Minnetonka

I’m going to hit Minnetonka for the first time on Saturday. Having never fished it before (on open water), does anyone have any advice on where to launch or which areas of the lake might be most likely to raise a few muskies?

I’m not looking for GPS coordinates or anything, just a general part of the lake, types of structure, or even maybe a bay that’s a known hot spot. It’s a big lake and it’s pretty intimidating for someone who generally only fishes smaller waters.

Thanks.

Just thought I would inform you that the Minnetonka Classic Bass fishing tournament is that day so there will be around 120 bass boats whipping around on that lake.

If you still want to go! Brown’s Bay houses some giants.

Quote:

---

I’m going to hit Minnetonka for the first time on Saturday.

---

Don’t worry guys, I just called 911 to get some help for IH. He’s obviously suffering some kind of total mental breakdown or something.

IH if you’re out there laying on the floor and thinking about how much fun it would be to fish Minnetonka on a weekend in the summer and during a bass tournament, taking up fishing for sheepshead, or other totally whacked out [censored], don’t do it man! Just lie there. Help is on the way!

I hope he can hang on, guys.

Grouse

Thanks for the heads up, guys. I didn’t realize there was a bASS tourney going on. I think I’ll steer clear of there. I’d most likely end up sunk or in jail after I got mad and flipped over some guy’s truck.

I would head over to Waconia…

Quote:

---

I would head over to Waconia…

---

Isn’t that going to be a zoo as well?

All that means is there’s going to be 240 guys that think they’re fishing the bassmasters classic with a shot at 500,000$ If Muskie guys didn’t fish Tonka because of some clown bass tourny we’d never get on the lake. It’s a huge lake with enough room for everyone

The fish relate to the weed edges on that lake. (hint about 12-15 fow)

Quote:

---

The fish relate to the weed edges on that lake. (hint about 12-15 fow)

---

So do the bass so this makes for the same spots being fished for both muskie and bass.

I fished it on the opener last year. We were at the launch at about 6am and had the lake to ourselves for a while. It’s pretty cool being on tonka with no other boats around. The big boat traffic is little lighter on the west side, by afternoon the traffic will really pick up and that sucks the fun out. It’s amazing how many people are ripping around out there in $20k+ boats with no boating sense (example: my brother in law – see previous posts about him launching said boat).

Quote:

---

All that means is there’s going to be 240 guys that think they’re fishing the bassmasters classic with a shot at 500,000$ If Muskie guys didn’t fish Tonka because of some clown bass tourny we’d never get on the lake. It’s a huge lake with enough room for everyone

---

It may be a big lake with plenty of room – but it still only has so many landing spaces – with the addition of 120 or more bass boats on the lake the landings will fill rather fast.

Quote:

---

It may be a big lake with plenty of room – but it still only has so many landing spaces – with the addition of 120 or more bass boats on the lake the landings will fill rather fast.

---

My plan is to be on the water by sun up, so I don’t think it should be an issue.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

All that means is there’s going to be 240 guys that think they’re fishing the bassmasters classic with a shot at 500,000$ If Muskie guys didn’t fish Tonka because of some clown bass tourny we’d never get on the lake. It’s a huge lake with enough room for everyone

---

It may be a big lake with plenty of room – but it still only has so many landing spaces – with the addition of 120 or more bass boats on the lake the landings will fill rather fast.

---

Muskie fishermans alarm clocks go off a lot earlier than those of bass fishermen hey bassheads have fun finding a parking spot

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

It may be a big lake with plenty of room – but it still only has so many landing spaces – with the addition of 120 or more bass boats on the lake the landings will fill rather fast.

---

My plan is to be on the water by sun up, so I don’t think it should be an issue.

---

We are all taking off from Spring Park Bay and parking at the Sheriff’s area so parking spots will not be filled up. All I would say is do not go out of Cooks that is where we will be weighing in.

I also fish for muskies and I think you will be fine out there. Go check out Brown’s Bay

I would launch before 4am to get a decent parking spot and not come back till after dark. Otherwise You would be sitting waiting at the boat launch for a hr or two. But its entertainment watching the city people at the landing i never had a issue muskie fishing on that lake plenty of room for everyone but with all the boat traffic comes the weeds on the suface so keep that tip under water at all times. Tonka is mainly a night lake

If you’re serious about learning the lake and fishing it in the future, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to hire John Hoyer or Ben Olsen as a guide. You will cut down the learning curve tremendously. You’ll learn more in one day with either of those guys than most people would in a year on their own.

Go to Waconia, There’s no muskies in Tonka

I’ve only fished it once on a weekend, and I won’t make that mistake again. It’s a fun lake to fish, with lots of types of structure, and different water clarities depending on where you fish.

Anyone hit Waconia? We hit it on the afternoon and it was slow, despite hooking into 2 bass on my first 2 casts at one spot. Total combined weight would have been lucky to be 3 lbs. There were plenty of musky guys chucking big baits too.

Quote:

---

Go to Waconia, There’s no muskies in Tonka

---

I’m beginning to think that all of the lakes I fish are void of muskies.

Muskies suck.