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.

Area Report


Recommended Posts

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Haven't been seeing much info on the area bite lately. I'll share what I found on the 4th. Rice Lake, the water is definitely getting green. We caught quite a few eyes in 6-10 ft of water on crawlers on long leaders pumped with air. We also caught a 1/2 dozen or so nice smallmouths with this pattern. It was definitely a crawler bite. Just don't have your heart set on a walleye everytime your rod bends. We caught 1 n. pike, several bullheads, several suckers, smallmouth bass and walleyes. Bite seemed to get better early afternoon(boat traffic went down and wind picked up). Walleyes ran from 14 - 21 inches. Smallies ran 2 - 4 lbs. Suckers ran 2 - 4 lbs.

Best of Luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the update Borch. I have been withholding all my secrets because I don't want to give anything away for the big event next weekend on the Horseshoe Chain. Ok, thats a joke, actually I have been fishing other lakes, the cleaner ones, the "Bigs". Big Birch, Big Fish.. I have posted my success, Big Fish was a waste of time yesterday, as I was almost thrown out of my boat while trying to work a weedline by all the recreational traffic. I quess I forgot it was a holiday. I will get back there before the weekend though. Not much new to report, anyone else been out lately? Lets hear some reports?

------------------
ScottS
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Was back on Rice Saturday afternoon. Kept 4 eyes and released an 11.5 lb pike. Same pattern except leeches were working too. Lots of recreational traffic(more than the 4th). Not much wind but lots of waves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I haven't been out much in the area. Made it out on the Horseshoe Chain and got into some real nice bass about a week ago. Plus a 26" eye caught on a plastic worm. Anyone else doing anything? Hasn't been much action on the St. Cloud forum past few weeks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Borch, I haven't been fishing much around here lately. Yesterday I got back from the Boundary Waters-- boy was that a blast. Although i only pulled in one 'eye (17 inches about), i did really nail the smallies. Also, i pulled in a 14 1/2 inch crappie-- too bad it was in the middle of the trip, otherwise i would've had it mounted. As far as around here is concerned, i would recommend fishing between the st.cloud dam and clearwater-- smallies love this weather.

SARTELL ANGLER

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, Now that I am back and ready to fish lets hear some area reports. I have not been on the water for weeks but will be out real soon. Anyone been getting any? From what I can see most lakes are in full bloom and Green! So lets hear it,anyone getting anything?ScottS

------------------
ScottS
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out on Clearwater Lake near Annandale on the 11th we hit some pretty good sunnies but no Crappie action to speak of. I think we were using the right tackle for Crappies but maybe fishing the wrong spots. We had leeches and crappie minnows on kahle style hooks with a little joe true spins. Fishing 8 to 12 feet of water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

On the Horseshoe Chain. I worked the east side of horseshoe, with pretty goodluck. This is the flats area, east of the point. The area where it gets about 1-2 feet deep. I trolled as slow as my motor would go, with spinners and night crawlers. Got a few eyes, smaller ones, but what do you expect. I had a few hard hits, which had to be northerns. I was in kind of a weedy area, so I would suspect it. Other than that, not much has been going on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
×
×
  • 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.