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Location: Athens, Ohio | I saw the 2005 Muskies Inc. Chapter Challunge will be on Ontario's Minaki lake. Looks like it is just north of LOTW, anyone been there? Is navigating this lake as challenging as LOTW, with rocks and humps appearing outta nowhere? How's the fishing there? thanks, m |
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Posts: 52
Location: N.W. Ontario | Yes you will need to keep an eye out for rocks, fishing surroudning the town of Minaki, would be on Roughrock, Gunn, Pistol, Little and Big Sand Lakes (all part of the Winnipeg River system) and are excellent waters for muskie. |
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| Great place to fish. Lot's of muskies and some really big Pike(43" was our best pike this year). Watch out for rocks, and make sure that you are in the restaurant before 5p.m. if you want to eat (no matter what time they tell you it's supposed to close). |
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| And make sure to bring all the equipement you need! $29.95 for a 330yd spool of XL!!! I realise that there is a exchange rate difference but $29.95? |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Thanks, guys, it looks like a real cool resort and a great fishery, certainly something to think about. m |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I fished that during the late 70's and very early 80's in my search for 'the one'. I was there for hybrids. It's changed alot since then, especially the fact there's a real road now. Nice fishery, great walleyes and smallmouth bass, big pike, and good muskies. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | The Canadian Provincial Lake maps are awesome. There is one map from Minaki downstream, and another from Minaki upstream. In all it is about 50 miles of water. They are a must to have. A compass and or GPS are beneficial in addition to the maps. Milwaukee Map has 24" x 36" waterproof map cases which are a must. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | "Nice fishery, great walleyes and smallmouth bass, big pike, and good muskies." Dang! It sounds like almost heaven (and I dont' mean West Virginia!). Might be worth a trip. m
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| I have been fishing this body of water the past 6 years. It is easy to navigate and fairly easy to locate fish. We have found our biggest fish on typical Muskie structure located near current areas. It's not unusual to see a couple or several 50"+ Muskies in a weeks time, while I personally have not seen one over 54" I have heard reliable reports of fish exceeding 60". Most of the Big fish reports come from Big Sand and Gunn on reefs near deep water. We managed to catch 46 fish with 14 over 40 this past spring - the two largest were 46" and 1 lost that was pushing the 50" mark. I caught one over 50" 3 years ago but I haven't had the opportunity to land another that size since. This body of water does provide nice variety for fisherman that like to fish for other species. A couple of guys in our group limited out on walleye in 15 minutes two afternoons so we could have fish for dinner two evenings. Smallies are plentiful and there are some real dandies.
Let me know if you need any other info
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| It sounds like you really have a feel for the system. I hope when you say spring you really mean early summer as the ontario muskie opener is the 3rd saturday in june ( including division 22 ) |
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| FYI, the Navionocs chip that has Lake Michigan, Superior, and LOTW has the Minaki Chain on it. It shows the lakes in great detail. |
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| Spring - my definition equals opening week plus the next 2 - 3 weeks. I stand corrected, I should have stated early season!
Yes I absolutely love this body of water and we are fairly familar with the system - our results truly pale in comparison to many others who fish there. We almost exclusively cast and some of the largest fish I know of have been taken trolling. |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | The biggest problem in fishing this water is that compared to the water we all normally fish, every spot looks fishy! |
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| Minaki was as big a secret in the early eighties as Lac Seul was in the mid-eighties. Just as fragile as Lac Seul, I truly hate to see Chapter Challunges there. The prefishing and the tournament are a lot of pressure. Even a few big fish wacked could sent that area into a crash. LOTW s it's not. MI should consider limiting these massive things to more suitable areas in my opinion.
SV |
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| This system is awsome I have fished her at least once a year since 1995 .. Always good muskie action as long as mother nature doesn't throw any tantrums ( hail rain wind lightning etc.. ) lotsa good places to stay at reasonable prices .. The Gary roach walleye torney is usually held here in early july. There is a guy named Curt that I get good information from re this system I think he lives in Butler Wis. His Email address is [email protected] |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | <p>I fish that area every summer, and do enjoy it. I don't get quite the action I do on LOTW, but the fish run a tad thicker. We had better luck about 4 years ago and before, but the pressure was far less then too. it is the same water as LOTW, as it flows right out of it, but it is a bit more clear as it does not bloom as much as LOTW. More rock, less weed structure, more current. Longer run typically between spots than LOTW. Feel free to email me about more specifics if you wish. I'll be there again this summer for a spell.</p><p>[email protected]</p> |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | take me, can I go please please please?
Seriously, this might be a great opportunity to do a MuskieFirst outing at one of the resorts, they look pretty reasonable. Any thoughts? m |
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Posts: 670
Location: Minnetonka , MN. | I got 5 fish over 40" with a 51" being the biggest |
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Posts: 52
Location: N.W. Ontario | Come one guys stop it! There are no fish at Minaki!!  |
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Minaki