Hi Chad,

They’re closing the doors on us here by the end of this year so my future is up in the air right now. If I find a day that might work I’ll let you know. Let me know if you have any luck chasing muskies!!
Later,
Brad

I was wondering the same thing!! Chad, send me a PM when you get a chance

Brad

I’ve never tried it, but have read articles and seen shows where they use it and it’s quite effective, especially when used on the type of tip ups that move the bait with the wind.
( I forget what they’re called). As far as big shiners and big suckers, I’ve used them and they work too, but if you’re on a lake with smaller northerns they might not be as effective.

Fished last night from 5:30-8:00 and caught several crappies. Mostly small ones. The disappointing thing was to see shacks moved so close to me that I can hardly get my truck between mine and others. I don’t know why anyone would want to be so close to others. Another thing that pisses me off is the guy who snowplowed a road to other shacks and leaves the pile of snow in front of mine. I don’t tell very many people how I’m doing as far as the fishing so I’m not saying they moved close because I’m catching fish, it just makes me mad that they have to be so close. The reason I have a problem with this is because I have an older vexilar that I use. Most people also use them. When they get too close I get all that interference on mine and it’s frustrating.

I’ve often debated if I should keep a limit now and then just to help thin them out, but I always end up putting them back. I have some little cousins that like to go with me and so I like the population the way it is. It makes fishing fun for them because they can catch a lot of fish. (even though they think they should keep them.) I usually go north on the weekends and keep some bigger fish for eating. I hardly ever keep a limit (if they’re biting that good). I just take what I think I will eat. I’ve thrown too many freezer burned fillets away otherwise.

I have a shack down there and fish once or maybe twice a week. I usually go down after work and fish for crappies. Do pretty well, but they are all small. I haven’t kept any crappies for 3 or 4 years now. It’s a great time for kids though. One of the few places where I know that the kids will catch fish and have a good time. Why do you suppose the crappies don’t get any bigger? I wonder if there’s a big enough food source for them or is there too many?

I haven’t fished it much in the summer, but I’ve heard from some people who have cabins up there that the boat traffic can be pretty hectic, especially on weekends. As far as winter pressure it seems that there’s about 3 spots that everyone gravitates to and that’s it. Personally I try to stay away from the crowds and have done ok in the past, but you need to be mobile so you can find the fish.

Thanks for the info Coot. I’ll be heading up that way for the first time this weekend. Seems that after this cold spell the ice should be more than thick enough to drive on.

I’ve only fished it a couple times and both times the fish were small so I haven’t gone back since. I haven’t heard much lately about bigger fish.

Please enter me in the contest. Thanks

Just wondering if you guys had any luck on Cedar. I’ve fished it before and it can be a tough body of water on most occasions.

Did you have any luck?

I don’t fish Bone a lot, but I’ve caught fish and raised fish early in the morning on topwater baits(top raider). Last year there was a hot bite in the shallows using a giant jackpot. By 9 or 10 am I’m usually off the lake. Haven’t had much luck fishing after dark. Hope you see this before you go. Last year there was a

The water is up. There’s some floating debris, but for the most part you should be able to cast and/or troll. I was down there last night and was casting the shoreline rip rap with a fat rap. Caught one on the first cast and lost 1 or 2 other small fish. I don’t troll, but I’ve heard that boats are catching fish doing that. I’m no expert on Lake Pepin, but that’s what I saw.

Coot,
Email me at [email protected] and I can get you a number for a guy in Baldwin who might be able to help you out.

I haven’t been out yet. Might try this Friday. I don’t know the lake all that well so I’ll need some time to locate fish I’m sure.

Hi Pax,
Did you get out on Pine Lake yet? Just curious

Would this be the Sand Lake just north and east (I think) of the town of Turtle Lake? Nice fish!!

Looks like someone knows what he is doing. Both the Rice Lake fish and Chippewa fish are awesome. I didn’t know that Rice Lake had monsters like that in there.

I usually fish a bunch of different lakes. Kind of depends on boat traffic. I will fish Bone, Deer, Cedar,
Big Blake. I fish a branch of the Apple called the Black Brook Flowage. It’s hard to fish. Didn’t catch any
fish there last year. I’ve never been on the main part of the Apple. I know there are some monsters in
there but I just don’t know how to fish it.

I could do that. I’ve actually tried for muskies on Wappo a couple times without success. Had one blow up
on a topwater lure last year. I did catch about a 20 pound pike that I know was at least 40″ long. Had him next
to the boat and he got off before we could measure him.

I love to ice fish for crappies and I’m just starting to get the hang of trying to catch walleyes under the ice.
When the ice is gone I like to fish for panfish early and once mid summer comes it’s almost nothing but muskies.
I like anykind of fishing to be honest. Do you ice fish on Wappogasset much? I need some help when it comes to
catching walleyes on Wappogasset. Thanks

I’m curious to what slough you were fishing?

I’m assuming you had a camera and saw the muskie?

I would really appreciate it you can find the road name for me. I would like to give the lake a try. Do the trout bite
after dark or what time is the best time to catch them? Thanks again

Yes, that is the one. I used to have days where I would have 30-40 flags by myself and the last few
years it’s maybe 10 if you’re lucky. Must be in a down cycle.

I’ve fished middle pine (across the road to the east) quite a bit over the years but I’ve never fished lower pine.
That’s the lake that I thought you were talking about. Does it get much pressure? I heard it’s like the 3rd or 4th
deepest lake in the state. I’ve always wondered where the access was. I’ve driven around it a couple times but
never saw a place to drive on. Middle Pine used be a fun lake to fish tip ups on. Used to get a lot of flags and an
occasional 10 pound pike. Over the last couple years I haven’t had the success like in the past. I’ve also heard
that middle pine has some really nice crappies but I’ve yet to see those as well. Thanks for the info.

Sounds like you’re having a great time. I’ve fished the lakes in the Star Prairie area quite a bit, although I haven’t
fished them at all yet this year. I think I know what lake you are talking about. Hope the bite keeps going for you.
What kind of trout are you catching? They must be a blast on an ice fishing combo.

Neither. It was caught farther south of Yellow Lake.

Someone told me that it’s sturgeon that come up and do all the splashing. I figured it was muskies myself but
the guy that told me is a local so I figured that he knows better than I. I haven’t had the chance to try Yellow yet
for muskies but I hope to next year. If there was one spot only that you could fish, what part of the lake would
you try?