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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | Hey all in interwebland- me and a buddy are looking to head to MN. in oct. and was looking for some reviews on some guides- obviously we all want to catch a 40 lb fish, that goes with out saying but were looking for the whole deal maybe some learning, good fishing, know his stuff, and even someone whos doing it just that little bit different- thinking outa the box if you know what I mean- anyones exp with metro area north- but anykind of response would be greatly appretiated! thanks- |
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| In October I would recommend my friend Dave Williamson of Musky Stalker guide service. He is an advertiser on this sight. I personally think Dave might be one of the better guides around for total experience. One thing that really impresses me this year is that Dave has quite a few 50 plus fish in the boat, but he has not caught one yet himself. That to me is a sign of a good guide. Helping others catch fish and putting his fishing second. In my opinion a few of Dave's traits over a lot of others is that he is constantly trying new things. He is a good teacher at techniques. The other day he told me his clients caught 3 50s I think. He was totally out of the box on his technique and that impressed me as well.
I had the opportunity to pinch hit for Dave one day last month for a regular client of his. What impressed me the most is how many good things his client had to say about Dave and not one bad thing. That says something. |
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Location: MN | You stated the metro and north, you should contact Josh Borovsky. Josh stays on both numbers and size, will teach you as much as you want, and tries to customize the trip so you get what you are looking for out of it. He fishes the metro area and Vermilion. I have been a client and was very impressed.
http://www.promuskieguide.com/
Edited by Mak51 8/27/2010 10:11 PM
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Posts: 720
| Without a doubt Gregg Thomas,
I've fished with Gregg a couple of times. I've never been much on fishing with a guide. Not because I don't think the service they provide isn't important or valid. But for me money is always the issue. The lack of it. But whenever the stars are in order and I have the money. Gregg is the only person I would pay to take me fishing. I've been absolutely blessed to spend sometime in the boat with this guy. He knows his stuff. They all know their stuff but Gregg has the ability to make you feel like its important to him that you are having a good expierence out on the water. His willingness to teach and listen to your questions was impressive the first time out and that didn't change on our other trips either. As far as putting us on fish I've caught 5 fish in two trips with Gregg up to 47.5". But like I said earlier that didn't really impress me as much as the way we caught those fish and reasons for why we caught those fish. Very interesting man with a unique look at things. I will be back in the boat with him soon. |
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Posts: 101
| What's up guys. I am the buddy who is going on this trip. Any referrals you can give us would be a big help. We are just looking to have a fun trip with opportunity at some fish. If anyone knows of any other guides let us know. Also if you know of anyone who isnt a guide but has put you on some fish that would be cool too. We would pay for gas in the boat and work something out to make it worth their while. We both fish very hard ourselves in central wisconsin and have caught some awesome fish here, just looking for a different adventure. If anyone is interested in taking us out for a day in minnesota we would take you out here. Just another option. Thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 203
Location: Minnesota | Those three guides mentioned definitely would be recommended... There are quite few more guides that I would recommend such as Luke Ronnestrand (my day on Minnetonka with him last week was definitely a great learning day that resulted in 3 follows, 2 missed strikes, and one 35" in the net), Jason Hamernick, Spencer Berman (Not sure if hes back in Indiana now)... Same goes for Mike Hulbert (I'm sure Hulbert is already back in Indiana now)... Im hoping to get a trip dialed down with Hulbert within a year or two!!!
I do know that I'll definitely try to get a day or two with Luke Ronnestrand next year on Tonka... He knows the lake and I've learned quite few new things from him too!!!
Hope this helps!!! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I would think Josh Borovsky would be a great choice on the Metro lakes...I don't know him but I know guys that do and they all say he is one of the best on the water..from what I know he does get quite a few fish at night in the fall when most are belly'd up to the bar.... 
I'd contact Josh to see what he has for openings first...
Edited by BNelson 8/31/2010 4:31 PM
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| Never hired or needed a guide but if I was going to get one there is no doubt it would be Luke Ronnestrand. I have seen lots of others and seen Luke and to me Luke IS the man. Period. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Matt Snyder, and The Man... Luke
Look in the dic. under "dialed in" and you will see these 2 guys pics.....
Jerome |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | If your looking for a metro guide, there are several good guides out there, depending on what bodies of water you want to learn, or technique, or just catch fish. Josh borovsky spend alot of his time in the metro waters, Josh steven also guides metro and a bunch of good tonka guides like Bob Turgeon and Ben olson. Give us a little more of what you are looking to learn and we can get you pointed to the right guy.
Troy |
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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | hey guy, thanks for all the resoponse! thats what its all about but anyway keep em' coming! but were kinda think'n some lakes that dont get alot of pressure with oppertunity at a few good fish,and even bouncing around from hole to hole but any ideas are welcome. it seems everyones fishn millelacs, vermillion, leech to name a few but we dont really wanna drive up to lotw so say a couple hours from the cities?!?!?! like my buddy said were not lazy and dont really wanna troll allday. were willing to work hard and put in 12 hrs in ness. but anyways thanks again!
Edited by eric001 9/1/2010 12:18 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | if you want to look outside the Metro I'd suggest Kevin Cochran if you can do a weekend as he's a teacher during weekdays....
If you go to his website you might see a few FAT muskies caught in October on there....he'd put you in the spot to catch them!
I have fished with Kevin many times in my boat and his...my 1st 40 lb class fish was from the front deck of his boat... he's getting better and better each yr so I'd dial him up and see what he has open
Edited by BNelson 9/1/2010 7:54 PM
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Posts: 167
| schroedersguidingservice.com look it up! probley best metro musky guide out there |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Luke Ronnestrand, he's the absolute best big musky guide I know....super nice guy too. You will learn alot about catching big muskies. |
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Posts: 222
Location: c.wis | numbers/size whatever we just want a good time and want someone to show us some stuff to make us more rounded anglers |
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| Luke is the "the Man". I would also recommend Matt Seifert, Muskie Mercenary guide service-www.MNmuskieguide.com. Great for offbeat Metro lakes,vermilion and the Bemidji area. |
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Posts: 101
| I don't give my recommendations out arbitrarily. Make the 2 1/2 drive down I-94 and fish with Dave Williamson (Musky Stalker Guide Service). He has 6 - 7 lakes to choose form and will put you on the hottest one. I have fished with Dave multiple times last year and this year. He will teach you how to fish and can almost guarantee fish in your boat.
1st trip out with Dave in 2009 = 9 Muskies, 2nd time 2009 = 5 fish, 1st time 2010 = 3 fish and 2 weeks ago = 2 fish both fat 50"+ plus fish should have been 3 I lost the 3rd one! 7 hours earlier he had two more 50"+ in the boat with a couple of 14 year old kids.
Bonus as good as Dave is being one of top 10 guides in the country, he is still half the price. Get him before everyone else finds out.
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Posts: 101
| http://www.muskystalker.com/ |
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Posts: 5
| I agree !! I have fished with alot of musky guides and Gregg is one-- if not the hardest working guides i know .I have fished with him since he was in high school and he`s fine tuned his guiding career over the years into one of the best guides out there. |
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Posts: 2
| Check out John Hoyer. He lives and fishes the Metro everyday he isn't tournament fishing. He is always on fish and is the hardest working guy i know. Look at his website and that explains everything. www.skiepatrol.com get in touch with him and you won't be dissapointed. |
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| Almost anywhere....
Dave Williamson
http://www.muskystalker.com/
Leech... you'll have to look up his number
Dan Craven
Walker, MN 56484
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | I've gone with John Hoyer and Kevin Cochran and will fish with them again. I've heard a lot of good things about Jason Hammernick and Luke Ronnestrand and would consider them also. |
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| Top H2O - 8/31/2010 8:06 PM
Matt Snyder,
I second Matt...He is a good dude and is also aways on fish... Any of the big name guides are good. Look at what lake you want to go to and what type of fishing you want to do then call some of the guides.
Good luck!
Tim |
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| I have been fishing with Luke a number of times. He is downright awesome, and one hell of a nice guy.
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Posts: 218
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Agree with many above. You cannot go wrong with Luke. Quietly, with ZERO self promotion, he catches some of the BIGGEST fish year in and year out. You won't find him on any of these boards and he doesn't have a website. Just not his style. Always on fish and a great guy to boot.
Jeff |
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| I would give Paul Schlagel with Enduro Guide service a call. We all know Mille Lacs has been tough, but this guy continues to work his butt off for clients and put big fish in the boat when no one else seems to even be seeing fish. He is probably your best shot at a true 40lb - 50 lb fish. |
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Posts: 101
| We actually ended up going out with Greg Thomas. What a trip!!!!! I had never fished with a guide before but plan on fishing with Greg again next year. The conditions wern't very good as it was a warm day. We managed a 44" around 9:00 a.m and had a couple other rips before lunch. Greg was a wealth of information and an awesome guy to fish with. Once the sun set we had another rip on a sucker and missed him. We figured after 11 hours and one fish in the boat it was a good day. We started heading in and Greg asked how we felt about staying out after dark. Needless to say we were all over it!!!! We went back out and boated a 46", 49.5" and a 50.75"!! Him wanting to go back out after a long day really says alot. Super hard working guide that I would highly recommend to anyone!!!! |
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| We just wrapped up a two day trip with Jerry Sondag of Headshaker guide service. We spent the last two days with him. He is the most dialed in guide in the area he fishes. In two 10 hour days, we hooked 8 fish including a 50.25, 52.5, and a 53.5. He knows more about musky fishing and fishing in general than any guide I have ever fished with, and I have hired many of these guides from around MN and down south. He is a great teacher and a great guy. Hire this guy if you want to catch fish. Period. |
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| Glad you had a great trip.
If you guys are into 50 inchers... You may want to hire John Hoyer.
November new moon on Vermillion would be an incredible time to jump in his boat for a real chance at a 40lber. He really understands the Vermillion seasonal patterns.
As far as the metro goes, I would refuse to hire anyone else. There is no one more dialed into Minnetonka than Hoyer. I have fished with him on numerous occasions and he has yet to disappoint.
www.skiepatrol.com |
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | Fall muskie fishing guides:
Luke Ronnestrand on Vermilion
Jason Hamernick on Mille Lacs
John Hoyer in the Metro |
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looking for some MN guide advice?!?!!?