Stopped by Osceola and Fanconia landing today. Talked to a boat at Osceola who got 6 total. Reports from Franconia were not at good.

Little Wing by Derrick and the Dominos

Spent a pleasant afternoon fishing from O’Brian down. Most of the smallmouth I caught were on small husky jerks fished tight to shore. Nothing much for size, in face most of the fish were little bigger than the lure. But they were aggressive for sure. My biggest bass came on tubes. It felt like they were about to turn on the feeding engine, even the small bass felt big. Lovely day!

The water is down, I have a Alumacraft 165 and in a couple of places it was getting a little to shallow for my boat

When you talk about lipless crank baits are you refering to lures such as the rippen rap? Just curious.

Another great opening to a song is:

“She came onto him like a slow moving cold front”.

Name the artist—-

Name that tune; Hold me closer Tony Danza.

My son lives on Flathead lake and the introduction of lake trout has decimated what was just a few years ago the primier lake for native Cutthroat trout.

Two years ago I did a 20 day canoe trip on the Blookvein River in northern Ontario and Manitoba. Do a Google search to find out more. One of the most remote and unspoiled rivers in Canada with old growth forest and no logging or bridges.

So we are half way through the trip and caught smallmouth. We were informed that someone had stocked them a few years ago and the population was increasing. We were told not to release them as given the minimal forage base they would compete with one of the most unique and untouched walleye fisheries in Canada.

I love catching smallmouth but up in that country it was a bit distressing to have these fish in a system they did not belong in or should be.Its a two edge sword.

I assume that Kettle Falls is closed.

A couple of things I have done is to freeze and take bottled water. With the new coolers they stay fairly frozen for at least 4 days and I just drink them as I go.

If you take minnows or leeches take them out to deeper water with a boey. The colder water and lack of wave actions tends to keep them better. Have a designated cooler for night crawlers and make sure you keep them cool!

I always take too much stuff. Keep cooking to a minimum and if you can prepare meals ahead of time.

Campsites are closely monitored and yes I know personally that they will ticket you. One time I cooked dinner and went out fishing for 15 minutes without cleaning up well. Try explaining to your wife the 100:00 ticket.

Someone gave me a suggestion to take a solar panel to recharge your boat batteries. I would like to hear from anyones how effective this is. Seems like a good idea.

Stick close to your electronics and have fun.

What a cool thread! I have been looking up artists I know little about and really like what I’ve been hearing! I’d add classic live Grateful Dead, a band that has grown on me since I watched Long Strange Trip bio on Netflix. Really outstanding work highlighting the history of the Dead.I’d also add “Blood on the Tracks” by Dylan.

Friday morning I put in at Stillwater and fished the lake to Hudson without success. Lots on boats out, but didn’t see anyone catch anything. I meet a friend at the landing at 12:00. My friend is a Karen refugee from Burma. As a kid fishing was essential to their culture and livelihood after 10 years in refugee camps he came to America and was really excited to go fishing. I really had minimal expectations after the morning and just wanted him to catch some fish. so I decided to get out of the wind and head up river. Found a current seam off an island, never fished it before but had to start someplace.

Put a crawler on his jig and gave a basic overview.The first drift he got bit and I thought well the sheppies are biting. Went upriver and went down again, he got bit set the hook and pulled in a really nice 18 inch walleye. We stayed on the same area all day and had great success. About half way through the day I realized he was just kicking my butt for numbers. We ended up with some really nice walleyes and the usual sheep-head which he wanted to keep and with great joy! We got to talking about life in Burma and his families struggles and hopes for the future.

For myself it was the best walleye fishing I’ve ever had on the Croix with really nice size. I was thrilled to be able to share my boat with someone who so appreciated the experience. Presentation was simple- 3/16 jig with a crawler fishing slow on the current breaks.

The latest numbers as reported my multiple news organizations:

The number of reported cases of covid-19 continues to rise exponentially in the United States, where testing was slow to begin. The disease, caused by a new coronavirus, has been confirmed in every state, with many seeing rapid growth in the number of known cases as more tests are performed.

Confirmed cases
34,861

Reported deaths
471
Washington
1,996 cases
New York
16,916 cases
California
1,813 cases
State Confirmed cases Change from Saturday Deaths
New York 16,916 5,206 +44% 153
Washington 1,996 203 +11% 95
New Jersey 1,914 587 +44% 21
California 1,813 449 +33% 35
Illinois 1,050 297 +39% 9
Michigan 1,038 250 +32% 9
Florida 1,007 348 +53% 13
Louisiana 837 252 +43% 20
Massachusetts 646 121 +23% 5
Georgia 621 114 +22% 25
Colorado 595 205 +53% 7
Pennsylvania 516 120 +30% 5
Tennessee 505 134 +36% 2
Wisconsin 383 101 +36% 4
Ohio 356 108 +44% 3
Connecticut 327 133 +69% 8
North Carolina 311 58 +23% 0
Texas 304 — 8
Maryland 249 56 +29% 3
Virginia 221 65 +42% 6
Mississippi 207 67 +48% 1
Indiana 204 76 +59% 7
South Carolina 196 25 +15% 3
Nevada 191 30 +19% 2
Utah 181 45 +33% 1
Minnesota 169 31 +22% 1
Arkansas 165 43 +35% 0
Oregon 161 47 +41% 5
Alabama 157 26 +20% 0
Arizona 152 34 +29% 2
Missouri 150 76 +103% 3
District of Columbia 120 43 +56% 2
Kentucky 103 16 +18% 3

I found the information in this article helpful as I consider my rights and responsibilities as we move closer to mandated shelter in place. On a personal level both my parents are in assisted living and family members are allowed no contact. I look foreword to the day I can see them safely and give them both a big hug!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/20/emily-landon-coronavirus/

Stopped by the 494 landing today. What a treat to see 4 trailers at the lot. Hope you had good fishing! Any reports?

Jon Jordan wrote:

Personally, I’d like to see the SMB population as it was circa 1990. A rare catch. The SMB have pushed walleye off their traditional areas, especially on the south end of the lake. And probably a significant reason walleye test net numbers have changed. Note I said changed, not declined since test nets are always in the same spot year to year. Now sitting in areas vacated by walleye. Not to mention the competition for the same food – perch. Which I can count on one hand the number I caught this year…

When In- Fisherman started talking about this topic (for shield lakes)the general suggestion was that walleye and smallmouth do not competed and each species assumes different areas in a given lake. Also, and this was 25 years ago the general idea was that smallmouth did not spawn every year due to cold water temperatures.

I no longer see this as the case (and again) this is my opinion. I think warmer waters have definitely benefited smallmouth over walleyes. I also believe that warmer water has lead to consistent spawning success for smallmouth. Which would suggest that generally smallmouth populations have increased and warmer springs and extended falls have kept lake temperatures high leading to longer feeding periods for bass and increased growth. Smallmouth are aggressive and are not lethargic feeders which would suggest this might have a detrimental effect on traditional walleye locations and yes, I agree that this would lead to walleyes being pushed off traditional feeding locations. Having fished for both my thinking is that smallmouth would move walleyes over walleyes moving smallmouth.

One thing I have seen from this tread is just how important “The Pond” is to Minnesota anglers and how much anglers want whats right and best. Many times with complex problems we look for simple solutions such as the DNR is completely incompetent and really doesn’t listen to input from the angling public. Another is claiming that a persons view is simply self interest instead of thinking that maybe the opinions one disagrees with are actually stated as a way to talk about what is really important for all that being a quality and sustainable fishery.
The more we argue the less opportunity emerges to find common ground.

I do have one question: is there any research to suggest that smallmouth or walleyes disturb or interrupt the spawning of the other species?

A related question. If the pool two is opened how will this impact smallmouth fishing and spawn. I’d expect it will improved smallmouth habit in a good way.

And without Sister Rosetta Tharpe there might not have been a Chuck Berry:

So this last week I was in the Glacier Park area visiting my son. We rented a forest service cabin for the evening up in the mountains. Very cool setting with the tunes playing the lad shared tons of new music with me. First it was great when the teacher becomes the student as we spent many hours listening to my music. His list was deep from Zappa to bluegrass. After awhile he played Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I had never heard of her before and the first listen through was amazing and so much fun to see her influences on others. I spend the better part of last night listening to her music and wow.. so cool.

We were also up at Pasha lake the same week as James. Cant say enough about Pasha lake, the service and fishing. One of my fishing buddies is a crazy flyfisherman and hire Ian, the Pasha lake guide for a day on Nipigon. He got his personal best northern as well as Brook trout. Yep, those pike is shallow water sure got him going.

I do have a question about fishing for big northern using jerk baits. What would you suggest I use for leader material.

See… so ready to go I cannot evan spel goud.

I love to fish docks into November. On days the sun is shining focus on shade. I tend to go slow, fishing small tubes on a light jig.

Saturday I put in at O’Brian and fished south. We had a pretty good day fishing for smallmouth and ended up with about 20 fish total. We did end up getting a couple of the nicest smallmouth,in the fat and sassy 2 pound range, I’ve gotten for this stretch of river.

With good current flow this year We focused most of our time fishing deep inside current edges with rock and boulders. Any areas with rock and boulder and a quick transition to 5 to 7 feet deep held fish. The fish seemed to be hanging tight to shore. I mostly fished a 1/8 ounce gitzit. My buddy had good success with a 4 inch berkley powerworm- pumpkin with a chartreuse tail. Always a good bet for smallmouth.

It was fun getting away from the crowds. I did talk with a cat fisherman who was obviously having a great day. His biggest was around 12 pounds. Im not much of a catfish angler, but it might be time to learn.

The river is manageable and as Mike said plan on not going on plane and expect to run into some shallower water.

I’m looking at a spinning rod.

Thank you for the great information. I took the past two days to fish the Croix around Stillwater. I tried both the lake and river sections with most of my success coming in a small current seam near deep water. Most of my fish were smallmouth with a couple of walleyes mixed in.

Each angling season I try to add a couple of presentations and lure types; after watching last years I.D.O. episodes I was eager to learn to better fish ripping raps and after watching the spring smallmouth trip to the Mississippi I really wanted to give the storm twitch sticks a try. Thanks Mike!

This summer I had nice success in Quetico with rippen raps. The past two weeks I have been using twitch sticks for largemouth on Chicago and getting some really nice fish. The past couple of days rippen raps have been my go too on the Croix with nice results.

Not only are these lures effective in the right time and place but man are they fun to fish! I really enjoyed fishing rippen raps along current edges.

One again I.D.O. has come through with timely information and new presentations.

Ah! Thanks!

On this trip I forgot my thermorest pad and must admit that the effects of uncomfortable sleep did get to me. I do have a recommendation if your not ready to give it up completely. Look at the Pickerel Lake, half way down is Stanton Bay. Only Canadians or Canadian outfitters can use this access. At the drop off location their is a short, maybe 80 rod portage and most of it is planked. You are then on Pickerel, a very large lake with tons of islands and the fishing is great! I think this would be a very nice trip for those of us who want a little- not a lot. Also their have been very nice upgrades in sleeping pads with many now being light but can be blown up for a great nights sleep.

After reading this report it didn’t take long for me to decide where I was going to spend the day. Spent this beautiful day fishing the Kinni area with good success finding willing smallmouth tight to rock structure. They seemed to key in on motor oil salt and pepper tubes fished slow with a 1/8 jig. I was having so much fun I didn’t fish for walleyes but a couple of anglers I talked to were catching nice fish on crawler rigs between 15 and 21 feet of water.

It was great to get the boat out. I’ve been later then usual this year but better late then never! Put in at Stillwater and motored down to Hudson narrows. Lots of boats out and it looked like everyone was catching fish of some kind or another. I ended up getting about 10 walleyes with two being “keepers”. Most of my fish came slow drifting a jig. To mix things up I also fished a blade bait with good success. Along with the walleyes came the usual sheepshead and a couple of bonus smallmouth. The river seemed in great shape with some debris but mostly smooth boating.

Of course you can’t bet a day on the St. Croix. I did notice something that has changed over the years and for the better. When I first started fishing the river sheepshead were considered junk fish. I remember watching fisherman kill them, then throw them back. Today this practice isn’t evident, at least what I have seen.

I think what I am really asking is if you decide to keep a trophy fish how do you kill it quickly.

Thank you for your thoughtful response. Think I’ll head to Red Lobster- ask for a tissue and order lobster. We practice thoughtful ethics when practicing catch and release. I don’t know if this situation is similar but something about watching this fish flop on the dock longer then needed bothered me.