ely area opener

[bwtrout]

i hit big lake for opener weekend, could not find the walleyes during the day. every sundown we would get a half hour bite. i did see one boat that was doing well all day. they were tight lipped, i even beat them to a couple of their spots with no luck?

i haven't heard much detail on chunky's opener. whats up with bside?

any others?

[chunkytrout]

Fishing were holding deeper than expected. 3 trout for the weekend and all out of 50FOW or greater. Bartender Bob and his crew got a decent 6# and a handful of eyes. Beautiful weekend!!!

chunk

[Dr. Bob]

Chunk -

Please shoot me an email.

Dr. Bob

[Harmonica Bear]

We hit Snowbank on opener and it was pretty slow. I think 6 or 7 walleyes (biggest 26 inches), 3 lakers (biggest 26 inches), a few smallies (biggest 17 inches), couple largemouth, assorted small pike and perch. Not too good for 6 boats. A couple of the gang were pretty disheartened two years in a row and swore never to come back. Sounds like it was kind of slow all over however which helps the ego a bit. We had fun and had great eats and there's a lot to be said about that.

HB

[This message has been edited by Harmonica Bear (edited 05-19-2004).]

[Leaky]

Chunky - Nice weekend!! Haven't talked to Bob yet, but your post sounds like they did pretty well.

HB - Sorry to hear some of your crew was dissapointed. If you guys are ever looking to try something different up that way, let me know and maybe I can steer you in a different direction.

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IBOT #129, B-Dub Chapter. (Or is it Metro Chapter? - I'm so confused)

[Dr. Bob]

"We had fun and had great eats and there's a lot to be said about that."

D*mn right there is a lot to be said about that! That's what I live for. To me the fishing is a bonus.

No comments from the peanut gallery....

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The Doctor is in.............Everybody stand back!!!

I.B.O.T. # 144
Boundry Waters Chapter

[Leaky]

Hey Bob - This is the peanut gallery. I'm with ya 100%. I know when I'm in the woods, good weather, good friends, good eats and good drinks makes for a darn good trip.

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IBOT #129, B-Dub Chapter. (Or is it Metro Chapter? - I'm so confused)

[Harmonica Bear]

Dr Bob, I live for it as well. That is why some were disappointed (a long way to go and $ for little fish) and some were not (me). I need nothing more than good friends, the woods, the water, food and drink, and maybe an occasional fish for excitement and a fish fry or two. You know the funny thing is, the fish were there, people were bringing in fish, it just wasn't in the cards for us. Also, two of our group caught their first lakers, I thought that was awesome. I know I'll be back sooner than later.

Leaky, always looking to be pointed in new directions (sometime my compass is little off). I've done more than my fair share of canoeing up there, but never have done the boat and motor thing into Basswood. Might have to try that next. That or B-side.

It's a long summer and this is good.

HB

[This message has been edited by Harmonica Bear (edited 05-19-2004).]

[chunkytrout]

Bob, you got mail

[mustangrita]

HB-We have fished snowbank for the last 13 years. It is a cold water lake and with the cold spring we have had I would thought you wouldn't have caught too much. Like you said many people didn't do well that weekend. We have never gotten skunked on that lake. Some days better than others, but never skunked. Although the lake is getting busier, one of the reasons we go there is because alot of people don't go there. It is also a lake that offers a varity of fishing-large mouth,small mouth, pikes,lake trout and walleyes. The lake even has rock bass for the kids. The one year we gimped into Smitty's with a broken leaf spring. We headed out camping and was going to fix it later. The owner of resort came out to our campsite and asked if he should pick up the part being he was going into Ely. Of course we said sure and thanks. When we checked in later found out he had made the repair and only charged us for the spring. That is a resort I can stand by, even if there is a day of bad fishing here and there. Done on the soap box. I wouldn't count this lake out. There is alot of water there to cover and some of the best fishing is where everyone else is fishing.

[MuskyBrian]

I second the thumbs up for Snowbank. I have fished it the last 3 years and each time I go I learn more spots and become even better. There are smallies everywhere, pike scattered all over and I always seem to be able to find at least a few walleyes, although I have yet to get a big one I know they are out there.