I’m not sure this is a true 8 lber but my god is that a big bass.
It weight 8.09 I think but it has been said they didn’t zero the basket out of the weight last year so who knows. Either way, it’s a 7+ and a crazy big bass.
31E01188-83F8-444A-9297-2AB7A9A4CC8C.png
Unbelievable… on Tonka too. Wow!
I spoke to a few guys who fished the tourney and they said everything was weighing about 3/4 a lb. Heavy. But that still makes the fish around 7.25. Still a REALLY BIG fish.
Why does that lake have so many 5+ pounders, very interesting
Why does that lake have so many 5+ pounders, very interesting
Lots of places to hide and LOTS of food.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Charles wrote:</div>
Why does that lake have so many 5+ pounders, very interestingLots of places to hide and LOTS of food.
^^^^^ This. The genetics of the bass must also be good. Even though that lake gets a lot of pressure, like mahtofire said there are lots of places for those fish to hide and grow. As good as it is, it use to be even better. Its probably down some from what it use to be.
I once saw a 7.8 weighed in at a tourney at Prior lake back in the late 80’s or early 90’s. I still remember how big that fish looked. There is a noticeable difference between a 5 and a 7 Lb. fish. You would not know it today, but there was a time where Prior lake was probably one of if not the best bass lake in Minnesota. It was even better then than Minnetonka. It use to take a 4.5-5 Lb. average to cash a check in tourneys out there and there use to be a LOT of tourneys out there. No one is sure what caused the decline in the lake. Over the years there has been times when it looked like it was starting to recover but then would fall back off again. Its sad that its never returned to even close to what it was in the 80’s and early 90’s
As good as it is, it use to be even better. Its probably down some from what it use to be.
Definitely not as good as it used to be 20 years ago. I grew up about 5 miles from the east basin. Bass and muskies were relatively easy to catch back then. Nowadays its like pulling teeth. The water is also noticeably clearer than it used to be, which likely is driving fish deeper and making it tougher too. The amount of bass fishing competition obviously isn’t helping either.
I won’t even fish out there between Memorial Day and Labor Day anymore unless we get a rainy day (which has been rare this summer here). The boat traffic is awful and the public accesses is amateur hour. IMO there are much better options in the area with far less pressure that can produce quality fish.
Whether its a 7 or 8 pound bass, its a tank regardless of where its from. I’ve never seen a fish even close to that size here in MN in my lifetime.
The water is also noticeably clearer than it used to be, which likely is driving fish deeper and making it tougher too. The amount of bass fishing competition obviously isn’t helping either.
My old fishing buddies who I use to fish a lot with on Tonka tell me I would not believe how much it has changed in the last 4-5 years out there. They tell me almost all my old waypoints that use to be on the weed edge are now probably 20-30 Yards inside the weed edge. That is how much effect the clearer water has made out there. They tell me the part of the lake they use to call the dirty side is now much clearer than what the clear water side once was. The amount of fish being caught flipping jigs into the heavy milfoil is also way less. Every once in awhile I miss fishing out there, but not often.
Every once in awhile I miss fishing out there, but not often.
I don’t miss fishing out there in the summer months. I still go out there in the spring to crappie fish and in the fall to muskie fish. There’s far less people and boats outside of the peak summer months.
The public access at Gray’s Bay is seriously the nicest public access I have ever seen though. I remember when it used to be a private marina with a dirt access years ago. What a nice transformation the DNR did there.
Gim, take a day off sometime and go on a weekday morning. Plenty enjoyable. And just find the milfoil out there and you’ll find the bass.
Back years ago when I lived down in the cities, I left in 99, Mtka was so much fun to fish, I was lucky enough to fish weekdays and in the early am no issues at the ramp or on the water, the public access at grays bay was right at the dam which led into Minehaha creek. It was so much fun, I love panfish, and Tonka rarely let me down.
the public access at grays bay was right at the dam which led into Minehaha creek
That’s a park now. It only has access for carry in like with a canoe or kayak.
I recently just read that they shut the dam off because the water is so low on the lake right now. There is no water flowing into Minnehaha Creek because its been so dry since June 1.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
