A little help to a new Bass Guy...Pokegama

[dfv87]

I am and have always been a devout walleye guy, but last year we got a place to stay for the season on Pokie and found the eyes to be less than helpful. My daughter (8) became enamored with the bass fishing. We did very well on pokie using rattlin raps and some spinnerbaits late summer and early fall. She is really cranked up about the year and I want see if I can get some tips about spring bass (or Eye info) As long as she enjoys fishing I do not care what we catch. BTW we practice c/r pretty much all the time with bass and eyes on Pokie. I get my walleye fillets from another lake

Anyway...any ideas to get a dad trying to fumble his way around this whole bass fishing thing would be appreciated.

[Jason Boser]

try just a jig and winnow on some of the weed edges or first drops

Jason

[Boedigheimer]

dfv87, you picked a good lake for bass, one of the better in the area. I'm by no means an expert, but from my experience spring fishing for largemouth bass can be very good on the lakes extremities like the far east end and bays of wendigo bay, salter bay, southern tip of sherrys arm, most of pooles bay, and occasionally kings bay.

For smallies, I have done well on more main-lake stuff like the series of islands around nesbitt, or flats associated to bulrushes(good spawning substrate), rock bars, etc. The smallies require more 'hunting' then the largies, which seem a little more predictable.

If its a cool spring, you could get a couple weeks of great fishing before the bass spawn. Small crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and of course soft plastics could be the ticket on any given day. Once the bass start bedding, fish walleyes.

[dfv87]

Thanks for the advice, we will try to put some fish in the boat and as many back in the lake. How big do the bass get in Pokie? I caught 2 SM bass last year that were very nice 18-19" and several 3-4 lbs LM as well. My daughter is learning how to use a spinning reel this year and I don't want to get one so big she cannot work it properly, but I want something that will handle a bigger fish if she does tangle with one.

[Boedigheimer]

dfv87, the average size bass in pokie is amazing, same with the walleyes for that matter. I think they hatch out of there egg as a chunky two pounder.

I once watched a weigh-in at a bass tournament, big bag for day one was 6 fish for 24 lbs, all smallmouth. The next day big fish was a 6lb.+ largemouth.

The amount of forage in the lake is mind boggling, perch, smelt, lake shiners, sunfish, crayfish, etc. It doesn't matter if its bass, walleye, or pike, they are fat.

[dfv87]

I noticed last year that not many eyes were caught but when we did it was large! pike population was larger also. I am really excited to get out there another season, we didn't even touch all the spots on the 2 arms we fished. Structure spots up the wazzoo on this lake. We love the Nesbit and Drumbeater islands for smallies, the nw point rocks of Nesbit (I think) was amazing trolling and casting evenings and after dark. We caught the biggest smally there on a full moon in July. Thanks again.

Its a big lake but look for the Red and tan Lund prosport with the merc and the short fat guy driving and say HI. (Lund with the merc narrowed it down to like half of MN, so the short/fat guy driving helps narrow it down again!)

[gkl]

Pokeg is a great lake for kids. If you're not to picky about what you catch, there is a great spot just as you come out of Tioga Bay. On the north side there is a very long point that goes toward the public launch. I have had some very fast fishing there with a jig and shiner near the weedline (12-18fow)in June. Lots a northerns and largemouth but I've also caught good numbers and a few large walleye and jumbo perch there at times. Be prepared for lots of bite-offs, but it can be a great "action" spot for kids.