TillrLife – thanks for the tips. We are staying at a cabin that our in-laws own on Knaus Lake. Seems like a very shallow body of water. Not sure for fishing on that particular lake? Also, not being familiar and we will only have a boat with a 40HP motor on it, would it be better to trailer to Horseshoe or Cedar Island than boating my way there? Thanks for the help! I’ll stay in touch.
Oh no, you’ll be completely fine. The chain is very well marked and there only a few water hazards to be aware of, which are marked.
The County Rd 49 bridge is a good place to start fishing. There’s a couple holes immediately down stream from the bridge which can hold fish. Also, both neck downs as you leave Knaus and head into Krays has two great places to fish. There a plenty of places to fish pretty close to your area. Schneiders is good for panfish; both Gills and Crappie. You’ll notice the water on Schneiders is mcuh clearer than the adjacent, so just adjust for that. And there is a great weed line to fish just as you leave the no wake zone going into the lake. And you can always stop for a drink and a snack at Shady’s. Bolfing lake is also often overlooked, and can have a great crappie bite. There’s a large rock pile that is exposed in Knaus that I would try if the wind is from the NW.
TillrLife – Thanks!
Gerty,
I haven’t fished it near as much the past 10 years or so but I grew up on Bolfing Lake and my parents still live there. I traveled the whole chain in a 14′ alumacraft with a 9.9 so your rig will be fine. That time of year I am sure it will be busy and I would be targeting bass, pike and panfish or even cats if that is what you are into I usually wrapped up walleye fishing in early to mid June until the late fall. Your plan with weed edges is sound and you can also get eyes fishing for bass/pike. Trolling the weed lines can also be an easy way to pickup fish and cover ground.
CBMN – Thanks!
Walleye fishing on the chain is still very good.
I fished for them Saturday and Sunday mornings, until about noon. I caught 35 on Sat and 40 on Sun. Unfortunately none were over 17″, but all were released. I also tried weed lines with swim baits and only found pike. I will try again this weekend see if I can located the bigger eyes.
I did see bass were started to cruise the shallows. So, they maybe starting the spawn soon.
Photo is of the walleyes I found stacked up.
IMG_1467-scaled.jpg
It took a bit more effort to find walleye this weekend, but they’re still willing to bite pretty regularly.
I found walleye hanging off the weed edge, 12-15FOW. And also found suspended gills at those same depths with walleye/pike under them.
Everything has been jigging, but I think I’ll be giving up on jigging for the summer and start the tossing slip bobbers.
The swimbait bite seems to have completely shutdown for some odd reason.
I see a lot of guys trolling live bait rigs, not sure on their success ratio.
How’s the catfishing been? Our rivers are about to spill over the banks and I might need an alternative. 
How’s the catfishing been? Our rivers are about to spill over the banks and I might need an alternative.
I don’t normally try for catfish much during the summer months, I normally save them for hard water. And the walleye fishing has been so good this year that I’ve had no real reason to change species.
You can really get after cats in Late June Early July when they spawn, water temps in the mid 70s. There will be huge schools of them cruising the shallow bay by my cabin. All you honestly need is a slip bobber and wax worms and you’ll have a hay day.
Well, it’s been a while since I made an update.
Last weekend I found large schools of suspended Crappie. Both on Long Lake and Horseshoe. It didn’t take much to locate them on SI. And they were easy to pick off once you located them.
Kids and wind made boat control pretty fun.
Water temps were still in the low 70s. I might venture up river this weekend and drag a jig and minnow/crawler.
Had a buddy out there earlier this week checking some of our fall walleye location. Nothing yet. The water is still to warm for that normal fall bite pattern. That pattern kicks in once the water temps get near the mid 60’s water temps. Better yet in the low 60’s and upper 50’s. He did also say he saw a fair # of larger school of suspended crappies. Good time of year to get a few meals of them
Had a buddy out there earlier this week checking some of our fall walleye location. Nothing yet. The water is still to warm for that normal fall bite pattern. That pattern kicks in once the water temps get near the mid 60’s water temps. Better yet in the low 60’s and upper 50’s. He did also say he saw a fair # of larger school of suspended crappies. Good time of year to get a few meals of them
Yep, I agree. We should see the temps start to drop later into next week.
Are you the guy that likes to throw soft jerk baits in the sand flats in the fall? You’re welcome to PM, but I did find a couple smaller schools of walleye. I’m assuming you fish the east end? I will check this weekend as well, and report back with what I find.
I maybe only have one weekend left at the cabin, then we shut it down. But, I will continue fish until around Thanksgiving.
You’re welcome to PM
Check you PM’s
I got out on Saturday.
River water temp was 48*, main lake was 52*.
I found large schools of perch, and checked the typical neck down areas for this time of year.
I should have concentrated on locating green weeds. Found that out just before I got off the water.
Oh well.
I should have concentrated on locating green weeds. Found that out just before I got off the water.
Oh well.
When FFS can find only the green weeds then it should be banned.
Anybody know what the bigger sizes of Muskies caught in the chain the past few years have been? with so much rough fish to feed on in the chain you’d think those larger adult fish stalked in 2011-2012 would be getting close to 50″ by now if not caught already…
Not totally sure how big they have caught out there, But I have had a few follow that I would guess in the low to mid 40’s for sure. We usually manage a few of them each fall when fishing Jerkbaits for bass or walleyes. Most of the ones we have managed to catch are in the mid to upper 30’s. But like I said I’ve had follows from some slightly larger fish.
When FFS can find only the green weeds then it should be banned.
Green(Live) weeds can easily be found with SI.
Fishthumper, any chance you were out on the Chain on Friday November 8th in a Crestliner?
needed to go the Richmond. Thyens lake is froze over, Schneider has open water but think the swans are keeping it open.
rumor has it a fisshouse and a guy on a pail was fishing on becker yesterday. i’ll take a cruise during the week to check out horseshoe!!!!
The lake my parents live on on the East end finally froze up yesterday as the swans and ducks were keeping it open.
Fishthumper, any chance you were out on the Chain on Friday November 8th in a Crestliner?
Cant remember that date for sure but its a real good chance. If it was a black and silver crestliner with a 150 Merc. good chance it was us.
needed to go the Richmond. Thyens lake is froze over, Schneider has open water but think the swans are keeping it open.
rumor has it a fisshouse and a guy on a pail was fishing on becker yesterday. i’ll take a cruise during the week to check out horseshoe!!!!
Hard to believe only 1 week ago we had out last open water outing out there.
There was a guy sitting on a pail beneath the Sartell Dam this morning. I told my son on Saturday someone would be fishing there in a couple days and sure enough.
There was a guy sitting on a pail beneath the Sartell Dam this morning. I told my son on Saturday someone would be fishing there in a couple days and sure enough.
Always see people fishing there. Often rather close to open water. Anyone know what they are catching there? Walleye and some SM bass would be my guess.
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