does this photo look right or wrong?

awesome, thanks.

i didn’t fish the tournament but always interesting to see what’s up. I’ve never fished Tonka but will have to head out that way in the fall to check it out.

So far this year I’ve caught 2 tigers on Gervais (opening day), 1 silver barred fish on johanna – looked like a muskie to me but DNR says only Tiger in that lake so I guess it must be a tiger, and 1 muskie on bald eagle.

I gave up on Forest a few years ago and tried it once this year and I just don’t get that lake. the weed flats are so huge and no real drop offs I just don’t know how to fish it.

Might have to give the tournament a go next year.

Would love to see a photo of that 43″ tiger!

are the results anywhere? doesn’t look like they have been posted on the website

thanks for all the replies!

since I live in the east metro I’m actually thinking of my main Musky concentration being Bone Lake in WI but I was thinking WBL for something close to home on days I don’t want to travel. Maybe Forest Lake would be better.

It’s too bad there aren’t more Launches on WBL. I know there is a city pay launch with a huge parking lot but the launch looked pretty small and shallow when I checked it out last fall.

I’ve fished Bald Eagle and Forest a few times each for Musky without much success outside of a few follows. Caught quite a few Tigers on Gervais.

I can’t decided if I want to keep splitting time between a bunch of different lakes or just focus on one. Last year I had a 12 foot jon with 6 HP motor and spent all my time on Phalen and Gervais and it certainly paid off spending all my time on 2 bodies of water. But now that I have a big water boat I want to go explore all the new water that’s opened up to me.

I’ve always wanted to get out on WBL but the parking issues sound like a pain. Maybe save WBL for post labor day fishing?

great, thanks! also it doesn’t look like there are any paid launches on WBL?

I bought a used boat this fall. A 18 foot tracker Deep V. My first drive on /drive off so I also need to get out to practice launching and loading. I’m thinking of heading out to Forrest Lake since the city launch on Lake 1 is nice and big.

Gervais might also be a good place to practice (and it’s really close to where I live) but I know that launch can be quite shallow 1.5 to 2 feet deep and no dock. I wonder how early the dock goes in on Forrest Lake? Although I guess I don’t really need a dock to practice launching and loading.

I think what you are talking about is Point Douglas Park

https://www.co.washington.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=1366

Ok so I decided on 150 ft of 3/8″ braid. The end of the rope has a thimble.

So to attach the rope to the chain do I use a 2 shackles? One on the thimble and one on the chain and connect the two shackles or just 1 shackle with thimble and chain inside?

Also from what I have been reading if I bring in the anchor rope hand over hand it should feed out just fine next time around. I do have a storage space in the front of the boat so I think I’ll give that a try.

any suggestions on a high quality line?

Thanks.

I decided to go with a quick cleat on the bow.

Sounds like I should go with at least 100′ of anchor rope?

What do you guys do with rope management to keep it from tangling?

Lucky you!

Thanks for the replies. I’ll add log cabin to the list.

I’m slowly making the transition from lake fishing to river fishing and have been enjoying exploring. Next year I hope to get out there in a boat.

I have been reading Dan Gapen’s Big River Fishing book and he has a chapter where he talks about the walleye migration up to the Taylors Falls dam which should be starting soon. I have caught a few walleye while Sturgeon fishing. Might have to intentionally try from them sometime too in those areas.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

You guys using smaller hooks and bait to catch the puppies?

They must fall off my 8/0 hooks because I’ve never caught I’ve

I caught 2 mud puppies last night on 8/0 hooks. Typically they mostly leave my crawlers in tact.

Must say the St Croix was very spooking and cool looking last night. Heavy, rolling fog, sliver moon. Perfect for halloween.

Was able to get a 28″ sturgeon.

This was my 5th time out in the last two weeks fishing from shore south of Taylors Falls. By far the most surface feeding and jumping was going on last night – not sure what they were exactly – but a lot of activity.

I even saw a 2 – 3″ fish near shore – which I’m pretty sure had to be a Sturgeon.

Where I have been fishing it’s been 1 mudpuppy to each sturgeon I catch.

Been getting pretty used to handling them.

Call me crazy but I kind of like handling them.

Don’t care for the lampreys though