Big Turtle Lake

[DaveFromMO]

Is anyone familiar with Big Turtle Lake near Marcel? The Arcadia Lodge website claims it's a great place for smallmouth. The wife and I have fished Pokegama and Sugar Lake (the one next to Vermillion) in the past and we've done well on Largemouth & Northern on most trips, but I thought it would be nice to try a lake with more smallmouth (though we have caught a few on Pokegama). Thanks.

[PerchJerker]

They pull some dandy smallies out of Big Turtle --- Frontier Sports in Marcell usually has several photos on their board. I don't think it's a very easy lake to fish though, and I don't think it's a "numbers" lake. If you haven't already seen the lake map, look it up on the dnr webpage. Good luck.

[Jason Boser]

perchjerker is right it is a great smallie lake, good walleye lake too and northerns. not the easiest lake to fish but one of the better for size and numbers of smallies in our area

Jason

[merc]

There are some huge smallies, walleye and northern in there but it is so tough to fish because of the crystal clear water. The only time I have really caught any fish out of there is when it is either raining or an overcast windy day. If you have a nice calm sunny day just enjoy the beauty of the lake and cruise around. Good luck!!!

[DaveFromMO]

So, I guess we might have to use those ultralights that we've always brought with us to the great north but that have never seen the water. We live on a very clear lake in Missouri and always go to light line in the summer with plastic worms for largemouth, but we don't have to worry about the big guys with big teeth like you all do. I guess we'll have to stick to cheap lures we don't mind losing (tubes,??? I guess that's about it).

We always fish Lake Vermilion near Cook the week of Memorial Day, never go without a steel leader and always still manage a few nice smallmouths there, but looks like we might have to give up on landing a toothy critter if we want to get the smallies at Turtle. That's a tough one because the pike are the main reason we drive 700 miles up there every year. Thanks for the info.

[PerchJerker]

I never use wire leaders unless I am specifically targeting muskies or pike. I've caught plenty of pike on crankbaits while fishing for walleyes or bass and I can't remember the last time I had a break-off --- it's been years. Fishing with jigs you're a lot more likely to have some bite-offs, but like you said, they're cheap baits. Using power pro or fireline will stop some bite-offs, although they're more visible in the water. I'd definately go without the wire leaders and check your line and retie often. Good luck.

P.S. I've been to Arcadia Lodge for dinner - not a bad place. Interesting history there. Nice screen porch with a beautiful view of the lake.