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| Jump to page : 1 2 Now viewing page 2 [30 messages per page] Muskie Fishing -> Fishing Reports and Destinations -> LOTW or Eagle Lake |
BNelson |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Cory, not sure how I give you "slack"... ...I have been to Eagle and would love to go back...I get "the experience" of Eagle...I miss the Lac Seul trips we use to do and can still picture most of the scenery like it was yesterday..very beautiful, very peaceful no doubt... if we all had unlimited cash and time we'd go to Eagle, Lac Seul, LOTW, Minny all for a week or 2 a year..but we all have choices...I choose to go where I know I can see and catch monsters...with piles of mid to upper 40s mixed in to boot...I'd love to join you on Eagle one of these years but your week happens to fall on the week I like to hit MN... as for the question Krezy poses above, if you want the best opportunity for quality and numbers I don't think one can argue against LOTW....Eagle is not a place for numbers.....it's not apples to apples...very much apples to oranges...that being said I have tentative plans for a LOTW trip this year and I expect 4 or more per day to hit the net..  Edited by BNelson 12/28/2010 9:05 AM | ||
| Rick |
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Thanks guys for all the replies, between the jabs there has been some very good answers in your responses. I know each lake is different from what I gather eagle has clearer water and no bloom which does get thick and a little annoying on lotw. A better chance at a beast on eagle but typically lower numbers than lotw (subject to weather of course)  We have had some big fish(over 50") encounters on lotw but usually only one or two fish a week but lots of mid upper 40s. I have fished minnesota a couple times leech and area and cass and the pressure really turned me off. Quality and serenity of the scenery mean a lot to our group and canada offers that better than minn. I have some family that has moved up to the twin cities area and Im excited to possibily get a chance at some of the metro lakes some day. I'll put another twist on the question we have been going up there last week of july or beginning of august. What are your favorite times to go to the shield. Note: Im a farmer so usually in the field end of september to november... Rick | |||
| firstsixfeet |
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Krezy - 12/27/2010 6:06 PM Sounds like the topic has turned into a case of "Lunge Rage"......I think the most pertinent question is ....if you had 1 week and have "fished" both waters including LOTW's ;sab bay ,whitefish and kenora area (I've not tackled the Angle yet) which one offers the best opportunity for quality and numbers on a consistent basis. Forget the occasional great days and the "golden ticket" fish. In response to the "Einstein" who thinks my guide was bad on Eagle. FYI the guy has put 10 over 50" in his boat this year including a 57" beast ! I'm sensing it's going to be a long winter for some pounder tossers !!! Interesting thread to somebody who has contemplated a trip to both lakes and never been, but I am going to have to agree with Brian "Einstein", if that is the best a guide can do for the first week of October, and he was not in contact with decent northerns either, you needed another guide. Of course, there is the chance it wasn't the guide... | |||
| momuskies |
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| Musky Brian |
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Posts: 1767 Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Well I don't blame you for getting chippy with me...I would be in a pretty foul mood too if I hired a guide in Canada and SAW 2 Muskies in 7 days...Maybe I shouldn't have pointed out the obvious, but fact remains your results are really a poor representation of Eagle. As I am sure quite a few on this board can attest to, if you had 7 days guided with one of AML's guides the chances of seeing two fish or less in a week are about as good as the chances of it being 85 and sunny tomorrow. Although if the guide was as good as you say he is maybe other factors were in play...maybe the guy in the boat with him perhaps? Anyways....As far as the question of when is the best time to go..I personally prefer anyime in the August 1 - September 8th timeframe. It gives you a chance to avoid the effects of a late cold spring, and you are still able to fish weeds but rock fishing becomes more of a priority ( which I prefer) YOu can generally expect stable weather most of the time as well... Edited by Musky Brian 12/28/2010 1:48 PM | ||
| esoxaddict |
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Posts: 8792 | |||
| jonnysled |
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Posts: 13688 Location: minocqua, wi. | |||
| esoxaddict |
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Posts: 8792 | jonnysled - 12/28/2010 6:13 PM not seeing more than 2 fish in a week, not being able to catch fish that come in ... i'm visualizing an animated message delivered by the coach around the pool-table LMAO!!! "A lotta guys talk about the figure 8... If you're not doing figure 8's after EVERY CAST, you're missing fish. 'Ya GOTTA do a figure 8 after EVERY CAST! "ya get tired and you're not payin' attention, and THAT'S when you lose fish! And when you do your figure 8's, 'ya gotta make WIDE turns, NICE WIDE TURNS! We get a lotta guys in camp doing figure 8's like this: *swish swish* A big fish just can't turn like that, you'll NEVER catch 'em like that!! All you're doin' is takin' that lure away from the fish. Do a big wide oval if that's what 'ya gotta do, or make a NICE WIDE figure 8! Make sure your hooks are sharp, CHECK your lines, and CHECK your leaders!! These fish will tax ANY equipment, know what I'm sayin'?? If your hooks aren't sharp, or your leaders are kinked, you snaps are bad, if your gear isn't up to par, and you're doing turns like this *swish swish* you're wastin' your %&$*'in time. You may as well just go home and go bass fishin'! 'Ya know what I'm sayin?!!" Granted, I owe my 3 biggest fish to that pep talk, and Herbie is absolutely right. But the first time you hear that speech? Yeah, last year my girlfriend looked at me afterwards and said "I'm not ready for this s---. I wanna go home!!"  "Honey, just do what the f--- he said, and you'll be fine. We talked about this. I made you practice, remember? Just do what the f--- he said...." That poor woman, LOL! Edited by esoxaddict 12/28/2010 7:30 PM | ||
| MuskieMike |
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Location: Des Moines IA | |||
| C.Painter |
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Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | First, I don't know how many discussions we had Brad about "why don't you go to MN instead, you will catch more bigger fish than on eagle"...but I digress....some day we will attack eagle together....Lord knows you have the MN fish dialed in. Which month is best?? I have fish eagle first week in july, mid aug, first of sept, and mid oct. Been in the boat for big fish each of those time periods, either mine or my boat partners. Mid aug like Brian said, is nice, they are on the reefs, main lake...and seem to be a little more predictable (netted 2 50 inch plus fish in one day in Aug) . Early July is awesome as the bucktail bite and the weed bite REALLY kicks in...weather has a bigger flux range here though then aug(Got two 52 inchers early July plus others big fish). First part of September can be absolutely magical. We do our muskies inc outing every year at this time. The cooling of the water draws not only the structure orientated big fish shallow but also draws those supsended slobs into the shallows as well. I have seen some absolute giants (upper 50 inch class) this time of year. I have been on eagle this time of year more than any other time of year....less people...big fish....me likes. Now, weather plays a big part this time of year as well...so can be a crap shoot. I have had some very tough years in september...lot of moving variables. But also had multiple big fish trips for me and others in our group this time of year as well, so you take the good with the bad....I will be back again this year...let me know if you want to join us October....crap shoot. Only was on there once in Oct. We had a great trip, but was my first trip to eagle as well. We lost some VERY big fish that trip and caught some nice ones....but weather is HUGE that time of year. Risk reward thing. A friend of mine that taught me a lot about eagle finally went to fish LOTW a couple years ago. When I asked him to describe it compared to eagle here is what he said: "LOTW I will say is like grade school. If it looks good, likely it will hold fish and more than likely if you know what you are doing you will catch fish. Its pretty straight forward and pretty easy to fish. Eagle, is like college. Everything looks good....but not everything holds fish...have to really put all the pieces of the puzzle together for sucess." To me....putting the puzzle together and then scoring....is that much more rewarding for me... LOTW vs EAGLE....is what you are looking for...where you get your satisfaction...both great fisheries in their own right and reasons. PS...oh...and figure 8 is king on Eagle....end of story....with that said...almost all my big fish on eagle have eaten out yes I am lucky.... Lost some nice ones though in the 8...and caught a LOT of fish in the 8. I have seen MANY guys blow big fish because their boat side mechanics are not 100%....97% wont put that fish in the boat....pefect or nothing....Ask Matt Devos he will tell you...one LITTLE mess up and its over...right Matt Cory Edited by C.Painter 12/28/2010 10:01 PM | ||
| Rick |
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| ravigne |
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| C.Painter |
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Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | From a weather standpoint on eagle, I have boated and been in the boat for big fish on darn near every weather situation that I can think of...and when I thought conditions WOULDN'T be good. noonish...FLAT calm high skies etc. to the other end of the spectrum of HIGH winds, MONSTER waves and rain. If I had a choice though, I would always like a little wind | ||
| BWaldera |
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| I have never been on Eagle but I have spent quite a few days on LOTW, and I have also fished Lac Suel and the Winnepeg River and have caught muskies on all of them. I have always thought "muskies are muskies" regardless of where they swim... but after reading this forum if I go to Eagle I will be sure to pack the "Kryptonite". BWaldera | |||
| Musky Brian |
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Posts: 1767 Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | "LOTW I will say is like grade school. If it looks good, likely it will hold fish and more than likely if you know what you are doing you will catch fish. Its pretty straight forward and pretty easy to fish. Eagle, is like college. Everything looks good....but not everything holds fish...have to really put all the pieces of the puzzle together for sucess." ----I don't know who said that Cory but that couldn't be any more spot on, My first 3-4 days on Eagle were beyond frustrating as I tried to fish it like LOTW...General rule on Eagle ..." if it looks fishy, it probably isn't " | ||
| Matt DeVos |
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| Thanks for bringing up some bad memories Cory! J/K I've been fishing LOTW since the late '90's. We've had some success over the years. I absolutely love the place. It's not just because of excellent muskie fishing....quite a bit deeper than that. Like Dick P says in his video, it's almost a spiritual experience. I also spent a week on Eagle with Cory....quickly realized that Eagle is a bit of a different ball game....(also realized that Cory is a hell of a good fisherman at boatside!). I always considered myself to be decent/above-average at boatside. No expert by any means, but I've caught a lot of fish on the 8 including big fish and including fish that had to be triggered with something more than typical maneuvering. Let's just say that Eagle Lake humbled me quite a bit in that regard. What I learned in my week was that any misstep, even slight, can spell the difference between success and failure. Especially true in the gin clear waters of the West Arm. You really have to be on your "A game" at all times....fish (big fish!) will show up when you don't expect and you had better be prepared. I think that's probably true of most muskies on most lakes, but nowhere is it more true than on Eagle. From the other comments above, the other thing that I've found true on LOTW is the "if it looks fishy, it probably is" theory. It's always amazed me how great spots and how many muskies LOTW holds. We've developed a pretty darn good milkrun over the years, but still find new A+ quality spots every year...spots that have multiple-fish-holding potential, usually within easy eyesight of another tremendous A+ type spot. Opportunities are really endless. On the one hand, it makes things seem awfully easy at times. On the other hand, it can seem like a curse when fish aren't moving, requiring some thinking and adaptability when it comes to pattern developing....the other way it's a curse is that you can easily get into a rut, fishing the same spots over and over and thinking that you are fishing the primest of water, when in reality there's another, better spot nearby if only you take the time to explore it and fish it under prime conditions....but if you take too much time to explore during prime conditions, you'll probably be wasting time on some spots that are duds. It can be a bit of a mind game to find that right balance....either way, it's a lot of fun. In the end, I wish I had the time to go to Canada twice every year. I'd be spending a week on both lakes. | |||
| Skinner |
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| J |
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| Brad should give you a little slack Cory. He's put you on a couple 54 plus in Minnesota hasn't he? | |||
| itmusky |
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| KSauers |
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| Don Pursch |
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| IAJustin |
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| what kind of boat do you guide out of Don? .if I hire you for a week can I run the trolling motor? | |||
| Don Pursch |
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