Metro Muskys

[HUNTER51]

Seems to be a break in the action this week, or is it my imagination.

[HerbB]

The fish might have just moved deep. I haven't been out on a metro lake for almost two weeks, but I suspect the Muskies may have gone into a "follow the baitfish" pattern. What happens is the baitfish start their annual spawning cycle and begin staging just off the sand bars where they spawn. The baitfish usually suspend in deep water right along the structure during the day and then move in to spawn sometime around first dark. And the Muskies simply follow the baitfish. So, the Muskies that were in the shallows a week or two ago may simply be out in deep water following the bait-fish during much of the day.

Might be time to put away the top-waters and pull out the Depthraiders, Ernies, Bulldawgs, and Suicks. I'll be out tomorrow on a metro lake so maybe I'll see you out there.

Hope this helps.

[HUNTER51]

Ill be on eagle

[Jim McCullough]

Hunter & Herb,

I was fishing with a regular contributor to the board on a well known Metro lake on Sep. 23. Sorry about the secrecy, but he took me to HIS lake and showed me HIS secret spots, so I'm not about to betray his confidence. Anyway, it was the Sunday that the big cold front and high winds moved in. I wasn't expecting to see anything. We fished from 6pm to Midnight. Right around Sunset, I hooked into a real nice fish, had her to the boat and she traveled the length of it and took off, than turned around quick and I wasn't fast enough to keep the slack out and she got off. We got a real good look at her. I'm not one to estimate lengths. I usually just say it was big. The guy I was with has dealt with a lot more big fish than myself and he estimated it at 48". All I know was it was big and thick. We kept fishing and he got a 36 incher in the boat and we had contact with around six or seven total fish that night. He had a big girl on twice for short periods. I was pretty blown away seeing that many ski's during a cold front so I would say the action was plenty hot for us.

Jim

[MNSteveH]

Got out on WB for only 3 hrs this am. Was prety cold, windy and foggy. Water temp was 60. Got a 5b lb smallie and several pike including about an 8 lber but no skis. All the fish we caught were on the inside edges of THICK weedlines and the bite was real soft - the pike were just barely nipping at the baits. We also fished some main lake humps and deeper water but that was a big zero. I'm guessing if big pike and smallmouths are on the inside edges then the skis couldn't be far behind, but probably inactive given the conditions. I think a little sun this time of year helps get'em moving. Wish I could have been out in the afternoon.

[HerbB]

The fish were moving some on the lake I was on. I took a buddy along that was new to Muskie fishing and he caught a fat 38 incher and a 32 inch Northern. I caught 35 and 32 inch Northerns to round off our outing. Seems the Muskies are still near the shallows and drop-offs. Also, topwaters and bucktails are still working.

I think the Muskies should be active on just about every metro lake right now. With this nice stable weather and the water cooling, the fish are looking to feed. I would expect a person should have some action getting out just about anywhere around the metro right now. Its time to be on the water guys.

Good luck all. Catch a hawg!

[Smetana]

That's not what I want to here right now. That's good for everyone else, but me. My boat took a #@!? on me last Thursday night on the WB. Perfect timing huh? right before the Oct full moon. By the time it's outta the shop the fall season will be almost over.
Hawgs for all.

Landlocked Smetana

[HerbB]

Smetana, Just put a post for when and where you'd like to fish. I'm sure someone out there has room in their boat. And like I said, I don't think it matters which lake you're on. I think the fish should be active anywhere. Tonka would probably be a good bet now with all the nice Muskies, bonus fish, and few other boats on the big water. Good fishing.:) Herb

[B420]

Herb,
Smetana needs to stay landlocked! He pounds the water to a froth, and is smoking my a$$ in the big fish race this year! Smetana, going out tonight with G$, but were taking his boat, cause I busted a trailer light off trying to get that @#$%^ in the garage. Also need a chance to get up on you as the girlfriend fried my weekend! Shoot me a email hussla! VING VING
B420

[MNSteveH]

Fished WB Sunday pm - was disappointly slow. Fished TopRaiders, Jackpots and bucktails shallow - nada - no pike, one 4 lb bass. Fished cranks off the edges and raised one mid 30's ski on a 10" Jake in 20' of water. Talked to guys in three other boats - only heard of one mid 30's caught and not many sighting. Heard a rumor that night fishing's been good.

[Muskiewaldz]

What's the water temp down there? Here in Central Mn it was 57 degrees last weekend. The fish were following everything but not hitting very well. Raised over 30 fish on Fri-Sun and only boated one 35"er. I did manage to shake off a 30" and a mid-40" class fish. I think the water is going to turn in the nexy few days. Fish were very sluggish.

Can't wait to get out this weekend with this massive cold front coming.:( Maybe I should go duck hunting.....nah, see you on the water. I'll be the guy pitching plastics along the breaklines.:)


Muskiewaldz

[Smetana]

B420,
Let me know how ya do out there tonight. When I was out there last Thursday, things were slow. Casted the main spots, saw bait fish scampering on the top but only had a single, typical small follow and a schwiz. Then I started trolling the breaks and drilled two pike and a weak 31" skee. All came off of 10" pike flavored jake, off of the northwest edge of #13. Let me know when your hitting it again.
Smetana

[HerbB]

My water temp gauge said 61 the other day, but I'm sure its a few degrees lower now. The best luck I've had lately is using a bucktail with a 5 inch double-tail trailer on a 4/0 stinger hook. I use a fairly slow retrieve and twitch the bait every few feet. Sounds silly, but it is drawing the attention of a few fish anyways.

Just curious, I keep hearing about people fishing WB and not having any luck. BE is just a couple miles away. Isn't anyone trying over there? I know there sure were some algae blooms on BE this year that made pea soup look clear.

[DEVILS ADVOCATE]

Cant catch them if you're on the computer, now can ya?

Other than a game, hmmm...theres an idea

[HerbB]

No, you can't catch them on a computer. But you might learn how better to catch them using your PC. There are a lot of very good fishermen (and gals) that post here and other sights that have a great deal of good advice. Every bit of info can help and sometimes its something suttle that makes the difference between catching the fish of a lifetime and going home empty handed. Good fishing.

[Smetana]

I was over on BE a couple of weeks ago. That was slow too. There was still lots of scum on the water and the portions that weren't as bad still looked like chocolate milk. I think secchi visibility would have been about 3". B420 did happen to land a small low 30" skee.
Maybe it's a little better now??

Smetana

[White Bear Lake]

Is anybody seeing any over 40 inch fish on White Bear? I'm not asking for spots,methods,time of day,etc. I just want to know if anyone is moving any big fish on this lake. My wife and I are fishing regularly and have put 3 fish from 25-36 inchs in the boat with a lot of follows from small to medium fish,but we can't seem to find the big girls. Thanks

[fishpoop]

The previous post on White Bear was placed by me,fishpoop, it's been awhile since I have posted and I didn't realize that my registration was not working, so my post was put up anonymously. Sorry about that.

[HUNTER3897]

Fishpoop,

It's good to see you back. Stick around and post some more. :)

Jim McCullough

[Waterwolf]

Greetings Mr. Poop.
Have a good one!
The Wolf

[B420]

Fishpoop,
Its been all or nothin at the Bear, either we see all big fish, and catch all big fish, or else see all small ones and catch all small ones. Been a bit strange out there. I want to fish bald eagle more, but the launch sucks, and water is way to green for me personally, it feels like I am fishin in a stormwater run off pond. Might try er though this weekend, or else will be out killin ducks
B420

[bjt]

Guys,

I fished White Bear sun. to give it a try. Threw mostly bucktails and a Phantom. Fished the mid-lake humps and the island. Caught 3 pike, a small muskie and saw 3 others. All the muskies I saw were in shallow water. One was big, maybe around 44", that was sort of hot. It went in a circle in the "8" but didn't commit. It was hanging around the inside bend in the weeds in big bar on the NE corner of the lake. I came back for it later and it was nowhere to be found. Nice lake.

Good Luck,

Bryan

[fishpoop]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. It's nice to be missed. The reasoning behind my post is, if you all are seeing big fish and I'm not/ then I had better change locations or presentations. But if no one is seeing any big fish then it's safe to assume (you know what happens when you assume) that the big girls aren't moving and I should stick with my approach and hope that they start to move. I think it would be nice to get to meet some of my fellow White Bear Musky nuts. I don't know how to do that, with everybody haveing different work sechudles and days off. But if you see a guy, usually with a gal(my wife), in a red lund anglerII boat with a 50 horse tiller Yamaha 4 stroke and a pinpoint on the front. Stop over and introduce yourself. We are also easy to pick out because we both wear our life jackets on the water,all the time. We both swim like rocks. I haven't fished White bear much during the summer because I went to Canada and also had some motor problems that kept me off the water.I should be out alot this fall. Usually on Monday or Tuesday as those are my days off.

[fishpoop]

Thanks to all for the postive responses. The reasoning behind my post was; if you are seeing big fish and I'm not then I need to change my locations and presentations. But if your not seeing them either, then it's safe to assume,(you know what happens when you assume)that the big fish aren't moving and I should stick with what I'm doing and wait for the fish to move. It would be nice to meet all my fellow White Bear musky nuts,but I don't know how to do that with everyone having different work schedules and days off. But if you see a guy,usually with a gal(my wife) in a red Lund AnglerII with a tiller 50horse Yamaha 4 stroke and a pinpoint on the front, stop over and say Hi. Also we are easy to pick out because we are one of the few people who wear their life jackets while in the boat. Both of us swim like rocks.

[MNSteveH]

Good to hear you're back in action. Hope we can help each other out with a few posts. I can echo B421's comments. I've either caught little ones or seen a few big ones, but usually not on the same day. The smaller ones seem to be relating more to shoreline weed areas and the big ones to mid-lake structure, but not always. I had a really huge fish come up like shamu about 10" from my viper - heading right towards it - but then disappeared. Also heard of a 51" caught on a bulldawg, and a few mid 40's so there's at least a few still there but the smaller ones are dominating.

I pounded the shallow areas last weekend and only got bass and pike. I'm going to move to deep drop-off areas now.

My fishing time's also been restricted this year, but I'm usually out at least 4-5 hr over the weekend. (Usually either early Sat am or Sun afternoons - I don't mind missing the Viking's games and the lake was pretty empty last Sun PM). I have a tan/green Alumacraft with a 25 hp Johnson (black). I'm a skinny guy, usually wear my North Metro MI hat and am usualy alone. Say hi if you see me.

Steve

[Smetana]

MNsteveH,
If you ever get lonely on the metro lakes and want someone to fish with shoot me an email. My motor went down last week and am outta commission for awhile.

Smetana

[fishpoop]

MnSteveH: By your post I see that you are a member of North Metro chapter. I say this because we probably know each other already. My wife belongs to N. Metro and I go to the meetings quite often. I belong to the Twin Cities chapter. I'm trying to figure out who you are though, I can only think of one Steve at N. Metro but I admit that I don't know alot of names. Is there some way to figure out how to meet? My name is Paul Villnow if that helps any. I think that we are going out on Sunday but I don't know for sure yet. We have been fishing mainly midlake structure and haven't seen any big girls. Though there's alot of structure out there. I'm still learning the lake. There are areas that can be quite confusing but with time and the G.P.S. I'm figureing out more turns and points. Just wish I could get a little lucky and see a fish. I'm starting to think that the pressure is getting heavy out there and the fish are reacting to it.

[MNSteveH]

Paul, we've actually conversed over e-mail before. I'm a relatively new north metro member - so far only made it to the on-the-water meeting at WB. I get very limited fishing time but am often out on WB for a few hrs over the weekends. (this weekend I only got out for 2 hrs on Owasso.) I've done OK on the shallower structures but mostly small fish. I too am working on learning the deeper structures, especially at the SE end of the lake, but it takes a lot of time with the limited watert time I get.

I've got a tan/green alumcraft LunkerV LTD with a 25 hp Johnson. Feel free to say hello if you see me. There arn't too many husband/wife duos out there so I'd probably be able to spot you.

Steve