heading out on the Big Lake in the morning -- any tips?

[royalwolf]

Be going out of Knife River starting at about 9:30 a.m. We've got riggers and boards -- dragging spoons mostly, probably. We thinking like 50-80ft down or so? no temp sensor, but we do have sonar. Should we fish down toward stoney point or up toward coupla' harbors?

I know this is last-minute, but thought I'd throw it up here. THANKS guys --

Tom

[Surface Tension]

Usually if I'm running up the shore its to follow surface temps fishing top water earlier in the season.

Since I don't use the Knife often in mid and late summer I'd be going in cold but would have a few areas in mind. Stony, Larsmont, the edges of the bumps off Two Harbors or Stewart, and Silver Cliff. Pretty vague I know but it would be a search till you find something and then go to work.

A sounder will be your best friend today, pay attention to what its telling you.

Good Luck and give a report.

[royalwolf]

Thanks ST. I actually forgot to check this before we left this morning, but it worked out okay. We had a few releases right away, with fish bucking the rods good, but they kept coming off before we could really fight them. Ended up with a couple fish (3# or so) -- one for me and one for my grandpa (his boat ).

Fish came on the surface (10-15' down anyhow) on blue/chartruese and watermelon spoons. Lost a couple on the downriggers too and even broke a couple fish off (getting new line tomorrow ).

Beautiful morning to be out! Calm and sunny.

[Steve Foss]

Hey rw:

Good to see you had success. Figure those high releases were salmon or loopers?

Good luck tomorrow, whether you're buying new line or using it!

[royalwolf]

Hard to say what was popping the lines, but the two we boated were a laker and a clipped steelhead, both on the surface (spoons behind boards with snap weights, maybe down 10 feet or so). Broke off another laker on a board line, too.

Possibly heading back out tomorrow a.m. -- thanks!

Tom