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Posts: 253
Location: On the water | Planning a trip to Lake Kinkaid the end of February or beginning of March. Could use some information on areas of the lake to fish and popular baits. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks to all, Tom. |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Tom,
That time of year I would have at least one person BURNING a rattle trap in a bright color(firetiger and orange/black have been best for us) in SHALLOW(6 inches is not to shallow!) water at the back of coves and over mud flats adjacent to the creek channel. The other angler should be twitching something(Sub-walks, 6in jakes, killer eels and 7in suicks have all produced) that suspends or sinks SLOWLY. You will see the majority of the anglers fishing the 5 fingers area at that time of year...and there is a reason for that. The water in the lower part of the lake will be clearer and it will be like chocolate milk up north. However, there are fish all over this lake and some of them haven't had 1000 rattletraps wizzing past their heads for days on end. Oh yeah...if you have to break ice to get to open water-DO IT! |
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| How is the Muskie fishing on Lake Kincaid? Chances of a big fish?
I live near Mountain Home Arkansas and this would not be too far of a drive for me. My son lives in the Chicago area and he could meet me there.
Thanks, Bob |
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Posts: 228
| How is the Muskie fishing on Lake Kincaid? Chances of a big fish?
I live near Mountain Home Arkansas and this would not be too far of a drive for me. My son lives in the Chicago area and he could meet me there.
Forgot that I registered to this site and just reposted. Do not see an edit or delete button for posts as a guest. Is there a delete button for posts on here?
Thanks, Bob
Edited by bob1 3/6/2013 3:00 PM
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Posts: 2026
| Bob, I am in Little Rock if your son can't make it! |
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Posts: 228
| Jason, I will keep that in mind. Thanks
Have you fished Kinkaid before?
Edited by bob1 3/6/2013 7:07 PM
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Posts: 2026
| No, I don't own a boat and the marina there doesn't rent past 4 in the afternoon. I'm new to musky and have only fished in MN, where my mom still lives. I hear Kinkaid gets some pressure, but there are good numbers and the fish are growing. I'm working on the no boat situation and when I can work that out I will be going. |
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Location: Illinois | Kinkaid is a pretty good musky fishery, Bob. Lots of 35"-45" with a shot at a 50". Bright colors and baits with rattles seem to be most popular with anglers. |
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Posts: 228
| Thank you, I may give it a try sometime soon! |
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Posts: 228
| Does anyone know of a good place to stay at Lake Kinkaid?
Thanks, Bob |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Americas best value inn in murphysboro is a decent hotel that is set up for fisherman and cheap as well. There are also cabins on the lake available. |
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Posts: 91
| Stayed at American best twice and it is fairly close to the lake, clean and cheap. It's a fishermans motel with convenient parking and power to charge your boat batteries. Have fun |
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Posts: 228
| Thank you very much for the info guys! |
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Posts: 52
Location: NE Ohio | Would love to make the drive out and try it sometime , wonder how far it is from NE Ohio ?? |
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| they are always cooking something at americas best value inn. smells pretty good. i really wanna try some of whatever that is sometime! |
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Posts: 228
| Just wondering how the fall bite is and the best baits to use? Also, what depth would the Muskies be the end of Sept into October?
Thanks, Bob |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Maybe someone will spill their guts on baits, depth, and colors....not me. But late September until turnover in mid to late October is the most consistent bite of the year. 3-5 fish are common with twice that many possible on a weekday. Best way to experience this would be to hire chad cain, Colby Simms, or Scott Donovan. |
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| Super easy lake to fish in the fall historically and beautiful as well. I am sure you will do fine. BR |
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Posts: 427
| I would suggest looking at fishing one of the fall tourneys down there. I did it this spring and while I did not even ask anyone for pointers and had never been on the lake before I was still able to measure one fish and lost one at the boat. After the tourney we got talking and the guys from the shawnee club were very open with what they were doing, and where they were doing it at. They even showed me on the map exactly where they caught the big fish of the tourney and what they caught it on. I happen to know that they were honest because we were going by when they were having it witnessed. I think they also have a guide for a day in the fall to help raise money for the club, go to their site and check it out. |
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Posts: 228
| Thanks for the info! Will try it the end of September!
Bob |
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Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO | Bob:
For late September or October on Kinkaid you may want to try large spinnerbaits in white or orange, or possibly a Smoker Tackle "SS Shad" crankbait in some variation of a shad color. Both baits can be worked over the weed growth, or the spinnerbait can be dropped down deeper into pockets in the weeds. Please wait until the water temps drop below 80 degrees to ensure they survive the release. |
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Posts: 228
| I was told the same thing about water temps when I called for a cabin. 80 degrees. What date can I be assured that the water temps will be below 80 degrees? What depths would the Muskies be at in that time frame?
Thanks for your reply!
Bob
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Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO | Bob:
It depends on the fall, but most years I'd think by Sept 21 or so the temp should be safely below 80. |
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Posts: 228
| Thanks taxman! |
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | How good is the fishing on Kinkaid during December and January? |
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Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO | Dennis:
The bite in December and January is mostly a trolling bite. Look for big balls of shad out over open water in the dam arm, and the main channel all the way to Thompson Neck. In February, once the ice clears (if the lake ices over in January), the Rattletrap bite starts. Throw bass size (or larger) traps in shallow areas where the water has warmed - up in Johnson Creek if the water isn't too muddy, or down in the Paul Ice area. The average size of muskies caught in the February trap action tends to be lower than the rest of the year (lots of smaller males), but can be a lot more fun than sitting inside watching muskie videos. |
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Location: Waukesha, WI, USA | Thanks taxman |
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Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | Sunshine,
Put it this way...Matt (MuskyMatt) and I used to keep a broom in the truck to sweep the snow out of the boat so we could go out on the lake in December  Tazman hit the nail on the head....find the bait and hunker down. They'll still eat moving baits too. Don't get me wrong...it's not like the fall or spring but it sure beats sitting around indoors for three months. |
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Posts: 192
| I got this one trolling a Legend Plow on Sunday. I think we were the only ones fishing. Everyone else on the lake was hunting ducks or deer.
The only time I like to troll is this time of the year. My suggestion is to stay in deep water (30' to 60') and troll really slow.
I say use the largest lures you own, Plows, Hookers, Slammer Deep Minnows, 13" Believers for you deep lures and 13" Grandmas and 14" Jakes for your high lures. You'll get more bites with the big lures. You can use 3 rods per person at Kinkaid. Run one or two high lures and one or two deep ones depending on what you are seeing on the sonar.
For me this late fall trolling deal is usually 1 fish per day but I have had 3 fish days. I get skunked once in a while to but not often.
Most important, dress warm and be safe.
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Larry, nice fish. Wish I could come down over the Thanksgiving weekend but have to head up to Minneapolis for a couple of days. Stick a pig if you can make it down.
As for anyone else reading this thread.... Do what LarryO recommends!!!!!!!!!!!
Edited by AFChief 11/26/2013 5:07 PM
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Thanks for the tips LarryO...hoping to get one more trip in this year! |
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Posts: 49
| If you are looking for numbers of fish with a shot at a mid upper 40", Kinkaid is the place. If you're looking for legitimate year round day to day shots at 50" plus muskies especially during the winter, no place beats Tennessee. I grew up fishing Kinkaid, dad and I caught some nice ones from there including his 49.5" and hooked a couple fish that were probably legitimate 50s. Now from what I hear from VERY reliable sources it is not the place to go for big fish, and these sources are some of the few that still catch big fish from Kinkaid consistently. In fact they still come fish in Tennessee. Just giving my two cents... |
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Posts: 49
| But if size isn't a big thing for winter numbers Kinkaid is probably hands down one of the best bets. |
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Posts: 12
| Anyone have a copy of Al Nutty's "Kinkaid Lake: The 'Reel" Deal" they would like to sell? Or does anyone know where I could get a copy? |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Looks like you can get it here:
http://www.fishingthenorthcountry.com/index.php?route=product/produ...
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Posts: 12
| I thought so too but when I tried to checkout at that website it said the book was out of stock. I'm about to just give Al a call.... |
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Posts: 192
| Anyone been out on Kinkaid lately? The forecast says sunny and a high of 50 next Saturday, so I might give it a try. |
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Posts: 77
| Water temps were @ 37-39 on Sunday. Shad are suspended out over the main basin anywhere from 10' down to 50'. Good luck out there! |
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Posts: 427
| Have not been down there in the winter. Is it pretty much a trolling bite or do people still cast some?
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Posts: 192
| I troll this time of the year but others cast. A couple of years ago at the boat ramp I was taking my boat out of the water after a day of fishing. Chad Cain was also taking his out. He had just caught 3 fish casting and I had also caught 3 trolling. I'd guess that 7 out of 10 guys troll during the late fall / winter. |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Larry-
Just saw your post, and I was hoping to get out there this weekend but will be in the Chicago area visiting family. I may get out New Year's Day or next weekend. Fishing has been consistently good this late fall/ early winter. The last two trips have produced 4 hookups with 2 hitting the net for me and some friends. We caught 1 trolling but the rest were hooked casting. The bait has been in much less predictable locations so far this winter. However, once you "find" the bait there are acres upon acres of shad balls with many visible "hooks" surrounding and beneath the bait. The last time I was out it looked my by Humminbird was on demo mode. Good luck out there and let us know how you do. I will post if I get out in the next few weeks. Last year this time fishing was very good. |
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Posts: 192
| I trolled all day yesterday but no luck. No trouble finding bait or "hooks" on the sonar to fish around, just no takers. Water temp was 40/41. Water looked good around Miller Bay and towards the dam but at Cochran and beyond it was muddy with lots of floating weeds and limbs from the big rains last weekend. I didn't go up the no wake area but I'll bet it was really muddy up that way.
Jim B was out and had the whole Fam Damily in the boat but they didn't hook up either.
Lots of crappie fisherman out but they didn't seem to be catching either.
Edited by LarryO 12/29/2013 10:41 AM
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