Fishing Challenge

[rock2me]

I'd like to challenge all of you to make me a better fisherman.

I decided to try a new lake this year to focus on (like I needed a challenge..?.). It is near my home and supposedly has a good walleye population.

The lake is Big Marine lake in MN. I have tried fishing this lake five times the year and I keep coming up empty, as far as walleyes are concerned.

What would you try? Where would you fish? I catch plenty of bass and pike but no 'eye.

Here is a link to a lake map of the lake:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/perl/lk_maps.pl?mapid=B0379&downum=82005200

Here is the DNR information on this lake:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/perl/lk_survey.pl?downum=82005200

HELP!

[Juls_WI]

Why don't you first tell us what you have been trying the last five times you were out? Then I will play..;-)

I checked the information you provided and it's similar to a lake that I have been successful catching walleye on. I want to see what you have been trying first. Oky Doky?

Want to play?

Juls

[Eyez]

Sounds like a fun game, but it would be nice to know what you've already eliminated. Fill us in and I'll throw my opinion out there too.


Eyez

[rock2me]

The reason I didn't mention what I have tried is because I didn't want to 'taint the water', so to speak.

Well here goes. I have mostly concentrated on jigging with standard jigheads and leeches (locals said the bite was on leeches..who knows if they are leading me astray?). I have tried white, red, chartruese and brown colors. I also tried trolling deep running raps in firetiger, perch and silver minnow colors.

I catch bass and northerns everytime I am out. Never an 'eye. I mark fish off the bottom in 20-25ft of water. They run anywhere from right on the bottom to about 8ft off the bottom. I have heard they have some big crappies in this lake but all I have caught have been small ones. I have never caught a crappie where I have marked these suspended fish. When I have marked these fish I can honestly say I have never gotten a fish over them.

I'm considering getting the Bobber-with-a-brain to stick the bait right in front of them. What do you think? I have also heard of jigging spoons. What is the technique..or is this an Eerie thing? I am considering the Precision Trolling book to get a better knowledge base.

Thanks, for any repsonses!

[Borch]

Well here's a shot in the dark!

Based on the DNR map and additional info this is where I would start.

With water clarity over 9 ft, night time may very well be the right time for this lake. Walleye should be more active, pike and panfish less active. Less boat traffic to deal with as well.

The two large points midlake(near the inlet to the eastern basin)grab my attention as being good contact points. I'd start near the weed edge(17-19 ft based on the DNR report). Focus on structure related fish(in this case structure may also involve weedbeds). As far as approaches for the evening. Anchor up on one of the points and fish using lighted floats around the weed edge(cabbage is very nice if it is there) and into any poctets you find. Cast or troll cranks on the edge and over the top of weedbeds.

At night the necked down area on the northern end may also be good.

As far as the suspended fish there certainly could be walleyes. But with the absence of a populations of bait fish the tend to suspend this could be a difficult egg to crack. However, there may be a food source out there(small panfish, young suckers, who knows). If you are really curious as to what they are rent an accuview(many baitstores rent them out)and see what you see.

As far as the things you have tried. Don't put those things in the garbage bin. They may be very efffective at another time of year(spring, fall or even at night).

Good Luck!

[Peanut]

Here are a few general comments from my "MY 2 CENTS" file, in no particular order:

1. It is hard to say what lures will work - what works can changes from day-to-day. But, to at least help you find fish, think structure. We all know to look for points, humps, drop-offs, etc. But it's not just that. Walleye tend to concentrate around things that are different than the rest of their surroundings. So, as the DNR info. says the bottom is mostly sand, silt and muck, look for areas that differ from this norm (ie: rocky, gravelly, weedy, etc.)

2. Were you trolling jigs, casting them or vertically jigging? I ask to find out where your lure is. Even if you are marking fish suspended, where I come from, the bottom 2 feet are still the strike zone. If you're trolling jigs and cranks in 20+ feet, you may not be getting low enough. Maybe try a bouncer and spinner, or vertical jig, so you know you are on the bottom.

3. If you're trolling cranks, you're trolling at a brisk pace. Try slowing using something that allows you to slow down, or even still fish.


Just a few thoughts. (this isn't a bad game, but please keep us informed of your real life progress)

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH".

[Eyez]

I'd go with a traditional lindy rig, long (6-9 foot) snell, jumbo leeches and work the edges of midlake bars starting in the 17-23 foot range. I'm sure there's a thermocline, so that might be the contact point along the edge of a drop. The sharp break in the SW corner adjacent to the deepest part of the lake looks like a good starting point. The forage base looks like it's mostly bullheads, small bluegills and perch, so I wouldn't put too much work into the suspended fish. With the water clarity, I'd agree that it's probably a better evening and night bite than during the day, but fish can be caught if you let a leech swim on their noses long enough. This time of year, young bullheads are about 1.5 inches long, and big enough to have walleyes eat them. That might draw some walleyes into the 1-5 foot range, especially if there's current someplace. Work them with small jigs, slip bobbers, or split shot rigs drift in the current.


hope it helps, I'm not much good at reading these structure filled MN type lakes.

If all else fails, start singing "here fishy fishy fishy, here fishy fishy fishy..... worked for bert and ernie, never know :)


Eyez

[Juls_WI]

At this time of year try jigging the weedbeds that are in 8-10'of water close to deep water. Position your boat so that your over the deeper water and cast into the shallower areas.
I have been successful using the No-Snagg Timb'r Rock jigs tipped with a half a crawler or leech, casting into pockets in the weedbeds this way. Look for what looks like underwater "roads" in the weeds and concentrate on those areas first. Outside edges with gaps, or indentations, usually hold fish.
With such clear water, the fish will either go deep or hang out in the weedbeds to stay out of the sunlight as much as possible.

With Walleye and Northern as the predominant predator fish, and the Northern being the most prevelent, it's fair to say that the walleye will seek cover from his natural enemy and find it's forage in the cover of the weeds or at night in the cover of darkness where they have the advantage over every other species.
At night you can try trolling over the same weedbeds with shallow running baits, so that your baits are just above the weeds. Crawler harnesses with just a split shot run off in- line planer boards would be a good thing to try.
The important point in this note is that the weedbeds are close to deeper water. A sharp breakline with weeds on top will be your best bet.

Give it a shot and let us know how you do. The other responses were excellent, so you should have what you need to start catching some eyes.

Good luck to ya!

Juls

[rock2me]

Thank you for all the great advice!

I will be busy with the kids other sports this weekend. I hope to get out at the end of next week and work those deep-side weedlines.

I will report back, hopefully, good news.

Thanks.

[Pitts]

Hey I've fished Big Marine a couple of times for eyes and during the day they are hard to come by. I had success in early moring on the mid lake point mention but after first sun up they quit and the hammerhandles started biting.
Mid lake humps and cabbage in a bay near deep water is the way to go along with that big point.
This is a very good fishing lake and I fish a similar lake in Alexadria called Miltona where the wallys hang out in simlar places.
Slip floats along side of cabbage in 10' water work real well there.

Keep us informed I think I'll make it to Big Marine once more this year anyway.

Pitts