|
|
Posts: 238
| You and some friends are planning to go to Canada to fish muskies in the Nestor Falls area (Sabaskong Bay, Crow Lake, Whitefish, etc). You're trip will last 1 week. You are interested in casting for muskies and are hoping to contact numbers of fish including many fish above 45 inches. In your experience, when (month and week) is the best time to go? And what experiences have you had to backup your suggestion?
Thx for your suggestions.
D2Bucktail
Here are some observations from my limited experience:
Fished the (Sabaskong) opener (June 15-22) once and experienced very high and cold water with little weed growth. We did contact some fish including 1 pushing 50", but it seemed like we may have been there just post spawn and contacted mostly smaller fish.
Fished Mid-late July (July 18-23) once (Sabaskong) and experienced extremely hot, glass calm conditions. Contacted 51 fish (4 guys) included several large ones - only caught 8. We boated 5 of those muskies to 47" on the same shoreline one evening.
Fished Whitefish the week before Labor Day (Aug 28-Sep 4). Contacted several VERY large fish to 54" (the one that got away!) but came away fishless that week. Still an unbelievable experience.
When would you plan a trip? |
|
| |
|
| Whenever you can!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have fished that area in early July, late August, late September and early October, and had great trips at all times of the year. Some of the best fishing I have had in that area was in early july, closely followed by the August trips I took. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 336
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | We put up some pretty good numbers of fish at the MuskieFirst outing up there from Aug. 28th-Sept 4th. It was only my first time up there, so I dont know if that is the norm, but there were plenty of fish caught with 1 over 50 and a handful in the high 40's. There were other fish over 50 seen, with a good chance to stick one of them....until someone happened to foul up the weagle(choke):( Hope that helps a bit.
Lazer |
|
| |
|
| I say stick with july,,,Bloom comes big time in Aug on sabaskong,,,Also you get the most maximum time,,,alot more daylight hours to fish |
|
| |
|
| July is usually best for going to Canada but high pressure, late August is low pressure, September and October are prime if you can get up there then. I always head up in November too, but that's me!  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2089
| Around Labor Day.Several years past were the foundation and this year was the kicker.Our milk run was all fish over 45", and not enough hours in the day to hit 'em all.There are no fish around Nestor Falls!Go West!Monument Bay, Oak Island, The Angle.No fish East, just ask 'em!Send me a PM if you'd like some specifics. Steve |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | we have hit herbies place at andy myers lodge on labor day week for the past 5 yrs. next year will be our 6th. we have had the best fishing of my life during that week, and also the worst!! so its kinda a crapshoot. this year was a strange year up there for sure. couple things we like about that time of year is that there are no bugs!! and also alot less people around because school has started and most people are done with vacations. ive talked with a few people who i consider eagle lake experts (if there is such a thing) and asked them if they had one week a year to pick to go and had to do it a year in advance, they both told me early sept!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2024
| Interestingly I've heard that early Sept. on LOTW can be outstanding. This comes from a guy who's fished it for 40+ years. We're hopefully going to hit the topwater bite during mid-July (Sabaskong) and the transition period where the fish move from their weed haunts to the rock structures. The bloom won't be an issue that time of year. Last year we went the week after the opener and caught a fair number, but no real size. Saw some upper 40s and one pushing 50 but that's it. Every other year we've gone last week of July-early August. Bloom usually hits by then. Two years ago we caught five in two weeks (48" so I can't complain) and had action from lots others (not to mention the 35lb. giant that I lost... brings tears to my eyes every time I think about her). So in a way, it's a crap shoot. Try picking a time that coincides with a good lunar phase. There are plenty of places on LOTW that you can fish away from crowds. I will say that in my opinion Nestor Falls gets a lot of pressure. Try some of the lodges a little further west. Red Wing Lodge is in a good central location. I think Tammarack (the one Laura Morrison and Ty Sennet stay at) near the Basil Channel is in EXCELLENT territory. You could go a whole day out there and not see a boat. Good luck! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | If you are going to LOTW July is awesome. Early July you could still hit some cold water, this year was a great example of that. The next two weeks are probably the busiest two on LOTW. Word is out that this is a good time to fish and people hit it hard. I have been going the last week of July, less pressure, but a good chance you will see some bloom.
I won't change my July trip to LOTW for anything, but each week has its +'s & -'s. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 544
Location: Alsip, Il | One suggestion be nice when crossing the border. Just yes sir or yes maam etc., in my experience don't joke around or you maybe there for a couple of hours. Al |
|
| |
