|
|
Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Why/when/ how do you fish the inside weed edge? Please include seasonal patterns, weather conditions, water temps/changes, lure presentation, ect.
I’ve never been one to specifically target this, but have always thought about it. I think I’ll give it a try this season and am hoping to shorten the learning curve.
Thanks,
Dave |
|
| |
|
| Why: because it’s hard to fish the middle of the weeds without snagging up a lot. (Not so much different than fishing the outside edge.)
When: during the daylight hours, as they’re pretty difficult to find at night, and snagging's even worse.
How: cast lure into water…retrieve lure back to boat.
Beyond these basics, anything goes. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I fish the inside edge of cabbage weed areas allot. On Wabigoon, if the water temps are below 62 degrees in early season, I find the edges to hold some very big pike and muskies. Even during a warm period, I always check them, and the middle of the weeds (better known as slop) and fish both carefully. On Moen, I fish the edges in the early season until water temps reach over 70 degrees. I find as many nice Muskies in2' on the inside edge as I do in 3' on the outside edge. Violent Strike Spinnerbaits rule for me. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Dave,
The PMTT Championship in October on Bemidji 2 years ago was won by Thomas and Groucho by fishing an inside weed edge in 1-2 fow, after a cold front moved in. I'm not sure but I think they caught a 52-53 incher on a topwater or Dawg ( go to PMTT results for 2008 season).....Most of the teams were fishing the outer edge and only a few were on the inside edge, others caught fish on the inside also...
I personally have cought fish on the inside also in the fall when temps were48-52*.... On prop baits, in 1-2 fow.
You live in the Cities, and should know that this is a good tatic,... and you must love those milfoil pockets..... My 2$
Maybe we can share a boat this summer.
Jerome |
|
| |
|
| I always fished the inside edge or slop on high pressure both anglers and boat traffic...such as the fox chain of lakes. It could be middle of a warm sunny day and they were there...It can be tedious, but the strikes are savage and my average size fish was pretty good in these areas...BR |
|
| |
|
Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | I fish up ridiculously shallow all year ,and have caught fish in 42 degree water 2' deep. I felt like last year the muskies were there all year except for around early October, which we seemed to do better on the outer edge, but then in November back up tight. I realize this is not typical, but for the shallow ,stained water I love to fish , It has worked extremely well. Like Steve said spinnerbaits are killer. For me it was shallow mag dawgs. The bait comes back with weeds 90% of the time ,but if you stick with it the reward is some really nice muskies. Once they are hooked it's hard to keep them out of the weeds, but in the shallow water they don't seem to get the crazy leverage and jump out of the water to spit the lure. Average size was around 40-42, with a few pigs 49+.
Brad |
|
| |
|
| it's surprising how many people don't fish that shallow zone. inside edge/shallow sand has potential all year round in the metro but i really start focusing on it in september when the water temps hit 70 on the way down and fish move up en masse. look for a good edge with clean sand up shallower. i like to drive right over the milfoil when i can and throw up to the shoreline, retreiving back over the sand and inside edge, or run the edge and fire a cast in front of the boat every few times. make sure you cover the whole shallow sandy zone if possible. some spots on tonka have some shallow cabbage growing on sand inside the milfoil edge, these are good spots.
use your gps and save some trails, there were alot of nights last summer where fish seemed to slide up way shallow in the middle of the night after being active on the deeper edges earlier in the evening. topwaters and blades, nothing fancy, just cover water. you'll figure out the best stretches easily enough. don't forget to figure 8 in the dark.
weather conditions aren't so much a factor as water temps IMO. if you're in oakdale you don't have to travel too far to find some good shallow water action. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Top H2O - 2/8/2010 10:28 PM
Dave,
The PMTT Championship in October on Bemidji 2 years ago was won by Thomas and Groucho by fishing an inside weed edge in 1-2 fow, after a cold front moved in. You live in the Cities, and should know that this is a good tatic,... and you must love those milfoil pockets..... My 2$
Maybe we can share a boat this summer.
Jerome
Thanks for the info
I always check the old tournament results for lure vs time of year. No better way to do it. 100+ guys fishing the same lake trying different tactics. What more could you ask for?
BTW, G-Rome, I have never fished the metro. My dad is retired and I let him use my boat whenever he wants. He lives near Brainerd, so I keep it up there. I have to drive up on the weekends. It actually was originally his at first, but the payments were too much for a guy on a fixed income. I used his old boat for years growing up, and figured it was time to pay him back. So i just bought it for him.
I'd love to hit the water with you this summer. My little boat is only good for the 3000 acres or less lakes tho.. She's little 17' 30HP. Give me PM when you have an empty seat/open weekend.
Edited by dtaijo174 2/9/2010 5:19 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I almost always start shallow and then work out if the fish aren't there. Sometimes shallow is the inside edge, sometimes its near the docks and sometimes its right up next to shore. We have caught some nice fish so close to shore that there was barely enough water to cover their backs. And then a couple hours later the fish are on the outside edge or in open water. Go figure.
On my favorite lake, the fish tend to be shallow in lower light periods, but not always. Sometimes they are on the deep edge early and then move in later in the morning. And sometimes they stay in shallow or out deep all day. I really don't know why either. Sometimes Muskies are about as easy to figure out as members of the opposite sex (like your wife). It can be almost impossible so its best to just accept it and adjust as best you can. 
All I can understand is what they do. Trying to figure out why makes my head hurt.
Good day. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | first day of a cold front when everything starts to slow down. get into the slop with spinners and rip baby depth raiders ... it's a solid strategy. i remember a particular day fishing with my buddy andy grimm having a doozy of a day playin that game
Edited by jonnysled 2/12/2010 1:37 PM
|
|
| |
