Hey moneyback...

[lowrox]

Yo,<P>Sorry I didn't get back to you regarding your 16 mile question. I forgot to check on that thread. Anyway, fishing was kind of spotty on Saturday, kept 10 nice saugers, lost one 22" walleye in the hole. Not sure where all the walleye's were. We also managed to snag 14 or so jumbo perch. The best lure seemed to be the glow/perch Northland spoon. We fished in 28', hard bottom obviously...lot's of places for the walleye's to hide.

[moneyback]

Thank you lowrox. We are bringing a sled with on Friday. I heard there is not as a road to 16 mile anymore. We fished 16 mile on 2/28 and did OK. We may head over to 12 mile, did well there on 12/26/04. Anybody fished 12 mile lately?

[fiskyknut]

I got to agree with WT, the Walleye's and those Jumbos should be moving over near their spawning haunts out on the lake big time by now. I've seen it already. Still get some Perch out on them flats but there are spots that would probably give up more fish on any given day elsewhere.<P>Fisky

[moneyback]

lowrox, wideterack, fiskyknut: Thanks for the advice. I am changing my plans as we speak.

[lowrox]

Widetrack/Fiskynut,<P>Those so called hard bottom pre-spawn staging areas....where are we talking about here? What are the odds of getting some pointers from you gentlemen?

[widetrack]

I'll throw out a couple of well known spots just for example sake. There are all kinds of places around the lake shore like them. I'm not saying they are on right now or not, cause I haven't been there... These are just examples of the types of structure to look for now.<BR> <BR>Paradise, and Popple point in Buff bay.<BR>Hard bottom, gravel/rock/boulders/sand<P>Fish will move to spots such as these this time of year. <P>Classic spawning grounds.<p>[This message has been edited by widetrack (edited 03-17-2004).]

[lowrox]

Not really,<P>It's been the dead sea out there lately I think. Arneson's resort has pulled all of there houses off of 12 mile. That's usually I good sign that I guy should maybe try another spot. Maybe try the mud flats between 12 and 16. The perch should be out there this time of year.

[widetrack]

Fish will be moving away from the reefs this time of year. They are thinking ahead to the spring spawn.<P>Your odds favor hard bottom shorline areas now.<P>There will always be fish on the rocks, but fishing is just a odds games, and right now I'd favor the odds of spawning areas.

[lowrox]

Widetrack,<P>Forget this Buffalo Bay buisness, how about on the US side...more towards the south shore. 12 or 16 mile, south tip, DNR reef?? Elm point maybe?

[lowrox]

Widetrack,<P>That's what I though, like a walleye during a cold front....tight lipped. I think that I'll plop down right on the end of the finger up by Stony Point. 28' and a hard sandy bottom...should be stacked like rolls at the bakery.

[widetrack]

Not a bad plan. I'd setup a bit shallower though. Say 22-24.

[Lip RIPPER!]

WT, are you on the indoor ice this weekend?

[widetrack]

Yep, I'm afraid so. I'll be in Bemidji this weekend, and Grand Forks the following.<P>My next trip fishing will probably be in the River somewhere.<P>Unless I get a terrible itch some afternoon.

[widetrack]

Everyone wants instant gratification these days...<P>Back when I was learning to guide on this lake 25 years ago, Guys would talk structure and how the fish were relating to it. Nobody would ever talk about specific spots.<BR>It was up to me to try and figure out other areas that had the same thing going on.<P>I'd encourage everyone to learn the lake in this manner. It will make a better fisherman out of you. <P>