Guide for Woman Lake Chain (Longville)

[Joe]

I will be staying on the Woman Lake chain from June 15th to the 22nd. I am looking to hire a guide for maybe a half day on Sunday the 16th. I just would like to learn a few of the hot spots for walleyes and muskies so I do not have to spend my week finding them. Anyone know of someone who could help me out? If you are interested please email me at twohirtes@aol.com If anyone has any tips they would be willing to share for free that would be great also. Thanks, Joe

[Schnauzer]

I asked the locals for a good guide two years ago and I was recommended Dan Craven from the Leech Lake Guide coalition. It was great advice. He was was a wonderful guide and I wouldn't hesitate to fish with him again. He does most of his guiding on Leech but he is very familiar with Woman Lake. He told me he really looks forward to fishing the smaller lakes around Leech because they are a nice change of pace from his daily trips out on Leech. Anyway, I don't have his number or the guide coalition website (or number handy) but you could easily find it with a web search. His specialties are 'eyes and muskie but he'll tackle stump suckers too. He knew his way around Woman Lake quite well.

For pointers, there has been several Woman Lake threads with lots of good advice - the most recent has been within the last week or so. Send me an e-mail with "Woman Lake" in the subject line if you can't find them.

[joe]

How did you guys do on your trip? Any other suggestions everyone?

[Schnauzer]

We picked up a few (3-4?) walleyes and a couple northerns. We fished half the day on Woman and the second half of the guided trip on Leech. We broke up the day. We actually didn't do that well on Woman. But... I took Dan's advice and hit Woman again that evening and the next day and I did better than I had ever done on that lake before. The lessons learned were more important than the fish we caught that day. Woman is a hard lake to fish during the day. It is notorious for being a night bite.

[woman]

bump

[Tom B]

I would second Dan Craven. Dan was a counselor at Camp Fish (In Fish's fishing summer camp) and he used to fish many of the smaller lakes around Leech as a result. Spending a day in the boat listening to old Camp Fish stories would be worth the price of admission.

Tom B

[Schnauzer]

FYI...

I'm guessing you could book Dan Craven through these numbers:

Leech Lake Guide Coalition
Phone: 218.547.3212
Fax: 218.547.4080

[Girllakeguy]

Fish_on (Bernie Barringer) from this board has started guding in the area. I've seen his flyers out. I hear he has the muskies really figured out on several small lakesaround longville. Not sure when muskie season opens but its about that time. FOund his site. www.fishingminnesota.com/bernie

[Fish_on]

I always appreciate a free plug! Thanks. However, to say that I have, or anyone has for that matter, muskies "figured out" may be a little optimistic. There are several good muskie lakes in that area and they don't get that much pressure. The muskie on the bottom of my guide page is a 41-incher from Baby, which is basically right next to Woman. Lots of good fishing in that area, but compared to many others, Woman is a tough lake for walleyes during the day. I prefer to trailer to lakes that have a good bite, that may or may not be Woman on any given day. Beautiful area, you'll love it.