fishing reports

[Telemark]

Since we're on Minnesomalialota. I didn't give my annual mid summer update from our family vaca to Cass. It's the same as all the others. Awesome swimming water. Gin clear. Fish are skittish. I think they can probably see the boat from 30' down. We don't have forward sonar. So far I am staying true and refusing, same as with cell cams. We didn't waste much time fishing in daylight, but we did send 2 of the kids out with a guide and they got a few, using fwd sonar. Chris said it was impressive. We catch all ours after dark. Long nights. In bed by 1 or 2. Bloody Mary served around 10. I think the lake has a ton of walleye in it still.

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What sort of lures do you use?

I fish similar conditions in Ontario. I don't catch a lot, but everything I catch is big.

 

[bigboreblr]

Nice walleye. My best chance for walleye is the lower niagara river in Naigara Falls. Sometimes go there for training at the power plant. Wife likes New Years there. Probably doing that this year. I use spoon n spinner for steelhead and walleye is a bycatch. Usually toss em back since I am in a hotel.

Ask Santa for another torium for the wife's kingfish rod a small penn slammer high speed for gotcha plugs or epoxy lures for bonito / blues.

Did the thanksgiving week Tog trip in Atlantic City. Caught 2 keepers, good number of small tog, and a nice seabass. On the Osprey party boat. Borgatta at night was fun too. Mostly watched the wife play the roulette wheel.

A friend is going to be in florida for a month. Might go down for a few days and rent a backbay boat or hit a pier. He's hitting 2 or 3 different spots in florida.

 

[matinc]

Big I used to fish the Niagara gorge for smallmouth and salmon and trout. A tube jig for smallmouth and a flat or quick fish on 1 ounce pencil sinkers for trout n salmon. Absolute best spot was devils hole. Not sure if Jim Taylor still fishes river look him up

 

[Mortenson]

What sort of lures do you use?

I fish similar conditions in Ontario. I don't catch a lot, but everything I catch is big.

Crankbaits.

Yeah you great lakes guys have it good. I'm sure it's not easy, but rewarding. I've seen your pics!

 

[sandbur]

Since we're on Minnesomalialota. I didn't give my annual mid summer update from our family vaca to Cass. It's the same as all the others. Awesome swimming water. Gin clear. Fish are skittish. I think they can probably see the boat from 30' down. We don't have forward sonar. So far I am staying true and refusing, same as with cell cams. We didn't waste much time fishing in daylight, but we did send 2 of the kids out with a guide and they got a few, using fwd sonar. Chris said it was impressive. We catch all ours after dark. Long nights. In bed by 1 or 2. Bloody Mary served around 10. I think the lake has a ton of walleye in it still.

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Cass Lake was pretty much the same 35 plus years ago. Zebra mussels have probably made it more so as that has happened to most of our infested lakes. They are clearer.

I agree with you on the cell cams and forward facing sonar. I have fished in boats with other guys that have them. Fascinating.

I still catch fish and have an enjoyable trip with my outdated fish finder.

Cell cams will probably result in younger generations losing the old time scouting skills. I guess that is the sign of the times.

I am fine with my old fashioned ways.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Cass Lake was pretty much the same 35 plus years ago. Zebra mussels have probably made it more so as that has happened to most of our infested lakes. They are clearer.

I agree with you on the cell cams and forward facing sonar. I have fished in boats with other guys that have them. Fascinating.

I still catch fish and have an enjoyable trip with my outdated fish finder.

Cell cams will probably result in younger generations losing the old time scouting skills. I guess that is the sign of the times.

I am fine with my old fashioned ways.

Spot on. Zero skill in hunting and fishing anymore. I remember trying to “drop shot” worms on Lanier using a flasher! When we thought we were on the fish we would switch over to paper graph to really get an idea of what’s going on

 

[Catscratch]

Spot on. Zero skill in hunting and fishing anymore. I remember trying to “drop shot” worms on Lanier using a flasher! When we thought we were on the fish we would switch over to paper graph to really get an idea of what’s going on

I never got to use those flashers or graphs... way to high tech for me back then! Those guys were cheating! :)

Joking of course! I'll run bank lines, trotlines, noodle, and use live bait. I've got no room to talk!

 

[BuckSutherland]

Cass Lake was pretty much the same 35 plus years ago. Zebra mussels have probably made it more so as that has happened to most of our infested lakes. They are clearer.

I agree with you on the cell cams and forward facing sonar. I have fished in boats with other guys that have them. Fascinating.

I still catch fish and have an enjoyable trip with my outdated fish finder.

Cell cams will probably result in younger generations losing the old time scouting skills. I guess that is the sign of the times.

I am fine with my old fashioned ways.

I like being old fashioned too. 3 years ago I quit worrying about cams. I now put them out on Sept 1 and don't check on them until after rifle season is over. Like the pics, but could care less about using them as a hunting tool. Have 2 tactacams but they aren't sending me any pictures. The most rewarding hunting for me this year was finding a whole bunch of deer on the final weekend and getting really close to them.


For fishing I have my Humminbird ice 45 flasher($299) and for fishing in the summer I have a tiny little Garmin Striker 4 ($139). Usually just pull a sled through the snow in the winter and have to paddle my boat/canoe in the summer. Good exercise to try and keep healthy. I usually find more fish than an otter. Don't need all the fancy crap. Gonna do some ice camping this winter with a cot, head lamp and some bait feeder reels. I will catch just as much or more than the guy with 100k ice castle.


In the last couple years several people that I have fished with have caught their PB for several different species. During all of those outings there was a common denominator. We had no motor. Always very rewarding guiding someone to their PB. Had a couple again this year.

 

[matinc]

Gonna try some tip up and spearing tomorrow if the ice is safe. IF

 

[sandbur]

Gonna try some tip up and spearing tomorrow if the ice is safe. IF

As a retired guy, I enjoy the spearing.

 

[matinc]

Sand I am glad you enjoy it. Do you still go? I was not able to get out due to not enough ice. Not interested in doing the swimming thing. Now it will be another 30 days to wait. Ughh

 

[sandbur]

Sand I am glad you enjoy it. Do you still go? I was not able to get out due to not enough ice. Not interested in doing the swimming thing. Now it will be another 30 days to wait. Ughh

Ice has probably deteriorated overnight. I will be checking it this morning.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

A question for those who know & have done it .......

How do you spear fish through ice? What's the tactic?

 

[BuckSutherland]

The Norwegian TV.....

You cut a hole in the ice with whatever tools you have. Some people use augers, some people use chainsaws, some people use ice saws. I use an auger to start the 4 corners and then saw in between and shove the giant ice cube under the ice. Typically the hole is 2x3ft or 3x4ft. Everyone likes something a little different. Mostly house are placed in 10 feet of water or less so you can see the bottom.


Once the hole is cut a darkhouse is placed over the top of the hole (no windows). You then use a decoy or live bait to draw the fish in. Once they swim under you gently lower the spear into the water and chuck it at the fish. Most of the spearing is done for northern pike.

 

[fishin coyote]

Buck, here in PA we’re not allowed any holes over I believe 8”. They claimed for safety reasons. Do you mark the spots when you leave so the next person coming by doesn’t step in a cutout with skim ice on it? From the videos I’ve watched it is quite a fascinating technique

 

[BuckSutherland]

Buck, here in PA we’re not allowed any holes over I believe 8”. They claimed for safety reasons. Do you mark the spots when you leave so the next person coming by doesn’t step in a cutout with skim ice on it? From the videos I’ve watched it is quite a fascinating technique

Yes, its common when you leave to take tree branches and mark the 4 corners of your spear hole. Under the right conditions spear holes refreeze very fast. I am hoping to do a little spearing between Christmas and New Years.

 

[Catscratch]

Do you spear fishermen ever drop cover through the ice early and keep going back to that spot the rest of the winter? Is it legal to chum a spot with a food attractant? Do you skip around a lot? I have a hard time staying put when I fish. I like to move if I don't have luck relatively soon.

 

[Kdog]

Went and goofed off on a pond after a short fruitless duck hunt in my little swamp this morning. Best one out of 6 in ~45 minutes.

 

[BuckSutherland]

Do you spear fishermen ever drop cover through the ice early and keep going back to that spot the rest of the winter? Is it legal to chum a spot with a food attractant? Do you skip around a lot? I have a hard time staying put when I fish. I like to move if I don't have luck relatively soon.

I wanna say that is illegal in MN. No real reason to drop cover down when you can just go find it in our lakes. Plenty of weeds to hunt next to.