Still a chance that I’ll be up there on Wednesday. Hate to name lakes but I have no choice-looking at: Sugar, Deer, poke’ and Split Hand. Anyone have experience with any of these? Most of these are big well known lakes-would not name a little gem. Looking for walleyes, crappies or SMBs-feel free to pm me—Thanks
Pokeg has walleyes, lots of them, and lots of big ones, but they can be very tricky to catch. It’s one of the most frustrating lakes in the state imo. It’s deep, relatively clear, and is loaded with food – perch and smelt. There’s a big tourney out there next weekend so it will be very busy with people prefishing. It also has a bunch of bass, both brown and green.
Sugar and split are good bets for eaters. Both have good bass populations as well. Splithand has good panfish so if you’re looking for a bass/panfish combo day i would go there. Lots of emergent vegetation the largies like out there.
Deer can very tricky too but does have a lot of smallies and walleyes. It’s super clear so I would fish the walleyes at night.
Winnie is only about 40 mins from GR so keep that as an option too.
I really like Poke’ but I would hate to see it covered with tourney glitter boats. If we went somewhere fished with slip bobbers and caught brown bass during the day and got a few walters in the evening that would be fine-Is Deer the best for that? Thanks Charlie you seem to know that area very well.
Deer would be a good bet for that, yep.
Sugars mid lake rock hump at night casting cd11 countdown perch rapalas was golden. Stumbled upon pokegs big sunfish while searching for eyes with crawlers. The perch in sugar, full of worms.
Deer would be a good bet for that, yep.
would that be the deer lake connected to moose lake???
i’ve never been on either one but have been told one of them lakes has alot of rocks in it. be careful when motoring along is what i’ve been told.
pokey has some football sized smallies in it. i’ve seen some nice fish come out of there. used to help Let’s Go Fishing in grand rapids do a fishing contest out there out of Tioga beach!!!
Thanks for all the great tips! If we go I think Deer will get the call.
I really like Poke’ but I would hate to see it covered with tourney glitter boats. If we went somewhere fished with slip bobbers and caught brown <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass during the day and got a few walters in the evening that would be fine-Is Deer the best for that? Thanks Charlie you seem to know that area very well.
Easiest way to learn the lake drive around and watch the pros fish and what they are doing.
Thanks for all the great tips! If we go I think Deer will get the call.
we expect a pretty detailed fishing report Tim!!!!! 
Didn’t go! Detailed enough? Wish we had, went to the river instead. That was so-so. Try to hit one of those lakes next time. Heard that Walters are going on Bowstring and of course that is a great pannie lake, still if I could go tomorrow it would be Deer.
Didn’t go! Detailed enough? Wish we had, went to the river instead. That was so-so. Try to hit one of those lakes next time. Heard that Walters are going on Bowstring and of course that is a great pannie lake, still if I could go tomorrow it would be Deer.
bummer…….
from what i hear of bowstring…….which is about 8 miles from the cabin………. the walleyes go like crazy the first few weeks of the season then seems to hibernate.
i also am hearing that the water level is pretty low and its extremely tough to launch a boat right now!!!!!
Thanks for all the great tips! If we go I think Deer will get the call.
Friend of mine had a family cabin on Deer a few years back. Said it was a great lake but very dangerous rock “widow makers.” So best to have a good contour chip and take it slow…
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tim hurley wrote:</div>
Thanks for all the great tips! If we go I think Deer will get the call.Friend of mine had a family cabin on Deer a few years back. Said it was a great lake but very dangerous rock “widow makers.” So best to have a good contour chip and take it slow…
EXACTLY what i’ve been told……..and more then once!!!!!
Before I had GPS I was jetting across Whiteface near Duluth, lots of rocks and nothing was marked, a seagull saved my lower unit-I thought: interesting; a seagull STANDING in the middle of the lake, hmmm, might want to slow down!
Fished Big Split Hand Friday,,, pulled a few eyes off the humps. Poke was difficult at best… heard the tournament guys had a tough go of it compared to last year.
Also, lake levels are way down,,,, barely got onto Big Split Hand with a 20′ Ranger. Bass Lake in Coloraine was a “no go”.
Is Bass pretty good? So many nice lakes up there, why does everyone flock to Brainerd?
Is Bass pretty good? So many nice lakes up there, why does everyone flock to Brainerd?
you hush Tim….there fine in brainerd!!!!!!!!!! 
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