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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hi Everyone,
Earlier today on FSN I was watching "Sportsman's Journal" and he paid a visit to Lost Bay resort on Cliff lake. Did a bit of everything on the show, but through their filming (how ever much editing went on) and had managed to have a few muskies come up and grab a fish already hooked, but they fished for some as well..
Needless to say it intrigued me...
Anyone been to cliff lake? Is it as good as the show made it out to be? (I know..advertisement more or less which is why I am asking..)
Steve
Edited by VMS 2/28/2010 1:07 PM
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | It's a great place to fish Muskies, just not one that kicks out numbers of big girls. |
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Posts: 198
| Cliff is a good action lake for muskies but like Steve said not a trophy lake. Great for other species as well. You do have Cedar Lk right accross the road which produces Trophies so trailering a couple of miles would put you on some quality fish. On Cliff you will have more solitude. You can go up a small stream by boat into three other smaller lakes that are real good action lakes for 30-40 inch fish.
It's a great lake but just not alot of big ones. |
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Posts: 572
| Silver Scale - 3/1/2010 10:03 AM
Cliff is a good action lake for muskies but like Steve said not a trophy lake. Great for other species as well. You do have Cedar Lk right accross the road which produces Trophies so trailering a couple of miles would put you on some quality fish. On Cliff you will have more solitude. You can go up a small stream by boat into three other smaller lakes that are real good action lakes for 30-40 inch fish.
It's a great lake but just not alot of big ones.
The going up a small stream by boat into three smaller lakes may be a little difficult at times. Actually, I have tried it 3 times, only to find it blocked by a beaver pile (or mud pile with sticks)....ugh. However, others have indicated the 3 smaller lakes offer good action....perhaps that is why I tried 3 times...
I've also heard one of the smaller lakes offer some good pike fishing.
As to Cliff Lake being a good action lake for muskies....I'm interested in hearing more, as that is a little hard to believe..... |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Cliff offered good action when I fished it a few years ago, that's about all I know at this point. Better smallmouth fishing, though. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I have stayed on Cliff a few times....I'm a much better fisherman now then back then, but the lake doesn't have a lot of marquee structure to target...( not many islands, reefs, much of the shorelines are very shallow with no good drop offs) We caught some fish, nothing huge and I haven't had a huge desire to come back and fish there..... As far as the 3 lakes go...I have fished them all, in fact there's a fourth lake you can access by portage I have fished too. Extremely difficult and long to get back there, at times impossible. If you don't have a 14 foot light aluminum boat don't even bother. We have caught fish back there, and i'll leave it at that 
I'm curious as to what fish they were catching on the show that the Muskies grabbed??
Cliff is certainly not a very good walleye fishery unless things have changed, guys used to trailer over to Cedar daily to fish eyes. I'm guessing they were bass fishing? And if walleye fishing I would guess they were on one of the smaller lakes, not Cliff
Edited by Musky Brian 3/1/2010 12:43 PM
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hi Brian,
They were fishing walleyes and smallies when the muskies grabbed the fish. They did do a little bit of muskie fishing as well. Not sure what lake they were on, but it was clear water.... From what footage they showed, he was by the cabins one time, but that could just be the advertisement shot for the resort...
Just intrigued me...
Steve |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Where can you land a boat on Cliff? Is there a public landing?
I'm really suprised by the "numbers" lake classification. Cliff is more of a trout lake is it not? You'd think it would have monsters roaming open water... |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | There's not really a landing...There's places where you can literally throw a small boat on the back of your truck and throw it in the lake and park, but not really a true ramp.
I"m guessing the big fish that do reside in the lake ( they must be there with that 54" size limit) are not caught often due to the problem I mentioned of lack of classic structure to target.... |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Steve in Hastings...They were fishing Cliff - good shot of one of the long arms of Cliff as they were fighting the laker at the end of the show. Unfortunately I didn't see the beginning and only caught the last 15 minutes or so.
Brian, we have spoke about these lakes and as I agree with you mostly, I have seen some monsters. In fact, where Butch and guest were fishing is the point I've seen the biggest musky I've seen on Cliff. They caught all the fish, walleyes, bass, and had the musky grab the walleye all in the same vicinity (at least the last 12 minutes that I saw).
As for the other lakes. They are a good bet for lots of follows, a few smaller fish caught, and a lot of smaller northern action. And the 4th lake that Brian mentioned...It has a boat on it, but only usable by guests staying at Sharpe's Cliff Lake Lodge. I wouldn't even try dragging a boat, motor and gear through that trail...It's bad enough trying to get through there with just gear and a cooler.
Brian... pm as I'm interested in the numbers and size of the biggest you've caught back on the fourth lake.
Steve in Cottage Grove ;o)
Edited by muskyroller 3/4/2010 11:48 AM
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Posts: 572
| dtaijo174 - 3/1/2010 3:05 PM
Where can you land a boat on Cliff? Is there a public landing?
I'm really suprised by the "numbers" lake classification. Cliff is more of a trout lake is it not? You'd think it would have monsters roaming open water...
There is a place along 105 where you can launch a boat. The ground seems to be solid enough that 4 wheel drive isn't necessary. After launching you have to watch the water depth, as it may be fairly shallow to run your outboard. The area around the launch seem to be always deep enough to load and unload. Just look it over carefully before launching. I saw a guy with a 150 hp boat launching there last year. So, most people should be ok as long as they just take a little time and care.
As to launching on one of the 3 lakes ajoining Cliff, you need a 4 wheel drive just to launch a smaller boat. Of course, if I had a 4 wheel drive, I'd probably head to Fluke Lake, which is better known for a muskie numbers lake.
Edited by Muskie Bob 3/5/2010 10:22 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Fluke is an interesting lake....more like an aquarium really lol |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Fluke...
http://travelingluck.com/North+America/Canada/Ontario/_5954974_...
Is this the place i should take my buddy who hasn't caught a ski? I'm taking him to Cedar this year, he's paranoid he won't get one. |
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Posts: 315
| ive gone to cedar for 8 years now and love it........your buddy will catch a few im sure = )
cliff is right across the highway from cedar deep and clear aint it? i heard good lake trout
-ba- |
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Posts: 572
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That's Fluke Lake. I've never fished it, but have heard it is a numbers lake. The place where people launch their boats looks rather difficult. It would be best to talk to someone who has launched there before. It looked like it was fairly muddy where it dropped off into the lake.
And muskie fishing is probably like a lot of lakes.....weather, etc. can make the difference.
If you are familiar with Cedar, you probably can put your buddy onto a muskie. Most of the camp owners know of the popular places and what others have been using to catch muskies. Your buddy just needs to enjoy going.
My fishing partner and I are planning on going to Cedar again. Good luck. |
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Posts: 315
| i love that lake (cedar) = ) |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I would be very careful if you plan on taking a trailer back to Fluke. That's about 12 miles of Canadian gravel and there is not much of a launch. You get into trouble back there you might be in deep doo doo.
The lake is just loaded with Muskies...but it's also LOADED with schools and schools and schools of Perch. I went there once on a hot sunny day, caught a Musky before I ever pushed the boat off shore. All downhill after that, I literally saw 80-100 muskies swimming around or casually following baits...however, they had no intention of biting, combination of sun and the massive schools of small perch swimming around them. It actually got very frustrating and boring seeing Muskies everywhere ( wow did I just say that ha) that you couldn't catch and I left mid afternoon...I bet if you go there real early in the morning or on a cloudy day it would be game on |
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| I overheard an old geezer at the Milwaukee Musky show telling a fellow running a booth about a 55 incher that he caught on Cliff in 07. said he fishes there every year and wont fish anywhere else. The booth was a camp on cliff, I don’t remember the name. The pictures they had at the booth showed some real monsters. They had the numbers from some fish survey that were also impressive.
The old geezer said the monsters feed on the trout and walleye, like what you guys saw on the TV show. I’m heading up there and trying trolling.
I’ve fished Cedar it’s a nice lake but really crowded, sounds like Cliff isn’t. |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | My wife and I fished Fluke lake for 9.5 days. W e took our 14 foot Sea Ark jon Boat and had to lower the trailor down the hill with a rope to launch. We used a winch to get it back up the hill. Not to bad really. Our 1 ton camping van would not make it out of the launch area so we stayed up on top. We camped there for for the duration going back to Vermillion Bay for Ice and Gas once at the mid point. W e caught 104 muskies between 30 and 40 inches in those 9.5 days. 17 in one day. Its a snake pit really full of stunted Muskies between 20 and 40 inches. Counting the little ones under 30 inches Im guessing we boated 200 fish. If you go there bring black bucktails with black blades, Shumway flashers in Fire tiger and Black. Twitch baits worked great along the rocks, we threw Crane 205's and Little Claws. Top water got some attention with Weagles and Jackpots as well. My wife took a black marker and colored the blades on bionic bucktail spinner bait so it was all black. She took 22 of her fish on that lure. Its a beautiful lake but a shame that its full of dinks. Kingfisher |
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| I found a Clip of Butch Furtman’s Sunday morning Fox Sports Fishing Show that Shows a neat segment for those of you that missed it. You Can find it on You Tube by searching for Giant Musky T-Bones a Walleye on Cliff Lake or cut and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QuwHFvfivE
It's only 2 1/2 minutes long - actually it shows two big muskies
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Location: Hartford Wi | Going to cliff last full week of july and should be a great time. Staying at lost bay/wild eyes guess its one of the only two places on the body of water. |
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| I remember seeing you guys back there. Thanks for helping me with the hook difficulties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.ryanbergmusic.com
Kingfisher - 3/22/2010 9:15 AM
My wife and I fished Fluke lake for 9.5 days. W e took our 14 foot Sea Ark jon Boat and had to lower the trailor down the hill with a rope to launch. We used a winch to get it back up the hill. Not to bad really. Our 1 ton camping van would not make it out of the launch area so we stayed up on top. We camped there for for the duration going back to Vermillion Bay for Ice and Gas once at the mid point. W e caught 104 muskies between 30 and 40 inches in those 9.5 days. 17 in one day. Its a snake pit really full of stunted Muskies between 20 and 40 inches. Counting the little ones under 30 inches Im guessing we boated 200 fish. If you go there bring black bucktails with black blades, Shumway flashers in Fire tiger and Black. Twitch baits worked great along the rocks, we threw Crane 205's and Little Claws. Top water got some attention with Weagles and Jackpots as well. My wife took a black marker and colored the blades on bionic bucktail spinner bait so it was all black. She took 22 of her fish on that lure. Its a beautiful lake but a shame that its full of dinks. Kingfisher  |
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Posts: 133
Location: Duluth, MN | I will be running into Butch Furtman in 2 weeks at the ALS Walleye Tournament in Duluth, MN. Butch volunteers his time every year at the weigh in. I will ask him if he would be willing to give his overall thoughts on the lake. Walleye, Muskie, Lake Trout etc.
Boat launches also.
Edited by yooper 5/24/2010 3:19 AM
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Location: Hartford Wi | That would be great yoopper, Would really like to hear what he says about it!!!And if he gives up some tips...hehe |
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| Looking for a good lake in that area to go for Pike, Walleye, and Musky. I saw the video from Cliff Lake and it looked great. After reading all the comments of people that have fished Cliff I am having doubts about going there. I usually go to Amisk Lake near Flin Flon Saskatchewan. The Pike fishing is amazing producing several fish over 40" through the week, but it is a long drive from Iowa. Any suggestions on a good Lake in that area would be helpfull. Everything sounds great on the internet so I need some honest opinions. Thank You. |
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Posts: 198
| For big pike, great walleye and some big muskies I would have to say Lac Seul might be a better fit. Lake of the Woods would be second. |
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Location: Hartford Wi | Anyone been out there latley leaven in the am ! |
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| How was your trip to Cliff? |
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| I see Sharpe's web page is no longer available. Anyone know if the campe is still operating and if Sharpes are still running it? |
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| heard it was sold.the people that bought lost bay,wildeye,have purchased that camp to.bit of a monopoly. |
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| We did indeed buy sharpes! Cliff Lake is a great lake for Musky, Lake Trout, Smallies, and Walleye. We are the only camp on the lake so the fishing pressure is low. We have two beautiful camps... the main camp Lost Bay Resort, and an Outpost, both are drive in camps. We would love to have you and let you see for yourself how great the lake is!! |
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Location: Hartford Wi | Fishing for muskies has been good on Cliff!! Our week we caught 24 muskies between to boats and saw about 150 or more! This trip we did not see any big fish. I think they went deep. biggest fish we caught was a 44 this year and a lot in the 35 to 40 range. Last year we had a 47 1/2 as our biggest along with a 42 and lots of goods fish hitting baits and losing them. Fun lake and I will get a big fish...They are there and FATTY's swim the depths I know it!!! |
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | Some people I know who fish up there call Cliff the numbers lake and Cedar the trophy lake, which is kind of funny since Cliff is the trout water and Cedar is the meso water. |
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| Stayed at Pickerel Creek Camp the last 6 years and loved it. It is just a few minutes from both the Cliff Lake and Cedar Lake launch. I'm able to split up my trip in half and fish both lakes. @$350/week it's a heck of a bargain. Monsters in both lakes, but both lakes are complete opposites. Cedar = stained,fertile, shallower, and lots of monsters. Cliff = Clear and deep, so it takes longer for the fish to get bigger. My biggest in from Cliff, 47". Just ask for Dave at PCC. |
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Posts: 1036
| Esox2hart - 7/18/2011 2:06 PM
Fishing for muskies has been good on Cliff!! Our week we caught 24 muskies between to boats and saw about 150 or more! This trip we did not see any big fish. I think they went deep. biggest fish we caught was a 44 this year and a lot in the 35 to 40 range. Last year we had a 47 1/2 as our biggest along with a 42 and lots of goods fish hitting baits and losing them. Fun lake and I will get a big fish...They are there and FATTY's swim the depths I know it!!!
You work at the camp, right? |
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| no I don't work at the camp. I go up with 15 coworkers every year. It's our yearly fishing trip and my boat is only one of two that fish for musky. The rest fish for walleye only. |
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Location: Hartford Wi | Yes, I do now why??? |
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Posts: 1036
| Sounded like you were up there for one week a year as a guest. Just making sure.
Hope you get some good video with the camera. |
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Location: Hartford Wi | I do the shows and the bookings.... for about a year now. We have some decent footage of all kinds of fish with the camera! Its pretty sweet. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | We fished Cliff 2 years ago, can't remember the resort we launched the boat from, just down from the public launch, but I do remember Warren, anyone know Warren? He's a guy you probably wouldn't forget. He ran the resort, in fact there were a couple other guys there as well. My buddy and I launched late, caught a few and ended up hanging around till who knows how late. Warren fired up a few birds, we fried up a few fish and had one of those nights where you don't move the motorhome from the lot, great bunch of guys, except for that liberal, ha ha! We probably need to go see them again this Oct.
Brian,
Did you say Flin Flon?
When I was 10yrs old I was allowed to go with Dad and a few of his buddies, all beer truck drivers....... and a dentist who taught at one of the big university's in Chicago to Amisk, T&D Cabins. I see it's still there, the road goes through now..... Back then 40years, holy crap....its been a while. We got our ice from the ice shed (cut from the lake) somehow refilled our motorhome with water from the lake, so I could do the dishes, why do you think I got to go? And launched the boat on a tree log landing.
Curt was the son if I remember right and he came fishing with us, Dean was a big man.... The trapper, (John) was alive then, what great memories? One funny side note, 4 guys, and a kid, 27cases of beer brought in, that's all they could fit, things were a little different back then. Anyway they ran out, so made a trip to "Denare beach"??? to restock, all these guys were Bud company men but the only thing close was Labats, I can still remember Frank saying "that last one was so bad he needed another to wash it down". Frank was 6'-4"and big too. I went again 7years later and drove the motorhome towing the boat most of the 3000 miles there and back.... Stopped in The Pas and bought my girl friend at the time, later to be wife a Hudson bay coat at Kerr Furs, wonder if that place is still there?
Sorry for going on and on but some things you do stick with you for the rest of your life and going fishing with Dad at that age was one of those things. |
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Posts: 1
| Cliff Lake is very large to begin with, hence commercially fished often. Read through some other post assertions. Portage through to three other lakes is accurate but beaver dams will impend progress, but the travel is worth it for Walleye and Northern. HINT:There is another overland uphill portage to a smaller body of water off of Cliff about mid body of the lake to locate tiger Muskie. Is also true Cliff is a lake trout body of water, very deep body of water in places. To the point about hunting Muskie on Cliff Lake, they are there in qty. and I disagree, trophy size do exists. Difficult to locate them with out guide or forehand knowledge of the lake. Best spot is again about mid-lake in a smaller cove area where water runs up shallow. Throw the biggest and most water agitating top surface lure you can find, two propellers and in yellow make a good combo with an 8" leader around dusk. You'll get the rush and the strike, be ready to set the hooks. |
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Dumb question: how far is it from Vermillion Bay, ON to Cliff Lake? |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Slamr - 1/20/2016 4:00 PM
Dumb question: how far is it from Vermillion Bay, ON to Cliff Lake?
If only there were a website where you could solve these mapping questions..... |
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Pointerpride102 - 1/20/2016 4:39 PM
Slamr - 1/20/2016 4:00 PM
Dumb question: how far is it from Vermillion Bay, ON to Cliff Lake?
If only there were a website where you could solve these mapping questions..... : )
and/or a website full of people who might have done that drive?
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Id say 30-35 minutes from what I remember....
Why, are you scheming a day trip there while staying on Eagle?
Edited by Musky Brian 1/20/2016 6:41 PM
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Slamr - 1/20/2016 5:04 PM
Pointerpride102 - 1/20/2016 4:39 PM
Slamr - 1/20/2016 4:00 PM
Dumb question: how far is it from Vermillion Bay, ON to Cliff Lake?
If only there were a website where you could solve these mapping questions..... : )
and/or a website full of people who might have done that drive?
In the time it took you to post twice, you could have looked it up...twice. |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Musky Brian's about right. Don't think you could do it in 30 pulling a boat, though.
No fish in Cliff worth chasing though ;o)
32 minutes according to that crazy website, mapping thingy
Edited by muskyroller 1/20/2016 6:56 PM
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Slamr - Yes - ~30 - 35 minutes to Lost Bay Resort. Safer to lauch there, rather than public access. Same for Cedar Lake (Cedar Lake Camp), usually ~$20.00 to launch for the day. They are usually at the shows.
I'll be on Cliff June 19th-26th. Staying at Lost Bay's Resort's Wildeye's Outpost Camp. Third year on Cliff.
https://www.facebook.com/CliffLakeResorts/
Have Fun!
Al
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Posts: 618
Location: Bloomington, MN | I've actually booked a trip to Canada! Thank you Mr. Warner. My friend and I will be hitting Cliff the first week of August. I haven't been to Canada since 1978, and really have not done a serious week of fishing/vacation since 1997. The 1997 trip was really just of two recently divorced men spilling and sucking down their sorrows with the locals up at Cass Lake. Fine memories of #*^@ near being rolled at the Big Tap. I hope to catch some fish. I'm not going to Cliff to get a 50", but I will not be surprised if I do. I will be spending close to the same amount of $ for 1 week at Pelican Lake, WI.! I will need to spend about 8 more hours on the road round trip, but I'm sure the results will be much better. Pelican does have bigger smallmouth (not for numbers)
, but I need a real non-Great Lakes Lake Trout to my name! P.M. me Lake Trout recipes! Goal: 1 muskie hopefully over 36", 1 walleye 28"+, 1 lake trout, 1 whitefish (a big minnow that eats lures), peace and solitude! Priceless!
Edited by Clark A 2/4/2016 12:39 AM
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | The smallies on Cliff will surprise you! There are some bruisers....
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 2/5/2016 1:18 PM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Clark,
Maybe things have changed, but for Canadian standards Cliff was a pretty tough walleye lake. Lot of guys used to trailer over to Cedar for walleyes. I caught some on musky baits up to 24/25" here and there. For a lake not known for Pike, there's some real bruisers in the chain though |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | You'll get the musky over 36", lake trout, and plenty of smallies. The pike you get will be pretty nice and good eatin'. The walleye will be tricky. If you want walleyes and lots of them, go up the road to Lac Seul. Won't have trouble catching the 28" up there. |
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Cliff Lake Ontario?