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Posts: 30
| I'll be in Twin Cities this summer on business. Any recommendation on a Metro Area lake/guide in late July? I'll take numbers over size.
Thanks for any advice
Kurt |
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Posts: 118
| Minnetonka is great for numbers and size. It's big so a guide might be a good idea. Harriet has pretty good numbers and I hear Calhoun has some great fish in it. The parking at Calhoun is non-existent though so I have only been on it one time and had no luck. If it was me I would spend all of my time on Minnetonka. Multiple fish days are definitely possible and there's always the chance of hooking into a pig. I'm sure others can help you out with guide suggestions. I only fish the metro and west metro, but I've heard good things about some lakes on the east side of town. I believe they guide those lakes out of Blue Ribbon Tackle. Might be worth giving them a call to check it out. |
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Posts: 132
| Will you have your own boat? There are some lakes in the metro that are small enough that you can learn and do decent just by fishing stuff that looks good on a map. If going to Tonka, a guide is definitely recommended. |
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Posts: 833
| I'd probably avoid Tonka unless going with a guide. Tonka is 14,000 acres and has fairly high density of structure / weed lines. It is also deep and relatively clear in most parts which adds to the complexity. It can be overwhelming if you have limited fishing time. Joe Foxx or John Hoyer would be good guide options.
I think you are better off hitting a smaller body of water to try and maximize your chance at contacting a fish. Plenty of smaller options in the metro and just about all of them offer the opportunity for a 50" fish. Indy or Eagle on the west side or Forest / WBL on the East. Biggest enemy during that time frame is gong to be water temperature. It might be that when you are here the lake temps will be north of 80 degrees making fish mortality more of an issue. You can always go North if that happens... Lots of options if willing to drive 2 to 4 hours.
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | Temps will be an issue we have been mothballed the last 3 years during that time. Going north on the weekend would be a good idea most guides pull out of the metro and head north during that time. |
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Posts: 1000
| If temps are safe, Tonka with a guide. For action I'd go Indy. Lots of great guides.
If temps are too high, you have dozens of lakes within 2-3 hours. |
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Posts: 30
| Thanks for the input guys. I'm flying in to MSP from KY with my wife, who's on business. (I'm retired)
Sounds like warm water may be a problem. What are the options if I can drive north 2-3 hrs? I probably have to get a hotel the night before something. Can't feature chucking baits all day along with a 6 hr round trip. |
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Posts: 386
| Almost all the lakes in MN are within 3 hours of the metro. Maybe have to leave off Vermillion and the Bemidji lakes but even they are close to 3 hours out. The St Croix can be an option that time of year as well. So long as we don't get stupid hot. |
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| Western wisconsin not far away. River/creek fishin from shore is an option. |
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Metro Lakes in Late July?