Dream house

[TV BOY]

I have a dream to live on a lake (near St.Cloud)some day. Unfortunately there are not too many near by and therefore high $$! Beside the money which lake would you choose to live on and why?

[bturck]

Mound Lake north of Upsala. 30 minutes from St cloud. good fishing and clean water, limited acitivity with sport boats.

Long Lake north of Grey Eagle. Great lake, good fishing and clean water

Big Birch: South of Grey Eagle super fishing for bass, and eyes. Somewhat spendy property values however.

Bill

[Borch]

I have a couple of favorites. These lakes aren't perfect but they are nice lakes for what I do.

Big Lake(near Richmond). Small lake without a ton of boat traffic. Good fishing lake.

Rice Lake(near Roscoe) - Excellent fishing lake with moderate boat traffic. Downside is that I does bloom pretty heavily each summer. But really a pretty lake with access to Koronis through the crow river. I have a spot picked out just in case I win the lottery one day.

Koronis(near Paynesville)- A larger lake that is a pretty lake with excellent fishing. It also blooms in the summer but not usually as bad as Rice. Otherwise it's pretty clear. A fair amount of boat traffic and the shore are pretty heavily developed already.

Big Watab(Cold Spring) - Pretty lake with limited boat traffic. Stocked with trout. Decent walleye and panfish lake. Very clean water.

Just off the top of my head.

Borch

[TheJoster]

Borch;

You left the chain out of the wish list - why? I am looking for a lake place. I have had a trailer in a resort on the Cedar Island for the past three years. I like the chain. I never lack for a new place to try fishing. I am a little cool on the water quality and the cost of lakeshore. How do you compare big lake and rice lake to the chain in fishing, swimming and water quality?

Thanks

[Borch]

Joster,

I know the chain is a very popular place to fish in the St. Cloud area.

But....to be honest the chain is not one my favorite places to fish. In fact, I avoid it on the weekends except for a bit of icefishing. Too much traffic in a fairly confined space for this guy! One of the last times I fished it I got pushed out of the channel by a ponntoon who wouldn't give me an inch that cost me a broken skeg and busted up prop.

I used to love fishing the chain. But the weekend use had driven me off of it. I get out in the river section to chase the bass during the week a couple times a summer.

As far water quality goes I'd rate Big Lake above Rice . With Rice slightly ahead to a wash with the chain.

Borch

[TV BOY]

Borch,
Any thoughts on either Middle Spunk or Upper? I know Middle is deeper and cleaner, but does it have any fish to catch?

Thanks,
TV

[Borch]

Middle Spunk has a fair number of fish. Although it is tougher than Upper Spunk which tends to get the lion's share of the fishing pressure and has better over populations. There are lots of little gems out there as well. Kings lake comes to mind. Clear lake near Richmond or Little Birch near freeport(someone already mentioned Big Birch).

Also check out the MN DNR lake finder site. It'll have lots of info that may be helpful as well.

Borch

Borch