Pokegama lake, any info ?

[Valv]

Hi, I'll be up in Hinckley for 2 days (wife's work) and I will be fishing some lakes in the area. Looks like Pokegama is a nice lake around there. Any informations ?

Other lakes within few miles from Hinckley ?

Thank you.

Val

[Guest]

Valv
Pokegema is producing some crappies. They are being caught North of the landing. Look for the houses that are out on the North and east side of the lake. That is an Island. The bite is producing early morning and early evening. Walleye action has been slow. If you are looking for other lakes around Hinckley. You need to head East. There is a couple of lakes that are back in the country that are known to hold some big Northerns. I will give you more information if you want about them. The only problem is you need to head East about 20 some miles then you gotta go another 10 miles back in on some country roads.

[Guest]

Here's what I've heard about Pokegama this year. The best bite for crappies has been from about 1:30pm on. Get away from the people and try to get in more than 20' of water. The fish come in, you catch a couple and then they move on. Cut yourself a fair amount of holes and milk run 'em. The after dark bite has been virtually non existant. Also, try to get away from the crowd. Try near the point on the east side or try just south of the island.

[Valv]

Man, that was a faaaast reply.
Thank you guys !!! It seems like I'll have more action than here in southern MN, where the ONLY action is your minnow on the jig.
I have no problem traveling around, better than listen to Amex meeting. I am not a great northern fisherman but I love the fight.

Walleye is my choice, or crappie.

I will keep you posted and if you come south of MPLS. let me know, I'll return favor (hoping it will get better).

Thanks.

Val

[Guest]

Valv how did your fishing weekend go up in Hinckley. Let me know if ya found a good place to go.

[Sheephead]

My Dad lives on Cross Lake in Pine City and has had some great crappie and sunfish fishing the last couple of years, Snake river connects to Pokegama, he says it's been slow so far but expects it to pick up, he hammered em all summer and fall, so the're in there!

[Guest]

Sheephead,

That's a pretty appropriate user name if you enjoy fishing Cross, Pokegama, and the Snake. They together are the Sheephead (a.k.a Drum, Purple Bass) capital of Minnesota. The only lake that rivals them is Rush just south.

[Guest]

Anyone fish the northern parts of Pokegama? My sister has recently bought a house there and i want to go fishin!

I also am curious... do people eat the Sheepshead that are supposed to be there? If so, what do they compare to in taste?

Thanks!

Jon

[Sheephead]

Hey Borno, I don't know, have you ever fished Madison lake down by Mankato? I've fished out there quite often and I know the lake is known for Walleye, but I've had hard times keeping the old rock-heads off the hook. I live in Mankato now. When I was a kid the sheephead fishing was excellent(Ha!) But that lake has really changed in the last 15 years, the weeds are really popping up in more spots, I've really noticed the sunfish population has really taken off! We took some very nice fish oout of there the last few years. And the crappie fishing has become excellent! Just gotta find em in deeper water or find the cribs. I guess the Pine Citians just keep it quiet, don't want all those Rush City people up there!! Later man. Sheephead

[Sheephead]

Oh yeah Mnjon, the sheephead is awesome if you fillet em and try em in a nice beer-batter. Don't forget to take the white stone out of their scull, they're great to skip across the water!! Just kidding, I think they're in about the same class as a bullhead, worthless!! Unless you're from Iowa, they'll eat anything!!

[Guest]

Sheephead
Cribs? Hah. There aren't no cribs in Pokegema! What are you on man. Oh and yeah this is from a Pine Citian who tries to keep all the Rush Citians outta here. RIIGGHHT!
Oh and the crappies are there, just no size to em. A few are keepers but for the most part they are 6 inchers.
Adios Amigo

[Sheephead]

I'm talking Cross Lake man, get with the conversation!! Pokegama blows, and if I remember right, there are 4 cribs on Cross, maybe 5, good luck at finding them, for starters to all you Rush Citians that's 10 miles north, you know, on the way to the casino!!

[Sheephead]

Sorry crappie hunter, I didn't mean to imply you were from Rush, you can't be all bad if you're from Pine. Get off Pok. and try the river and Cross, you might be pleasently suprised!! Later.

[Sheephead]

P.S. If you can find the cribs, you can catch some very nice sunfish, with the crappies mixed in there, yeah, there are some small ones, but you can pick up some nice ones mixed in with sunnies

[Guest]

No problem Sheepshead. Just found out my Mom has cancer. Was in a bad mood last night. Probably said some things I shouldn't of. Take care and good luck fishing!!

[Guest]

There are some awesome spots in cross to fish. In the winter find the Island. Fish off of the ends of it. Deeper water 20 some feet will bring the crappies to the top of the ice. There are also some other spots but really don't or will not divulge them. Adios amigos.

[Sheephead]

Sorry to hear about your mom, my aunt found out the same news last week. Good luck!!

[Guest]

Sheephead - Also very sorry to hear about your Aunt. Hopefully they find a cure real soon for this awful desease.

[Guest]

So wait now... you guys are saying Pok sucks and to try Cross instead? Is that true year round? When i go there to fish should I go to cross instead of by the sisters cabin on the north end of Pok? What about the river, is that any good in the spring/summer? I seem to recall that area is flooded a lot of the time in spring!

Thanks for any info you guys can share.

Jon

[Guest]

The cribs on Pokegama do hold some fair fish at times, but for cosistancy the underwater springs have always outproduced the cribs. There have been some huge fish taken from the narrows too. Usually the bite shifts back and forth from Cross to Pokegama.

[Guest]

Both Cross and Poke are good fisheries. There are some really big bull bluegills in both. Some monster cats also. I think there is a crib in Poke in about 14 feet of water in Jarvis Bay on the southwest end just out from Muffy's. The only cribs I may know of in Cross are one in the area out from where the city street comes down to the lake on the south end and one just north of where the river leaves Cross. These are only guesses. Pin pointing the cribs is tricky. One good way to find them is to watch where the locals fish for crappies in the fall.

C.H.... Forgive me if I have devulged any top secret info.

Toad

[TUMBLEWEED]

mnjon, The"KEG" is not too bad of a place to start out. We've always done real well around
the point in the center of the lake. Either side can be good,as can straight off it towards the middle of the lake. Early on, they are on the bottom. Late summer they go suspended. We even did real well on some slabbers, trolling a small,rattling rap. Got a couple of really decent white bass(boy do they fight!!) Another really good spot is nearer the island,just off the east shoreline.Look for the folks fishing off docks,some nice weed breaks there.
On a side note, anybody know if that place
on the north end has reopoened?? (used to be
Whishkey's)

[Guest]

Tumbleweed, I think it is reopened again. Under new ownership, but not real sure.

Toad: No prob

[Guest]

Tumbleweed mentioned the presence of white bass in Pokegama. There's actually quite a few whites and some darn big ones. A guy fishing with me on walleye opener caught one that measured a little over 18". I figured three pounds or better. We should have welled it and weighed it. It was definitely a trophy white. A pound and three-quarters is about the norm, which is nothing to sneeze at.

I've never intentionally targeted them, but have caught plenty walleye fishing. I've even caught a few through the ice crappie fishing. There's no mistaking them for a crappie when you hook up through the ice.

[Guest]

I saw a guy catch a 17.5 inch white bass by the bridge on the south end. He was casting the old jig and minnow combo for walleyes on a rainy spring morning. Walleyes, pike, perch, crappies, and pretty much everything else was biting that day there. The big white bass was the crown jewel of the day. It was released.

[TUMBLEWEED]

Thanks for letting me know on that place.
Yeah, Didn't know until after we got back
off the lake,on the state record white.
(4 lbs) A couple of ours that day went
better than 3 lb's I'd guess. Talk about
lightning on the end of yer pole!! If it's whites you want, here's one of my secrets
on the Keg. Wait till mid summer,on one of those "dog day heat" mornings, when the lake
is like glass. Grab up the binoculars and
start checking the surface of the deeper
water spots.If luck is with you, you will
find small fish breaking the surface.Or maybe the gulls will clue you into the spot.When the whites are in a feeding frenzy like this,
the action can be nothing short of fantastic.
Find the spot,sneak in close and have some
fun!! Once the big feed is over,you can sometimes get a couple,trolling deep-divers in the same area.