Slow around here or what?

[18 inch Crappie]

This time of year you see 5 or 6 post a day on monster walleyes. With the water temp in the mid 40"s. The pictures should be flying in? Here is one from last night.

[Mykal]

Ha Ha ! Good one 18. Looks like the little feller bit off more than he could chew. We caught one of those the other night too, or he caught us. So did you find any biters or are they still suffering a case of lock jaw from the very quick drop in temp. We managed 12 fish Sat night from 17 to 25.5 but had to work hard on very specific spots and then those spots went cold after the first pass so we moved a lot.

[18 inch Crappie]

I took a couple home for dinner, but a place I got a 2 man limit in 1 hour 2 weeks ago gave up nothing last night. So who knows. To the weeds.......

[Dhenry]

You guys are scaring me. I'm going to have to look up some crayfish recipes in my wife's cookbooks. Although, it sounds like I picked a good weekend to take off. I'm trying to get up a couple of times this weekend, but the weather isn't looking so great. Mykal, did you downsize to 10's at all this weekend?

[bigeyes]

Hi fellas - not sure what has been going on but fishing sure has been poor by Mille Lacs standards. It is still pretty early in fall so there is hope, but I am not real optamistic on the bite for the remainder of the fall. We are now heading twords new moon and you fellas know how I feel about new moon fishing! So the next couple weeks will be slow and then maybe just maybe the November phase will get them going. Even that is no longer a sure thing. Last November phase we went out and got blanked for a couple nights! BTW we still don't have a 28" in the boat this fall and I cut my runs back to 2 a week until the walleyes show some sign of life. A guy can only take so much wind, rain and poor fishing.

[Koldfront Kraig]

I've done better with no moon that with a full moon.

I think the extra boat traffic on the full moon makes for a tougher night.

[Mykal]

D, no we did not downsize, might have been a good idea to run through the spots again. I find it hard to downsize this time of year,actually my biggest came on a #14. We have had a tough stretch of weather. One thing we may try is to move out a bit deeper towards 10-12 or more. We have marked lots of bait fish in deeper water this year.

[Dhenry]

I'm headed up thursday night. Looks like no rain and pretty calm winds. Hopefully the fish will have adjusted to the quick drop in water temp.

[wall_guy_101]

This is just my theory but, about two weeks ago this time yet last year the water temp was much cooler. I believe that the water being so much shallower has allowed the surrounding shorelines and reefs to heat up the lesser volume of water therefore keeping a more consistent heated water temp later. Just in the past week has the shallower water temp come to a more normal level of degree. In my opinion the fish will just start to really turn on if we can get some consistant weather. Just my 2.5 cents...... Or else there is just that much more and better forage than last year and overall it just isn't going to be a good bite.

[bigeyes]

Did I mention I don't particularly like the new moon yet? Water temp is down to 45 degrees last night and the fish... well add another goose egg to my resume'

[Dhenry]

Hey Big, where did you fish and what did you use? On another report I read someone said the water wasn't real clear.

[bigeyes]

I was on the west side, and yes the water was dingy.

[Dances with Walleye]

Quote:

---

I've done better with no moon that with a full moon.

I think the extra boat traffic on the full moon makes for a tougher night.

---

I've found, as I look back through my fishing journals, that the Night bite is hottest on the Full moon, if you troll a Shadeline of the Rising moon...

And that the Day Bite is hottest over the three days surrounding the New moon...

A theory I've subscribed this to, says that because of the uber low light conditions of a New Moon, Walleye aren't as successful at Night feeding, as a full New Moon is just too Dark for them, and lowers their percentages... Where as a Full moon, the Ambush zone is the shade line.

That's just my two cents.

[18 inch Crappie]

Bigeyes, that is why I have taken up Crawfishing.......

[Dhenry]

Hey Crappie, sounds like I may be better off leaving the boat on the trailor on 169 and going after some of those "rockbass" you were talking about on the inside weededge a couple of weeks ago.

[bigeyes]

I am in for a FM crawfish fry!

[minnesotatuff]

sheesh...my brother and i made a dive there one time specifically for collecting those little fresh water shrimp. we must have had a bucket full... the taste? great if you make sure you get the poop line out. they are a lot of work for a french delicatessen serving size 1/4 bite each...lol.

im planning on being on the water sometime friday 2-4 until ?

regards,

minnesotatuff

[Mykal]

Hey fellas, It might be a a tough bite this year indeed, but fish are being caught. We snagged 12 last Sat night so it can be done. In the weeds we switched to thicker line to get the baits back and more importantly up higher and it seemed to work well. Also, we slowed down. 1.3-1.5 was much better than 1.7. Lot's of guys were blowing by us! The water dropped 8+ degrees in a few days so I feel the fish were adjusting. Smaller baits, might be a great idea 'D", We caught a huge Pike that spit up gobs of little 3 inch minnows.

This weekend could be a totally different story but that's the fun.

As far as the Dark moon, September 2 years ago during a dark moon phase we caught 47 Walleye off a launch in the middle of the night in 35 feet of water, 2-4 feet off the bottom using leeches. There were 3 footers blowing in as well so I'm sure they can see just fine in less than 10 feet out there.

I assume the weeds are dying off big time if the water is dingy. Time to check the wind and find those clear areas and if they aren't biting, switch it up.

[Dhenry]

I'll be headed up this afternoon for what looks like a calm, but a chilly evening. I'll give you guys a report tomorrow morning.

[bigeyes]

I do think Mike is right you can have a "fair" night around the new moon, but you had better stick to bays and weeds. At least that is what I have experienced. Did you guys notice it was calm out last night. No surprise, since I didn't go fishing. You can bet next time I get out the standard 20 mph wind will be bucking though!

[18 inch Crappie]

Its called look at the weather reports online at weather.com and iwindsurf.com for Garrison. To pick your days to go up.

The lake reminds me of LOTW last year it got truned up and got dirty and the ice fishing sucked. I hope this does not happen here.

[bigeyes]

Listen to the weather guys? That is crazy talk Anyway, I know how that goes, if I start planning my trips around weather, I will end up making excuses to stay in a warm bed or enjoy a fire and good meal, plus what is the odds those guys are actually right!

[minnesotatuff]

the reason i got my dream boat is so when i could get everything together to make a trip the weather wouldnt make a difference. ive been wanting/planning on going tomorrow...my fishing partner called a bit ago and canceled. i still might go by myself.

regards,

minnesotatuff

[18 inch Crappie]

You never know he could be a hot she.

[Mykal]

GO get 'em "D". Bigeyes I know you aren't hanging it up yet. The Nov full moon will be calling your name.

[Dhenry]

Hey M, I think I'm headed up tomorrow night (sat.) and may have an open seat if you are interested. I'll probably be leaving at apporx. 4:00 from the cities.

[Mykal]

Thanks for the invite, but I have Captain duties. Tim and I will be heading up Sat and Sun nights. We will be staying up there somewhere. Give me a call and we'll meet up.

[Dhenry]

I'll call you guys on my way up tomorrow.