|
|
Posts: 12
| Taking a trip Turkey day weekend (leave Wednesday come back Sunday) this year looking for trophy 'skies. Located in IL, so open to suggestions of places within about a 9 hour drive that you would suggest going to. Our number 1 choice right now is Big V, provided it isn't frozen over by then. Looking for suggestions on where you would go and why. Searching for a plan B in case Big V doesn't work out. Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Another option would be any of the trophy lakes in northern WI. That is prime time for live bait. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 199
| Lake st. Clair? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 859
Location: MN | Mille Lac, this is where the big ones are caught that time of year. Most if not all of the big time guides shift here for late fall fishing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 12
| Muskie Gal - 10/16/2017 12:43 PM
Lake st. Clair?
This was also an option, but it was explained to me that late in November would mean jigging the rivers and river mouths with bondys? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 12
| NathanH - 10/16/2017 12:46 PM
Mille Lac, this is where the big ones are caught that time of year. Most if not all of the big time guides shift here for late fall fishing.
This was my plan B that I suggested to my fishing partner. He was skeptical and said its like the ocean. Are most guys trolling during that time or are they still casting reefs with big rubber? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Turkey day weekend on vermilion usually requires an ice auger. You might get lucky and still be able to get out on mille lacs. Most will have packed it by then. Yes, big rubber. Trolling if it's below freezing. Tonka might be your best bet. More often then not there's open water the weekend before Thanksgiving and iced the next.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 12
| jchiggins - 10/16/2017 5:07 PM
Turkey day weekend on vermilion usually requires an ice auger. You might get lucky and still be able to get out on mille lacs. Most will have packed it by then. Yes, big rubber. Trolling if it's below freezing. Tonka might be your best bet. More often then not there's open water the weekend before Thanksgiving and iced the next.
Average ice up is November 25th, last two years didn't ice up completely till second week of December so hoping for a third year in a row. I'll check into Tonka
Edited by ElectricSlide19 10/16/2017 6:18 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 26
Location: Foley, Mn | Mille Lacs |
|
| |
|
Posts: 255
| I would keep in mind the air and water temps, and maybe have a plan to keep traveling southward. One year over T-day week we began in Vilas County WI, then stopped in Sheboygan County WI, and ended with Pewaukee and Madison lakes. Could cast and soak suckers, but dealt with freezing rod guides, snow, wind. But had a blast. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20273
Location: oswego, il | ElectricSlide19 - 10/16/2017 1:56 PM
Muskie Gal - 10/16/2017 12:43 PM
Lake st. Clair?
This was also an option, but it was explained to me that late in November would mean jigging the rivers and river mouths with bondys?
There are still plenty of fishing options at that time. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Little V doesn’t belong in the same sentence as LSC |
|
| |
|
Posts: 43
| I'm in Illinois too and Lake St. Clair would be a great second choice. It's closer than Big V and you have an excellent shot at a trophy. Action is probably way more consistent than Big V also. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 30
| Green Bay. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
Location: Shoreview, MN | Unless you are looking for "an adventure" why not the twin cities area? It's not really picturesque, or has the allure of bigger name places "up north" but there's lots of good lakes to choose from that could keep you fishing in most weather conditions... Yeah it's not the big V or Mille Lacs but unless you are looking for a monster I suspect you have just about as good of a chance at a nice fish here as anywhere... you can move around easy, get fairly cheap hotels, lots better choices for food, nightlife, etc... I fish the NE side of the metro and if you're not moving fish on one lake it's only a 10-20 min hop to another...
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 12
| MNSteveH - 10/23/2017 3:06 PM
Unless you are looking for "an adventure" why not the twin cities area? It's not really picturesque, or has the allure of bigger name places "up north" but there's lots of good lakes to choose from that could keep you fishing in most weather conditions... Yeah it's not the big V or Mille Lacs but unless you are looking for a monster I suspect you have just about as good of a chance at a nice fish here as anywhere... you can move around easy, get fairly cheap hotels, lots better choices for food, nightlife, etc... I fish the NE side of the metro and if you're not moving fish on one lake it's only a 10-20 min hop to another...
I think the only lake we were considering in that area was Tonka mainly because we are on a trophy hunt. That many lakes in one area is appealing though |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1000
| Reach out to Josh Borovsky. He often guides on Vermillion until the bitter end. Not only is he unbelievably consistent at putting (BIG) fish in the net, but he's also one of the best "teachers" in this sport.
I just wrapped up my final outing with Josh as part of his master the metro package. We focused on Tonka over the course of the season. By applying his guidance and the fundamentals, my boat saw 18 muskies hit the net in the month of September, including a 50 and 51. This is my first season on Tonka.
That's working a 9-5, not fishing weekends, buying a house, and keeping the wife happy. I literally cannot say enough good things about Josh. |
|
| |
Looking for Trip Advice