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Posts: 53
| I will be leaving for Sabaskong Bay on LOTW next Friday. Does anyone have anything to report? Water levels? Temps? Any success stories? Any Pics? Thanks for the help! Good luck to everyone and be safe out there! |
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Posts: 1636
| Where you staying? |
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Posts: 53
| Red Wing Lodge. |
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Posts: 785
| Just got back from my first ever trip to LOTW and Sab Bay, fishing was slow for the most part, I managed 7 on the week and hooked and lost another 7, we boated 10 total. Three of us were fishing but as usual I was the fish hog in the front of the boat.
Some very cooperative skiis are still in the slop bays but nothing seen in there over 40"es, all the larger ones that followed (45+"es) were out on main lake islands or shorelines, pockets with reeds were a big plus. Seen fish most places and had a ton of followes everyday. They are a little slugish yet and erratic jerks and plastics along with ripped twitch baits gave us all our action. No fish were caught on bucktails or topwater for us. Most fish were 35+ which was good but our biggest was only 42"es. Lots of fun though and a trip I will remember for a long time.
Attachments ---------------- LOTW 42.jpg (123KB - 153 downloads) LOTW 40.jpg (120KB - 133 downloads)
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Posts: 1636
| You guys had a good trip. Those 42"rs could have very well been 50 or even 30. A muskie is a muskie and you guys got some nice fish. Thanks for the report!
Edited by Reelwise 7/9/2007 6:35 PM
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Posts: 175
| Skunk - Sent you a PM. I am headed there Friday. Anyone have any thoughts? How's the water level?
CP |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Eight of us started in Sat. 7/7
We have ten fish in the boat, Most of the fish have been caught in the weeds/rocks combo areas and have seen a Whole lot of nice ones that are really hot on the lures...
Our fish were caught on bucktails, reef hawgs suicks and a creeper.
Jack pots and the Weagle are really hot but yet to get some hooks into the fish. Only a matter of time, perhaps tonight!!
4 of us go out at 4:30am till 10:00 and then in for breakfast..... Back out on the water from 11:00- 3:00 then it's Beer thirty....... Our big meal is at 5:30 then were back out on the water from 6:30- 10:00 pm......... Cocktails untill midnight or so'........... Life IS Good....
Oh we are staying at Hansons King Island Lodge.( a really nice place,... and close to good fishable water..
Our plan is to boat four 50'"...... We will see.......
Later, Jerome
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Posts: 24
Location: coon rapids mn | went up for 2 1/2 days Sabaskong staying at www.myliesplace Morson Ontario kinda a late start 3am arrival time, no fish fri saw 4 and lost a 40" figure 8 at dark. Sat we caught 3 - 42"- 40 1/4 - 40 1/2 saw at least a dozen muskies in the weeds and rock.The weeds look good this year also . All caught fish were on island rock structure saddle areas and rock points. We saw fish in the weeds and got them to bite but didn't land any of these fish. Sun. caught a 51 1/2 again on a island rock structure 9.30 am saw another 10 muskies Sunday quiting at 3.00 pm to ride home. All fish were caught on big bucktails my partner got blanked but he lost at least 4 I lost at least 4 the water level is up 15" to 18" from memorial weekend with a lot of dirty water areas with the rising water levels. water temps were 73 and rising during the day. we brought home our weekend limit of walleyes fish were on the main lake reefs jig and a minnow. |
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Posts: 468
Location: Not where I wanna be! | looks like it was a great trip!! |
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Posts: 2024
| Jerome,
You have a PM. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | sounds like the fishing is good up there my dad and I have been struggling the past couple years, not sure what we are doing wrong. Nice fish |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | 19 in the boat with 2 days left.
Reef Hawg seam to be the bait of choice, but my buddies use a small huskie jerk as a throw back lure and has boated nine of the fish!
I'm stubborn and find it extremely hard to throw such a small bait....... It's like throwing a French fry with small hooks!!!
Water temps have gone down to 67* from 75* just 2.5 days ago
Last year these guys put 53 fish in the boat in 7 days..... so with only 19 so far we seam to be suffering...... thank God for good friends and cold Beer..........Later,
Jerome |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | J - King Island has some awesome water around it, and isn't far from my happy place at Splitrock Point. I'm sure the fish are just holding off to give you guys a big send-off, good luck on your last day. m |
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Posts: 56
| Fished Sabaskong from 7/7 to 7/13. Fishing was tough this year. The big cold front, including 3 inches of rain on Tuesday, definitely did not help. Fish were scattered. Biggest fish we managed was 41", though we had shots at some bigger ones.
The stable weather this week should really help, of course... |
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Posts: 567
| Amazing how my week during the same time frame on a nearby lake (Manitou) was nearly identical to your trip on Sab. Numbers were decent but just could not move the big girls. And bait preference was the same on 2 diff' lakes also. Nothing at all on bucktails at all. and fish caught was exactly the same , we got a 43 but nearly all of the 21 we caught (10-12 serious musky guys) were 36-43. These fish are crazy . And yes tuesday's cold front and rain was terrible. ManitouDan |
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Posts: 69
| Pretty much the same as most,didn't see a lot of big fish.Lost a 50 big body on a net malfunction,and our 2 biggest a 44 and 46 out of 18 Muskies in roughly 10 days.Lost 3 days for motor problems,and the weather sucked big time for a couple of days.Even got towed by the last boat coming in one night.Thank God for Musky fishermen who stay past dark to throw topwater, or it would have been an ugly night on the lake that night,with no power front or back.Got caught in that storm by Hay Island where I've never had rain come down that hard that long.The wind started West than switched to E/NE in seconds or it would have blown past us initially.Good part of the trip was my grandson FINALLY scored his first two Muskies after 3 years of trying up there.Fish were not turned on to topwater,and soso to Bucks.Caught quite a few on Mantas,and my Hellhound.Had 3-4 fish completely miss a twitching Crane.How can you miss a twitching Crane?Smallies were nuts on Musky baits.Saturday had to use a jaw spreader on a 4#er,just to get our 700 Butchertail Buck removed.We caught one 5-6#er,and many in the 3-4# range.Found most Muskies early in the trip in slop in smaller bays with reeds in the back.First 7 days saw few on rock,but last 3-4 days they were out on reefs and rock/reed islands.Good luck for those going out the next couple of weeks.I really feel the big girls will be hot,since they sure haven't been active,yet. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | We finished the week with 30 fish in the boat.... and we had to work for what we did get.
I got one on a Weagle the last day as did my buddy on a Tallywacker .
had at least 5-10 follows per day but the fish were a bit skidish because of constant changes in the wind and temps.
What really blew my mind is that 3 of my buddy's caught 13 fish by down sizing to a Husky Jerk......They just went bass fishing in 1-4 ft of water.... amazing......
All of our fish were caught around Islands with weed and rock combos.
Now its back to Vermillion for some monster green girls (Hopefully)
Later, Jerome |
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Posts: 35
| I'm heading there this weekend!! Any updated reports ?? |
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Posts: 2024
| Miller Time,
Send me an email as I just returned from up there and can give you some info. Email: [email protected] |
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Posts: 53
| I just got back from my first ever LOTW fishing trip last weekend. We stayed at Red Wing Lodge on Sabaskong Bay and there was 11 of us fishing. Over the seven days the group caught 37 Muskies with the two biggest being 47” and 51”. As is the case most of the time, we raised a ton of nice fish but couldn’t get them to hit. Just guessing but we probably raised around 100 Muskies. On a number of occasions we would have a pig follow the bait in and figure 8 several times and then just disappear! The weather was sunny and hot all week and I think that made things a bit tougher. All in all it was a great trip and I can’t wait to learn this lake even better! We did have a chance at a once in a lifetime fish. My cousin hooked into and lost a fish in the upper 50” range! It may have been 60”!! There is no mistaken a fish of that size, it made the 51” fish look like a minnow!! Even I can’t believe the size of that fish and I saw it. I told her to wait for me until next year but for some reason I don’t think she will be waiting.
We also caught a ton of smallies, they were everywhere. 20" was the biggest.
I thank everyone who gave me help in preparing for this trip. The info. that you all shared with me was very helpful! Good luck to everyone for the rest of the summer!
Any pointers on how I can convince my wife to let me go on a fall trip to Canada?
Jason |
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Posts: 53
| some pictures from our trip
Attachments ---------------- 40 LOTW.jpg (98KB - 159 downloads) 44 LOTW.jpg (85KB - 145 downloads) 44 LOTW Water.jpg (80KB - 149 downloads) 47 LOTW.jpg (73KB - 135 downloads) 51 LOTW.jpg (90KB - 157 downloads) Sunrise LOTW.jpg (76KB - 127 downloads)
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | hey j bird, how would you rate the lodge/accomodations/staff at Redwing? I have to book something soon.. |
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Posts: 53
| Brian - Red Wing was a great place to stay. The prices were reasonable and the lodge was easy to drive to. The owner, Mike, is a bit quiet and not overly friendly but he is a good guy. He did ding us for two damaged props, $25.00 each and someone in our group did some damage to the lower unit and that is a whole other story! I would go back based on my experience. The cabins were in good shape and the service was good. |
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Posts: 336
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | J-Bird, that last picture of yours is awesome and really gets my blood pumping for our trip in August. Sounds like you guys had a great trip...thanks for the report. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I think my dad and I are going to reconsider going up the last week of June...it's been very slow the last 2 years. Although the 1st week of August we're going to AML, I think next year we're going to try later, nice fish...congrats on that 51 looks healthy |
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Posts: 53
| ZO 5 - A few other people I spoke to have had a tough time in June. I have had good luck in July and Sept. Your trip in August should be great! Good luck |
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Posts: 53
| Any new updates on Sabaskong Bay? Miller Time? |
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| The Kids and I just got back around 3 today. We stayed at Red Wing lodge and had a blast. I think there was only around 10 to 12 fish that were caught at the resort the whole week:( Fishing turned sour after Wedneday, a cold front came thru with big winds that last 2 day's. The kids and I ended up catching 5 with 4 over 40" and the 2 biggest were a 46 and 47 1/2. Needless to say the one of kids kicked my butt 3 fish to 2. A Dad can live with that !!:) I did lose 3 nice fish on cowgirls and I'm still having nightmares.
We didn't hit the lake very hard. I think on the average we fished only about 5 to 6 hours a day! The youngest was thinking that was more then enough.
This was the fist time I've been on Lake of The Woods Since early 90's. I was just amazed on how long them stupid fish will chase a bait in a figure eight .. You don't see that at Mille Lacs!! It was wild and dam COOL ! We ened up catching 2 of the fish in a figure 8.. I'm Hooked and I have to go back!!
Thank you all for the Info and Good luck on the Lake.
Dobber Aka Miller Time |
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Posts: 13
| Hey guys, I just wanted to suggest you come try Obabikon Bay Camp. It's north of Sabaskong and has some premier fishing in the area. I'm the new owner there, and I know it's a plug for my business, but I'm wanting to do some type of "low key" musky tournament next summer. Anyhow, this isn't going to be a one post thing, just thought I'd say hey, and I'll be checking back. |
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Posts: 53
| Thanks for the update Miller Time. My son is only 11 months old but I can't wait to get him up there with me. Sound like you guy's had a great time. Congrats on the fish. Do you have any pics? |
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| A guest of mine boated a 45 incher today on a crappie jig and minnow. Was a beautiful girl that put up a 10-15 minute fight with several great runs, and even a full body jump. It was a great catch, especially on 6lb test. I'll get some pics on here asap. |
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Posts: 13
| The above post was me, sorry. |
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Posts: 3
| I'm heading up to Sabaskong with my Dad and Brother the 11th to 18th. Just curious if there's any recent news on whats happening up there? What the hot bait is or where the muskies are holding? Any and all info would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, K-man |
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Posts: 214
Location: Central Iowa | I just got back saturday after a decent week on sabaskong. Fish were kind of scattered, we found them on bare rock islands and reefs out in the middle, on rock/lilly pad combos and in lilly pads in back bays, there was no definite pattern. When we arrived the surface temps were in the low 80's in the afternoons but cooled down later in the week to the low to mid 70's. No real hot bait, we caught quite a few on gliders and suick type baits, and moved alot but didn't catch a lot on bucktails and topwaters. |
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Posts: 3
| Thanks for the info Crackpot. I'll update you on how we do when we return the 19th.
Edited by K-Man 8/7/2007 8:55 AM
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Posts: 53
| K-man – I had most of my luck fishing wind blown rocky points off of mid-lake islands. If you find a combo of rock and vegetation it is even better. If you find some good cabbage hit it because our two biggest fish came out of it, a 51” and a 47”. We also lost some big ones in the cabbage. Orange and black, and believe it or not orange and white were the top producers. The 51” was caught on an orange and white bucktail called the Jerry (www.nugtackle.net). 47” was caught on a Loon Top Raider (www.joebucher.com). I also caught a few on Orange and black M&G spinner (http://lindyfishingtackle.com/pages/MG_Lures.shtml).
Good luck and I hope this helps! Let us know how you do.
Watch out for the shallow reefs, they are everywhere! Get a good map.
Jason
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| ZO-5 not to discourage you but I dont know when your going up in August to Red Wing but we've stayed there in August only to run into horrible algae bloom everywhere!!!!!!!!!!! With this warm summer it could be bad if it allready isnt.
Mr Musky |
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Posts: 3
| Thanks J-Bird,
Thanks for the shallow reef warning, I've been up to Frolander's in Monument Bay once and have seen what the shallow reefs can do to a prop. Not mine though thank god. Anyways I did get a real quality map from Canadian Hydrographics hopefully it pays off. Going on what I've read, I plan on throwing some big double bladed bucktails and a lot of top-water. Sounds like Orange/Black is the productive color. I am surprised to hear that Orange/White was hot but I'll try to see what I have in my box that can match that. We'll see if I can stick a new personal best. It is currently a 46.5" that I caught on a figure eight on a firetiger buchertail up in monument about 5 years ago. I'm getting psyched, sharpening hooks and respolling reels... Leaving on the 10th so if anybody has any more info (algae bloom status) I'd definitely appreciate it.
Thanks J-Bird, Crackpot and rest. K-man |
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| Don't worry about the algea, it is very light for this time of year. Believers and jerkbaits have been the hot ticket for me lately,(mostly green). Topwater and spinners have been slow for me.
I'm posting from Miles bay, so this report is as up to date as it gets!! |
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Posts: 53
| When I was at Sabaskong in mid July, some parts of the lake had noticeably more algae in the water then others. It was not hard to find clearer water. I am surprised to hear that Sledge51 is having a slow topwater bite! Topwater was great for our group. It is always worth a try. Good luck all! |
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| anybody having any luck up there? |
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Posts: 50
| Our group was up 8/11-8/18. There were 8-9 guys (one left early) and we landed 14 fish. 1 northern, 3 <30" and 10 37"-40". Most of the fish were on rock/weed combo. Fish were holding real tight to the structure. We had the best luck on suicks and didn't see much on spinners, bucktails, etc. Overall, we didn't see many fish but the ones we saw hit. The bloom was in effect and weather poor (big storm the night before arrival, mid-week cold front, 30 mph winds). Frustrating to get to fish only 5 of the 7 days of our trip, but still enjoyable.
J. Menard |
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