Pies and Eyes

Wrapped up a Guys trip to a lake we cut our teeth on in college a week or so ago. The stars aligned and the fishing was great.

After drilling up and down the lake scratching a fish or two out of the shallows, we zoned in on a sharp inside turn adjacent to some brush underwater. Set a mine field of Finicky Foolers and hunkered down in our hubs. Crappies at prime time and walleyes all day long. Perch are good eaters (Big Stone size) but not what we were after. We managed 2 dozen crappies over 14” and 2 over 15”. Walleyes were great eaters, thick shoulders. Kept fish the first couple of days, CPRed the last couple.

In short, ND fish are built superior to MN fish. Good luck as the fishing picks up!

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Looks like a great time!

ganderpike wrote:

In short, ND fish are built superior to MN fish.

But we drink better bourbon in MN.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Looks like a great time!

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>ganderpike wrote:</div>
In short, ND fish are built superior to MN fish.

But we drink better bourbon in MN.

No argument there!

Took my last ice trip of the season, trying to time it up the warm temps. Ice deteriorating much faster in ND than MN. Fished a shallow slough that was assumed “dead” from previous pressure earlier in the season. Everyone left at dusk, but with the clearish water I had a hunch there may be some night bite action. I was right and it was lights out. Probably 50 walleye, about half were 10-14”. Others were 19-24”. Finicky Foolers produced, keying in on weeds was necessary as well.

Peak snow geese migration as well! 1000’s overhead at any minute.

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I think it’s time for me to buy a ND fishing license.

The walleyes yesterday didn’t get the February doldrums memo. Aggressive and full of frogs. A little scouting to get ready for the late ice/March bite and it’s looking like it should be a good one.

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Definitely jealous. I’ve been exploring some sloughs with my brother this winter and had OK success. Some eyes and perch. He’s traded MN spots with me as we are on opposite sides of the boarder.
Took an ND fishing break for Upper Red Lake this weekend and absolutely smoked the eyes, crappie, and bonus perch.