how do i fish the big lake?

[humpback]

i would like to try salmon fishing this spring, is this a good time or is it better later in the year? what is a good month? i would like to stay closer to shore maybe 2 or 3 miles out.where is a good spot to try? whats the best tactic? bait? downriggers or planer board?thanks for any help!

[JAR JAR]

I fish the so. shore and do fairly well. the best time i find is mid-may to late june. you can find good fishing only out about 2-3 miles out using planer boards with stick baits like bombers or reef runners.I hope this will help you out.It's killing me to see my boat still under cover in about two feet of snow. As soon as the ice leaves i'll have it out on the big lake

GOOD LUCK
JAR JAR

[Xplorer]

humpback,
I fish the park point and near north shore in spring (you will see the boats) and do well using the same methods, planer boards and bomber stickbaits. I have trolled as shallow as 8' very early on and caught both lake trout and salmon when the smelt are in.

Hey JarJar,
I have been experimenting with the small reef runners in the river for walleyes and had some success. I was thinking about picking up some of the larger ripsticks to try on superior. If you dont mind me askin, what colors have been producive for you?
I picked up a couple of the "purple demon" patterns in eau claire last weekend, since purple/pink bombers have done well for me.
There were some "orange juice" there also.
There is a shop in Ohio that helped design the reefrunners and will ship them pretty resonable. They have some of the wildest names!
Thanks for any info. Lets hope the prediction for 50 next week will let the ice loose so we can all get out soon. I'm gonna hit the Rainy river next weekend and play bumper boats just so I can stop sitting in the boat in the garage
Xplorer

[Surface Tension]

humpback, There's a billion tips,trick's, does and dont's to fish the Big Lake.
Im am x-Big Lake boat owner and always had room for an extra guy to come along. If you can get on a boat with a good captain that would be the best way to learn. Go to a WLSTA meeting. Or stand around the landing early in the morn with gas money of coarse and ask. I rig up my 16ft. for the big lake a few times a year still. Maybe we could get a Big Lake meet setup.

[JAR JAR]

Big lake meet sound awsome s.t..
xplore, i have been using the smaller ones. for some reason the coho like those better and for the color i have 2 chartruse (spell)
and 1 orange. The best lures i have are my green jointed bombers they out fished my others 2-1

JAR JAR

[Guest]

Give the blaze orange jointed Rapala a try. It's a killer in Lake Michigan.

[Surface Tension]

Ya Clayton I have a few of those. The watermelon spoon is hot here.Looks like a yearling looper.

[loadmaster]

As soon as the smelt start to run, try the park point side of the lake trowel a smelty looking thing Or try off the piers if fishing from shore. Got the boat out yesterday, checked the riggers and such come on warm weather. Hey S>T> good idea can hold a couple of guys Like Two Harbors alot, the run is short and the structure is good.

[Xplorer]

Jar Jar,
thanks for the info, I have a few of them I will try out this year.
ST
I dont have a big boat or any downriggers, but would be game for an big lake meet. Just finished up a new set of planer boards and reworked my mast, the harbor cleared over the weekend and I may try to get out this week one day after work from under the bridge (gotta watch those ice bergs tho!) Will post results if I do, sure would like a couple of coho's for the grill and smoker.
Xplorer

[humpback]

hey everyone. thanks for posting. i can use all the info i can get for fishing the big lake.i have another? can you kill two fish with one lure and catch eyes and salmon on the same day and in the same general area or is it best to chase one or the other? is walleye opener the same there as the rest of the state? would the end of april be a good time to fish salmon? please post your fish stories even if it is only one fish, i would like to hear about them.if the fishing gets good let me know. thanks everyone.

[evntam]

I'll go in a few diff directions here:
1 - Xplorer - I was up on the Rainy River last Friday, froze my butt, and only caught one 6.5 pound up by Franz Jevne. It would have been good to know others from Duluth area up there
2- Location for early fish: I love the areas from Port Wing to Sand Island on the South Shore. I had a 20 fish day there April 30 of 99. Its not as jammed with boat and you don't have to travel far from the landings.
3 - Colors: I agree with everyone else, but I like the bigger reef runners in pink purple, and their watermelon. I run those off the trolling boards. I've had good luck with salmon with the smaller silver with blue Wally Divers - off the flat lines behing the boat. I also like the dark or pink colored bombers early in the year.
Gonna pull the big boat out this weekend. Planning a trip to the South Shore May 4.

[Guest]

For those of you that are wondering about getting out from under the bridge, I was out for the first scooter ride of the year last sunday, and there was a truck and trailer parked in the lot, and no sign of the boat, or owners...:-) I can only assume they made their way through the ice floes to the big pond. There is still ice floating around though, so if you go, be carefull, if the wind shifts, it could sock in the narrow channel that leads to the landing. The south ramp was still iced in, but the west facing ramp was open, well, sorta....like I said, lots of floes. But, the good news is, this rain is going to wreak havoc on what ice is left. Bring on the open water!!

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[Xplorer]

Evntam,
Actually I'm going up early this Sat morning with half the rest of the state it seems to Rainy. I am strongly considering trying Pelland but the landing is iffy because of low water. Guys were backing their trailers off the concrete and it drops off about 3 feet, resulting in the whole rig dropping on the frame, so I guess we'll see. If not I'll deal with the lines at Birchdale.
I did not get out this week, decided the ice chunks were too nemerous and the weather less than perfect. Looking at going out Wed/Thurs after work under the high bridge. If anyone has a desire to go along let me know and I will post the night before for sure. I would be down there about 3 or 3:30. Hopefully by monday things will have cleared.
Xplorer

[Xplorer]

Test

[loadmaster]

xploar,was out sunday nothing out of the high bridge any luck you way? Do you have a marine Radio on board and if so what is you call sign? Mine is loadmaster give a call on 16 see if we can hook up. The people who fish the big lake have the tightest mouths I have have ever seen, like the lake is not big enough

[Xplorer]

loadmaster,
I didn't get out wednesday, but will be out sunday am. Hope there's no skim ice as the nights are suppose to get cool this weekend.
I dont have a marine band right now. Was just down at marine general last night looking at the Ray 45 and an 8' antenna, just gotta free up $250 without the missus knowing
Did hit the Rainy last weekend, went out of Pelland saturday as the DNR had added fill so boats could launch/load fine. Fishing was slow, 2 eyes and one 5 lb sucker.Lots of folks fishing for sturgeon at the #8 sign below the little fork river mouth.
Sunday we decide to hit Birchdale and heard down to frontier area as I talked to a guy who did well on Sat. We didnt exactly slay them but did get about a dozen eye's (no pigs) in 4 hours, but i did catch a 50-55" sturgeon on a 5' ultralight rod and quantum micro reel, what a Blast Only took about 20 minutes to land/photo/release, lucky i had fireline on that reel. Just as we were leaving the guys next to me landed a 8-9 lb walleye just fat with spawn. Weather was warm and the ramp was a breeze for us. Lots of DNR and OMNR on the river/access.
I drive a green lund/90hp Honda,if your out sunday am keep an eye out for me.
Xplorer