Minnesota Real Opener

With the REAL fishing opener this Sat. Where is everyone headed? What stage do you expect to find the fish in? What baits and patterns do you expect to use? I’m going to fish a small lake in the South Metro that I’ve never fished before but have heard good reports about. I’m guessing that for the most part the fish will still be mostly in Pre-spawn due to the delayed spring that we have had. There may be a few fish up shallow but I don’t think to many females will be up yet. I think I’ll mostly be targeting the Inside weedlines ( If there is one )Mostly throwing a rattletrap and maybe a few stickworms (Senko’s). Well Best of luck to everyone heading out this weekend!!!!

How come your “real” opener is two weeks later than the walleye opener? Can’t handle the cold?
DT

Real fish don’t have an opener…

I’ll be headed to the old Miss at my old stomping grounds for some spawning smallies. A great spot right under everyone’s noses.

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I’ll be headed to the old Miss at my old stomping grounds for some spawning smallies.

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At best you will be hitting the tail end of it, that is if it isn’t over.
The smallies are spawned out on pool 8 and the temps all the way up the river look to be just about the same.
This is only from my observation though, and by no means am I a pro

I caught my PB smallie on a slow death hook and a crawler two weeks ago. Should be interesting to see if they have moved yet. Will have a boat full so many presentations will be tried.

The Largemouth are spawning in droves right now….this was the probably the biggest push of spawners I’ve seen to date…I caught one saturday that was fanning a bed…I watched him do it for a bit before I threw in there..It was awesome…Each day draws us closer and closer to post spawn. As far as smallies – they’ve eluded me all spring …but agree, they are probably done as well…

I’m headed to Leech Friday night. This is my third year for the “real opener” on Leech and I have a real hard time locating the bass. I guess I’ll have to try deeper water as well. I’ll be interested to see what the water temps up there are.
I’ll let you know if I find them.

I was out last thrusday on a small sw metro lake, water temps were in teh low 60s and it didn’t look like the fish where on any beds in any numbers.
with the weatehr that we have had around here lately I would expect the fish to still be getting ready to go= pre-spawn mode mainly.
I will be hitting some lakes in the SW side of the metro and most likely throwing some trap, spinnerbaits, cahtter baits, tubes and/or senkos. Sounds like we might run into each other FishThumper!

Should be a nice opener!

Don’t get me started about why this is so late compared to the other fish opener.

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At best you will be hitting the tail end of it, that is if it isn’t over.
The smallies are spawned out on pool 8 and the temps all the way up the river look to be just about the same.
This is only from my observation though, and by no means am I a pro

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You are probably right. I’m likely catching post spawn fish. I just have a great fishing spot that produces every year. Even more so when the water is high because it is difficult to fish this area.

I like the high water for fishing smallies also Go get em

I’ll be on my favorite south-East Metro lake at the crack of dawn, and I’ll be using a fly rod.

The question is whether or not to try any top waters. Usually I don’t have much top water success until I see Dragonflies, and I haven’t seen any yet this spring. I might be dredging Clouser Minnows and weighted Woolly Buggers deep in pre-spawn cover areas.

Rootski

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I’ll be on my favorite south-East Metro lake at the crack of dawn, and I’ll be using a fly rod.

The question is whether or not to try any top waters. Usually I don’t have much top water success until I see Dragonflies, and I haven’t seen any yet this spring. I might be dredging Clouser Minnows and weighted Woolly Buggers deep in pre-spawn cover areas.

Rootski

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Bass on a fly rod – Thats sounds like a blast. One of these days I’m going to have to give that a try!!!!

real opener?? musky opener??

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real opener?? musky opener??

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I still gotta wait another week for that one.. I cannot wait though!

I will be at Platte/Sullivan where I have been for bass opener since 2003. This year has the added element that I have my first bass club tournament of the year on P/S June 4th. We draw for partners today, so I may end up fishing with whoever that is on Saturday. If not I’ll be out in my boat catching all the fish I can. I won’t think about letting up on and shaking off fish until Sunday.

Something I want to work some confidence in is “Dipper” fishing, even though I don’t have RI Skinny Dippers specifically. I’ll also definitely be throwing topwater, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, chatter jig and some plastics. Maybe some jerkbaits and rattlebaits.