Well after a nasty spring in Red Wing, and a winter that just wont give up this week was a welcome change and hopefully an indicator of whats instore for the summer.
Mitch and myself hit the cool dirty water of Lake Traverse lookin for that prespawn pig thats eluded me all spring. On the water at 8am we found temps to be right around 50, which led me to beleive that the “Big Show” was just coming to an end and the post spawn bite should be right around the corner. It wasnt long and I got the confirmation I was after, a big male milting all over the boat! We ran cranks most of the morning with a limit of nice eaters to show for it but no big fish.
As with most eye anglers Im obsessed with those BIG fat walleyes and after a quik change in location and rods we were hoghuntin! My second cast I ha that tell tale thump and it was on,a quick chase ensued but in the end I was the victor hoisting a 29 3/4 inch TANKER form the net. Just minutes later Mitch was up to bat and the result was much the same! I had told him that I could break his PB for him and I lied… But I was close as he landed a SOLID 28 inch bruiser. around 3 we lunch/napped for 3 hours before hitting the nite bite. Instantly upon hitting the water again we were blessed to double our days catch in a bout 2 hours before the bite died. All total we boated a conservative 20 to 25 fish.
Day 2 is always a sad day when you know your headin home later in the day. the powers above both blessed us and made it harder by giving us a day that doesnt often happen on the fringe of the Dakota wind tunnel! Flat glass water for almost 20 miles, what a dream. We were able to run every where and hit a bunch more “spots” before heading home. Yet again we were graced with a mid 20 numbers game but no big fish.
The average size fish was well over 4 pounds, we filled our limits with 19 to 19 3/4 inch fish and with 2 bigger 23 inch males getting the knife. Hands down the best producer was a jig and minnow combo, bigger the minnow the better as many of our fish left their lunch in my live well that consisted of 4 to 7 inch white bass and sheepheads. As stated the tems were between 50 and 51 the spawn is just finishing up. Clartiy was between 1 and 1.5 feet. The water is still high but has dropped back into the lakes banks for the most part but she is still brimming. A heads up to anyone heading out bring bigger minnows if you can find them!!!!!!! Also like to throw a big thanks out to the Wheaton Inn for the more than freindlyservice and the nice rooms at a great rate :thumbsup:
