Updated some things on our website, and created a “new” page that is interactive called “Let’s talk Kabetogama” and has some information and insight on fishing and other things…please check it out and add thoughts or questions. If you want the newsletter I try write, sign up…FREE Map as well if anyone wants, just contact me!
Wow! I love reading the reports and seeing all the fish pictures! Sorry about the props…it happens up here. For a glacial shield lake, Kab is actually marked very well, but they mark the main boating channels, not the area’s around each island, so be careful, trim up the big motor and use your Minn Kota or kicker when near the islands. I love helping people learn the area better, so if that’s finding more fish, finding the best campsites, or just learning about Kabetogama or Namakan ask me. I started a newsletter on the area, no strings…don’t share your email. Let me know if I can help! https://www.gofishkab.com/contact-us
Thanks,
Wade Watson
“Kab Kid”
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Great pictures, excellent description of your enjoyment of the area…the fish are always a bonus. Fun way to fish, thanks for sharing.
hey xplorer, I’ve followed your posts in the past and I know you are right on the target, and offer great insight into the lake! Thanks.
I personally am concerned by those high numbers of perch, high smallmouth numbers and the competition walleyes face in the system. I think that has changed some patterns as to where we find fish. Maybe its just me looking in other places. Good example is those dog days of July and Aug., walleyes tend to be scattered on the “flats” of the reef, then move up during dusk to feed (normal walleye pattern in my mind). But I’ve been fishing weed lines and weed patches more in 6-10 feet of water (past 2-3 years)…and even on HOT/FLAT days. Maybe I was just late to the party and all of you have been looking shallow when everyone’s on the reefs, or deep when the wind is blowing and i’m in the shallows!
Kevin Peterson is our Fisheries specialist out of I-Falls, great guy to talk about the system or the resource in general. I also, question the longevity of the slot slightly. I like 4 walleye limit, and I urge people to put back BIG fish, and treat those 20-24″ fish like gold…that is our future fish stock!
Thanks, Dutchboy
I love this lake and the entire system. I do fish other places LOTW, St. Croix river, and smaller lakes occasionally…but “Kab” is my home lake and I love it. This post can go on and on, and I know others will have different opinions, so this is just my thoughts on the question…
As far as the future fishing, I would encourage people to do more research to find fish. Don’t count on the “normal” spots to produce, and I think that is one of the problems with 2017 success. Same groups that come in June tried the “June Spots” and the fish weren’t there. Same in July, and so on. I think our water temps were warmer than normal with a little earlier ice out (warmer spring-50’s & low 60’s in mid-March to mid-April)).
Let’s look at fish numbers- Kabetogama has an EXCELLENT population of walleyes in the DNR testing studies verses the states average. Kab is listed as a top 10 walleye lake by the DNR and the catch rate numbers: This is off the 2016 published data on Kabetogama-
The walleye gill net catch in 2016 was 12.8 fish/net, well above the historic average for Lake Kabetogama. Walleye gill net catches were at a historical low in 2014 at 5.5 fish/net. The increase in the walleye catch over the past two years was largely due to a high catch rate of fish from the 2015 year-class which made up 24.6 percent of the 2016 catch. (state “normal” for walleye on a lake is 3.6-10.8)
So, the walleyes are there on some length level. Great year classes were 2012, 2015, 2016, and my hope is that data and that early ice and warm spring will make 2017 numbers high. 2014 on the other hand was a historic low for catch rates according to data. To put this into perspective: (this data is taken from the 2016 Kabetogama Lake Survey- MN DNR)
The average length of 2015 Walleyes was 9.7 inches. Age-4 walleyes from the 2012 year-class composed the next largest portion of the catch at 18.8 percent of the catch. The 2012 year-class ranged in length from 14.5 to 18.5 inches long and averaged 16.5 inches in 2016 gill nets. Overall, gill netted walleyes ranged in length from 6.6 to 27.5 inches long and had an average length of 15.4 inches.
If you fished last year (2017), maybe you notice a health population of 20” fish (slot) and 10” fish small. Those 2012 numbers are at the top of the “keeper” range or “slot” fish…then we have a year or two of low numbers. The good news is in my eyes is that 2015-2017 should have 3 solid years of natural production and walleye numbers! That helps the entire system.
On the other end of the walleye spectrum in my eyes is that the numbers of Perch are at record high levels, Sauger numbers are above average, and lastly is those Smallmouth Bass. We have a great Smallmouth Bass resource, and these bass are competing for food, taking over areas, and moving food sources (or patterns of food) from walleye.
In the end, for general tourism this is good in my eyes. More opportunities to catch fish on your vacations! That said, you may look for action with Yellow Perch (live bait rig and worms), or Smallmouth Bass (jig or live bait rig and leech). You will find walleyes using these same patterns of fishing, but then stay in that area and work the structure more!!! Use your electronics or map skills and find similar areas. The structure on Kab and Namakan is similar, but different. Kab in general is shallower with more bays, inlets, and sand weed lines. Namakan has those areas as well but generally deeper water and sharp break lines and more rock reefs, points, and structure.
Big walleyes? I don’t think Kab is a system you think “trophy” walleyes (my opinion). There are big walleyes, but overall our slot and fishing pressure keeps these numbers in check. Personally, I think we have a GREAT number of walleyes from 18-24” fish, but not a lot over 27”. If 30” walleye is what you’re seeking, I’m not sure this is the destination for that. If you seeking unequaled scenic beauty, wilderness and wildlife around every undeveloped island, and good fishing…Kabetogama is that destination!
One remark I often hear is; “all I catch is slot fish, and I can’t keep anything”. My answer to that is- change depths! Walleyes feed in groups and it’s my belief that you hang out with friends your own size or age (not all the time). But moving up or down reefs or structure will often result in finding fish of different lengths. This is most often scene early in the year- post spawn, as some bigger fish will still be shallow, while larger numbers of fish and generally smaller males will be in deeper cooler water. So, if catching 20” walleyes are a problem, move 5-10 ft deeper generally and you may find those eater fish in the same area.
I do think 2018 will be good! Watch the spring temps closely, watch when ice out is this year (Normal is April 28th-30th). Be flexible and try “new” areas. The system is big and there are many areas to fish, don’t simply do what worked last year if it’s not working this year.
Lastly, I love to talk fishing and a goal of mine is to be more active in social media as a guide and person that loves this lake. I’m happy to try and answer questions, and I’ll do my best to post more during the season. I’m not an ice fisherman, so ask Tim Watson or Casey Deziel (https://voyageurparklodge.com/ice-fishing-lake-kabetogama/)
Hope that helped a little…sorry I carried on and on…
Wade Watson
He loves blue vegas jigs…although ask him about “crystal eyes” if you’re jig fishing. Tim is my uncle, an excellent fisherman, true historian of the area as he grew up on Sugarbush island. We try to do more than catch fish…we try to show you why the weather, seasonal patterns, or conditions are producing fish so if things change during your stay, hopefully you can still find them!
Wade Watson “Kab Kid”
Old Post, but thought if people are looking for a guide next season or just want to ask questions.
Beanman,
Like other have said, sounds like you are trying different things and looking at areas. The July/Aug. bit on Kab or Namakan is generally good but fish are usually scattered. I tend to fish and move, or as Dutchman said…trolling cranks or lead lining can be very effective (although knowing where and how the structure sits is crucial). Clouds and wind help during these hotter summer times. Water temps are peaked. ONE thing I often see with guests pulling lindys or spinners is moving to fast, or catching a fish and moving down the shore 1/2 mile…WORK THOSE SPOTS! Go back and forth several times.
Love the information everyone else said…Namakan will have less crowds, but Grubson said “fish can be found all over the park”. Pay attention to the conditions and the structure you find or even don’t find fish…try sand and shallows, if I haven’t caught a couple fish there, next is reefs and deeper water structure…then maybe speed changes or presentation…
Hope that helped and I wasn’t rambling to much!
Well, not sure how much help I am here. I come out of Kab, but that time of year I fish a ton of time in Namakan. What I tend to look for or 25-35 foot holes. Current is a good thing as the water temps tend to be changing. Jib and minnow bite for the walleyes, but I know the big pike start to get very aggressive along the shorelines of points (even some higher rock markers). Not sure how far you want to go from Crane but Hammer Bay has some great sites! If you based from there you can fish some of the current out near the channel near Blind Pig, Some reefs south of Pike, even onto the current and channels we fish as you get closer to Junction Bay or north toward Kettle Falls (maybe 15 mile run). Not sure if this helped at all, but love to talk fishing and the area!
Enjoy
“Kab Kid”
