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Clearwater eyes anyone?


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Hello all,

I thought I would start a new topic, seeing the "Early bass" thread has started to attract unethical "fishing greats" wannabe's.

I have not been out on Clearwater yet this year. I have been hitting Mille Lacs very hard, with a great deal of success. I was thinking about trying The east lobe of Clearwater this weekend. Has anyone had any success so far? What are some of the key depths you've seen recently? I usually fish the weedlines in 10 to 15' this time of year, but will often times slip out to slightly deeper water (20-30') and find them there.

What has been some of your successful presentations? Normally I am a Livebait rigger on this lake. Typically I will use a weedless system coupled with a fathead or smaller rainbow or sucker minnow.

Just curious to know what you guys have been doing.

Have a nice memorial weekend.

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Sounds like you have been enjoying the "easy" life on Mille Lacs with everyone else. Have you been able to get many in the slot? Or are they all too big?

Clearwater has been very consistent for 'eyes all spring. Your typical rig and locations are mine too. I have been doing the best in 24 feet with a Rainbow or Shiner, Leeches have started to get some attention. I like to use Minnows most of the time, otherwise the panfish seem to find any Leech or Crawler before the Walleye. If I don't get any takers on the minnow, I will change.

Good Luck -- I have to work this weekend and then I will be on Vermilion next week.

Steve

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Hi Fish-n-Freak,

I have enjoyed the "easy" life on Milly the past couple of weeks. We have caught a tremendous amount of fish. Obviously most are big, but we manage to get slots as well. The five times we (either myself or a partner) have been out we have totalled 19 slots.

I may hit Clearwater early Saturday morning this weekend. I am staying closer to home, and may venture out if I am able. It is good to hear that the "Eye" bite has been consistent. THanks for the info in your last posting. I also prefer minnows (year round) on this lake, because of the problems associated with panfish and leeches or crawlers. Last year was very good for me on Clearwater. I think the average size was around 17" which seemed to be up from 2000 when they averaged more like 15.5 or 16.

Have a great memorial weekend.

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The upper half of Clearwater has been spotty this past week. However, there's been some action in 9 to 15 feet off the high wires and to the west and north of Bungalow Island. There seems to be a preference for leeches over crawlers or minnows.

Good luck.

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I was out on Clearwater last Saturday morning and caught a few eating sized males, trolling a small sucker in about 18-20 ft of water. The bite stopped cold when the sun came out.

The water is VERY clear, and as I was trolling I could see walleyes swimming around in 10 to 15 ft of water. I probably saw over 50 fish scattered around the lake. No doubt they could see me as well and were spooked. Location was consistent with the fish relating to the sandy drops more than the weed covered slopes. Northern pike were up in the shallow water and the crappies were not yet up in the rushes. Next weekend should improve and the water should start to be less clear.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Nope not me.  May want to go nextdoor and ask around?  
    • smurfy
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    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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    • CigarGuy
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    • PSU
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    • Mike89
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    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
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