Reports?

I’ve talked to 2 guys different groups (1 north and 1 south), both are doing very well. I’m home with the kids

Critcal,, Get this. I had a work thing in Brainerd Friday and Sat. We stayed at Maddens right on the lake, last night some of the guys played poker well into the night. After I won the thing, I ran down to the dock for some rap casting, no luck, maybe cause i was a little tipsy and fishing in a foot of water but hey, I can say I got out on the opener. Although we golfed 2 times (I busted an 88 at The Classic!!), it was tearing me up as well not being able to fish.

I heard a few reports of guys doing well today, although they were not fishing the pond. Hopfully I can make it out tomorrow.

I just got back from Mille Lacs. We launched near Big Point at 3:30am and stayed out until 6pm. North sand was okay for us, but not on fire. Water temps were 47-48 initially and warmed to 50+ by the end of the day. The bite really improved as the water temp broke 50. We finished the day with our limit of 12 17-20″ Walleyes and 3 bonus jumbo perch. Lindy rigged leech was what they wanted today. Largest fish today was 27″.

As predicted, I sat and observed one of the biggest opening day crowds ever, from my perch 68 ft. above the north shore.

Saturday reports from the north end varied as usual. The better fishermen did well and the rest got a handful. I think everyone got some fish…

So this morning, I looked out at the big southeast wind crashing in on the shore and recalled an early season morning such as this, when I was about ten years old.

That morning….I caught the limit for several people scheduled to fish on my dads launch….while they ate breakfast. I stood on the shore casting a bobber into the mouth of our harbor. 2 ft. of dirty of water. I sold them their limit for 50 cents per fish! Those outlaws were filled out BEFORE they left the dock!

So today I just HAD to do it. I had some leeches left from the last tourney in WI. The bobber rods were already rigged.

With spray from the waves already running off my glasses…I made my first cast into Mille Lacs for the ’07 season. And a fat 22″er ate the leech immediately! Game on boys. 20 minutes later….wet shoes and all, I walked back to the house with 4 nice 16-17.5″ walleyes. And released another 21″er in the process. All this while 3 boats passed through the mouth of the harbor enroute for where the walleyes were. It was funny to see the look on their faces as I hoisted a nice fish over the rocks and the crashing waves. People sitting in the Myr Mar Marina bar watched the show…as they planned their days fishing from their boat.

That’s MY report!lol

I also am a shore bound harbor fisherman and been doing quite well fishing at night, although I haven’t landed a bigger fish in the protected slot; All eaters for me so far.

I’ve been using a #12 Glass Purple Perch Husky Jerk and last night I missed a couple and caught a cigar on a minnow under a lighted bobber. Hope this SE wind keeps up.

The wind laid down on Sunday night and so my jerk bait bite was gone with the wind. Leeches under lighted bobbers caught a fish every now and again for us shore anglers, with plenty of missed bites. I managed 1 fish for the night.

My Dad came out with me and all he caught was a bullhead that bled all over me when I took the hook out. Dad missed several bites on the night.

Monday night the Jetty fishing got worse despite the fact that there was a good chop with the North wind. I caught a few small perch and had 1 miss that I’m pretty sure was a walleye. I only saw 2 eyes caught.

Monday was pretty good until about 11:00 am. Lots of fish in the 16 inch range and more over. Best opener for fish and weather in years.

Fished the SE of the lake all day Saturday. Pulled a dozen eyes between two of us. Most were 17-18″, couple cigars, and a few 24-26″. All caught bobber fishing w/ leeches, drifting over some rocks.

Heard on the radio, and can’t confirm, but someone said they caught a 35″ and was having it checked out at DNR. Any truth? or just joking around?

I heard that as well – I was also wondering how true it was

I think it started out as a 30 incher..

Up there it is always good to believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see!

That rumor was running around, and no one had seen it.

4-16-07 Went out with my Dad on an Eddy’s Launch. We headed North into Vineland, 10ft hard bottom. The action didn’t really start until about 8PM. My Dad and I got 5 Keepers, 1 over and 3 cigars along with some perch. For the 13 people on the launch there were 20+ keepers caught with about 6 overs. It was an enjoyable trip as the wind died down as it got dark.

Eddy’s had 3 launches out. 1 did better than us and 1 did significanly worse.

I will probably be back at the Jetty tonight.