Anybody been on or seen any action on Minnetonka?
Planning on heading out Saturday morning, looking for whatever (Bass, Eye’s, Pike, Ski’s, Pannie’s) provides the most action. 
October 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm
#1338945
Minnetonka?
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October 13, 2009 at 2:51 pm #808926
Going there to night.
October 14, 2009 at 3:03 am #809020Spent yesterday afternoon/evening guiding out on Tonka for the elusive walleye… found a few but man was it a cold (and snowy) one out there!
We fished from 2-6pm and landed 6 fish total… 3 fish trolling and 3 fish casting. Also lost several others including probably my personal best walleye
Biggest fish was 23-inches with another one coming in at 22-inches… the rest were under 20.We trolled size 12 and 14 huskie jerks without boards or weight, just long-lined. Fish all came from less than 7 feet of water. Trolling speeds varied and we tried mixing things up anywhere from 1mph to 3mph just to see what they wanted. A little over 2mph seemed to work best or at least that is where we got most of the strikes. We missed several fish going faster.
We pitched rattle traps and Gulp! Alive minnows against the banks but it seemed to produce smaller fish… although the “monster” was hooked on a 1/8oz jig with a 3-inch Gulp! Alive chart shad minnow… we got two good looks at it about 10 feet out from the boat before it decided to take one last run and throw the hook… I got a real good look at it and I have no problem saying it was a 30-inch fish, maybe even larger? A tough one to loose, especially since I’ve never personally touched a true 30-incher before that I caught myself…
Overall it was definitely a fun day. Nothing like fishing in the snow to start the day
… not to mention it barely broke 38 degrees while we were out there and rod tips froze up fairly quick, but it was nice to break out the ice fishing clothing Looks like we’re going to get some warmer temps this weekend… good luck out there!
October 16, 2009 at 6:07 am #809576Thanks for the report, Matt.
I can never decide what’s worse… losing a fish you never see and having all those “what iff’s” run through your head or actually seeing the fish and knowing it was a monster that threw the hooks. Either way… it stinks so I feel for you.
As for the weather… I fished the afternoon with Scegura up in Alexandria and it rained on and off for three hours. The company was good and getting to fish a new body of water was great. The weather could have been a little nicer.
October 16, 2009 at 7:34 pm #809701Bite has been a little slow for me so far this fall but I think that has to do with a 10 degree drop in water temp over three days. With temps in the mid 40s the fall bite is about to get rolling. Just wish the rain would go away. So far I have had better luck trolling the new shallow XRaps but the Husky Jerk soon will be the better choice. Should have some more to report after this weekend. Best fish has been a fat 25″. I lost a good one. After a few headshakes and several turns of the reel she just took the lure down into the milfoil and couldn’t get her out.
Curious thing for me is I haven’t had a single pike/musky hookup yet. That’s not typical.
October 17, 2009 at 1:37 am #809760Hope to see ya out there Saturday.
I have a White/light Yellow 16′ Sylvan Backtroller
October 19, 2009 at 4:53 am #810056Water temps. the past few days has dropped to the point the fish just don’t want to bite. May need to wait a few days.
October 19, 2009 at 2:23 pm #810109We will be out there tomorrow (Tuesday) for our first trip of the year. 3 of us in a White / Black Stripe Triton / Black Opti 150.
October 20, 2009 at 2:27 am #810283Let us know how you do Scott and I would appreciate a water temp update. I am planning to get out on Friday for a day trip (8-4) as I have the kids for the evening but will do some scratching around and see what I can do. I am travling this week but will check in between meetings.
Silver 620T w/ blue 150 E-TEC with the two yellow labs – they are going nuts we are into the fish
-ted
October 20, 2009 at 2:58 am #810291Hit Tonka yesterday morning but didn’t get a chance to tie into my “lost” fish… but did manage a skinny 24-incher and a few fish under 20.
Caught only one fish on the troll this time and the other three pitching Gulp! Alive again. All fish came from 4-6 feet of water and close to or in the weeds. Didn’t find any fish on the rocks. The one fish that came trolling came on a #12 Huskie Jerk running about 1.9mph or so…
The morning definitely started off cold… and WINDY! Seriously considered changing my mind about fishing once I got out there… I guess I should have looked at the FULL forecast instead of just the high temp for the day
Either way, it warmed up around 10am, just in time to head home Fished from about 6am-10am and managed a total of 4 fish and a few strikes… and again, no sign of a pike or muskie anywhere in the shallows. I know they are getting caught by the muskie anglers but the typical bite-off or large fish follow just isn’t happening. Oh well, can’t complain really since I’m not targeting them…
Looks like we’re going to get another warm day followed by some possible rain and decline in temps… 50’s for highs most of the week and leading up to another possible decent weekend? We’ll see…
October 20, 2009 at 2:05 pm #810364Hit the lake last night. Water temps high 40s. I got to play netman all night for some nice fish. Largest taped a 27.5″ and was very thick – almost carplike. We had marked fish holding in 25ft of water and tried to get them to go with leadcore but no takers. Moved into shallower water and picked up our fish. Go to lure was shallow shad Xraps. I was trolling HJs, jointed floaters and jointed shad raps and got exactly one hit which I promptly missed.
October 21, 2009 at 2:07 pm #810565Fished from 6 – 9. Trip was cut short just as the fish started to bite because of a malfunctioning trolling motor.
Ended up with a 21 3/8 LM, a few snakes and 3 ‘eyes. 2 shorts and a chunky eater (17.5).All but the eater came on jig and minnow. The eater came on a plastic minnow imitation, I don’t even know what my cousin was using. Marked a bunch on the outside weededge before dark but could not get anything to go. Tried trolling raps and HJ’s fast and slow. Found some pods with fish of bait 15′ down in 30′ of water.
Water Temps
Browns Bay – 47 – 48
Greys – 50.2
Around Spirit – 49October 26, 2009 at 2:10 pm #811599Didn’t make it out on Friday hope to make it later this week…
-ted
October 26, 2009 at 2:19 pm #811603This was caught recently
October 26, 2009 at 3:10 pm #811618Quote:
This was caught recently
Wow! Any measurements on that one, Dave?
October 26, 2009 at 3:40 pm #81162854″
The photo is from my father and is a co-worker. I hope the proud fisherman doesnt mind me posting it. I dont think he is an IDO’er….yet.
October 26, 2009 at 5:57 pm #811674Quote:
54″
The photo is from my father and is a co-worker. I hope the proud fisherman doesnt mind me posting it. I dont think he is an IDO’er….yet.
That’s a phenomenal fish. Thanks for the stats. How long ago did your friend catch this fish?
October 26, 2009 at 6:46 pm #811684Saturday
October 26, 2009 at 6:48 pm #811685Quote:
Saturday
Thanks again for the info, Dave. That is a BIG fish.
October 26, 2009 at 7:55 pm #811703Not only big but very healthy also!
Congratulations!!
-ted
October 26, 2009 at 8:24 pm #811710That is a TANK, Congrats to the angler
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