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Advice Needed


SEwalleye

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Alright everyone - lets hear your $.02. I am looking at planning some sort of fishing excursion the weekend of April 21st. Looking at a 3-day trip - nothing too expensive, and want to stay within 6-8 hours of the cities. Boat (16 ft Lund) or no boat doesn't matter. Other than that, the sky is the limit.

Where would you go and what would you do? Also, not set on a specific species. Thanks for the suggestions in advance!!

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A nice place to go is Gunflint Pines campground. It's on Gunflint lake which on one side is MN and other is Canada. Max motor is 25 hp i think and lots of smallies, walleye and pike. they have guide service available and you can find them on the web. also they have nice hiking trails, that are actually hikes, with sweet bluffs and views. I was there last summer for the first time and will make it my annual summer trip. Its run by a family and all are nice and accommodating. Good pricing too. Check it out.

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Winthrop Harbor on Lake Michigan for Coho's, gauranteed limits that time of year over there for some of the charters.

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ocf -

Table Rock is at least 11 hours (more like 12-13) south but an excellent choice (I'll be there in 6 weeks) for both bass and crappie. A little closer is Lake of the Ozarks or Truman Reservoir (9-10 hrs) but I cannot think of anything closer. Weather should be awesome down there by then.

Daze Off

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You can try Roy lake or Enemy Swims in South Dakota. Roy lake lodge is a nice place to base out of. Or Okoboji and Spirit lakes in Iowa. I would pick Okoboji in Iowa. It's close, crappies/sunfish should be easy pickings in the canals and bass should be active by then.

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don't rule out a good south east mn trout stream weekend. makes for great camping and hiking as well. some of the small rivers may also be turning on for smallies then(if not too swollen) cool.gif

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How about driving down to Winona or La Crosse and fishing the 'sippi? Lots of water and lots of species choices.

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What about a trip to the rainy river. Excellent walleye fishing and possibly some sturgeon.

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I agree with End Of The Line. I have a charter scheduled for that weekend out of Winthrop Harbor. The little cohoeys will be jumpin' into the boat! Maybe get a few browns and steelhead, too. Yep, almost guaranteed limits, weather permitting. Yum, yum! Bright orange lil salmoons. Nice way to start the season.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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