Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Fishing the opener??
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Mad_Angler |
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Mad_Angler |
Also, I normally troll for lake trout (Purple deep taildancers work very well). But right after ice out, what should I use? and where? |
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BearDown |
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FishermanTed |
" @ TED - Is there any type of fry a smallmouth will shy away from in your experience? It seems like they will eat almost anything." Nope, they pretty much will eat anything which makes them a great fish to target. If they are hungry look out! To the one response above that talked about looking at walleye that weren't interested. I would bet because they were spawning or just off of the spawn. That is the other risk you run. If ice out is close the walleye will not have spawned and therefore you are kind of hosed. As I get up to my lodge very early I almost always encounter the walleye spawn. Its actually pretty cool as the males just sit there waiting for the females to come in. When they do we see HUGE fish. 2 years we ago we saw a 40+ inch walleye which is unreal. We see many, many 30s in like 6 feet of water. Yes, you can't catch them but its still pretty cool. -FT |
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yogi59weedr |
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2old4U |
I can't recall ever fishing deeper than 6-8' on opener (for walleyes). |
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Mad_Angler |
I normally troll deep taildancers over deep water. For the opener, should I troll a shad rap in 5-10 foot of water? |
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2old4U |
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shock |
quote Mad_Angler: "I don't normally target pike. What techniques work best in very early spring?for pike and lakers i've had very good success with spoons in may also rattlin raps and trolling j-18 blk/gold original rapala . when at camp i'm always soaking deadbait on a slip sinker set up. |
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FishermanTed |
quote 2old4U: "Umm, a 40" walleye? Do tell.." We have seen several walleye pushing 40 inches on our lake. We currently have the catch and release world record at 37 inches so it is a very real possibility. 3 years ago a fisherman lost a 40+ at the boat (with witnesses) and he was crushed. I have personally seen one at least that big. I thought it was a pike but my guide pointed the white tips out and we were both shocked. We know they are in there, just a matter of time when we get one in the boat and on camera! |
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Mad_Angler |
But... last year, my daughter got married in June. That definitely eliminated my Memorial Trip. It also wound up eliminating my summer trip. This spring, I also have commitments for Memorial Day. So I am thinking of fishing the opener. Since it is still winter and we're all just sitting around the electronic campfire... Why do you tell me about the opener? What is it like? What are some past opener adventures like? Any other thoughts? |
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Frankie_Paull |
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Basspro69 |
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FishermanTed |
Three years ago we had a really late ice out and we missed it entirely. But more often than not ice is clear and all is well. With the mild winter this year I would predict an early ice out and excellent fishing. As such, waters will be cool which will have all fish very shallow, walleye especially. Bass will be active and hitting the first minnows of the season (almost always perch fry). It is a great time to come as the lakes are coming alive and the fish are seeing the first lures of the season. Have fun! -FT |
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dpreiner21 |
One night when I was cleaning up next to the water I flashed my headlamp into the lake and saw a 12+ walleyes swimming about 5-10ft out in <5ft of water. Tried throwing everything at them and not one bite. There was nothing I could do and it sounded like eveyone else on the lake weren't catching fish either. |
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Basspro69 |
quote brantlars: "Amen !quote Basspro69: "Can be feast or famine for walleye depending on the year. The exception is trout, either lakers or stream trout, they thrive in that cold water." |
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brantlars |
quote Basspro69: "Can be feast or famine for walleye depending on the year. The exception is trout, either lakers or stream trout, they thrive in that cold water." And it's only 3 months away... |
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IceColdGold |
I typically bring leaches and fish jigs for walleye. Can you pitch jigs up shallow for walleye that early? or maybe floating cranks in shallow water after dark? I have had good luck on top water for bass in early June. Will the bass hit top water that early? Two years ago we were up on Crooked in Mid may and hit some great bass action in a little bay that was flooded because the water was so high. I caught about a 1/2 dozen 3 plus pound fish in about a 20' x 20' area. I have also read about fishing bays on the north end of lake because they warm up faster. |
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shock |
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QueticoMike |
quote FishermanTed: "Fishing the opener is always a huge crapshoot. More often than not it can be excellent but you take a risk coming up so early. Last year one day it was 70 and the rest of the weekend it snowed pushing my fisherman off the lakes and shutting the bite down in its tracks. @ TED - Is there any type of fry a smallmouth will shy away from in your experience? It seems like they will eat almost anything. |