Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | In the general Bemidji area, patterns/tactics will definitely have to be modified at least a little. There is little to no optimism that any of our lakes will be open by the 11th, and cross your fingers for the 18th. With a June 1st opener, muskies here will absolutely still be spawning when the season opens. There has been virtually no real movement of walleyes or suckers in the rivers yet in the area (maybe in the last day or two, but not before that). The MN DNR is doing a muskie assessment on Bemidji this year, and they anticipate trapping until at least June 1st.
There will be exceptionally low weed growth, the heavy snow cover killed it off real good this winter and there is still some snow on the lake in spots. The deteriorating ice is not good for light penetration, so weed patterns will definitely be hurt early on. Open water trolling will be a full month and possibly longer as the spawners move out there for recovery. Bites will likely come either super shallow or over open water. Personally I don't mind a late spring, I caught my biggest fish ever on opening day during a late spring in 2010. When the weeds do pop, I expect them to virtually come out of nowhere. Finding the best early growth will be important. The only other thing I look forward to is possibly keeping overall temps down enough this summer to have a good peak but not hot enough to have to shut down fishing.
FINALLY grabbed the boat out of storage today! Would normally have brought her home at least a month ago! |
Posts: 246
Location: Grand Marais, MN | what is the general consensus on targeting muskies in the spawn like we might get this year in minnesota around june 1? reason I ask is cause the lakes we fish are stocked but they do have some natural reproduction, and second, This will only be the third season I've been around for opener, so I really just have no idea on whether its good to leave them alone till they are finished.
Thanks for the input
pat |
