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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | My wife surprised me by saying she would like us to take a musky trip this summer. I've been doing some research, trying to figure out where to go. It would probably be a 4-5 day, long weekend trip.
For a few reasons, Canada probably isn't an option for THIS year. I live in NW Wisconsin, and was thinking somewhere in MN would be a good bet.
I am looking for advice on good lake options, and maybe lodging too. I have kind of ruled out Mille Lacs. As much as I would like to catch a real monster, I think having at least a little action would be better for having my wife along.
My first thought was to head to Vermillion. Sounds like you can have a good shot at BIG fish with the chance to still see and catch several. However, I have heard a few reports from guys that have gone and faced brutally tough, slow fishing. I realize it's musky fishing and that can happen anywhere...
Any other options? A good source said I should check out the Leech Lake/Walker area. I also like the sounds of Plantagenet, maybe Cass (but I heard it can be a rough area for trucks being broke into), Mantrap, etc.
We don't need to fish in the sticks in the middle of nowhere, but good scenery would be nice. It would also be nice to stay ON a lake somewhere, and would also be nice for the place to have a kitchen/stove so we could do our own cooking. Money is kind of an issue, so nothing fancy. Would like to keep the nightly stay as close to $100 as possible...
Lots of questions, I know. Basically looking for a lake, or area, where I will be able to find a spot to fish in an Alumacraft Navigator 165, that has a decent population of fish with good size potential.
Thoughts?
Any help would be very appreciated.
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 2/15/2011 12:40 PM
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| I know you ruled out Canada but, the NWAngle LOTW would be good spot. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks guest! That was a question I forgot to include. It may be a little farther drive (not a huge concern), but what about the MN side of LOTW? There must still be a lot of good water to fish there, and we could save a couple hundred bucks on passports this year. |
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Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | I would have to say Vermillion and Spring Bay Resort |
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Posts: 366
| You can't get to the Angle by truck without going through Canada, so you'd still need passports. You can get a passport card instead of a full passport that is cheaper, but is only good for going through the borders by land (no flying). I don't know how much cheaper they are, but google it if you want to know the details. Also, the vast majority of muskie fishing is on the Ontario side of the boarder, which isn't to say that you couldn't go up and catch fish in Minnesota, but I sure wouldn't drive up there just to fish MN waters. It is Lake of the Woods!
Mantrap is a beautiful little lake with pretty good numbers and is easy to figure out for a first time trip. With all the shoreline if fishes much bigger than it actually is. But, it doesn't have the quantity of really big fish that the other area lakes do, but depending on what you're after you may be plenty satisfied. It gets a fair amount of traffic. The resorts aren't cheap, but the campground is really nice, but you'd have to pull the boat everynight as there is no docking associated with it. Not a big deal, as the ramp is great and there is enough parking to handle it. Very clear water.
Cass and the connecting Lakes are fine if you are staying at a resort. Many of them accept campers if you look around. Using the public boat launches is not advised. There are more islands and neck downs to get in and around to protect yourself from the wind in a smaller boat. Good size and numbers, but the lake is big so pick an area and stick to it.
Leech is certainly another possiblity, but even more so than Cass wind and weather have a lot more control over your trip depending on what you mind taking you boat in and how much the wife can handle being out in it. Big water, big fish. Not easy to go there cold the first time and put it all together, but the potential is there.
Plantanganette is much more managable in wind and weather, and is fairly simple structure wise. In a weekend you'll fish the same spots multiple times. Much easier to figure out your first weekend than say a random shot on Leech or Cass. Good for both numbers and big fish. I don't have clue about lodging or camping there, as our lake house is only a half hour away, but I think there are a couple options. Most of last summer the public launch was closed and under construction. Not sure if it is done yet, but I believe it is supposed to be done by this spring.
Bemidji has a good population of truly big fish, and numbers. Boat traffic can get pretty intense on the weekends for the area, but not unmanageable. I think there are some fairly cheap motels on or near the water, but I don't know about campgrounds. It is basically a north/south running oval, so the wind can get rolling on it as well.
There are a few others, but it really comes down to what you want out of the weekend. All of these lakes can be unbelievable when they are on, and difficult to say the least when they aren't. I had my first follow and my wife caught her first muskie, about 16 years apart, on Mantrap, so it is a special little lake for me. It is always an enjoyable lake to fish, even they aren't going. Bemidji, in my opinion, has a very high average size from what I've seen. I definitely plan to spend more time on it than any of the others in the coming years.
Ryan |
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Posts: 183
Location: Grand Forks ND | I would head to Mantrap or Vermilion. |
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Posts: 349
| I'd go to Lake X  |
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Posts: 171
Location: indiana | you could go to sabaskong on lotw and would be closer than nw angle. go to nestor falls and launch. several resorts and also some hotels right on water. helliars resort rents by the night i believe. right on some good water and that end of sabaskong is smaller and narrower than out west farther. lots of fish and a good chance at fifty in three or four days. pm me if you decide that way and will help with spots. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Spring Bay.. Lake Vermilion.
Lots of good spots to fish with out going to far from camp..... The people at SB will take good care of you....... Oh do 6 or 7 days or you'll be sorry.
Jerome |
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Posts: 171
Location: indiana | just looked at google earth to make sure i knew what i was talking about. you might have a six to seven hour drive to nestor falls. looks like the angle might be 2 to 3 hours farther? |
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Posts: 425
| Spring Bay Lake Vermilion...yep yep!! |
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Location: MN | I don't know if you fish smallies but Vermilion is also an excellent smallmouth lake. If your wife doesn't fish muskies or often takes breaks, you can always have her tossing something smaller for smallies.
Edited by Mak51 2/15/2011 8:03 PM
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| Hey Curleytail----Big V is a great choice---any time of the season. Musky fishing can be slow anywhere, at any time, but Vermilion has many other species to keep things going until the big fish start to chew again INCLUDING a booming population of Northern Pike. The walleye, bass, and panfishing is phenomenal there too and, as long as the weather doesn't screw things up too badly---the big skis will turn on sometime within your trip, for sure. Big bucktails, cranks, plastics and GIANT topwaters are the soup du jour on BIG V. Lots of incredible weed/rock structure to work---and really easy to navigate even for first timers. Spring Bay or Vermilion Dam Lodge are both great choices in lodging. For a family trip-----Big V is WELL worth the $$. Good luck--Jobu |
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Posts: 281
Location: ROckford IL | I second Spring bay |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Medford, WI | Tucker...long time no see. Just thought I'd chime in amongst the others here after reading your post...
Spring Bay on Vermilion is a great place to stay, the people, location, etc. all make it worth going there. However, I noticed that it seemed you emphasized the $100 a night as money is tight. Spring Bay does have the RV option which is right at $100 a night; but if you go away from that, I believe the cheapest is about $160 a night going by daily rental fees. Still worth it but understood if you can't really afford that.
http://springbayresort.com/htmls/rates.html
Not sure the reasons for avoiding Canada...if it's simply cost or time driving, I would really rethink it. I would say it's only another two hours, if that. If other reasons and can't make it a possibility, then it's a different story. Red Deer Lodge is a great place to stay and location is great for summer muskies. Daily Rate is $110 or weekly is $700.
http://reddeerlodge.com/red_deer_lodge_rates.shtml
If you wanted to go even cheaper, Helliar's Resort is located just down the road from Red Deer and offers motel rooms for $50 and cottages for $560 a week.
http://helliars.com/image/tid/6
One other option would be to head to Northeast Wisconsin. Presque Isle is a great area and offers many lakes to fish. Definitely doesn't hold as good of a chance for catching your fish of a lifetime as the Big V or LOTW, but offers lots of chances at fish and a great outdoors experience. And the rates/accomodations are great - $89 / night on weekdays and $99/night on weekends...and that includes a full kitchen. There's cheaper options without the kitchen.
http://www.skyviewlodge.com/lodging.php
Just thought I'd give you some options. These are places that I've stayed at and would definitely recommend to other fishermen. Let me know where you end up deciding on going. I would also avoid Mille Lacs...not because of the fishing, but there isn't nearly the scenery there as in all of the other areas mentioned.
Good luck, Jake |
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| For what you want, I think Plantagenet is the best option. It's relatively small, I think 2,600 acres, and structure wise very simple (Dennis Lappen from Musky Innovations calls it "boring"). There is at least one resort on the lake where some friends from my MI chapter stay. Don't know the name off hand. I fished it last summer with Kevin Cochran and according to him it has the highest density of 48"+ fish in the area, but if you're after mega-size (55"+, 50lbs) fish, Bemidji is your better bet. Unfortunately when I had my trip there last year water temps were high (75-78 degrees) and fishing was pretty slow. It happens. I'm an alternate on my friends' trip there this summer.
That being said, I spend a week on Vermilion every year. If you are after a truly massive fish it's the best choice in the US. You will see lots of fish typically, but the vast majority have no interest in biting. It is definitely a high-pressure fishery. I would suggest learning a small area and fishing it thoroughly. If you stay at Spring Bay, Steve will set you up. He's really open with his information and will mark your map of the west end thoroughly. My first time up there I saw one that was at least 45lbs. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks for the replies so far everyone. Very helpful and a lot of info to research further. Part of the reason for ruling Canada out was cost. I wasn't aware of the passport card for around $50 - I thought they were over $100, which would have added $200 to the trip, PLUS extra gas money. Increased gas/driving distance is a factor but probably not enough to be a deciding factor. Our original plan was to take a MN trip for a few days this year and Canada next year for a full week.
I'm sure I'll have some followup questions for you guys when I get a little better idea of our plans. Thanks a lot everyone!
Oh yeah, Jake. I'd like to get over to the Vilas area sometime too, but that would likely be a cheaper camping weekend. Should be able to do that on fairly short notice and just head over there. You can bet I'll give you a heads up for some hot tips if I get over that direction!
Tucker
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Posts: 1060
Location: Medford, WI | Tucker, you know how to get a hold of me...I'd be glad to help you out with fishing, camping, and whatever other info you'd need.
Also, keep Canada in mind...it really is a different experience if you've never been there. I sit there and daydream about being up there in summer! Would definitely help you out with spots there as well.
-Jake |
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Posts: 2361
| Unfortunately unless you go LOW I don't think you are realistic to expect a chance at multiples with big fish in the mix. That place is really hard to find.
Lake V, beautiful, less heavily developed, lots of species available, and you and your wife will probably get to sightsee some very large fish. And if you night fish you will have a shot at some very large fish. GPS needed at night in the bigger basins, due to the islands. But...lake V is actually pretty easy to fish and know you are on fish. There are classic mid lake rock structures, mostly bouyed, and then bay mouth weed areas, occasional weed lines, and it isn't that tough to find some fish. But the catchin is tough. I saw 4-5 fish I felt were close or bigger than 30lbs in the week I fished up there, coming in cold, but none bit, two followed without much interest, and the other 3 were just swimming around. I actually caught 2 fish right at 40" and that was the only two muskies that grabbed a bait I'm sure about. There have been a number of outings to this lake where the average per fisherman catch for the week was substantially below ONE. Some of those fishermen obviously are newbies or on learning permits, but there are also some very good fisherman mixed in the group to balance things out. I consider myself a decent fisherman but two bites aint that far from a skunk.
I don't think that is a normal course in CA, many more fish and biters to my understanding.
Also NE WI has a lot to be said for it. If you lake hop, get some research done, and work at it, you will catch decent numbers but remote chance of 30+ lbs, but where are you in terms of experience? And where is your wife? NE WI has a lot of lake choices and usually some lake or lakes will be hot during a 1 week period. Question of what you want for the experience. |
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Posts: 785
| Tucker, if your still interested in some ideas for MN send me a PM. I think it's pretty cool your taking your wife up and don't mind pointing you in the right direction.
Andy |
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | An option might be Ojibway Resort on Pike Bay of Cass Lake. The resort is in the national forest; I think it's the only one on Pike Bay. Pike Bay is about 3000 acres, so you could just fish there your whole trip. Like the rest of Cass, the muskies can be great or fickle.
If you're considering Canada, Rainy Lake might fit the bill. It's incredibly scenic, closer than LOTW (maybe 40 minutes from International Falls), good muskie fishing in Red Gut and other areas, phenomenal walleye and pike fishing. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Been doing some reading and research. I am leaning towards heading to the Bemidji area and focusing on Lake Bemidji and Plantagenette, with the possibility of other lakes in the area. Does anybody have any comments on that, good or otherwise?
Looking into Clear Vu resort also. Any experience there?
Tucker |
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