Headed up for the Sturgeon Excursion?

I just returned from an April 15 – 18 trip to Wheeler’s Point. The bite was slow with almost all the fish being very small by sturgeon standards. Our group of seven only caught two fish over 40″ for the trip. One 51″ and one 53 1/2″ and that was it. The number of fish was definitely down with about 25 total for the trip. If you could see 50 boats, there would be plenty of times that not a one had a fish on. Beginners luck gave the most to the only rookie among us but that is obviously OK. My friend El Roy caught the big one and it was a beautiful specimen that I hope spawns this year.

Best bets for fish – the channel in Four Mile Bay from midnight until noon. If the wind makes that impossible, the deep holes in front of the resorts, same time frame. Use some care about the border. There did not appear to be any enforcement presents at all as there did appear to be boats fishing in Canadian waters from time to time. The fine for doing that without a Remote Area Border Crossing pass is $1,000.

We had great fun on the trip, the weather was beautiful, particularly the sunrise and sunset.

It was great to see all the small fish, I can only imagine how good the fishing is going to be in 50 years.

Be safe and enjoy.

Was there same time frame and we did well in The Gap, especially Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. We had one GIANT that was at 68″ but most were in that 45 – 55″ range. Check out Wigwam’s website. JP got some shots of our group on there in his daily fishing reports and Catch of the Day.

Good luck to those going this weekend. I would if I could but off to Chi-town for business.

Our group of 3 had 12 fish over 50. 57 was the biggest. Bunch in the 40’s too. Just go back late last night. Pics and video later! Get ready to do the Sturgeon dance again this weekend too!!

-J

Thanks for the report! Man I’m stoked to get up there.

So you did some night fishing then? Wouldn’t mind trying that a bit this year.

Goldy, you mean the Gap way out by the island? That 68 is a beast!!

Wasnt it kinda of blowy in 4 mile bay and the gap this weekend. Would of liked to fished those areas but decided to fish in the river and try to stay out of the wind a little. Would love to see a photo of the 68.

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Goldy, you mean the Gap way out by the island? That 68 is a beast!!

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Yes, Lighthouse Gap. Wind wasn’t bad at all Friday afternoon through yesterday but would have been difficult, if not impossible, to fish on Thursday and even Friday morning. We fished the river some toward’s Schuster’s but all the fish were little.

The 68″ is on Wigwam’s website under “Catch of the Day”. When I saw that fish come along side the boat, my heart stopped for a second and then the high fives started.

You look kinda…happy Lonnie!

Link to Catch of the Day at Wigwam<<<

The smile is still that big today! Words can’t exsplain it. The guys did a great job of fish wrangling it into the boat.
Lonnie

If that’s your first sturgeon ever, you are spoiled for life. What a tank of a fish. Did you get girth so you can gestimate weight?

Between 27 and 28″ girth.

I posted this under the Mike W report. Here is something to look forward to! Cant wait! Oh yea, wouldn’t want to be in the bay early Friday, man was it windy!!

Mike B had the hot stick. Good fishing with ya!

Here is a video of Mike B with our first “Good One” of the trip Friday morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiY7oPruVnE

As Mike W mentions, we make a move and head away from the other groups of boats and hit a spot up river where I had put a fish or two in the boat before. The move pays off! She was a little windy and cold for the start of the trip, but a fish like this one sure warms ya up! After that, its just a matter of finding other spots around with the same depth and current flow. Good Luck every one. Can’t wait to get back up next weekend!!!

-J.

Great Job!!!!!!

We fished the 15th-17th as well. The heavy wind restricted where everybody fished on Thurs/Friday. I think the 2.5 days of fishing yielded 20+ sturgeon between our 4 boats, many which were in the 40” range, a couple >50, and two 60”ers . I personally only caught smaller fish, but I still have just as good of a time watching my friends real in hogs, several of which where 1st-timers to the Rainy.

I wish I wasn’t chained to work and school otherwise I would be back up there this weekend! Good luck.

Today’s update:

Off to a very slow start getting on the water today.

Picked up our crawlers at Adrians and was very very happy. There was hardly an inch of dirt in the flat! Solid crawlers.

Finally on the water at the first place captured from the LakeMaster Contour Pro software. We spent too much time there and in the wind.

The only fish caught there was a almost 4 pound walleye that the FW wouldn’t let me take a photo of her with. She said something about not marring her reputation. I have to respect that.

We watched a less than 50 incher caught in the next capture on the way out. We spent 45 minutes without a nibble on ur way back in…so we moved on.

I can’t post the Contour Pro image of the next and last spot because I was invited over by an Ido’er that will remain nameless at this time…until after the contest.

He said we were there too late in the day, but the FW still pulled in three fish…not photo worthy but action none the less.

The third capture is where I’ll be starting out the morning and I’m thinking the FW will be staying in the warm Wigwam cabin until she warms up a little. But I’m dedicating this trip for her to beat her PB of 46 inches…and hopefully Thursday so I don’t have to worry about it the rest of the trip!

BTW if someone tells you they need a chemlight battery or a stamp to fish Lake of the Woods…don’t fall for it!!

What chip is that Brian? What is the red line on the images? Last question. In front of the landing and resorts is the border the middle of the channel or does it cut threw the marsh on the Canadian side?

My chart shows 68 X 27 or 28 to be 76 – 80#. Great fish! State record is currently listed as 94#.

It’s not a chip Mike, it’s LakeMaster’s Contour Pro software for Lake of the Woods. It’s like having a LakeMaster Chip in your computer. Pre fishing from the comfort of our cabin while the FW watches Married with Children reruns.

The red line is the US/Canadian boundary.

The blue shaded area are spots with the depth of 40 to 45 feet which are the deepest in this selected area.

The screen capture below is from the resorts just up stream or South of Wheelers Point. Hope that helps.

Todays Update:

Well, the FW is looking for a guide today.

So far she’s boated a walleye, a rock bass, a number of sturgeon less than 37 inches AND a bullhead around 14 inches. All that’s left today is an eelpout!

To top it off, Chappy’s boat with less than two hours of time on the water chased and boated a 65 incher AT THE LANDING just a few blocks from where we were fishing. They were fishing hole at the top of the screen shown in blue.

Chappy’s Sturgeon Virgin brother Paul, will never be the same!