. What a waste.

[KJB]

Grumpy,<P>First, I could not agree with you more on releasing big fish- on the rare occasion I catch one, they all get released. Second, you need to re-read the previous posts, I never said I kept 4-8# fish last year, nor did WalleyeSnob- he said he "saw" them in the cleaning station, not that he "brought" them to the cleaning station. If your comments were directed at someone else, my apologies, otherwise they were misguided.<BR>

[curt quesnell]

KJB,<P>I hope you didnt think I was carvin' on you.<BR>I understood the disappointment AND the<BR>positive attitude in your post. You were<BR>giving out some helpful info to others who<BR>are able to make only one trip a year<BR>anywhere.<P>This year has had an extra dose of those<BR>small fish. The situation was much the <BR>same earlier. In fact, I fished nearly<BR>every weekend in Oct and Nov out of the<BR>boat (until the ice came)and the situation<BR>was much the same. In the fall you can pretty<BR>much count on a #5 plus every time you go out. That didnt happen this fall.<P>That same mess of small<BR>fish has been sitting out in front of<BR>Pine Island since the middle of August.<BR>Can you imagine the beating it has taken.<BR>There are some good ones caught once in <BR>a while. A 19 incher looks like a monster<BR>after you have been pulling 13s all day.<P>I wish you would have been a tad luckier<BR>and popped one or two good fish.<P>Glad you are comming back for another run<BR>at it.<P><P>------------------<BR>Curt Quesnell<BR>NorthCountry Outdoors Radio

[bobberal]

KJB,<P>Great Post. I think a lot of people fish like they do in the summer. When you see a lot of boats that’s got to be where the fish are…Same in the winter…Everyone off pine was driving by us for the second straight weekend going out 8 to 12 miles.<P>We were all alone and smiling. We did catch a lot of smalls but it seemed our average was over 16 inches.<P>Oh did I forget to say we were less than 4 miles out?<P>Al

[orngruffee]

I agree the timing is important.I have been going up there to fish for three days in January for the last 14 years.This year was particularly slow.There are some very scary fish in that lake if you hit it right.I usually hope for one good day,one so-so and one slow.I like a good jig bite and have been spoiled in the past.It just never happened this year or last.We still caught a few large fish,a 9,7,and a few over five.<BR>Also caught a couple of 8 or 9 pound snakes<BR>and lost some bigger.You always have the odd burbot or dozen.I will admit that most<BR>fish were small,but it bodes well for the future.I will still come back for my three days in January just because you never know what will come up the hole next.Three of the eight caught thier largest fish ever in one of those three days.I don't think that is too bad.<P>P.S. Its a long ride for us also,650 miles one way.

[little perch 1]

When we were up there in Dec.We caught a lot of thoses pesty 10-14" fish.We through all them back.We kept the 15 through 17" fish.We know what 16"look like's.Because we cut firewood for heat.Once we get use to looking at a block you know what 16" look's like with out a tape measher.We saw a lot of the guys bringing those little one's in.I said to my group they should have through them back.

[Tully]

KJB,<BR>If you are able I would suggest next year head to URL after you come offer LOW. We did that a couple weekends ago and although we had no real luck at LOW we could have. This year URL made the trip, next year it might just be a bonus. I never dreamed I would ever catch a crappie that would hang an inch over both sides of a 5 gallon bucket. I will be back up in march for sure.<BR>Tully

[walleyehawk]

Lake of the Woods is my favorite fishery anywhere. Great fishing, no slots, action with a possibility of a big fish. I caught a 26 inch pig when I was up there a few weeks ago.<P>That said, winter is action, not size based on my experiences. You have to decide that those 12-14 inch saugers are OK to keep. And most of what you will catch will be saugers. But you will get bites. Where else can you fish all day and complain you only caught 6 fish? And getting those little saugers out of the system helps in the long run and they taste the same as the walleyes.<P>We anglers are a unique breed. Mille Lacs has "too many big fish". Fish that are too big? And we complain about it. Lake of the Woods has too many little ones. And other lakes you consider it a good day with 2-3 fish.<P>If you want a shot at a real large fish, I hear summer (July and August) trolling crankbaits on downriggers. That and when they are in the river in April and the fall.<P>I wish LOW was closer than a 5 hour drive.<p>[This message has been edited by walleyehawk (edited 02-06-2004).]

[Guest]

Doc Madison's just jealous because he's never seen a 4lb+ fish up on LOW...

[boston]

Hello to everyone on this thread, the conversation has been very informative. I have been coming up with a group for about the last 7 years. Although we still had fun this year( beats three days of work anytime), it was probably the slowest fishing(both size and total amount of fish caught),in the 7 years we have been up.(fished the 21st to the 24th of Jan.) Looking forward to next year and the year after when those 12" are 14 and 16" ers.Coming up the weekend of the 6th. of March and also the 13th for the ice series event, and will hope for better luck. Always enjoy reading the posts, as they are always informative. Thanks to curt q., fiskynut and also widetrack. Your information is always great. Also- are best lures were small gold jigs (deamons, and tear drops) and 1 in our party had decent luck on the jumbo Perch on a small lead head jig with a twisytail on it.