Duluth area fishermen

[Guest]

My son lives an hour from Warroad so he fishes Lake of the Woods regularly. He's introduced me to the forums from the locals and frequent fishermen of Lake of the Woods. They talk about the hot spots, best bait,
jigs, accomodations, and ice conditions.

Why don't we get something going for the Duluth area? Yes, we can't compete with a fishery like Lake of the Woods, but we've still got lakes worth trying around here!

Ice fishing is supposed to be fun. I know we're pretty secretive about our prime spots, but some general info about how local lakes are producing and what conditions are out there would be greatly appreciated and very interesting for all.

My son got me hooked on ice fishing last year at Lake of the Woods. Now I've got my own portable and have gone out locally and had a blast! I've only been to Fish Lake (3 times and caught walleyes each time) but I plan to try others.

I've heard from guys at work Caribou is giving up some crappies and so is Grand. They also say it's real slow in the Seven Beavers area (Round, Big, Pine).

Anyone have anything to talk about in our area? How about ice thicknesses at certain lakes? What's been the best color jigs? Are the fish biting the bobber lines better? What's the best model portable house?

[Steve Foss]

Can't compete with LOW? Sheesh. Tell me you're kidding. Now, I've fished the big lake off and on since about 1974. Ice fished the south shore, open water fished there and the Angle and other spots. I'll tell you, it's a good lake, but around here there are so many more options within reach. I've been here only since August, but consider these ice opportunities: Shorelines along the REALLY BIG lake freeze over when it gets real cold, allowing ice fishing for Kamloops rainbow trout. Or you can fish them in open water all winter long from shore. St. Louis Bay contains almost every fish species that LOW does (muskies and smallies too), and they're all right next door, with tons of bays to discover. Small lakes and lake chains within an hour of the Twin Ports into either state are so numerous it'll take me years to figure them all out. Yup, I like LOW, and I'll be going back, but there are more options here. Yeah, figured you knew all that and were just trying to stimulate discussion.

------------------
Steve ([email protected])

[Guest]

MNfisher

My buddy has a cabin in Brimson. We are heading up there this weekend. Have you been out around there? Any good reports? We are thinking about trying White lake for crapies. Never tried it before but the catch data on the DNR website looks really good. Maybe I'll see ya at Hugo's some time.

Stormy

[Guest]

Good to here from some local fishermen! I thought I could spark some dialogue. A co-worker tried Bassett (that's the one across from Cadotte)with no luck last week but he swears there's walleyes there. I've got a hunting shack within 6 miles of that area so I know the area pretty well. Lots of hunting /fishing going on in the Brimson area and northward.

[Mnfisher]

I agree with Steve. We bought a cabin North of Two Harbors last spring and I'm amazed at all the small lakes around Brimson, for instance. Then there is the Kamloop, Trout, salmon, etc. fishing on Superior in addition to the many streams that flow into that lake. I got a fly rod for Christmas and am anxious to learn to use that. I've never had the luck catching walleyes that I've had on the St. Louis River. I can't wait til I retire so I can do more exploring. How about some of those lakes in the Brimson area? Indian, Pequwayne (sp?) Cadotte? and others I can't think of right now. Jim

[Mnfisher]

Stormy,
Spent 3 days last weekend on Thomas Lake but only caught 5 crappies all weekend. No walleye on that lake. Hugo's slow too!!!
No, haven't heard reports from other lakes in the area.

[Guest]

My son was fishing with a friend at Fish Lake this a.m. They caught 6 walleyes and one perch - all too small to keep. They are still able to drive on the lake with a small truck.

[Guest]

Wow, this is great to see so many responses. Pikelaker, am I to assume you live on Pike Lake, maybe, just a wild guess. I've fished Fish lake quite a bit at first ice, but when the permanant houses appear, the fishing drops off pretty fast. Then I move to the ST. Louis Bay, or River. There are spots out there to get walleyes, you just fish a lot of the same spots you do in the spring. Haven't ever had them one after another, but, very seldom get skunked either. It's nice to see the crappies comming back. There was a time a few years ago that the crappie fishing was great, then they declined. I think they are back on the upswing, and it's great to see them back. I'll be doing more of that out there, now that they are becoming more plentifull. Nice to see some talk going on here about the Duluth/Superior area. You guys are right, we have some great fishing really close to home, and it seems all you ever hear about are the places where there are a lot more people. Hey, maybe we oughta keep it quiet eh?....naaaa, there's plenty to go around. Good luck, and hope to meet some of you someday. If you see a big guy with a black yamaha, and a lil'Jigger, blue portable, that'll be me. Unless we don't get any snow soon, then I'll be pulling my shelter with the Honda 110 three wheeler. Wait till you see all 260 pounds of me on that peashooter....LOL

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[evntam]

Hi guys. I was out on Caribou last Sunday, on the North end with a lot of other guys on the deep part of the lake looking for crappies. No one that I was aware of did very well. That got me thinking, which, as you very well my know is a dangerous thing. There was hardly any snow on the ice, and the ice that is there is awefully clear. With the vegetation that it gets in the summer, I was wondering if the plants are getting sunlight and still producing O2, allowing the fish to make their ways back into the shallows.
Any thoughts on that?

[Wobbler]

Dear stfcatfish,
What are you smoking? LOW is the best walleye fishery in the state. I am Pikelaker's son and I have fished all the lakes in a 60 mile radius of Duluth and they do not compare for average size nor amount of fishing action that LOW produces. I ice fish every weekend. I live 1 hour from Red Lake and an hour and 1/2 from LOW. I can catch Crappies at Red Lake, Walleyes and Northerns at LOW that make any fish from any lake within 2 hours of Duluth look like bait. You can say St. Louis River you can catch walleyes and I have caught 75 in a day there up river from Boy Scout Landing. Too bad you can keep only 2. I go to LOW ice fishing I take home 6 walleyes and 8 Saugers. There is no where else in this state that can beat that. There is nothing like having the best chance in the state to pull out a 10 pounde walleye like at LOW either. Or when the Northerns are 20 plus pounds as you use tip ups for them in the Spring. I advise you read the LOW page and see what REAL fishing is all about. The Duluth has more lakes I will give you that the fishing Rots compared to LOW or Red Lake!

[Steve Foss]

Uh, gee, Wobbler, done all those things you mentioned. You can catch fish that big within an hour of the Twin Ports (don't forget Wisconsin. They don't only grow dairy cows). And that was my point. Within that distance, I can explore a whole big number of lakes, as well as the biggest lake. And I'm not so concerned about how many freezers I fill with fish, so a 2-walleye limit doesn't necessarily keep me off the water. Oh, and by the way, where on LOW have you been catching king and coho salmon and Kamloops rainbow and steelhead?

And what are YOU smoking, anyway? I wasn't comparing LOW to any one lake around here, which your reply seems to indicate. My point was that, taken in total, it's a lot more fun for me to explore tons of new lakes, while at the same time learning a giant lake, than it is for me to fish LOW.

Goodbye.

[MikeR]

Thats the Spirit.

[Guest]

MNfisher

Thomas was another lake we were thinking about, but if nothing is going on there I guess we'll skip it. We are going to our secret walleye lake on Sat. unfortunately I can't say where. I won't have internet access while I'm there, but when I get back I'll post some reports. If Hugo's is too slow for ya, what about Tony's on Pequawan. There's not many other places to go in the area after the fishing's done. Besides, what's wrong with a nice laid back tavern?

Stormy

[Wobbler]

Is that secret Walleye Lake you guys are talking about Seven Beavers?

[This message has been edited by Wobbler (edited 01-11-2002).]

[Wobbler]

stcatfish,
First of all you can take and have your fishing for Kamloops and granted I have ice fished for them and seen loopers swim by while I looked down the hole. That was a rush but loops taste like crap. As far as Coho's go hey if that is what you like to do more power to you. I have fished by the Ariel Lift Bridge in the Spring and caught 16 inch Cohos. The fight like with the loopers was fun but got old in a hurry. You must be a rocket scientist because obviously you figured out I can't catch those fish up here. There is nothing in the world like in the summer downrigging and watching your fish hydroplane into the boat like how most Coho's are actually caught! You seem to think you have more options but I disagree. You have many more lakes like I said earlier and a couple more species but most people in the state would prefer to catch walleyes and crappies than Kamloops or Cohos. I grew up brook trout fishing all of Duluth's area rivers and I really enjoyed that but don't compare because you can catch loopers and Cohos and I can't to good fishing. I think the intent of all this discussion on here was to have some reports and see how the bite is and trade information. You are the trout expert I have read all your reports in this section. Your trout tips are helpful. However, 95% of the people on here want to find out how the walleyes, crappies, perch, and northerns are biting. I read your post to your friend about fishing on the St. Louis River about catching perch, crappies, and a sunny. I can do that 1 mile from my house. I can catch those same species. Which brings me back to my original point that LOW is better than any walleye spot near or around Duluth. St. Louis Bay in the Spring is good and I have fished that. I have a smallie spot that I have taken people from here to Duluth and caught 100's of smallies in just a couple of hours. I think we are talking about ice fishing here and to ice fish LOW is better. There is different structure, areas, and locations to try. You have more options and more water to explore and I know you are not comparing one lake to LOW nor am I saying that you did. If you think your spot is better great! I just think in your post you made it sound like LOW is nothing. Sheesh, please! As far as Wisconsin goes that is like me stating across the border in Canada I can catch fish. It is like comparing apples to oranges. Within 2 hours I can catch pretty much any kind of trout that you can. You can stay there and fish. I would rather fish here. That is more walleyes and saugers for me to catch. I know my brother and my dad will go to LOW next weekend and be begging me to have them up there again real soon! It is sure better than reading about having caught or had 5 bites all day when you can have that in a half hour at LOW.

[Mnfisher]

Stormy,

I'm no expert on Thomas Lake and you never know when the crappies may start hitting. I know there are some nice ones in that lake. I caught one 13" last spring, but unfortunately, it was only one. Regarding Hugo's, I really do like a quieter laid back bar for a relaxing glass of suds! Have a good weekend and be sure and give us a report when you get back. Maybe we can "wrangle" that secret walleye hole out of you. Break you down little by little!
Jim

[Mnfisher]

Stormy, Steve and Others,

Isn't anyone going to participate in the trout opener this weekend? I haven't decided for sure, but will either be on Thomas Saturday or Echo Lake near Finland for some of those tasty Splake! They're fun to catch too!

[Wobbler]

All of you,
Lip Ripper is right. This whole topic was about where to fish, ice conditions, what are you using and so on. Up on LOW people are a little secretive but at least tell you where they are fishing, what they are using, where they are going out, what depth, and so on. People on here say see you at the secret lake or say yeah I am fishing on St. Louis Bay real general. I would not expect people to give GPS coordinates like some people do on the LOW page but the purpose of this forum is to exchange opinions and information to others. Pikelaker was looking for a group of guys to share and trade information. Obviously he told people on here where he fishes and how he does, most if you don't say boo. He is starting out ice fishing this area for the first time and is looking for advice where to go what depth etc. But nobody has offered him anything! Maybe you should check out what some other area sites and see how kind people are and how people answer questions for people. Our job as sportsmen is to encourage and help others enjoy our sport. The reason I even came to this page was to see if people are as friendly on this site as they are on the other sites I have looked at on this forum. The reason I got after catfish was because from my perspective he made it sound like there is great fishing around there. WHERE? If there is help Pikelaker out. If you look at the LOW site I tell people where, what depth, what I use. You can tell by the number of posts I have made I either have no life or I try to help make fishing better for others by offering insight and information for others to use. Go check it out! It just irritates me when some people act and think like they know it all but don't offer any help or advice. Its a secret! Lundman, if you think I am heated I am not even close. Maybe you are reading more into what I am saying than I mean.

[Guest]

We just had 5 walleye and 3 crappies for supper with a little left over for a snack tomorrow. Caught the walleye on Fish Lake a week ago and the crappies on Portage Lake early this fall.

May go fishing on Fish Lake tomorrow. If do, will let ya know how it goes. I won't be driving my truck on the ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

MnFisher,
I'll be trout fishin' this weekend. Heading to Grand Marais at about 4 this P.M., and we'll be hitting the lake at O-dark thirty in the A.M.
I'd tell you which lake, but then I'd have 'ta Kill Ya. Hehehehe. Just kiddin'.

Wobbler, Take a chill pill man. Jeez, don't get so defensive. Nobody is attacking your precious Lake of the Woods. Hell, I fish there all the time, when I want to go and do something different. I'm not taking sides here, but, you seem to taking this whole thing personally, and it's not. Sarcastically calling people "rocket scientist" isn't going to make you any friends bud. I've done all the same things you say you have done, locally, and away from home. Each place has it's charm. It's a matter of personaly choice. I like fishing St. Louis bay, and the River itself probably just as much as you. I also enjoy putting on the camper and hooking up the boat and spending a couple hundred bucks on one weekend fishing Lake of the Woods. If money and time were no object, I'd have a cabin, or camper up there permanantly. Does that mean I'd stop fishing down here. Heck no. I think what catfish was trying to say is, we would like to get some chat going on about some local lakes around here. Think you might have took what he said out of context. You, know, like, in the wrong way? Just guessing of course. Have a good one, and don't forget to:

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[Lip RIPPER!]

You guys seem to be missing the message. Pikelaker was wondering why people don't share as much information around the Duluth area like they do up on LOW on the forum and nobody wants to help him out. If I lived out there, I would share informaton with you.

[Guest]

Hey everyone, I am currently living in Duluth too. I would love to trade some info. and find out some descent lakes to go out and try for the day. Hell, I just got a brand new GPS and am looking for an excuse to go and try in out.

[MikeR]

Going to Chequamegon Bay tommorow will give a report when we get back. anybody been out there yet?

[Steve Foss]

Wow.

Guess that little exchange between Wobbler and me got things going.

First: I'm not throwing stones at LOW. I've fished that lake and will continue to fish that lake. It's an excellent fishery, and I'm especially appreciative of the experience off NW Angle, where wilderness is all around you.

Second: I hope I didn't give the impression that I'm catching fish like nuts around the Twin Ports. Fact is, I moved here in August, and have been FISHING like nuts since then. Yes, I've caught a bunch, but I'm not catching boatloads or Fish Trap loads. See, it's the EXPLORING NEW WATER that's got me so happy I'm here. Since I live in Superior, I have a Wisconsin resident license. Since my family's got a cabin on a lake near Bemidji, and because I've been fishing Minnesota since I was 12 (while living in eastern N.D.), I've got and will continue to have a Minnesota non-resident license. So when I talk about all the water within an hour of D/S, I'm really intending to fish all the water. It's going to take the rest of my life, and I intend to have a blast doing it. And I'm enthused about the salmonoid fishery that Lake Superior offers (and you don't need a boat. I've done well from shore.)

Third: Anyone wants my opinion on how to fish for what, and where I'm having success, I'll sure tell 'em. Problem is, I'm a weekend angler, so I've only been out six times on the ice this season, and it's my first season here. Been to inlets in the bay with excellent success for crappie and perch, been to Amnicon, Dowling and Minnesuing in Wisconsin with fair results for crappie and walleye. Going to Beltrami (the home lake with the cabin) and Upper Red in Minnesota this coming weekend. Going to hit lake trout near Grand Rapids later, and will explore other lakes north and northwest of Duluth this year too.

If anyone wants to talk about the water I've mentioned near D/S, chime in. I too have noticed that there's not much fishing spot/fishing technique chat on this particular forum.

Regards,

------------------
Steve ([email protected])

[Guest]

Wobbler,
First off, saying nobody helps anybody isn't completely true. I offered my help to, what little of it there is, to catfish. I gave basics, but, he seemed to me to be the kind of guy that didn't need me to draw him a picture. Second, I don't think I read something I didn't see. I quote," You must be a rocket scientist because obviously you figured out I can't catch those fish up here." That sounds pretty sarcastic to me. Anyway, I don't wish to argue about it, merely trying to make a point. And yours is taken, by the way. At any rate, here is my report for the past week. I fished for about two hours with my six year old son on Sunday of last week, exactly one week ago today, on Kimbals bay off the St. Louis River. We got 6 nice crappies, and two nice perch, but the wind was wicked, so I took my cold and wet son home.
This past weekend, sat. and sun., was spent on Musquach, think I spelled that wrong. It's a trout lake about twenty miles out of Grand Marais, off the Gunflint trail. It's pretty remote, but access was good this year, because of lack of snow. There were a lot of rocks on the trail, so you had to be carefull with the sleds. Good thing we brought a chain saw, because the place to access the lake off the snomobile trail has a vertical drop, and there is no way we would have gotten off the lake. We sawed logs off an old trail and used that instead. My partner saved the day for us, and the fifty other guys that were out there. At any rate, the fishing was great on Sat. We caught probably 40 splake, and kept 15. ( the limit is 5 per person, there was four of us) We used swedish pimples, and various other jigging spoons, and raps, in mostly white, chartrues, and orange, tipped with a whole, dead, rosy red, or crappie minnow. On the raps, the smallest one they make, I pinched off the head, and hooked it on the tail hook, and not the treble. The two biggest fish of the trip came on the rap.
Here's a funny one. My buddy and his son went over to the next group of guys down the lake, whom we knew, to have a coney dog. So they come back, and the two lines the left were gone, rod holders tiped over in the holes, and the rods and reels in the drink. Beleive it or not, he got them both back. One was still right under the hole, easily retrieved with a large treble. The other one, however, is a different story. Ha, you should have seen him chasing that thing around, auger in hand. LOL, he must have drilled 20 holes. Finally, it sat still long enough for him to snag it. Talk about funny.
This comming week will probably find me in my favorite, "secret", walleye spots out on the St. Louis River. (that was a good natured jab intended for you, Wobbler) I'll report on that if, and when it happens. Take care all, and don't forget,

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[Steve Foss]

Lundman, thanks for the kind and peaceful words. Good note to end that exchange on, I think.

Fished Amnicon on Friday. Skunked for the first time in four years. Fished from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., drilled 30 holes in several spots. Vex showed fish, no takers no matter what I did. Nice day on the ice, though.

Fished Minnesuing Saturday. Half dozen people catching crappies in or near 33-foot hole on lake's north side. Easiest access from County P east of lake at county park or where store is. Biggest crappie over 11 inches. No trophy, but not bad. Simple hook, minnow, split shot, bobber. Also caught some on small pimple tipped w/minnow head.

Tip-ups out for pike earlier in day from 7 to 21 feet yeilded nothing. Had good success there for pike couple weeks ago, though. Smelt for bait.

Several shoals on map looked good for evening walleye bite, but had plans so stayed on crappie hole till sundown and headed off. I'll be back, though.

Ice on Minnesuing, Amnicon, Dowling from 4 inches to 10 inches.

Local who's lived on Minnesuing a coon's age was a big help. He's got a young male German Shepherd that bites at his boots when he walks and at his sled runners when he snowmobiles. What a hoot.

If anyone's got info on good spots to walk in on the Pike chain, I'm all ears. That chain looks dandy on the maps and I'm biding my time till I can head east. Couple weeks, probably.

Lundman, how deep is good in Kimballs? Fished a little inlet off Pokegama couple weeks back, landed half dozen crappies to about 13 inches and a dozen perch to 12 inches. One 9-inch sunny. Had a tip-up baited with smelt. No takers. What are the odds that pike are in those inlets eating on those pannies?

------------------
Steve ([email protected])

[MikeR]

Fished Chequamegon, 11.00 to 2.30 got a late start, 2 smallmouth, 1 coho. 5 in. of ice where we were behind the Chequamegon Hotel by the buoys. Talked to some locals sounds like a good early morning bite. Heard of walleyes, coho, 1-laker, and a couple of splake. We were in 23ft. Going tommorow to try off the loading dock early am. Fatheads plain hook.

[Wobbler]

Dear All,
Hopefully all of you don't think I am a jerk but it was nice to see that some conversation was created and hopefully some of you are benefiting from it. I hold no grudges against you STFCATFISH or LUNDMAN. Based upon what I have read you guys are very helpful. Hopefully some day if you guys are in the LOW area let me know and I can set you guys up on the bite. The reason for me "going off" was because my dad was looking for other places to try to fish and he commented to me that nobody was offering help. I have not fished the Duluth area for 5 years since moving out here and fishing has changed on those areas since I have left. I have fished all over where you guys have fished, Echo, Goldeneye, St. Louis River, Bassett, Cadotte, and Seven Beavers which have all been mentioned here. I have not fished them in awhile and could not help my dad. To all of you thanks for helping my dad and if you need help on LOW you know where to ask! Although I will not give up my "Secret Spot" to Lundman for that little speed jab j/k!

[This message has been edited by Wobbler (edited 01-14-2002).]

[evntam]

Hey MikeR
Thanks for the Chequamegon update. I've been thinking of taking my boy over there for a day. He's only 2 and a half, but I thought he'd like the drive from Duluth (He likes rides in Dad's truck, and time in the portable fish house) Besides, I've been wanting to get more experience fishing the Bay. I only fished it in the winter once before, from Washburn. I take it you went on the ice from Ashland. I've never been down to that part of the Bay Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume you fished in the channel if you were in 20 some feet of water.
I appreciate you posting a report from over there.

[MikeR]

Evntam, I don't have much experience there either just looking for something different to do. Went yesterday out of Ashland again in the channel tried 20 and 24 feet got skunked, talked to another guy that went out with a 3-wheeler and he got skunked also in 37 feet of water. Although I heard good reports of White fish being taken off the Washburn marina and a few trout. Seems people are having decent luck w/Walleyes and some Coho out front of the Coal dock in Ashland. Havn't tried that spot yet. Hope this might help. Mike