Foster Arends Lake

Hit Foster Arends Lake today for a couple hours. I had heard that the lake received a stocking of trout yesterday, so I wanted to see if they were biting. The answer is yes, got some real nice rainbow trout! They hit minnows, waxies, and small jigs with plastic tails.
It was fun to be out on such a nice day!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Mike,

Thanks for the post. I have never fished Foster but have heard about it. I though it sounds like a good place to take the kids for an afternoon – can you tell me how to get there and what the access is like?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

It is an old quary that has become a lake with the DNR stocking trout.

It is located about 1 block north of 37th St. NW. Turn north on East River Road. There is a large parking lot.

You can fish on the dock located on the south shoreline, or fish from shore anywhere around the lake.

My favorite technique is fishing with minnows, power bait, or small jigs tipped with a waxie – all fished below a bobber 3-6 ft. deep.

I went over for about an hour this morning and really did well. A friend and I easily caught more than 15 trout.

Good Fishing,

Mike

Sneaking off to fish again huh?!?!! Thanks for the update Mike. Are you finding the fish closer towards shore or are you casting out as far as it will go? I asume you are finding the fish up off the bottom now since you are using a bobber. Are they ahead of normal this year since they are off the bottom area this early? I use to have to wait until May to get them up that high a few years back.
Thanks, Bill

Yes, today was an excellent sneak attack!
I sometimes find them off the bottom no matter what the time of year is, so can’t really say if it is normal or not. They seem to be 3-5 below the surface right now and about 15-25 ft. off shore. One thing for sure – if you’re not tuned into what they want, you may not catch anything. You need to experiment and try different things until you get the right combination.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Do you carry all the ”right stuff” for catching those trout. Makes more sense to have all the right stuff with me when I’m fishing there as it ups my chances of more action.
Thanks, Bill

Yes, we have a great selection of tackle and all the live bait you might need.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Since you provide everything else do you personally catch the fish for the guys who can’t catch them?

If so, what color did you catch them on for me today?

Just when you are confident about being able to catch those fish, the unthinkable happens! I went over for about 30 minutes tonight after work and got skunked!!! Must be something rubbing off from Jake…

Good Fishing,
Mike

If you think you are in trouble now just wait til Jake starts working for you this summer. Those ”unfish uncatching” skills of his will really rub off on you! Sorry Jake, but a guys got to be honest ya know. So in other words-you went fishing instead of going catching hey.
Care to tell us what you used and the techniques so we know not what to use and how not to catch fish!
Thanks, Bill [the guy you want to do this to ] lol.

come on now bill…….take a look at that TFC……..it’s goin up ya know…….

I knew that post would get you to come out of your hiding place. About your fish count-remember now you can’t count the fish your Dad catches. You never did tell me what kind of boat your Dad bought? Also, I remember you were looking for a canoe or small boat-well theres a 14 ft. boat for sale for 350.00 on the swap and sell forum. No trailer and no motor, just the boat.
Thanks, Bill

well if i can’t count the fish my dad catches you can’t count the fish your son catches

and sense you keep askin……..you’ll be able to find me out and about in the new Mod-V 16′ crestliner w/ a 25hp 4-stroke yahamaha on the back. i plan on being down on the river several days a week this summer……and you can find me on the zum the other several ……i was even throwin around the idea of a 8 pool in 8 days fishing extravaganza sometime this may/june…….but we’ll see how that goes……

P.S. i was lookin for a canoe for my fall duck hunting adventures……but i got that taken care of now

Console or tiller boat? What color boat?

Thanks, Bill

ps. [well if i can’t count the fish my dad catches you can’t count the fish your son catches]

i wouldn’t say that claiming to have caught 37 fish in 2 months as being too much to brag about …….actually, i was kinda looking for sympathy

the boat’s a tiller (the only way to go) and i’d describe the color as a hunter green…….it’ll be the one with ME in it

so you need to remind me what your boat looks like……or did you sell that beast cause you’ve been having way too much fun Y-stickin it at foster

Its a red 2001 Lund Mr. Pike 16 with a black Johnson 90 hp. and a white Johnson 6 hp kicker motor. Still got it. Plan on keeping it forever. But yes it is fun Y-stickin it at Foster. Great way for a couple hour fishin fix in the evening. Plan on getting out there alot more too along with a couple areas on the Zumbro River by Hi-Vee once that area turns on. Will be working some of the LPO Tournament this weekend so won’t be able to get much fishin in til next week.

Thanks, Bill

ps. You said ”you” would be in the boat. Does that mean just you and NO FISH?

yep…..i mean just me, no fish……most of the fish i catch enjoy swiming around in the water a lot more than they like ridin around in the boat with me…..something about gills dryin out or an apparent lack of legs or the raunchy stench i supposedly emmit…..i dunno

but anywho…….good luck working at the LPO this weekend (although you should be fishin it)……i believe i’ll be to busy working for the guy who’s working with you at the tourny to fish also

Sounds good. See ya this weekend.
Thanks, Bill

It’s my fault Mike didn’t catch any fish. I stopped and talked to him and put the hex on his trout catching mojo. Sorry!!

No, that’s why they call it fishing and not catching.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Shhhhhhh !!! Don’t ruin my mystique. I want people to think I’m a bad influence so they leave when i’m around…… more fish for me

AHHHHHHHH!!!! Secrets out now! Mikes got a secret Mojo bait. Mojo must stand for ”more jumbo-trout.” We will all have to keep an eye on him and learn his secrets. Thanks for the ”heads up.”
Thanks, Bill

Tonight was a bit better! Had on 3 trout and all were very large – notice I said “had on” 3 trout. 2 broke my line and 1 came off a few feet from shore, but I got a good look at each one.

Good Fishing,
Mike

i went out tnight too….didn’t see ya out there where were ya fishing?? anyways i fished for trout for about an hour or so then got bored seeing as i had less than a hit so i switched bait and got about 20-30 sunnies.

Hey Ben, what kind of set up did you get the sunnies on? How deep were they?

Hey Mike, I know a place that sells new fishing line and its close to Foster Arends. Its called Hooked On Fishing. Nice people there, they will treat you right. They will even sell you the right equipement to help you bring those trout in. Stop out and see them next time ”before” you go fishing.
Thanks, Bill

Just couldn’t resist Bud.

We are talking BIG trout here Bill! I try to use 2 lb. clear monofilament line because the water is so clear, but I may need to step up to 4 lb.
I was fishing by the swimming beach area.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Now that reply wasn’t so bad. I was expecting a smarta## response to my smarta## post. But Mike, we are talking big trout you say, not panfish. Two lb. line? Wow, you are really fineese fishing for the big gals aren’t you?!! Must be pretty clear water right now if you need 2 lb. line. Look forward to your next report on catching these big gals. The big ones must be hitting now because I have to work the LPO Tournament this weekend hey. But I believe you are too so I will have to get all the details from you this weekend. Guess where you will find me next week? Thanks for the report Bud. See ya this weekend.
Thanks, Bill

PS. Hey Jake, the fish are biting and a weekend is almost here. Heres your chance to up that fish catching count of yours. I look forward to your report on ”how many got away.” Hang in there, better days are coming. Well, for some of us anyway.
Thanks, Bill

Mike what happened??? The line tangle around the tip again?? So that big spinner finally worked huh?

Nope, back to small jigs tipped with waxies. I played each fish well and they either broke or came off right near the shoreline as I was going to reach for them. Kind of frustrating! I re-spooled with 4 lb. line.

Good Fishing,
Mike