Any Blackduck reports

[Huskie]

Woodman suggested giving Blackduck a try. We may Sunday if Winnie lets us down. Are there any new reports on the fishing on the Duck, where would a 1st timer go on the lake and with what??? Also, how has the grouse hunting been up there as of late?

[Drake]

I would agree with Woodman in giving the Duck a shot if you have time. With other things happening, we haven't hit the Duck this past week, but from talking to our guests and some friends it has continued to do well for the eyes, occassional sunnie and some perch. Still doing the slow drift by the drop offs and weedlines, with a floater off the bottom tipped with a night crawler and now some are starting to switch back to minnows, variety of depths 10 to almost 18' depths. Have some guests that just checked in and are heading over to Blackduck, hopefully the starting spots we gave them will work.

Grouse hunting is looking pretty promising in the area. Out on opener just checking different spots, on one trail saw seven and saw a few on another. The other half hit the woods last Monday afternoon for a couple of hours and came home with two..still the leaf coverage (plus we don't have a hunting dog), so not too bad.

Good luck!

[woodman]

Talked to some guys this weekend and they said that they had both crawlers and minnows, if one didn't work the other did. Each day was different so bring both baits and keep switching until you find the magic hook and bait. I would go with a floater and crawler to start off with, and drift the drop off's like drake suggested. If you have a couple of people in the boat, have each bait in the water with different hooks. I have had luck on blue, orange and pink so mix it up and good luck.

Just got off the phone with dad and he got his first grouse tonight. He said there is still lots of cover out there so it is tough to see them. He has heard lots of promising reports from others that the bird sightings are up. Can't wait to get up north on the 6th to try my luck

Keep us posted and have a safe trip.

[Huskie]

If Winnie is not kind to us or if we have great luck we may try the Duck. Any tactics and other reports would be helpful.

[fivebucks]

Was up on Island over the weekend to pull in the dock etc. I didn't fish too much as I had to bow hunt, duck hunt, and grouse hunt also. No deer or ducks and 2 flushes at grouse with no shots. I fished 1 1/2 hours Sat. afternoon and missed my first four bites but got my next 3. An 18" and 2 - 20". I was fishing a spinner and leech and they were biting light. While trolling I had to keep my rod tip way forward and when I got a bite I would have to give them as much of the rod as I could. No keepers with the slot but it was fun. I wish I could have fished longer. There is just too much to do this time of year.

[BigWadeS]

I was up in the area last weekend at my in-laws and did some grouse hunting. Too many leaves to see all of them but for 3 hours of hunting I got 4. I can't wait for some of those leaves to keep falling. Only 1 more month till deer season...I can't wait to get back up in that area

[Drake]

Grouse hunting in the area continues to be pretty great. We had quite a few hunters up over the past few days and all have been pretty pleased with what they were seeing out on the trails and were taking several birds home with them, with most taking their limits. The past couple of days have been pretty windy, 20 to 30 mph, so that has helped to get the leaves falling!

[woodman]

Hunted up in Northome last weekend and managed to get 4 out of 6 birds. Scouted for deer and things look alright from what I could tell then. It will help when all the leaves are down and you can tell where they are walking instead of new leaves covering up the trails. Maybe the snow will stay through the weekend and I will be able to tell exactly where they are wondering around the woods!

[BigWadeS]

I think the deer season, last year was very good, and from when I was up a couple weeks ago and walking thru the woods where I hunt, I think it will be even better this year. Lots of sign and kicked up a couple nice bucks as well. I might have to do a couple afternoon grouse hunts this year as well, I can't believe the birds...the best is yet to come in the next couple years.

[Huskie]

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Hunted up in Northome last weekend and managed to get 4 out of 6 birds. Scouted for deer and things look alright from what I could tell then. It will help when all the leaves are down and you can tell where they are walking instead of new leaves covering up the trails. Maybe the snow will stay through the weekend and I will be able to tell exactly where they are wondering around the woods!

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Woodman: Where did you scout for deer? Wondering if you went back to the east of highway 46 at all, south of Island Lake but north of Alvwood. Have you heard anything about wolf numbers?

[woodman]

Huskie- I just scouted about 2 miles south of Northome on the old rail road grade. Deer sign looks great and I can't wait to get back up there next weekend.