July Question????

[WallyJoe]

Before I ask this question, I will check the prior posts to see what others have said. With that said, I have been hearing that the first week of July is traditionally a bad time on Cass. I guess what I am asking is, is it really that bad in July on Cass? One guy I talked to said not even bother and that the water is too warm. What time would you suggest we go up there? Do you think there is some possibility of hooking some eyes? I'm not going to get discouraged, but if the experts here tell me that it's not worth it, I may reconsider my timing. The thing is I am getting married around Memorial Day so I have to wait a bit to go up there. Let me know what you think???

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Hey WallyJoe,

This comes as a total surprise to me. Our family has been coming up to Cass for the past 17 years and we always go in July. We go the last two weeks of July or the last and then 1st week in Aug. depending on how the weeks fall. I would classify most of our family as average fisherman and we have come home with 11 full licenses of walleye the last three years. That is 66 walleye for those counting. Also, we have a huge family fish fry up there each year and we burn through about another 40 or so at the fry so don't believe everything you read on this site. Some of my more stingy brethern may be trying to keep you off their honeyholes. You have to put your time in on the water yes but the rewards are there. We stay at Wishbone Resort and last year had 17 family members who spanned four generations of family up for the trip. I can tell you that our preferred method of wally hunting is trolling, we cover alot of water. My father in law and brother in law prefer trolling with Little Joe Spinners and a minnow but I have discovered the "Cass Lake Secret" from Brian at First Choice our beloved host of this site. I could tell you the secret but then I would have to kill you! Just kidding. Actually it involves bottom bouncing nightcrawlers. If you are serious about taking a few fine Minnesota fillets home, I would suggest hooking up with Brian the first day of your trip. He has huge knowledge of the lake as does his dad who also fishes it and shares their knowledge with their paying customers. Brian will teach you not only where to fish but how to fish and he has taught me well. I have come home many a year with one or two fillets in the freezer before I enrolled in the Brian Jones School of Walleye Hunting. Last year Brian took me out by myself, with my son and his girlfriend, with my daughter and with my brother in law. He is spreading the word in the Windy City for successful walleye hunting and I know he can help you. Tell him Curt, The Windy City Walleye Hunter, sent you and he will take good care of you. His boat is top notch and he provided everything you need. Be sure to bring a camera and some food. Bring some food for Brian if you want to get on his good side, he has a sweet tooth! I know he will read this and get a good chuckle. He is also not adverse to an adult beverage or two if that is your style. Good luck, tell Brian not to drain the lake before I get there on July 23rd. Talk to you later my friend, Curt

[genegodawa]

Windy, I was kinda waiting for you to put in your plug for July for our new friend WallyJoe. You have definitely had good luck during your trips and have proven that Cass produces even in the heat of summer. I am still partial to earlier in the year though so if I was him I would definitely hire Brian to help put me on the fish. Regardless of when I am there, my luck depends mostly on putting my time in on the water like you said but also quite a bit on the weather preceeding and during my stay. Good weather is all I really hope for. That makes for Good fishing. It's catching them that makes for Great fishing. I'll take either. I definitely do more exploring and experimenting when the weather is tough and trying new tactics/spots makes for great memories too. I hope to make new memories again on my trip next June.

[WallyJoe]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I am sure we will find some fish. Even if we don't do so well, it's still great to be up there. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can't wait to try some new methods and get the new boat out there. A lot of the resorts seem to be pretty full for the first week of July. I think we are going to stay at the Cass Lake Lodge. They seem to have a cabin that will hold all 8 of us. I can almost smell the mushroom swiss already........

[genegodawa]

Smell the mushroom swiss, huh MuskyJoe? You HAVE been reading old posts. Hitting Pike Hole for a burger is a great way to take a break from fishing.

Now, about Cass Lake Lodge...our good friend on this board, Col Ron, can give you the lowdown on your resort - he has his own place there and also is another very good Cass Lake fisherman that can teach us all a thing or two.

Keep readin'

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Gene and Wally,

Right you are, my man Gene Gene The Cubbie Loving Machine. Our family didn't pick July/August for it's fishing productivity. We picked it because that's when everybody seemed to be able to get away and because the weather is usually very nice then, not too hot not too cold though it can be both on occassion. We have had our share of poor fishing trips in July/August but not since I started booking Brian and using his techniques. My father in law and brother in law refuse to use his methods and choice of bait and as a result take home considerably less walleye than I do (though I make sure that each car takes home the legal amount of walleye) I do catch the lions share of walleye by far. They stick to their Little Joe Spinners and minnows and they usually come home loaded with those "toothy critters". Myself, I have only caught two pike in the past three years and only kept one of them. I usually catch walleye and perch which are both the targeted species in our group. Anyway, if July is when you can get up there then July it is. Anytime you can get to Cass is a bonus. Also, I did not rave too much about Wishbone because they are booked solid and usually have very few openings though Clark over at Horseshoe is quickly getting filled up like Wishbone. He got my son and his family in for next year as our family is growing and we have outgrown our cabins at Wishbone.

Oh well, enough ramblin'. Just wanted to wish all my fellow FM crazies a Happy Thanksgiving. I know that I have much to be thankful for and spend many hours in my wallyeye hunting machine up at Cass thanking the powers that be for my success and good life. Be happy fellas, Curt

[Col Ron guide]

Well, I am back. I am trying to post a picture of my wall-hanger, got a 14 point buck during bow season in Southern Illinois. Had a great time.

Anyways, WallyJoe, you picked a great resort, of course I am prejudice. You are probably staying in the Mega-cabin which is absolutely huge. The family will enjoy the beach the resort has, I think it is the best one on the lake. There a a few good resorts, my personal favorites are Cass Lake Lodge(Dah), and the "Shoe". Your vacation is more than the resort you stay in, it is also how you get treated . Jim, Kerri, and Jason at Cass Lake Lodge are great people. Enough of that.

Like the Hunter says, don't be concerned about the July bite. The fish are there, you have to learn the system, location and presentation. It is a great lake, Hopefully you will have a good vacation and "get into "em". Start your countdown now! Best to all, Ron

[The Texan]

Col. Ron, congrats on the buck, how did it score out?

I popped a 140 pointer ( B&C ) the week before T-Day, been so warm down here was hunting in a dang t-shirt....

Texan

[Col Ron guide]

Texan,

I did not score it. The Taxidermist will do it after it "dries". He did a quick estimated at 160-165. Nice buck you got also. You had the hot weather, we had all the darn rain coming up from your way. In five weeks, it rained 12 1/2 inches, huge for southern Illinois. Shoot me your email address at [email protected] and I'll send you a picture-I can only do it the simple way!!! Hopefully, we'll see you in the spring, Ron

[WallyJoe]

Thanks again for the info. I did have to choose a different resort based on some people having prior engagements. We will be staying at Ojibway Resort on Pike Bay. Please tell me it is going to be easy to acess Cass through that channel between Cass and Pike. I definitely want to fish Pike Bay a bit, but really want to check out some spots on Cass. Does anyone know about the channel? Is it going to be wide enough to access Cass? Thanks again guys.

[Col Ron guide]

I fish Pike Bay as much as anyone. Without a doubt, there are problems. The water going through the channel at the opening of Pike Bay is normally 10 to 12" deep, depending on the path you take. There is a trick or two to get through. One way is to use a resort boat!! Seriously, in July, if you want to get through wear a pair of sandals (the wood on the bottom is bad), turn the motors off and walk the boat through. You only have to walk it through about 40 to 50 yards. It gets deeper (2 to 3 feet) after that. It is not that big of a deal unless the weather kicks up. Actually what I do is put everyone in the front of the boat, and I use my kicker to SLOWLY push me through the last 50 yards. It works unless there is a hard south wind. Sorry to hear you won't be at Cass Lake Lodge, enjoy your experience either way. Ron

[WallyJoe]

Thanks Ron. I just picked up a new Tracker Tundra 18 this year. I do have a 9.9 kicker on the back. Should I keep looking or do you think I should be able to get through? I don't want to mess up the new rig.

[Col Ron guide]

Send me your address at [email protected] I have a picture to show you!! Ron

I am not familar with the Tundra 18', you should be OK though. My prop on my kicker is pretty ugly, but it beats nicking up the stainless on the 135.

[genegodawa]

Col Ron,

For years and years we used to venture into Pike Bay but never could do much (we call it Perch Bay). Then my friend got the "Jaws" boat which had a railing that was too high in front to get under the tracks so we stopped going in. Think I last fished Pike about 4-5 years ago and and it saved my bacon because I ran into the Rockies. That was the year nothing much was biting when I brought 2 11 yr old boys for the first time to Cass. Next June I'm gonna have the "resort boat" and you will be welcome to teach me something about Pike Bay.

PS Are you gonna donate that big buck to the Safari Liquour store in town for their display case?

[Col Ron guide]

The deer goes over the fireplace.

As for Pike Bay, I have always had good luck over there, seems like when the walleye are slow on the big lake, they pick up on Pike or one of the other ones. Always great to have backup lakes when the wind is going 20 to 25 mph in the direction you don't want it to go. The problem is, the hassle of the channel, but with most of the other lakes, it takes you 10 minutes or so to get through their channels, just can't be in a hurry--or get caught in a storm. Ron

[ffishman]

I agree with everything that has been said. A point of interest not mentioned, about 5 or 6 years ago, we had the opposite problem, we had high water, and could not get UNDER the train bridge. But for most of the time, I use my trolling motor, and can make it in to Pikes.

[ffishman]

Sorry, forgot to add, when I said trolling motor, I meant bow mount electric trolling motor.

[Col Ron guide]

ffishman, you are right. About 4 years ago and beyond, I use to have to take the windshield off the boat; how times change. Ron

[WallyJoe]

Well after hearing these stories, I went back to the Cass Lake Lodge. We will be in cabin number 4 for the week July 2-9. Stop by and say hey if anyone is around. Thanks for the replies. Cant wat to get up there.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Smart choice Wally,

Better to be safe than sorry. I have a new Lund walleye whacking machine and I baby it pretty good. I have not been to Pike for about the same 4-5 years as others on this thread. I didn't do much on that lake but I don't know that lake like Cass. I have my "milk run" pretty well down pat on Cass and I get a few more "honey holes" each year from Brian when he takes me out. This past July 24th Brian took me out just him and me and we limited out in a little over two hours! We actually lost count and had 13 in the live well and has to toss back a 14 incher. We proceeded to chase some "toothy critters" for a few hours. That really set me up for the next two weeks of fishing. I would not mess with Pike anymore unless Cass was really dead and I would definitly hook up with Brian on one of the first days of your trip. You will be happy you did for the rest of your trip. Talk to you later, Curt