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Posts: 166
| Okay, here's the deal. I am 30 years old, I have fished for many years. I have become intrigued with muskie fishing over the last few months. I am from Mankato, MN (south central MN). I have never thrown a muskie bait in my life. Clearly it is winter in Minnesota and I have done a lot of studying on the topic and would even consider my self an addict at this point. I have spent a lot of money on rods and reels for myself as well as my 8 year old as this is sport he really wants to get into. I have also spent enough money to get myself a nice amount of muskie lures and rigs. With little knowledge at this point and decent set of muskie gear I feel that I am ready for the spring opener in either Minnesota or Wisconsin. I am an avid deer hunter and take pride in my patience and ability to bag a decent sized buck every year. This addiction for deer hunting is slowly translating into Muskie fever as well. So here is my question.
I am looking for my first muskie lake, one with decent action and hopefully one that can keep my sons attention and his thrill for the sport (he is a great fisherman and is very hard to get off the lake, he has spent many full days with me and his grandpa on the water because we couldn't get him off... Even with very little action on the lake). For my first lake I would prefer Minnesota metro area or something slightly farther north or even on the Wisconsin side. I don't want to travel more than 3 or 4 hours for my first lake. ANY IDEAS ON WHAT SHOULD BE MY SON AND I FIRST LAKE!!!! I read these forums a lot and feel that people seem to offer great advice. I am sorry for the novel, but appreciate the responses.
“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.”
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Posts: 38
| I think a good first lake would be Moose Lake up by Grand Rapids. Its relatively small for MN, has a good population with a few bigger fish as well. Its really easy to fish. Fish the emerging weeds/reeds earlier in the year, once the water gets around 70 just fish all the midlake stuff. Some of it is marked. |
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | First lake try- French Lake-it is by Faribult. It has Leech Lake Strain fish. It is a dark water lake and visibility goes way down in the summer.
I would hit French early in the year and then move on to some of the Metro lakes or bigger Northern lakes when the temps start to climb.
Try to make the drive to the nearest Muskies Inc meeting in your area. There is a chapter South of the Metro. Get some good release tools and a large net.
Good Luck
Steve
Edited by Sorgy 2/14/2014 8:20 AM
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | I will second what Sorgy said and expand.
"Large Net": Frabill makes a net called the Power Catch. I would not go any smaller than this for your net bag. Muskies like to stay in the water in your net bag while being unhooked, rather than having it done on the deck of a boat. You can get a Power Catch net anywhere but I would recommend Thorne Bros in Blaine, MN.
http://www.thornebros.com/shop/pc/Frabill-8425-Power-Catch-Net-32-X...
"Release Tools": Get a long-nose pliers, and a wire/bolt cutter. You can get both of these items at Home Depot for right around 30 bucks. Work quickly when your fish is in the net and cut the hooks if you can't extract with a pliers, instead of yanking on the fish.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stalwart-11-in-Long-Nose-Plier-with-Long...
http://www.homedepot.com/p/H-K-Porter-8-in-Wire-Cutters-PWC9/100174...
There are a ton of opportunities to fish muskies in MN with many in the metro area, so find a lake in your range that you can get comfortable with. Good luck!
Edited by Hammskie 2/14/2014 9:40 AM
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Colin, sent you a PM, Jake |
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Posts: 454
| Fox lake west of Fairmont |
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Posts: 403
Location: Lakeville, MN | Harriet, Calhoun, Minnetonka. Further north theres Eagle, and White Bera are good choices.. you can always fish tigers too closer than some of the other pure lakes, Cedar, Orchard, and Crystal
Edited by genesisperformance 2/14/2014 4:23 PM
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Posts: 5129
| fox lake |
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Posts: 455
| I would vote for Tonka. Lots of different basins to fish. I didn`t catch any but I got a killer cheeseburger. Sugar lake was nice too. Not too big but classic structure. Good places to learn on a small scale. |
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Posts: 397
| There's no muskies in fox!!! haha I fish there quite a bit it is close to mankato and easy to fish. I have not had much luck on French. Cedar by new prauge has tigers in it |
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| I can't believe hammskie is trying to divert pressure from his home water!! Seriously though, TONKA! Big water and small water, extremely clear and somewhat dirty water, current, every kind of structure, literally every type of aquatic veg, super diverse forage base-from FW drum to perch, sunfish and tons of shiners, suckers and carp. Patterns range from 100' open water to 10" of slop and everything in between. Trophy class Pike, Bass and Walleye bycatch. World class scenery(scientifically proven fact: Rich people make pretty babies) Great restaurants....I could go on and on! Add in more nature than you might expect and some heavy fishing pressure and you have the ultimate Musky training grounds! Oh, did I mention 100+ 50 inchers are caught here every year and fish average well over 40"! |
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Posts: 455
| Don`t forget killer cheeseburgers. If your looking for a guide Gary from big dog is a heck of a nice guy and his mega ranger is a great casting platform. |
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | Amendment to my first post: Hire Capt. Ben Olsen to guide you on Lake Minnetonka. |
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Posts: 455
| Or Ben |
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Posts: 166
| Awesome, thanks all for the good replies. I know Tonka was one on my list, but I must say, from a guy who has never fished for Muskie, Tonka is slightly intimidating. I am not sure I would even know where to start. I guess, maybe this much water and bays is a good thing for a beginner. Again, thanks all for the replies and private messages. I will respond to all PM in the next couple days.
To keep the thread going......What size lure or other baits should one be throwing in Minnesota on the opening weeks. What is too big to throw and even what would be considered to small to through during opener. Thanks again. |
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Posts: 58
| Lake Elysian |
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Posts: 455
| Like I said Sugar lake is a piece of cake. One or two bays nice big main lakes spine that dives into deep water and plenty of weeds. |
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Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Hey Hamm and Ben...you forgot one element of Tonka 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVL4wKnpx2U |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion |
Yup.. Happens Everyday on Tonka,...That clip is Funny as hell...
That's why I go north,.... But as far as the Cities go, Tonka has Big Fish |
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Posts: 93
Location: Des Moines IA | Larry Dahlberg and another fellow try to catch a 50 inch musky with in the twin cites MN area. Show goes on to state that there are over 30 lakes to choose from so they get out the dart board to decide which lake to fish. I saw it on YouTube awhile back. Sounds like you have choices in your own back yard... |
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Posts: 182
| Skip French Lake near Faribault. A lot of good small muskie lakes in the metro. If I'm not up north or NW WI I hit the metro lakes. |
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