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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | How did everyone do over the weekend when chasing fish? |
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Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | LAZY follows, none converted. May have got tetanus from removing a deck off of my buddies cabin, so atleast there's a chance I caught something this weekend. |
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Posts: 20181
Location: oswego, il | Broiled out on the big pond. Got 3 before all the lines could be set and proceeded to lose the next 5. One was a huge drag screaming acrobatic steelhead. 
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | I had a nice fish hit boatside Friday night, he came unglued. Mid 40's probably. My buddy got a 50'' Saturday night. not a terrible weekend, I didn't get on the water as much as I wanted. Worked Saturday. |
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Posts: 114
| Metro area was lousy again for me. Saw 2 fish all weekend. Still haven't boated one. Numbers are wayyyyyy down. |
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Posts: 280
| What were water temps in your area?
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Location: Contrarian Island | made it out Sunday morning and got a 47" and 47.5" in the net.. missed another. Water was 77.5 and we got off at 8am for breakfast and a bloody
Edited by BNelson 7/24/2017 1:18 PM
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Posts: 179
| Slammer have you been fishing ? I know the chain is a wreck and probably won't be fishable for quite sometime I wonder how Silver is in Wi. I have Heidecki and Shabbona but no luck from them. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Forgot to add, the water was like 72* this weekend.
Edited by JakeStCroixSkis 7/24/2017 3:20 PM
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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | 51Muskie - 7/24/2017 1:34 PM
Slammer have you been fishing ? I know the chain is a wreck and probably won't be fishable for quite sometime I wonder how Silver is in Wi. I have Heidecki and Shabbona but no luck from them.
I havent been on those lakes in recent memory, sorry! |
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Posts: 705
Location: Alex or Alek? | Just got back from LOTW. Fished 3.5 days and boated 13 for 6 guys in 3 boats. Largest was 47" and most were in the 40-42 range. The neighbor boated a absolutely fat 53 while we were up. We found all but 2 of the fish in sand bays with weed. It my first trip up there and it was everything I dreamed of! |
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Posts: 270
Location: SE WISCONSIN | 51Muskie - 7/24/2017 1:34 PM
Slammer have you been fishing ? I know the chain is a wreck and probably won't be fishable for quite sometime I wonder how Silver is in Wi. I have Heidecki and Shabbona but no luck from them.
I was on silver today bass fishing water temperature was right at 80 all the lakes in the area are no wake. The launch is fine. |
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Posts: 151
Location: IL | Does ToddM even fish for muskie??? |
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Posts: 2014
| Only when they are sub 50... Honestly, it's fun catching fish. The hunt is fun for sure, but catching is better than fishing. I've caught a couple 50+, with one 45#s by formula. The fight sucked compared to a 15 # striper. It's fishing man. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | MOJOcandy101 - 7/24/2017 7:56 PM
Just got back from LOTW. Fished 3.5 days and boated 13 for 6 guys in 3 boats. Largest was 47" and most were in the 40-42 range. The neighbor boated a absolutely fat 53 while we were up. We found all but 2 of the fish in sand bays with weed. It my first trip up there and it was everything I dreamed of!
sounds cool. very jealous.. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | scot - 7/25/2017 7:44 AM
Does ToddM even fish for muskie???
Look east to the big pond, there you will find toddm during the warm weather months. |
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Posts: 20181
Location: oswego, il | scot - 7/25/2017 7:44 AM
Does ToddM even fish for muskie???
I do indeed. I just fish smarter, not harder. Back when i started i washed alot of musky baits. I still have friends who would rather wash musky baits than switch up and fish something else that is going. It also doesnt help that the nearest good water is 2.5 hours away. I am like a crack monkey when i fish, need instant gratification.:-)
Fishing for a bunch of different species gets you thinking outside the box rather than following the crowd.
My biggest sub 50 muskie last year came in november, on a 9" shallow raider, 2.2mph, 9ft bhind a planer board in 13ft of water and i did it on purpose! We caught 4 fish that day doing it.
Edited by ToddM 7/25/2017 3:29 PM
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Posts: 114
| Fished the east metro again Thursday,Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Probably put in 30 hours over the 4 days. Same report as my last. Fishing was terrible saw 4 fish all weekend. I can not stress enough how much I've noticed a change this year from years past. I just feel like there numbers are way way down. I'm not the type of person to fish only 1 way I have switched up depths, bait, speed fishing open water, time of day. I mentioned in a previous post how the MN DNR has really been lacking consistently stocking metro waters. I've been doing a lot of research because muskie fishing is something that I'm very passionate about like most others on this site. As I'm sure many are aware how the DNR makes it public on MNDNR Lake finder you can looking at muskies stocking reports going back 10-15 years. Yes they are stocking fry in most east metro waters but there has been no to very little adult stocked in the past 10 years and the. I've tried contacting the fishers department but have yet received a call back. I'm curious if if they have a musky stocking plan rather then just lets put 100lbs of fry in lake x because we have them available. I'm not one to complain but I'm just really frustrated with the amount of time and money spent and the anticipation looking forward to each season and what it will bring. But this year I just feel deflated and beaten and a lot of it has to do with what i believe there a lack of muskies. I'm not the only one who has had experienced what I have with lack of fish encounters. I have a large network of friends and guides who have all been reporting the same thing. The lake I've been talking about is WBL in case people were wondering. |
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Posts: 443
Location: Duluth, MN | bbradley - 7/31/2017 10:36 AM
Yes they are stocking fry in most east metro waters but there has been no to very little adult stocked in the past 10 years and the. I've tried contacting the fishers department but have yet received a call back. I'm curious if if they have a musky stocking plan rather then just lets put 100lbs of fry in lake x because we have them available. I'm not one to complain but I'm just really frustrated with the amount of time and money spent and the anticipation looking forward to each season and what it will bring. But this year I just feel deflated and beaten and a lot of it has to do with what i believe there a lack of muskies. I'm not the only one who has had experienced what I have with lack of fish encounters. I have a large network of friends and guides who have all been reporting the same thing. The lake I've been talking about is WBL in case people were wondering.
This is happening all over the state i believe. The fishing just is not like it was 5-7 years ago. Probably never will be. They will not\cannot afford or try to stock yearlings rather than fry\fingerlings even with all the evidence showing the survival rates. And i get why but it's just facts. This is why i go to Canada twice a year.
Edited by Lundbob 7/31/2017 10:57 AM
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Posts: 114
| Lundbob - 7/31/2017 10:57 AM
bbradley - 7/31/2017 10:36 AM
Yes they are stocking fry in most east metro waters but there has been no to very little adult stocked in the past 10 years and the. I've tried contacting the fishers department but have yet received a call back. I'm curious if if they have a musky stocking plan rather then just lets put 100lbs of fry in lake x because we have them available. I'm not one to complain but I'm just really frustrated with the amount of time and money spent and the anticipation looking forward to each season and what it will bring. But this year I just feel deflated and beaten and a lot of it has to do with what i believe there a lack of muskies. I'm not the only one who has had experienced what I have with lack of fish encounters. I have a large network of friends and guides who have all been reporting the same thing. The lake I've been talking about is WBL in case people were wondering.
This is happening all over the state i believe. The fishing just is not like it was 5-7 years ago. Probably never will be. They will not\cannot afford or try to stock yearlings rather than fry\fingerlings even with all the evidence showing the survival rates. And i get why but it's just facts. This is why i go to Canada twice a year.
I go to Canada once a year and that's not enough. So basically any non natural reproduction lake with have a stretch of about 5-7 years then expire after, then the DNR just moves onto the next lake to stock. Doesn't sound like a good plan to me.
Edited by bbradley 7/31/2017 11:05 AM
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | I was just talking about the DNR not having enough funds yesterday with a buddy. And one of the things that was brought up was musky tags or musky stamps. I know there is nothing like this in IL (where I am). But is there anything like this in MN? I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to require anyone targeting Muskie to buy a stamp or tag for a small price maybe $2. But for this to be effective every penny of it would need to go to the stocking programs. I know Michigan has a musky tag for if you want to keep a Muskie but it's free. I wish it was a few dollars. I would never keep a Muskie but I think it would be a good idea for the states with musky to create a stamp that you need to have to target Muskie and make it cost $2 and all that money goes to stocking. I don't think Muskie fisherman would mind paying an extra $2 to help keep fish in the lakes? I would be glad to pay for that. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Annual Algoma, WI. Trip and once again had an absolute blast in this little port town!! Locals, fishermen, facilities are second to none ... they do a great job making trips fun and productive. Earlier in the week N NE Winds sent in a lot of warm water, fleas and just crap conditions but we were able to adjust and score on some good fishing under the circumstances and even scored Bigs ... nothing better than the scream of drag with a big King connected to the other side!! makes it not even seem so bad when they collect a line or two extra on their way into the net!! LOL
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Musky_Mo16 - 7/31/2017 12:14 PM
I was just talking about the DNR not having enough funds yesterday with a buddy. And one of the things that was brought up was musky tags or musky stamps. I know there is nothing like this in IL (where I am). But is there anything like this in MN? I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to require anyone targeting Muskie to buy a stamp or tag for a small price maybe $2. But for this to be effective every penny of it would need to go to the stocking programs. I know Michigan has a musky tag for if you want to keep a Muskie but it's free. I wish it was a few dollars. I would never keep a Muskie but I think it would be a good idea for the states with musky to create a stamp that you need to have to target Muskie and make it cost $2 and all that money goes to stocking. I don't think Muskie fisherman would mind paying an extra $2 to help keep fish in the lakes? I would be glad to pay for that.
Would definitely be something great to have, I think there is a lot of back office red tape that would need to be sorted through for it to happen.
It is definitely the lack of funds that is affecting all of this, which is a shame but that is the situation we are in. Raising stock fish to yearling/adults is exponentially expensive and not something that is possible with the current state of the DNR.
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Posts: 114
| Espy - 7/31/2017 2:28 PM
Musky_Mo16 - 7/31/2017 12:14 PM
I was just talking about the DNR not having enough funds yesterday with a buddy. And one of the things that was brought up was musky tags or musky stamps. I know there is nothing like this in IL (where I am). But is there anything like this in MN? I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to require anyone targeting Muskie to buy a stamp or tag for a small price maybe $2. But for this to be effective every penny of it would need to go to the stocking programs. I know Michigan has a musky tag for if you want to keep a Muskie but it's free. I wish it was a few dollars. I would never keep a Muskie but I think it would be a good idea for the states with musky to create a stamp that you need to have to target Muskie and make it cost $2 and all that money goes to stocking. I don't think Muskie fisherman would mind paying an extra $2 to help keep fish in the lakes? I would be glad to pay for that.
Would definitely be something great to have, I think there is a lot of back office red tape that would need to be sorted through for it to happen.
It is definitely the lack of funds that is affecting all of this, which is a shame but that is the situation we are in. Raising stock fish to yearling/adults is exponentially expensive and not something that is possible with the current state of the DNR.
So then basically all lakes that do not have natural reproduction are doomed?
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Posts: 1209
| I read on a forum- every 5$ walleye stamp purchased has 4.20$ worth of fees and handling expenses going through the MN government before government, leaving a meer 80 cents for DNR and half of the 80 goes to enforcement, half of the remaining 40 goes to public hearings and half of the next 20 goes to promotions and leaving 10 cents out of the 5$ walleye stamp to go into a walleye stocking program. And I asked (Periah) "sorry for the spelling" at fergus falls a couple years ago about this and he agreed that it is something like that^^^^ |
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Location: Elk River, MN | bbradley - 7/31/2017 2:59 PM
So then basically all lakes that do not have natural reproduction are doomed?
In a decline for sure.
But there are many things affecting this: lower stocking, higher fishing pressure, climate change, invasive species etc. |
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Location: Elk River, MN | Fishysam - 7/31/2017 3:23 PM
I read on a forum- every 5$ walleye stamp purchased has 4.20$ worth of fees and handling expenses going through the MN government before government, leaving a meer 80 cents for DNR and half of the 80 goes to enforcement, half of the remaining 40 goes to public hearings and half of the next 20 goes to promotions and leaving 10 cents out of the 5$ walleye stamp to go into a walleye stocking program. And I asked (Periah) "sorry for the spelling" at fergus falls a couple years ago about this and he agreed that it is something like that^^^^
No surprise either, think of everything that goes into the process involved with creating and implementing a stamp.
Something I think anglers could do if they don't already is join their local Muskies Inc and consider their annual dues like a "muskie stamp." Much of that goes right back into stocking and direct DNR funding. |
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Posts: 224
Location: Madison | Espy - 7/31/2017 3:29
Something I think anglers could do if they don't already is join their local Muskies Inc and consider their annual dues like a "muskie stamp." Much of that goes right back into stocking and direct DNR funding.
I quit MI exactly because most of the dues money does NOT go towards stocking. Not sure if this has changed in the last 10 years. Still very much worth supporting the stocking fundraisers that local MI clubs may host, but the dues aren't primarily going to stocking. |
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Location: Elk River, MN | waldo - 7/31/2017 3:44 PM
I quit MI exactly because most of the dues money does NOT go towards stocking. Not sure if this has changed in the last 10 years. Still very much worth supporting the stocking fundraisers that local MI clubs may host, but the dues aren't primarily going to stocking.
Of course not all of it can go to stocking, as it also is used to keep the organization going and the publications etc. Most of the funding for stocking and DNR support come direct from local chapters and it's members through raffles and annual banquets/events. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | Espy, hijacked thread...but my understanding is that the reduced stocking is NOT a funding issue. Heard from a credible source that MI has offered to fund/stock fish and the DNR won't allow. Meanwhile, the NW part of the state is getting plenty of state-provided fish, while the 'Big 4'...Tonka, ML, V, and St. Louis Rvr...are starving when compared to peak stocking years. Not sure why the unbalanced geographic stockings are occurring, but my sense is that the anti's are winning in certain parts of the state. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Shoreview, MN | I too am struggling on WBL but I always seem to struggle there in midsummer. There's still gotta be plenty of fish in there - Sept-Oct-Nov is always better. I wonder if the clearer water and lack of milfoil has moved them - I've been catching bass in 25+' so I'm thinking everything is just deeper this year. |
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| MNSteveH - 8/4/2017 10:56 PM
I too am struggling on WBL but I always seem to struggle there in midsummer. There's still gotta be plenty of fish in there - Sept-Oct-Nov is always better. I wonder if the clearer water and lack of milfoil has moved them - I've been catching bass in 25+' so I'm thinking everything is just deeper this year.
I have been preaching this all year. Something has changed out there this year. Last year at this same time I boated around 15 muskies. I have not caught one out there yet this year and I have fished around the same amount of hours. I've tried throwing everything at them and at different depth ranges. I bet I have only seen 15 muskies out there this whole year. My believe is that a lot of the older muskies in that lake are starting to dye of and the lack of stocking is really hurting the lake. And the amount of boat traffic out there is insane. By far the busiest lake in the state right now for its size. |
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| Indy is bad this year as well. Seeing/catching FAR fewer muskies particularly this year but a steady decline over the last 5. pike are there now in numbers it seems. they are short and fat ones too. |
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Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | mnmusky - 8/6/2017 9:40 AM
Indy is bad this year as well. Seeing/catching FAR fewer muskies particularly this year but a steady decline over the last 5. pike are there now in numbers it seems. they are short and fat ones too.
Sound like some good eater pike to me |
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Location: Twin Cities | mnmusky - 8/6/2017 9:40 AM
Indy is bad this year as well. Seeing/catching FAR fewer muskies particularly this year but a steady decline over the last 5. pike are there now in numbers it seems. they are short and fat ones too.
Yeah there is something wrong with that lake. Not seeing or catching nearly as many fish there as previous few years. Tried Tonka today and did not see squat either, thought it might be good with the weather. |
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