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Posts: 93
| Now, I know that people will argue with me about this, but in my experience, these ar my 10 favorite. Feel free to come up with your own list, and I encourage it.
1. Lake Vermilion-MN.
2. Mille Lacs-MN.
3. St. Lawrence River-Ottawa River-Canada
4. Lake of The Woods-US/Canado
5. Lake St. Clair-MI
6. Lake Bemidji-MN
7. Eagle Lake-Canada
8. Lake Kinkaid-IL
9. Lake Minnetonka-MN
10. Green Bay-WI |
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Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | In no order, imo
Vermilion
Mille Lacs
LOTW
Eagle
GB
Leech
St Lawrence
Ottawa
St Louis
St Claire
Now how bout a list of the top ten that are 'under the radar'..hahaha
JS |
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Posts: 93
| Under the radar is an awesome idea! Why don't you list it Mr. Badfish. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Unfortunately since the birth of the internet not much is able to fly under the radar.
Edited by horsehunter 6/20/2011 7:02 AM
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Posts: 272
| Stupid but related question.....has someone or some entity actually "officially" ranked muskie lakes? There's been a classified ad in the back of Musky Hunter for several years boasting a rental cabin on Webster...... the #3 best musky lake in the country. Going from memory here, don't have the ad in front of me, don't get the mag anymore.
-Eric |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I guess the question "best" can be interpreted in different ways depending on who is answering the question...Although it wouldn't be my first choice to go trophy hunting by any means, in my world the best place to fish a lake with near perfect factors such as size of the water, structure, numbers of fish, and contained amount of pressure is Lake of The Woods. Mille Lacs and Vermilion probably have some of, if not THE best trophy potential in our neck of the upper midwest but saying they are better then LOTW is quite a reach imo...
Edited by Musky Brian 6/20/2011 11:16 AM
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| There are some Canadian waters with world record potential but no one is going to mention them. |
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| I like many of the lakes listed on your list, but I think your list becomes a joke when you include an Illinois lake (Kinkaid). Give me a break. It shouldn't make the top 500. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Geneva, IL | 1. Lake X
2. Lake X
3. Lake X
4. Lake X
5. Lake X
6. Lake X
7. Lake X
8. Lake X
9. Lake X
10. Lake X
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Posts: 93
| Rick Becker - 6/20/2011 2:03 PM
I like many of the lakes listed on your list, but I think your list becomes a joke when you include an Illinois lake (Kinkaid). Give me a break. It shouldn't make the top 500.
I know, but I'm from Chicago and had to include one of our lakes. We can replace it with Lake Plantagenet. |
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Location: Des Moines IA | I would put Lac Seul way before any IL lake. I had a couple MONSTERS eatin' walleyes in half faster than I could reel them in before I even knew what a muskie was. |
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Posts: 3160
| catch wise or size wise ?????????
catch wise
1, buckhorn lake MN
2,lake Independence,MN
3 Big Lake,MN
4 Deer Lake,wis
5,Lake webster,Ind never been there=Repiutation
6-White Bear lake, MN-maybe were stocking tooo many fish in there
7-Waconia,,MN
8-Forrest lake,MN
9-Okobodji IA,,never been there but they say per hr highest catch rate in midwest
10-Lake Gervais-'tigers' MN
AVG SIZE/ LUNKERS
1.Mile Lacs,,MN
2 St Lawrance River
3,Georgian Bay
4,Lac Seul
5,Vermilion
6,Green Bay
7 Lake Bemidji
8 Whitefish Bay
9 Eagle Lake
10 Cass
Edited by happy hooker 6/20/2011 3:46 PM
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Guest - 6/20/2011 11:32 AM
There are some Canadian waters with world record potential but no one is going to mention them.
this...there's definetely several NW Ontario lakes that have what it takes and are not mentioned in these discussions, either by lack of visits from the Musky world or intentional silence |
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Posts: 93
| Yea, like Long Legged Lake( Stork Lake ). |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | We average a fish on Okoboji every 14.5 hours over a seasons course.... This year we are averaging one about every 45 hours so far... Based on fishing roughly 40 hours a week every week of season.... Numbers are misleading since you may get 3-5 fish in a couple days then nothing for a couple weeks again.... |
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| My favorites (in order)
1. Rowan Lake, Ontario
2. Osbourne Bay (Eagle Lake, Ontario)
3. Winnipeg River, Minaki (haven't spent a lot of time there but looks promising)
4. LOTW
5-10 Still to be determined....
"Jackpot" John SchroederFo |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | There are many Central ontario lakes on the Georgian bay side that scream new world record. All the delta systems in these area (where Ken OBrien's Ontario record fish came from in '88). Since Georgian bay is a gigantic place, I would list several delta systems off of the bay in the top 10 world record potential spots. But with the populations of Walleye almost extinct due to drag fishing, the potential might not be there any longer.
http://www.musky.ca/ontario-record-muskie-ontario-record-musky.htm
No specific order, but I think the next Wold Record is coming from one of these... Not trying to be Ontario Bias, but going by the potentials that have been could the last few years
LOTW
Lac Seul, Ontario
Eagle Lake, Ontario
French River/ Nipp-issing Ontario
Moon River Delta Ontario
Gananoque (1000 islands), Ontario/ NY state
Edited by HomeTime 6/21/2011 11:49 AM
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | I suppose when you refer to best muskie waters you are not just talking world record potential though. |
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Posts: 437
| 10 Favorites for what? Catching numbers? Size of fish? Scenery? How crowded they are?
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Location: Hayward ,Wisconsin | From the lakes listed, you must be talking world record waters ? I like 8 out of your 10 that you listed but failed to mention Lac Suel and the Chippewa Flowage. |
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Posts: 541
| I think he is just listing his own personal favorites and asking others to post there's |
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Posts: 335
Location: Minnesota | leech lake strain - 6/21/2011 9:14 PM I think he is just listing his own personal favorites and asking others to post there's
OR - listing some lake names that he read on the internet and thinks they must be awesome based on what he has read. Or possibly the only lakes he has ever actually visited.
My top ten list would include Vermillion, Mille Lacs, Green Bay, and 7 other lakes in Canada. Any list that isn't Canada heavy is questionable in my opinion. |
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Posts: 93
| Yes, I am listing my personal favorites, and I've fished some of them, and some friends have fished the others. This is just my opinion, and I encourage everyone to list some of theirs. That's the point of this. I'm not looking to be the one who thinks he knows everything because I don't, and this list could be changed. I want to see yours. You say 7 Canadian lakes should be on the list. Which lakes are those? |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | For me it would be pretty much any Muskie lake I can find time to fish.
I wouldn't rule out Leech lake. We fished it a couple weeks ago and had the big fish going. Lots of action and my 11 year old daughter almost had a +50 at boatside. Never thought her eyes could get so big. 
Lots of good lakes in MN, WI, and Canada. Even Iowa has good Muskie fishing these days. |
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Posts: 2076
| We do? My list of Top 100 lakes would not include one from Iowa
Edited by IAJustin 6/22/2011 4:33 PM
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Mud Lake
Bass lake
Pine Lake
Lost Lake
There need not be any others. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Justin,
I agree that Iowa probably doesn't have Muskie fishing on the par with the Big V or Mille Lacs, but you have to agree that it is getting better. And if you live near the Iowa lakes, they sure are worth a try. Probably better than playing golf in the corn fields.
Keep in mind that the season does start in Iowa before MN and a few lakes in Iowa are open year around. I have driven down to Iowa in late April for a little early season fishing. That is more than a month before the MN Muskie season opens and about two months before the Canadian season. So, at that time of year, I would say Iowa has some of the best lakes in the upper midwest. Granted, we didn't catch anything big, but we were fishing.
Just my opinion, but I think think the Iowa DNR has done a pretty good job with what they have to work with.
Herb |
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Posts: 2076
| Not saying you cant catch them in IA - I catch 30+ muskie every year from IA. But this thread is about the BEST waters.....I can go catch walleyes and Bass every day of the year too in IA....But there is not a lake in IA that would be Top 100 for either of those species either. I have easily 10x the amount of hrs on IA lakes vs MN & Canada.....yet of the 23 fish 48" + I have ever caught 4 are from IA .......not mention the scenery (or lack there of)
Edited by IAJustin 6/23/2011 1:18 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | the question is so relative..."best" lakes for what? size? action? avg size? etc etc....you ask best in the title but then list your 10 "favorite"....favorites may or may not be best?
I have fished about 60 lakes with musky in them to date from IL, IA, IN, WI, MN, MO, MN, and Canada...fortunate enough to have spent some time on some most would consider in the top 25 ....
listing your 10 best might not be what someone else thinks is best...some say a lake like Eagle lake Ontario...
it wouldn't make my personal top 10...I have others I like to fish more, have just as big of fish, and are easier to catch...
I also fish some 200 acre potholes that might be in my top 10 for other reasons besides size...
so the list is so subjective and based on opinion...
oh but i love that Pleasant Creek Justin! teehehehheee
Edited by BNelson 6/23/2011 1:29 PM
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Posts: 785
| I agree with Justin, we have decent enough lakes but nothing great. I think Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky have some nicer musky lakes than IA's... and none of their's would make my top 100 either. I do see what your saying though. |
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Posts: 93
| Well said Brad. It is all relative, and maybe I should have phrased it, "MY TOP 10 MUSKY WATERS". I was tempted to put the St Louis River, and ten other bodies of water up.
I haven't fished 60 lakes like you have, but it would be great to hear some stories from you, and I'm sure you have plenty. Go to the new facebook page, "Adventures In Musky Fishing". I think it was sent to you already, but if not, the url is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventures-in-Musky-Fishing/228929550...
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Posts: 2076
| BNelson - 6/23/2011 1:27 PM
the question is so relative..."best" lakes for what? size? action? avg size? etc etc....you ask best in the title but then list your 10 "favorite"....favorites may or may not be best?
I have fished about 60 lakes with musky in them to date from IL, IA, IN, WI, MN, MO, MN, and Canada...oh but i love that Pleasant Creek Justin! teehehehheee
Where is PC in the 60 you have fished? Top 10? |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I checked my records to see how many lakes I have fished...I count 73, more then I expected but makes sense because I'm a little adventurous and love trying out new water..all of these lakes are from Illinois, Wi, MN, and NW Ontario..many of these are/were "under the radar"
I can't really rate them because there's too many factors in play..some take longer to get to then others, some provide tons of action but few big ones, some provide trophies but horrible action, etc...
But as a basic summary of my experiences..
Biggest Fish I have ever caught - Mianki, Ontario
Biggest Fish I have ever seen - Vermilion
Best Week of action - Small NW Ontario Lake system that rarely gets fished
Best week of action/size ratio I ever had - Eagle
Most overrated in my opinion - Vermilion ( by far number one on this list), Wabigoon, Eagle , Chippewa Flowage ( Eagle makes my favorite list and most overrated...because that makes so much sense ha)
I simply can't group together Canada, Wi, and MN lakes..
I have 3 Northern WI Favorites all apread out, 3 MN favorites all spread out, and I think I enjoyed Lac Seul more then any Candian water I have been on ( and I have been on quite a few) |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | of the waters i've fished thus far in my lifetime
1. Eagle
2. the one Cal won't let me mention
3. Wisconsin River
4. Kentuck
5. Mille Lacs
6. Plantangenet
7. Lake Tomahawk
8. Trout Lake
9. the private one i learned from a friend
10. Long Lake
on the short list of places i plan to go
1. St. Lawrence - Montreal guided
2. St. Claire to spend some time with Jeff in my old boat
3. Green Bay cuz it will be close to where i spend a lot of work-time
4. Eagle ... why go anywhere else?? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | PC...luv it! ha...I might have to count like Brian did.. in any case..PC might be my least favorite!! ; )))) I have to chuckle at Eagle being overrated... I've only spent 10 days there but from others that go I'd have to say it is right up there in the overrated category.. 
got me thinking of all the lakes...fun to look back on
Edited by BNelson 6/23/2011 5:28 PM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
Edited by Musky Brian 6/23/2011 5:47 PM
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Musky Brian - 6/23/2011 5:46 PM
I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
boat control under difficult conditions makes Eagle my all-time favorite because it does sort people out and challenges your skills at a high level. sure you get some of those days where it all comes your way on calm water, but usually you have to really work hard to score there which is why i love that place ... over time it becomes addicting in kind of a mental mind over matter ... control in chaos kind of stuff. i've had times when it really gets rocking and a boat partner looks at you like you're crazy wondering if you really plan on casting at that in those conditions ... while you're just going to start fishing another spot on eagle ... lol, albeit while you're getting p!ss-pounded by the angry seas. |
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Posts: 171
| Kinkaid......probably out fishes those Ontario lakes in, say, March? We had fun on the Cave in March, too. I'm enjoying the thread, fellers. Keep it going!
ErieBoy75 |
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | jonnysled - 6/23/2011 5:58 PM
Musky Brian - 6/23/2011 5:46 PM
I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
boat control under difficult conditions makes Eagle my all-time favorite because it does sort people out and challenges your skills at a high level. sure you get some of those days where it all comes your way on calm water, but usually you have to really work hard to score there which is why i love that place ... over time it becomes addicting in kind of a mental mind over matter ... control in chaos kind of stuff. i've had times when it really gets rocking and a boat partner looks at you like you're crazy wondering if you really plan on casting at that in those conditions ... while you're just going to start fishing another spot on eagle ... lol, albeit while you're getting p!ss-pounded by the angry seas.
ever ran into one of those guys yet Jon who sits in the lodge with a beer at night and tells you all of their old LOTW battle tales while crying how Eagle sucks? I agree, at times the men are separated from the boys on Eagle. If you can consistently catch fish on Eagle you will generally do well on every other lake you run across in Canada. I find a good week on Eagle more rewarding then any other lake I have fished up there...but I certainly have my moments when I want to pull my hair out and put the boat on the trailer too. Let the insanity continue in September |
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Posts: 5195
| I have to agree with brian vermillion way overated.Two fish registered on day two at pmtt about 90 boats brutal.I have fished there three times and have not had one strike follow follow follow.WEbster a few years ago boat one to two if you did not see 25 fish a day something was wrong.Shelbyville seen tons of fish have many mutiple days one five fish daydie off hurt shelby.massive cold front there 100 boats 49 fish registered unbelieveable..Madison chain 8 fish day from 3 to 9 alot of fish there.Leeech awesome size numbers has it all.st louis very nice.chip flowage super fat fish they will bite also.cave run great about 7 to ten years ago not the same right now.cass lake not to shabby either.pike bvay has some scary fish.to each his own i guess. b ramit |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | 0723 - 6/23/2011 3:41 PM
I have to agree with brian vermillion way overated.Two fish registered on day two at pmtt about 90 boats brutal.I have fished there three times and have not had one strike follow follow follow.WEbster a few years ago boat one to two if you did not see 25 fish a day something was wrong.Shelbyville seen tons of fish have many mutiple days one five fish daydie off hurt shelby.massive cold front there 100 boats 49 fish registered unbelieveable..Madison chain 8 fish day from 3 to 9 alot of fish there.Leeech awesome size numbers has it all.st louis very nice.chip flowage super fat fish they will bite also.cave run great about 7 to ten years ago not the same right now.cass lake not to shabby either.pike bvay has some scary fish.to each his own i guess. b ramit
Wow,
I had trouble reading that.
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Musky Brian - 6/24/2011 1:28 AM
ever ran into one of those guys yet Jon who sits in the lodge with a beer at night and tells you all of their old LOTW battle tales while crying how Eagle sucks? :)
:0) ... that's funny, and accurate. |
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Posts: 56
| LSC is by far the greatest musky lake for numbers and size just not the big heavies!! It isn't as beautiful but numbers don't lie!!! |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | IAJustin - 6/23/2011 1:16 PM
I have easily 10x the amount of hrs on IA lakes vs MN & Canada.....yet of the 23 fish 48" + I have ever caught 4 are from IA .......
)
We have at least that number or better of 48"+ just from Iowa waters including 6 over 50 in the past 3-4 years.... All off 2 lakes.... |
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Posts: 50
| In no specific order
1. Lac Seul
2. Eagle Lake, Ontario
3. Lake of the Woods (Whitefish Bay Included)
4. St. Lawrence
5. Georgian Bay
6. Lake Vermillion
7. Mille Lacs
8. Smaller water system near Sioux Narrows which I won't mention
9. Lake Nippeeing
10. Lake St Clair
Number 8 on the list I have fished several times. I have seen one of the biggest fish I have ever seen on this lake, I have seen four fish come off the same spot (all landed) in under an hour. One day I saw 25 follows, and three different times I saw two fish follow the same cast. I saw seven fish off the same shore line. This is a small like and the boat launch is on a native reserve.
Ps. If anyone wants to try and guess the name of this lake PM me and I will let you know
Ravigne
Edited by ravigne 7/4/2011 4:45 PM
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Posts: 1023
| alright ravine - how much money do I need to send to your paypal account to get the name of that lake:) |
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Posts: 618
Location: Michigan | Not a very pretty lake to fish, but lake St. Clair is just amazing. Don't know of any other popular lakes where a person can catch 45 fish trolling in one day or 15+ fish casting in one day. That being said I would still rather fish Eagle and a couple other lakes around there. |
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| Haha, trade me a few lures |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | 45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
Edited by Top H2O 7/4/2011 8:47 PM
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Posts: 618
Location: Michigan | Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
No, definitely true. The charter boats out there catch them like crazy. I think it was on opening day and the boat went 45 for 60 or something ridiculous like that. Definitely not uncommon for the trolling boats to catch 20+ fish a day. |
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Posts: 184
| I can tell you Chautauqua deserves a lot more respect than what you guys give it. How can Lake Webster (a tiny little lake) rank higher than Chautauqua? You guys are funny! For #'s its all about LSC and I will argue with anyone that Chautauqua is the best east of LSC- bar none! Most over rated- Cave Run!
Edited by zach2626 7/4/2011 10:28 PM
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | jasonvkop - 7/4/2011 10:11 PM
Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
No, definitely true. The charter boats out there catch them like crazy. I think it was on opening day and the boat went 45 for 60 or something ridiculous like that. Definitely not uncommon for the trolling boats to catch 20+ fish a day.
Nope, Jason was just having fun. St. Clair is one of the most difficult lakes to fish. Especially trolling. Put down the beer, Jason. Muskies in St Clair is like a needle in a haystack. |
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| Cave Run Lake, Ky....Hardly ever fished for Musky and rarely trolled. It is stocked every year. |
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Posts: 112
Location: Nielsen's Fly-In Lodge, on Rowan Lake | Step out side the box grab your gear and your buddy get on a float plane in Nestor Falls Ont. And see how Canadian muskies act with NO pressure just being what they are preditors and you'll say why haven't i done this before just check it out.Or maby on the old BUCKET LIST Thanks |
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Posts: 79
| I have to agree with zach. Chautauqua does not get the credit it deserves. Its an awesome numbers lake, but also has a fair amount of real slobs. If I'm not mistaken, the pmtt set some records there a few years ago. Its a real shame they haven't come back! |
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Location: Detroit River | Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
That's no bull. Opening day 2010 several boats caught 40 to 62 musky that day trolling on LSC. Most were small but still an awesome day to catch numbers like that.
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| 1. Lake Skegemog, MI
2. Lake Bellaire, MI
3. Torch Lake, MI
4. Elk lake, MI
5. World Record East Bay Lake Michigan! |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I like the little 200-300 acre puddles... |
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Posts: 122
| Herb_b - 6/22/2011 4:13 PM
For me it would be pretty much any Muskie lake I can find time to fish.
I wouldn't rule out Leech lake. We fished it a couple weeks ago and had the big fish going. Lots of action and my 11 year old daughter almost had a +50 at boatside. Never thought her eyes could get so big.
Lots of good lakes in MN, WI, and Canada. Even Iowa has good Muskie fishing these days.
What lakes in Iowa I have a good friend that recently moved there from minnesota... poor guy loves muskies keeps having to drive six hours back to us... what do you recommend there? |
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Posts: 173
| If you had asked me this 10 years ago, Pelican Lake in northern Wisconsin would have made it from a numbers perspective. Chippewa Flowage is one of the most overrated lakes I have ever spent time on in my life. |
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Posts: 20266
Location: oswego, il | 1) lee kay
2)jake wolf hatchery holding tanks
3)jake wolf hatchery truck tanks(hard to troll but can do)
4)minnesota fish farm
5)upper oconomowoc spillway
6)lake wingra spillway
7)pre season eagle lake
8)ice out st claire
9)spring lake fyke nets
10)trilby lake and banana lake tie for 10th |
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Posts: 378
Location: Michigan | Now Brock why would you highlight those lake? Probably some of the highest hour per fish lakes anywhere... The payoff can be good, but who has the stamina to fish 40 hours plus per fish? And a trophy? May take a season or a lifetime. |
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Location: Michigan | ToddM,
Where can you fish on LSC at ice out? |
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Posts: 182
| IAJustin - 6/22/2011 4:30 PM
We do? My list of Top 100 lakes would not include one from Iowa
Deer hunting Iowa is #1. Muskies? Not so much. |
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Posts: 50
Location: Hobart, Indiana | Out of the ones I've caught fish would be (in no order):
1. Lake St. Clair
2. Cass Lake
3. Lake Bemidji
4. Lake Webster
5. Lake Vermillion
6.-10. HAVE NO IDEA! |
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| Are all the people that are voting going by what other people have said or you actually fish these water?
Since I've fished probably every trophy waters in Canada Ill put up my list. If you don't put Georgian bay on top you have never fished it.
1- Georgian bay
2- St Lawrence River
and the rest are not even close
You want Numbers with a possibility of a descent fish will put St Clair at number
10- St Clair
You can say what you want fish the top two the come back, and put your opinion up. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Mr know it all has weighed in everyone. Don't bother with your opinion. But he must not have fished the Ottawa River. |
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Posts: 93
| What about Lake of The Woods, Long Legged Lake, Eagle, and many others to name a few. He may have caught a giant on Georgian Bay, but how many fish did he actually catch? I don't judge a lake or river as "great" if one i caught one big giant, but consistency. For example, I caught 30 fish on St. Clair last year, including two 51's. There was always action, and in my opinion, the best I've ever fished.
I know everyone has a different experience and opinion, which makes this discussion so cool. This has also given me some ideas of possible destinations to fish. I really want to fish the St Lawrence, but only with a guide who knows the area. Thanks for all the great answers! |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | The best musky water depends on where you are in the game for a newbe it would be a numbers lake and some never get past the numbers stage. For others that have played the game for a while and are looking for that ONE fish there are places that are considered the Yankee Stadium of musky fishing and they prepared to fish all season and if they only caught that ONE fish they would be happy campers and consider the season a success. Don't go to the stadium looking for base hits HOPE for a Grand Slam |
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | Depends on your outlook. I have fished many muskie lakes that produce great numbers of fish. For my money, Id take Georgian Bay and the privacy of its waters over any lake with traffic. Its like a fly in experience without taking the plane. Until you have experienced it, its hard to compare. Maybe the numbers aren't there regularly, but fishing for 2-3 months a year with no other people around is pretty sweet. |
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Posts: 371
Location: Dixon, IL | I pick Georgian Bay for world record musky!
Top ten.... forget it! I fish any lake that have good number of muskies from spring to summer and few but monster in fall! Maybe river during winter! |
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Posts: 93
| I wouldn't turn down trip to Georgian Bay for a whole week. |
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | As an add on to the favourite lake conversation. Favourite 10 things to do in a day of fishing in the fall
1. Wake up at 6 am, coffee with a big splash of Bailey's, get the cobwebs out
2.Prepare food and bevvies for morning fish, boat and rods
3.Catch fish in sweater weather
4.Breakfast,caesars,marinate steaks for dinner
5.More fishing...
6.Back to cabin for a refreshment grilled sausages and burgers
7. Prepare for evening fish( Excitement time !! )
8.Tell lots of stories and pray
9. More prayers
10. Back to cabin for steaks, red wine, refreshments a warm fire, and wait til the morning to start all over again |
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| *nip issing |
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | All I remember about Nip pi ssing is a thousand boats stacked up outside the sewage plant catching walleye. Yuch
French River is awesome
Edited by Tim R 7/4/2013 10:15 AM
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | "1. Wake up at 6 am, coffee with a big splash of Bailey's, get the cobwebs out
2.Prepare food and bevvies for morning fish, boat and rods
3.Catch fish in sweater weather
4.Breakfast,caesars,marinate steaks for dinner
5.More fishing...
6.Back to cabin for a refreshment grilled sausages and burgers
7. Prepare for evening fish( Excitement time !! )
8.Tell lots of stories and pray
9. More prayers
10. Back to cabin for steaks, red wine, refreshments a warm fire, and wait til the morning to start all over again."
I want to fish with TimR!
Staying on topic the best waters for me are within the State
1.) Fellows
2.) Pomme de Terre
3.) Hazel Creek
The best water I had fished out of State.
1.) Cass
2.) Niagara River/St. Larry
3.) Leech Lake
Can't comment on any others as I had never fished them but if I did I'm sure many would be in my top 10.
Ron
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | Cmon up Ron...My cabin sleeps 17, so bring some friends !! Funny thing is, you're from Kansas City and I run BBQ restaurants here in Canada. |
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Wow,
BBQ, Canada and Muskies...That's like a dream!
I wish I could Tim that would be awesome. I could even come up with MuskieBob but he is cutting back on the calories he tells me and I would hate to lead him into temptation like that.
Ron |
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| CrappieKid - 6/20/2011 2:09 PM
1. Lake X
2. Lake X
3. Lake X
4. Lake X
5. Lake X
6. Lake X
7. Lake X
8. Lake X
9. Lake X
10. Lake X
Always somebody trying to get on here and pretend they know something. Obviously 1-3, as anybody could name them and many already have, but then we get to 4. Lake X, and I have to call BS, cause obviously you don't know what you are talking about, and again at 7. Lake X, another choice that defies reason. Go back to school kid, and study up on the great musky lakes.
Also, if this list had been written in December, the Utah DNR brood stock pond would have to be WAAAAY up there. Not so great any more........but.....just sayin.. |
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| Strictly depends where you're fishing. There's one place on Iowa that blows away any lake in USA. When you can catch 3-9 Muskie a day, everyday, the brushy creek has my vote. |
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | You mean Brushy Creek spillway, right? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | IOWA:
Come for the pig farms, stay for the muskies. |
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Posts: 174
Location: Ontario | Too funny !! |
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Posts: 415
| jjondal - 7/12/2013 10:01 AM
There's one place on Iowa that blows away any lake in USA. When you can catch 3-9 Muskie a day, everyday, the brushy creek has my vote.
Ha. Even if that were true posting that on a the internet is probably not the smartest thing in the world. |
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Posts: 93
| I've seen some big piggies come out of Iowa, and it looks like it's becoming a great muskie fishery. |
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| 1) believe it or not Mississippi River northern mn
2)Mille acs
3)leech
4)forest
Rest to be fished |
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Location: Minocqua, WI | Pointerpride102 - 6/22/2011 5:37 PM
Mud Lake
Bass lake
Pine Lake
Lost Lake
There need not be any others.
You forgot Long... also Banana |
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Posts: 37
Location: Freedom, WI | as someone said above, you've got to include the chippewa flowage |
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Posts: 173
| Chip in the top 20 is a travesty. Numbers, average size ,pressure,big fish or scenery are not even close to make a Top 10 List. |
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Posts: 173
| Chippewa Flowage is quite possibly the most overrated musky water in the world... |
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Posts: 87
| 1) St Lawrence - giants (includes 1000 island area all the way and including the ottawa)
2) Georgian Bay - giants
4) St Claire (includes the rivers on both sides!) - numbers and giants
5) Vermillion - numbers and giants
6) Greenbay - giants
7) LOTW - numbers and giants
8) Mille Lacs - numbers and giants
9) Niagra river - Crazy numbers, few giants but the chance at a hog. Fun fishing too!
10) Big Vermillion lake (Hudson ontario) (no pressure and huge fish, but dangerous to run a lot of non marked reefs!) Giants
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | thewal2 - 8/21/2013 8:26 AM
1) St Lawrence - giants (includes 1000 island area all the way and including the ottawa)
2) Georgian Bay - giants
4) St Claire (includes the rivers on both sides!) - numbers and giants
5) Vermillion - numbers and giants
6) Greenbay - giants
7) LOTW - numbers and giants
8) Mille Lacs - numbers and giants
9) Niagra river - Crazy numbers, few giants but the chance at a hog. Fun fishing too!
10) Big Vermillion lake (Hudson ontario) (no pressure and huge fish, but dangerous to run a lot of non marked reefs!) Giants
Vermilion has numbers? are we talking sunfish, pike, walleyes..? |
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Posts: 87
| Musky Brian - 8/21/2013 11:32 AM
Vermilion has numbers? are we talking sunfish, pike, walleyes..?
I have had good action on the lake.
earlier this month I had a trip with Matt Snyder where we had 13 fish eat baits in 2.5 days, had action from over 13 fish each day. We lost 2 over 50 that ate in the 8, boated 1 over 50 in the 8, had 2 48s in the net one on the 8, and caught 8 total in 3 days. I had 8 50s to the boat myself including 2 fish in the mid 50s on different spots and had 2 50s eat. We had hooks in 13 in 2.5 days and my uncle blew at least 5 fish in the 8 that Im pretty sure would have eaten if he didn't make too small of turns! Those are numbers id say! If they arent Id hate to see numbers. (Webster in 2006 had better numbers but an average size of 36 inches) Amazing trip, but I have had other good trips to the lake.
2 years ago I went on a non guided trip there for 3 days and between 2 guys we boated 8.
Those are my last two 3 day trips to the lake. So I would call it numbers because I have had better than one fish a day average on the lake since I first went there in 2008. I will say that just like any lake there are a lot of bad days I'm sure, I just have had good luck. This is musky fishing anyway, but at least they are in the lake! So numbers! |
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Posts: 173
| Vermilion's problem isn't a lack of numbers, it's the fact that for whatever reason, that lake seems to have intense and narrow feeding windows. You can be fishing the "right" spots all day and unless you're on a good one during the right times, you get nothing. |
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10 Best North American Musky Waters