Check in with my wife. The 2 jointed Raps you wanted are definitely set aside. The rest I’m not sure of. The guys really hit it hard yesterday!

I stopped by 30 mins ago to drop a few things off. I can’t believe how picked over you guys left that already. Seems that we’ve had a good 8-10 guys buy a good bit of stuff. Thanks for stopping by if you saw it here!

I did hold a few things out from the sale for guys that had committed to wanting it last night (Spring Dawgs & Musky Buster lures mostly), but if anything falls through I’ll throw an update here of what those items were. Same goes for any additional lures I may decide to sell of my stash that I hadn’t necessarily intended to touch, but am thinking its a good idea… Gotta quit hoarding!

I may be adding more to what’s sold at the sale tomorrow. I’ve got 4 full boxes that I’m sure I could stand to thin out. I’ll keep this updated.

BTW, I’d guess that over half of what I gave pictures of has sold already.

I picked up the new Shimano Curado 200g series at the Sports Show yesterday for $120 before the $30 mail in rebate. Hard to beat considering the quality of those reels. Thats my 3rd Curado and I definitely don’t regret those purchases. Rock solid reel! Not to mention they come in 3 different speed options too…

Its been between 35-40 boats the past 2 years and the 1st year it was full. Not sure what to expect this year with the economy and the slightly smaller turnout at Pan-o-prog last weekend as well.

I use a St Croix Legend Tournament Slop-n-Frog Rod (7’0″) paired with a Calcutta TE 250. I’m hoping to change reels soon because that’s a slow reel, but I’m extremely happy with the Rod and power of that baitcaster. I’ve cranked in pretty easily 20-25lbs of weeds with a few fish and it didn’t phase that setup, not to mention I think every frog rod should be Heavy action.
I’ve got 65lb Power Pro on that rod and I dont’ think I’d ever go lighter. I snapped it for the first time ever, just this week, but it appeared as though the line was pretty frayed where it broke.

I’m planning on hitting Pool 2 tomorrow morning and originally intended to put in at Lions Levee Park, but I noticed on the Nav maps that theres a landing off of Hilary Path on the SE side of Spring Lake. Is this landing accessible this time of year? Is it open? It looks like its probably just a gravel lot and landing, but I don’t mind so long as I can put the boat in. I’m most interested in fishing around grey cloud, and would love to skip the 10+ mile hike down river to get to that area.

I called them earlier today and they said its very unlikely that it will be open until later next week. I was told there was still water in the lower lot/ramp area and it will take a few days to get Public Works out there to clean it up. I also saw that post on their website, but it was just so vague I figured I’d talk to someone over the phone instead. One can only hope if they get enough people asking that they’ll do it faster.

Has anyone heard or seen anything regarding the St Paul Park landing? I was hoping to put in there on Saturday. Really hoping things open up here soon! I’m gettin the itch for some bass fishin.

The one time I went out on Pool 2 last year, my goal was to get back to Grey Cloud but I ran into some 30-35 mph gusty winds so that pretty much hosed a trip down the main channel, but even still it didn’t seem like it would be too far to go from the St Paul park landing. If you get down around Grey Cloud island its fairly easy sailing from there right? I realize you can try to sneak through the culvert or go the longer way around, but its not really much more than 10 minutes or so is it? I haven’t had the chance to make it in there, but once this water drops thats probably the first place I’m gonna try to hit this year. Just wanting a little clarification I guess, cause if theres a better landing than St paul Park for fishing behind Grey Cloud, then I’d love to know about it.

Wow, awesome fish serpent. I’ll keep dreaming of that one in my boat I guess… did you get a weight?

Put this 21.25″ in the boat last night on a south metro lake. She went 5.0lb on the money though sadly, but was a great fight caught in the heavy pads with a Spro Bronzeye popper.

How big is that? Can’t read the numbers on your bumpboard from way up here. :-p

Did you get a weight? That thing’s a beast! Gotta be at least 35″!

Anyone know if the Grey Cloud Island access shown on the nav maps is opened? Is it public and parking situation? I might just head down there instead of putting in at St Paul Park. I’m hoping to be leaving in bout an hour so any quick input would be great.

Oh, and btw, I have a Polarkraft v-hull. She floats in pretty skinny water but I’m not keen of rocks and anything less than 1′.

So is there a safe route to go from the main channel to Baldwin Lake, then through Mooers Lake, and back up into Grey Cloud Channel? I guess I have no clue where exactly you’re referring to but I was assuming it was up that area. I’ll take a look at some aerial photos later to see if I can figure out the area a bit better. I just don’t want to go driving into a stumpfield or something similar and not realize it. I’m usually careful, but sometimes stuff can sneak up on ya, especially when the water’s higher.

As far as water temps go, I fished pool 8 a bunch this past weekend and we were finding the channel was 46-47 midday and the backwaters I was getting into were sitting consistently at 57-58, but I did get far enough back in a lake and it was 60! We really found the fish were more aggressive in those warmer areas.

Honestly on pool 7, head downstream a couple miles till you get past the majority of the islands. On the east side theres a HUGE back water type area that is flooded pretty decent still and has lots of slightly deeper channels through it as well that typically warms up pretty good. If you want, I can send you a link to some satellite photos of the area that I’m talking about. Its mostly just a general area to start with but thats where we found fish last time out. Not many, but it was enough to get us goin!

Thanks! After this awesome streak of warmish weather and consistent sun, I’m sure confident the bass will be snapping a little better than last weekend. Good luck to everyone else as well.

Well, thats to be determined. Tomorrow morning a buddy and I were planning on experimenting with some areas we’d thought would hold warmer water. I’ve been suggested to check a few spots, but only by name and thats where my confusion came in earlier. Those maps I linked were just me putsin around with the maps and scouting a bit. I may be looking for someone to fish with either Fri afternoon or Sat morning. I just want to get more familiar with Pool 8 so I don’t always rely on Pool 7 for my usual outtings.

Great maps GARVI. Those answered most of my questions. Also nice to know some of the names of the other areas I already fish as well. Its funny to see the real name after you’ve made up a name for a spot. Lawrence lake was a little farther south than I thought I guess, but it was one of the ones I had in my links above. I’m curious if anyone ever goes back in “Target Lake” which is my first link. Seems like it would be pretty similar.

Ok, well, maybe a different plan of attack on my end…. Here are a few links to g00gle maps showing large backwater type bays that I figured may have “lake” names.

Large Bay #1
Large Bay #2

What kind of water temps did you guys find out there? And which pool? I’m wondering what this upcoming weather is going to do to the water temps and river levels. I plan to be fishing this weekend on Pool 7 & 8 and just hoping to find some fish for the first outting of the year!

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I hate powerpro… I use to use it.. got sick and tired of the waxy material and how flat the line can become. S

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Waxy and flat? You were using PowerPro? I can honestly say I have never heard anyone have the kind of experience with it, especially the waxy aspect. I guess I’m really curious what you meant by flat, but if you’re saying the line changed shapes then that’d also be a first to me. I guess I don’t use very heavy line but a few times a year (65lb+) when I musky fish, but I’ve used 20 and 30lb quite a bit on both spinning and baitcasters and that stuff holds its texture and stays limp for 2+ years on my reels (I usually respool backwards each year).

I have to say, after reading your report, that I think alot of people give up too early on the river this time of year. When that sun really starts beating on the water in the early afternoon the fish just seem to get alot more active. I quite often wait to go out early spring until the air temp has risen a bit and the sun’s beating down (weather cooperating of course). Nice report. Great to know since I’ll be hittin the river soon as well.

Dang it Cade… I’ve been dieing to get down there soon to fish with a buddy, and now you’re just killin me! Waiting for seasons up here in the cities sucks. Hopefully I’ll be down there in 2 weeks with the same kind of luck. Nice job slayin’ em so early in the year!

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When fishing with a buzzbait always have a second rod rigged with a senko-style bait. If a fish blows up on your buzzer and misses, retrieve it quickly and fire the senko at the spot. At least 80% of the time you’ll get that fish. Also works with a fluke.

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That trick never works!

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I agree…. that NEVER works.

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I might need to head south, I got caught in the craze a few years ago. I have never had a bite on a chatterbait. They are now collecting dust in my fishng dungeon.

Ron

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WOW! That is depressing to hear on my end. I have caught more fish on chatterbaits than any other bait. This includes lots of time on the river, and all the fish from lakes typically came from shallow weedy flats. Either way, don’t give up on them yet. I’ll throw a chatterbait 90% more than a spinnerbait I’d guess.

In regards to colors, I like having red on my bait, but not solid red. I usually go with a white and red skirt (mostly white with red strands every now and then) with a white Yum 4″ Boogee Tail with red tips. I have proven with several friends that the red tip makes a difference under the right conditions. We’ve had the same exact lure on, with same trailers minus the red tip and they won’t catch a fish until they switch. I amazed myself when I told them to switch and INSTANTLY they boated fish with me.

Got out to Orchard Lake last night (last league night of the year) and boy was it tough. That cold front we’ve been having really changed the fish’s patterns. Anyways, out of 7 boats I believe only 5 LMB were caught. I actually got the biggest fish at 17″ along w/ a little 12.5″er. Pretty slow night altogether obviously, and the only pattern I could come up with was to use a fast and noisy crank. I got that bass and a nice 28″ northern on rattlebaits, and the other fish on a chatterbait. All of my action was in 4-8′ of water just casting over the drop is sparse weeds. There are still green weeds out there but the algae bloom is AWFUL at the moment. Either way, nothing on plastics, and a couple early misses on a buzzbait in the NE corner shallows. Wish things weren’t so slow this week!

I tried every TYPE of bait in my box, from plastic worms, jig-n-pig, buzzbaits, walk-the-dog, frog, spinner, chatterbaits in shallow areas to cranks, dropshot, rattlebaits, and jig-n-pig in the deeper areas near weed edges. Like I said… only one style produced.

Hah, my church’s club (Celebration Church in Lakeville) was fishing Fish Lake on Tuesday. I was actually out of town until late that night, but I know they were out there. Sounded like some guys did well and others really had trouble finding em. Must’ve had to be pretty deep. Shame I wasn’t out there to meet ya.

Well, the good news is that the weeds on Orchard have tamed down to a normal level. The bad news is the fish were scattered at best. I think alot of this had to do w/ 82º water temps. Fished the lake pretty hard last night with my church league and I did alright, but alot of guys didn’t have the same luck. My boat got 6 fish, 5 of which were over 15″, and every single one of them came on worms drug along bottom in 8-12′ with good weed cover laying down. Most of the other people that did catch a bass or 2 caught them deeper as well, and only in heavier weed beds. The shallow areas didn’t even give us a swirl or hit to speak of.
The majority of our fish came out away from the 2 submerged islands, but make sure you don’t get out past those weeds. Certain sides of the islands seem to be completely lacking of weed beds once you’re out past 8′ but other areas are good to 14′ (the better bites for me).

One good thing to bring up is that one boat got 3 tigers (32, 35, 37) just cranking over the tops of these same weed beds, and I saw another muskie 3 times swimming w/ its head out of the water just sucking air it seemed. I’ve heard of it and seen videos, but that was the first time in person. Pretty neat to say the least.

Not a bad time of year to be on this lake, but w/ this recent heat the fish are getting lazy or something. Another guy in our group had been on the lake Sunday night and boated 40ish fish in around 3 hours, so its producing but you’ve just gotta find the right time I guess. We fished 5-8:30 yesterday, and I know this other fellow fished 8:30pm to 12:00 on Sunday.
Good luck! Tight lines

Has anyone been out on Orchard in the last week or 2? The last I saw of that lake was just awful, but that was probably 4-5 weeks ago. I’m wondering what has happened to the weed growth. Everything was so overgrown on my past visit that it was very unenjoyable to fish. Finding fish deep in there yet? I always enjoy fishing the shallows and the 2 mid-lake humps, but I’ve been getting into deep worming a little more recently.
I’ll be heading out there tomorrow afternoon, so if anyone’s got a heads up for what to be prepared for, that would be great!