Best east metro fishing lakes

[Lund1993]

I am a new user and my son from Florida is visiting for the next two weeks and I want to take him to an east metro lake so we can catch fish because I want him to have a great time and learn to love fishing. Any suggestions....I mainly like to fish for crappie and walleye. I live in Hugo area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[keek]

I have no idea about your area but welcome to WC! Someone on here will point you in the right direction.

Have fun with your son.

[REW]

Just down the road from your house are Bald Eagle and White Bear lakes.
Lots of fish in either lake that will give you and yours hours of fun.

There are another 20 or so lakes within about 50 miles of your location, so once you use up those lakes, you can search out others.

REW

[Box]

Hey Lund. I am in WBL and fish Bald Eagle and WBL a decent amount. Crappies will be easier to find in BE, but in general bigger in WBL. I don't target them after the spring, so can't tell you much, other than if you see a fly hatch on wBL and see the skins, the crapps aren't too far away gorging themselves

For walleyes on WBL, I think you need to go deep and basically before sunup or after sunsent. I could count the munber of walleyes I caught on WBL during daylight hours on two hands, and that is about 30 years of fishing. Darkness brings success, and most of them I caught are in 22-35 feet or water, mostly around 28ish.

You also have the St. Croix river close, and that is what I think your best chance at some fun fishing. Trolling cranks will get you walleyes, and some sauger, and who knows what else, haha! Everything is there.

You could try Clear Lake just up 35, the walleyes are small, but the lake is smaller and easy, and except for weekends not as busy. Some muskies in there two, but I would go to BE or WBL for that instead.

Forest Lake is also close, and I like second lake for walleyes, but its been a long time that I fished FL for anything but muskie. Just watch for shallow water on first lake, in the channel...

Big Marine is nice lake, has decent walleye, but we never have done great in numbers game there. Plenty of bass and some decent pike, and bigger lake. Accesses on north and south end are both good. Main spot there for walleye is off the island, rock piles/point - its not secret though

Good luck, hope you have some luck and are able to reduce your drives to MI a bit I would hit the river myself, as first choice. Nice scenery, good chance at fish, and not far away. You can be fishing within 20-25 minutes of leaving your driveway in Hugo.

[Lund1993]

Thank you for the help I think I am going to go try big marine tomorrow. Wish me luck.

[Buck Snort]

Originally Posted by Lund1993

I am a new user and my son from Florida is visiting for the next two weeks and I want to take him to an east metro lake so we can catch fish because I want him to have a great time and learn to love fishing. Any suggestions....I mainly like to fish for crappie and walleye. I live in Hugo area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Right in Hugo, my friend. Bald Eagle Lk. will get you what you're looking for.

[Lund1993]

I know bald eagle is what everyone says but I have yet to pull a walleye out of there yet. Of course I haven't actually fished it with anything other than a rental boat with no gps or trolling motor. I am looking forward to trying with my new boat. ( well 1993 boat but it is new to me)

[Suzuki]

When I think east metro I think Croix but that might be too big a nut to crack your first time out there.
Unless you know a thing or two about big rivers? My buddy has been fishing a lot of mornings there lately and hasnt busted once on eyes. I was out there once last week after work and only got one keeper. Going out tonight but mostly to boat with wifey. We're starting in Croix but heading down P3 on the Miss for dinner.
If you seriously want to get into local walleyes you must start fishing the big rivers here.

[Box]

Originally Posted by Lund1993

I know bald eagle is what everyone says but I have yet to pull a walleye out of there yet. Of course I haven't actually fished it with anything other than a rental boat with no gps or trolling motor. I am looking forward to trying with my new boat. ( well 1993 boat but it is new to me)

Hey lund, keep hitting it though and they will come. And they seem to really school with like-sizes out there. If you catch a small one, you will get more small ones. Biggie and you have good chance at more biggies. Our best was a morning with three 27" and three 21-22" fish. Never had another day like that out there, but holy cow was it fun. They were shallow too, right on a drop, but only in 5 fow and in summer, not spring.

If a guy wants to drive a little ways, Pepin is awesome Good luck.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Good luck getting access to a lot of metro lakes. The chains are going up this weekend.