|
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Anyone doing anything on Bone or Deer in Polk County lately? I don't fish either of them much in the mid-summer. Phenomenal fall lakes, but I don't know much as far as patterning them in the summer. Any advice would be appreciated, I'm heading up to Bone in Saturday.
Thanks,
Adam |
|
| |
|
| I am curious to hear how you did this weekend on bone or deer. I haven't been out in a few weeks but I have heard both lakes have been slow.
I mostly fish deer and can't seem to get one hooked over 30 inches. We have not really seen any big fish out there for a few months.....wonder where they are?
Hope you had some good luck.
I am surprised no one has responded. For the amount of muskie anglers on those lakes on any given day..... you would think some follow M1......
I am looking forward to fall on deer and bone. That's when it seems to be the best for me.
Thanks,
Jacko smitty
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | On both lakes when I can't find the fish on the weedlines and primary breaks, I back out another cast and fish the deeper water. I use creatures for that application, but I imagine any soft plastic would work well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | It's been slow for me also. Night time has been better, but not a sure thing either. went and chased some bass today with the wife......water temp. was 76-77 around the boat landing (didn't charge the batteries and could only use the TM!)
|
|
| |
|
| Sounds like the water on deer is getting warm as it is spring fed from 3 different locations and usually does not get above 75.
I haven't heard of any decent sized fish being pulled out of deer for a month or so. Kind of a bummer. I think I will wait until September for the bite to pick up. Do any of you guys have suggestions for deer in early September?
S. Worral I appreciate the tip of soft plastics in the "next teir of water" out side the weed line. I will give that a try. Hopefully you guys are having a good summer catching the big ones....
Hope all is well.....
Jacko
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Didn't make it to Bone this weekend, my wife says family over fishing. What a bunch of BS! Hit the Apple this week instead. Saw a few fish, caught one 30" and had an upper 30s lost at boatside, both on BDawgs in the deeper channels. Hopefully this mini front will bring the water temps down and they'll move back onto structure. Good luck everyone.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | I heard the Apple is choked full of weeds. Is the channel the only fishable area? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 260
Location: Lockport, IL | I was on Deer a few weeks ago with the family. It was tough going for us. Our best action was the morning following the new moon (Sunday the 15th). We went our predawn and my brother in law stuck a 37.5" fish at sunrise. He got a 30" about 30 min. later. The old man lost a mid 30's and then my brother in law got another 31 inch all within 2 hours. Sunrise and moonrise were an hour apart that morning and seemed to make the difference. We saw another guy near us boat an upper 30's, but that was about it. We fished hard the rest of the week and only had a couple upper 20's to show for it. We did see a low 40's swimming around with it's head above the water one morning. The biggest fish we saw came up by the dock and just laid around for a few minutes. That fish was a four foot fish that was not impressed with the Big Joe dropped out in front of it.
Attachments
----------------
 Casey 37.5.JPG (65KB - 170 downloads)
Casey 31.5.JPG (88KB - 199 downloads)
Casey 31.JPG (59KB - 189 downloads)
Deer Lake, WI 005.jpg (20KB - 192 downloads)
Deer Lake, WI 003.jpg (24KB - 217 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | I was fishing the Riverdale section near Somerset, Grant. Not nearly as weedy as ARF. In fact, I wish it had more. This section has a lot more shoreline cover (downed trees, stump, etc) and is easy to fish in that regard. It's much skinnier also, you can be in the channel and throw to the shore. |
|
| |
|
| Fished Deer Lake a few years ago in the early fall, I did well with trolling cranks after sunset, both fish went over 40 inches.
Ben |
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | Hack's Pub Bryce Hacker Memorial tournament July 28 on Bone the winning team caught 5 fish (2 not registerable / short; and the largest of the other 3 was a 46". My friend caught a 44 1/2" and there were 3 other fish caught for 1-5 places.
Weekend prior I caught 2 on Bone 31" & 32" and 2 on Deer 26" & 32. Healthy fish - just short.
I grew up on these waters but after fishing Mille Lacs Monday night between three of us catching 38.5", 40.5", 41.5", 45", 47", & 48"; plus I snagged a 44" in the back that put a heck of a fight up but got off at the last turn; and had multiple aggressive 50" chasing to the boat - its really tough to run back home and fish Bone and Deer vs. 50 minutes from my home to Mille Lacs.
Edited by dhacker 8/8/2007 7:05 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | I agree. I think everyone should get off of Bone and Deer and stay in Minnesota. Trust me. STAY IN MN! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | Stop it - your hurting my feelings. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Haven't been on deer in about a month, but am getting back out there this week. Anyone having any success laltey? Have things been picking up?
Any input is appreciated......Thanks. |
|
| |
|
| Friend & I were out on Deer on August 2. Friend caught a 36" a half hour after moonset (Moonset was at 10:20 am). We saw 4 others, all were short except for one. Came from the deep weedline. The fish in that lake suspend most of the time. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Interesting that the DNR backed off stocking on Bone and provided bluegill and perch for more forage. This was supposed to take it from an extremely high population of mid-size fish and provide more of a trophy fishery. But all I hear about is 30-39" fish. Anyone know about the weed situation, I heard they killed off a lot of the weeds... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| I know the last time i was on Deer about 3-4 weeks ago the weeds that were present were almost all gone.......It was a curve ball to say the least. They had all of the floating bouys that marked the areas where they layed chemicals. The good thing is that in the areas that the existing weeds were dying off the cabbage was starting to come through.
Curious to know how the cabbage and other weeds have developed or came back in the past 3 weeks on Deer??? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 22
Location: Twin Cities | ArnieB --
Are the deep patches of coontail still around? They have always been great fall spots.
Edited by deanj 8/14/2007 1:33 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| The last time i was out about 3 weeks ago they were not there as they were in the previous years. You could see where they had been just days and weeks before, but it appeard that the clumps of coon tail shallow and deep were dying off quickly where they had layed chemicals.
I am hoping the cabbage starts growing strong now as it looked like it was starting to come up mid-late july.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Moltisanti - 8/8/2007 4:48 PM
I agree. I think everyone should get off of Bone and Deer and stay in Minnesota. Trust me. STAY IN MN!
I agree too.....That way I wont have to wait in line to fish the classic spots that get pounded on bone and deer! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | Where's the love? Well you guys have fun fishing this weekend during the Indianhead. My Grandfather and Dad have fished the Indianhead since it started (somewhere around 35 years); I believe they are either one of two teams or the only team left that has fished the tournament since inception.
When my Grandfather retires, I will be taking over his seat - so kneener, kneener
Edited by dhacker 8/14/2007 5:39 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 80
| Fish the secondary spots or suspendos then you wont have to wait in line?!?!?!?!?!?! |
|
| |
|
| Speaking of the Indianhead tourney......
I hear it is near impossible to get into and there is a long waiting list. How does one get on this list?
--Jacko
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | I put got my name on the list a couple years ago....at least I think I did?? I called a guy from the Balsam Lake Rod & Gun Club. Gave him my name and said I'd like to be put on the list....knowing it takes quite a while before getting in. Haven't heard a thing since that call. Hopefully my name is moving towards the top! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | That's my understanding as well that there is quite a list to get in it. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Sh**t forgot about the indianhead!! I havent' been up to Deer in about a month and was looking forward to fishing this weekend.....I guess i'll wait another week to muskie fish up there.
If i can make it over to check out the board i will post some results. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | On bone, trolling works well. 10" Jakes. Try perch pattern gliders on the weedlines. Lil Ernies too. Just a few things that don't get tossed to the well conditioned population of Bone....
|
|
| |
|
| Looked at the leader board about 30 minutes ago on Deer for the Indian head tourney. 19 have been caught on deer sor far and 10 on Bone.
Biggest was 43.5"
Lots of fish....... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | Arnie - Where did you find the leaderboard? |
|
| |
|
| They had a small tent set up on the far east end of the lake. In the small parking area next to the bridge you go under to get into the bay with the fountain. I know a few more fish were caught after i was there as i saw two other boats catch fish and the horns were going off. Lots of action.
Even better was the 46" I nailed this afternoon......too bad we're not in the tournament. My biggest Deer laker yet........
It was a zoo out there today trying to fish inbetween tournament boats but that's how it goes.......
|
|
| |
|
| Ok, so with the tournament going on I decided to skip the Polk county area and avoid the chaos. Sounds like there was a lot of fish caught however what everyone keeps saying still seems to play true. ALL THESE FISH ARE SMALL!
With that in mind I tried some new water. Fished white bear and bald eagle sat and today. Let me tell ya, no more bone or deer lake for me. I actually found some lakes where I could potentially catch a 50 inch class fish. Or at least an upper 40's fish. I didn't actually boat one but we moved a bunch and a few that were in the 50 inch range. 2 on WBL and 1 on BE. Could not get them to bite!!
You could fish for years in Polk county before ever seeing a fish of that size. I guess the north metro is coming to fruition after all of the stocking programs. I owe a donation to the north metro chapter once I catch one of these pigs I saw!
So I am taking the above advice from this post and staying in MN! And if you live in WI I would reccomend checking out a north metro lake instead..... They are not too far.
It is sad to say, but bone and deer are past their prime. if you enjoy 20 to 25 inch esox you're better of pike fishing somewhere with lite tackle.
Sorry to be negative but after fishing deer and bone for years they just don't fit the description of a "good muskie lake"!!
On a side note; how's forest for ski's? I think I am going to try that next as it is even closer to my home.
Jacko
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yep, no big fish in Wisconsin. Post a picture when you get your 50! Why would you drive over to WI from there anyway? Interesting IP, by the way...  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | ArnieB - Email me at [email protected]
I want to ask something of you. Thanks. |
|
| |
|
| There are plenty of big fish in WI, no doubt about that. There are just no big fish in bone or deer.
Jacko
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Last year, I fished BE with Musky_Joe and we were the only 'ski fishermen on the lake. On Bone or Deer, you have 1 fish and 7 boats per acre fishing muskies. I know there are still big fish in there, I've seen 'em. They are just so well conditioned, they don't show up very often. Or maybe I'm just in denial. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | I fish Deer all the time and I never see big fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 80
| Jacko, there are plenty of GOOD fish in Polk county I personally released a thirty pounder on Bone in early June on a Sunday afternoon with jet skis buzzing by, I have also personally caught six over forty" on bone this year. There is a tremendous amount of fish in the 36-46 range on Bone also there are 2 fish that I know go over the 50 mark swimming there! In a few years when the Leech lake strain is hopefully booming on Deer I suppose you will still be crying. If you learn to adapt and try some new methods you can catch fish in Polk county that will rival anything in the state in the exception of a few trophy waters, put your time in on Bone for the Fall bite and you will catch a mid to upper forty or you are doing something wrong. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I was just over that way a year or so back, and did pretty well, actually. Will Bone or Deer ever be what some of the Minnesota Metro water is? Good chance they will eventually as we change harvest, stocking, and other issues here. It's NOT the fish, so perish that idea.
Fish where you want, but don't bash water or people who do better on a certain lake or river than you; just because you have been unsuccessful there doesn't mean the lake isn't worth fishing. I'm fishing with Ed pretty soon, and am really looking forward to the trip.
|
|
| |
|
| How about deleting this thread before it gets out of hand. There is not any structured info or current valuable reports here anyhow.
Nuf said.
|
|
| |
|
| Also Mr. Worrall seems to confirm that the north metro lakes are better than bone or deer! when he says that bone or deer will be "as good" when things change.
There you have it folks...... Until things change your better off on wbl, bald eagle, forest etc.
Confirmed today by a world class muskie guy.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's no secret a few of the Metro Lakes have 'come of age' in recent years and have put out some tremendous muskies. It's my opinion some are already declining from their peak, but we'll see about that in the future. This has been a serious topic of conversation onsite, in case you missed it. ( Apparently you did). Bone has been the topic of much debate, and the fish there and elsewhere are under study by Dr. Sloss's lab. there's already some preliminary study information posted here as an article.
When things change? Things have been 'changing' in Wisconsin's approach to managing muskies for over a decade.
Obviously, I was speaking to your claims of 50" fish in numbers. Please don't try to misrepresent what I said. In fact, I think Bone is one of the best numbers lakes in the area, and features great numbers of fish in the 38 to 45 to 46" range.
How do you like the Blackberry?
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 80
| social sips between fish!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Ed, how'd you do today on your solo adventure? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 80
| Hit the Apple got a 38ish, and 35-36incher and saw a lower 40 fish. All on M/Gs in the thick stuff. Fished for about nine hours picked my seven year old daughter up on the dock in between showers and she fished with me for about an hour she has got a 6'4 cabelas muskie rod with a 5600 on it and she is becoming quite the little caster!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 38
| Bone is one of the better lakes within reasonable driving time from the twin cities. I personally dont think that Bald Eagle can even be compared with bone... Sure Eagle spits out some big fish each year, but a 54 incher outta there wieghs 20 lbs.. lol. Now forest on the other hand, is worth talking about.. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Way to get her started early, Ed! Just booked up a weekend at Pine Grove on Bone in early October. Also have my first child on the way this week. Can't decide which one I'm more excited for! |
|
| |
|
| Question ? If Deer lake is stock and managed for musky why is it that all or the fish seem on the smallish side.
I was out Yesterday and moved 7 caught 2, and hooked up once trolling but the fish slipped the hooks before we could see it.
All fish appeared to be in the high 30's low 40's. The 2 we caught were 34" and 38"
Were are all the Big Girls.
PS. I saw one 36-38 floater it appeared to be dead a couple days maybe a week.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Some waters produce big fish, some don't for about a zillion reasons. There's about 6 weeks reading about this issue in the research forum, go there and read for your answers. Deer does kick out upper 40" range fish, and maybe would do better if most fish caught in that size range in recent history were not harvested.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Is it true that Deer also had the Leech strain stocked at some point? If so how long ago was the Leech strain stocking?
Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 80
| A conservation warden told me that they stocked them this year. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | I'm no expert on this subject at all, but I think Steve hit it right on the head. A lot of the "oldtimers" that fish these lakes are acustomed to keeping everything they catch that's legal, no matter what. My father in law, for example, has cooked us many a fish fry that included: a 21" largemouth, a 22" walleye, 8 5" bluegills and however many bullheads he caught that day. Muskies, Inc has done a lot of things to try to get people of that ilk to release muskies, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I really think both of these lakes have a ton of potential, both now and in the future, and that's why I started this post. With more of the right attitude towards musky management and catch and release, I don't think this post will be so littered with "No big fish in 'Scosin," all the time. And, once again, I know there are big fish in Polk County because I've seen them and find a way to not catch them! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 253
| Does anyone have any updates on how things are going on Deer? We have a group of us going there the first weekend in October. We are hoping to hit it just before turnover. Thanks, Steve
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 454
|
That lake is relatively deep and very clear, usually doesn't turn over til mid to late October |
|
| |
|
| FISHED BONE 9/14 TO 9/16. PUT 8 IN THE BOAT AND LOST 10-12 OTHERS. HAD A ROOKIE IN THE BOAT AND HE HAD A HAT TRICK DAY. BIGGEST FISH WAS 42 SAW BIGGER ONES. WATER TEMP 62. GOOD LUCK AND REPORT BACK!
BIRDSNEST |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | That's sweet, not a bad weekend. Seems like those bigger ones that you see bite in the fall. How was the fishing pressure? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | BIRDSNEST - 9/19/2007 4:52 PM
FISHED BONE 9/14 TO 9/16. PUT 8 IN THE BOAT AND LOST 10-12 OTHERS. HAD A ROOKIE IN THE BOAT AND HE HAD A HAT TRICK DAY. BIGGEST FISH WAS 42 SAW BIGGER ONES. WATER TEMP 62. GOOD LUCK AND REPORT BACK!
BIRDSNEST
Did these fish eat bulldawgs or bucktails? Maybe neither, but that's my guess. |
|
| |
|
| ON FRIDAY SAW 1-5 BOATS, SAT AND SUNDAY 10-15 BOATS, NOT BAD FISHING PRESSURE BY ANY MEANS. WHEN YOU ASKED LURE SELECTION WERE YOU SURE YOU WERN'T IN MY BOAT. HA! HA!. BULDOGS AND HAIR COUGHT MOST OF THEM.
BIRDSNEST
PIKIN AND GRINN MOST OF THE TIME! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | Anyone have any water temps for Bone? Tons of edible sucker will be in the water this weekend up there, hoping they get eaten. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| I will be heading up to Deer Lake in Polk County, WI tomorrow to chase some muskies. As of right now it will be a solo mission. I plan to be on the lake around noon and fish until dark tomorrow, and on the lake again Sunday Morning through mid afternoon.
shoot me an email or give me a ring, 651-983-6603 if interested in fishing.
-Chris |
|
| |
|
Posts: 55
Location: Arena WI | I FISHED BONE 2 WEEKENDS IN SEPT. AND DID QUITE WELL. WE PUT 16 IN THE BOAT AND LOST THAT MANY TOO! WATER TEMP 63-65. ALL FISH COUGHT IN 10' OR LESS. MOST CAUGHT ON HAIR AND SURFACE BAITS. LARGEST WAS 42 AND SAW SOME OTHER LARGER FISH THAT WERE JUST LOOKING. HEADED UP IN 2 WEEKS, I'LL REPORT BACK AND I HOPE YOU DO LIKEWISE.
 |
|
| |
|
| Fished Bone Sunday 10-7. Water temps 63-65. Had a sucker out and threw twitch baits over weeds- still plenty of weeds. Lots of debris in top 5' of water column. Fished 2.5 hrs. til church didn't see any. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Out on deer both Sat and Sun. No t a follow. The lake looked like pea soup. Is that turnover or an algae bloom, or both? Lots of floating weeds and debris in the lake.
Saw a plenty of boats out there fishing. ANyone else have any success?
Hopefully with the cool down things will pick up. |
|
| |
|
|
Tons of debris on Bone, too. That's strange about Deer, that lake is usually pretty clear. I think run-off from the farm fertilizers can occasionally get in there with a lot of rain and cause it to bloom up. Happens on Cedar every year.
We only got one, a 38 on Bone on Friday. Had 2 lower 40's come up on DCG's both late followers that didn't show up until the second figure 8 pass. One smashed it, lost the fish and it bent the cowgirl in a 45 degree angle. Sucker bite was non-existant. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 253
| We had a group of (6) of us on Deer Thursday thru Sunday. Fishing was fantastic Thursday with a one hour period giving up (7) fish. Friday morning brought severe thunderstorms. Fishing was still good till about noon when things shut down. We boated (3) fish in that time frame. Saturday and Sunday only yielded (1) fish between us. The bloom was terrible in some areas and nonexistent in others. We watched water temps go from 62 on Thursday to 65 on Sunday. It was weird to be fishing in T-shirts and shorts morning thru evening on Saturday and Sunday during the month of October. We ended up with (15) fish for the (4) day weekend. Nothing on suckers, so we did not bother with them the last (2) days.
Steve Ruhmann
 |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | Muskie Junkie - 10/10/2007 7:16 AM
We had a group of (6 ) of us on Deer Thursday thru Sunday. Fishing was fantastic Thursday with a one hour period giving up (7 ) fish. Friday morning brought severe thunderstorms. Fishing was still good till about noon when things shut down. We boated (3 ) fish in that time frame. Saturday and Sunday only yielded (1 ) fish between us. The bloom was terrible in some areas and nonexistent in others. We watched water temps go from 62 on Thursday to 65 on Sunday. It was weird to be fishing in T-shirts and shorts morning thru evening on Saturday and Sunday during the month of October. We ended up with (15 ) fish for the (4 ) day weekend. Nothing on suckers, so we did not bother with them the last (2 ) days.
Steve Ruhmann
:- )
Steve - I'm the one who you talked to Sat. night while out on the water ( I was out night fishing). Sorry if I seemed rude, but with the wind blowing and your slurring of words .......it was hard to understand what you were saying !!! Glad to hear of your success. Hope i can do the same this weekend..you guys going to be out again?? Send me a PM if you want to talk more thoroughly. |
|
| |
|
| I was on Deer again Thuresday 10/11. Caught 2 fish early and thought this was going to be the best day yet. Fished from 8 in the morning till 5 in the evening and had two lazy follows in the afternoon. Water temps were still 60. Last year we had water temps at 58 on the 29th of September. First fish came from 13.5' of water on the weed edge (42"). Hit a black and orange Ace Tandem on the figure 8.Half hour later still working the weed edge, I saw a patch of coontail that was in a little shallower, about 7', and decided to through a black and orange Reef Hog over the weeds. A fish came up behind the bait right away and followed half way to the boat, and then eat it (45"). That was at 9:15. I didn't see another fish till 1:15, and another one at 1:50. Hope the lake goes thru the turn over soon. Won't be back out on Deer till the 25th.
Jerry |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | Drove down to the Deer Lake Landing.....frozen all the way out to the first bay on east side. THis means my musky season is finished...:( Got me a doe this morning thought!! |
|
| |
|
| It isn't over yet. My son was out there today and said it took them a while to get out to open water, but the water temps are still 39-40 degrees. They raised a few fish on jerk baits and jigs but nothing in the boat. Tomorrow should be better with warmer air temps. The ice is only at the access and the rest of the lake is open. Looks like the weather for next week says Tuesday things will start to freeze up solid.  Was out last Tuesday with him and we put 6 in the boat. 5 on jigs and 1 on a jerk bait. 44.5,42,40,39.5,35, and a 32 and saw several others.
Jerry |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: WI | Yep Jerry...I take back my earlier post! I saw that a boat or two busted through the ice on Saturday to get out to open water...good for them!
Jerry, you've probably read that there will be a "catch & release" early season next year.....I think you may want to start working on some of your "small" spinnerbaits (w/ barbless hooks)......! Do you have an email address I could reach you at or email me at [email protected]? Thanks.
Edited by PEteacher44 11/25/2007 7:31 AM
|
|
| |
