Fishing the big lake: Lake Menomin

Lake seems pretty big when your boat is one of the only ones on it. We all know lake Menomin gets green, but what most people don’t realize is the majority of the time only one half of the lake is green at one time when a wind blows from a constant direction for a sustained period of time. This leaves the “other half” with 2-5 feet of water clarity—just stay away from the bays, they never clear up. We ventured out Saturday night and headed out to the “clear water” and put the smackin’ on some big gill’s. Overall on the night somewhere between 35-50 were caught between two guys and many times it was the ole chinese firedrill with each of us having 3 rods in the water. Most fish averaged 1/2 pound with the largest of the night pushing between 3/4’s and 1 pound. One small walleye, 14 inches, one yellow perch and one 12 inch crappie hit the net as well. All fish came out of 9FOW on basic bobber rigs, for me, this rig is always the same. 4lb test sensation, #8 gold aberdeen hook and rigged either as a slip bobber or stationary. I recently have been using a Rocket bobber that can go either as a slip or stationary—thing casts a mile. Otherwise, thill makes a great float and their pro series have a brass grommet, which your line will not cut thru. Just remember, that in this lake these fish (including bluegills) move, yesterday’s spot may not be good tomorrow-so keep looking and hit the “clean side of the lake”. If one pays attention to the wind direction, you can predict when your spots will be “fishable”.

Good luck and good fishing!

Doc

P.S. For some reason the camera still is not in the boat, I was chewed on for this for Sunday’s pool 4 trip as well.

Thanks for the update Doc. Last time out Pete and I were testing out our new “shorty” leadcore rods. Got a few whites and pike. I heard from a good source that the bite was picking up. As far as the water, it doesn’t have that green slime on it this year.
I have been too busy working the dogs to get hardcore time on the water.

Someday I might try and figure the gills out on this lake,

I’ll be back in town in a couple more weeks

I think the lake still is overall very consistant with the summer bite. Biggest thing to overcome is the roaming nature of the fish. This makes it a here today, gone tomorrow that can be forever frustrating and lead to the
“dead sea” mentality. Poking a little fun at myself,surely it is not a dead sea if I can go out there a catch ’em . Don, your right, the “green slick” was not present, but I’d recommend sticking with the main lake stuff as the bays are beyond horrible. A spot of good news is the fish caught (which were very few) with evidence of sores were pretty much healed up and doing good. Hopefully, this means it was columnaris(sp?) that Jason H. had predicted earlier this year.

Doc