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Posts: 89
| Friends have invited me to go up for a Thursday-Monday in late June. Will have a couple buddies I would like to help hit their first fish. Older threads had a consensus that the lake was speared to the point it wasn't worth fishing? Is that still the general feeling? Also are they dinks? should I just leave the real Muskie size stuff home and bring bass stuff?
Thanks! |
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| There are still 6 fish in there. |
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| gundog870 - 4/17/2013 4:05 PM
There are still 6 fish in there.
Nice! 
Never fished it. But the more people who tell me it's fished out, the more I want to try it just to see if they're right or if they're just pulling my leg because they are hiding something... |
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Posts: 78
| I will tell you the truth. There are definitely still fish in Bone, BUT is about a 1/3 of the fishery it once was. I have fished it for years, along with Deer lake up the road, and they are not what they used to be. These lakes were GREAT lakes with many fish and some big ones in the mix. To go out and catch 2-5 fish a day was very common. Not anywhere near as good as it was but still has fish. I would definitely bring some bass gear as there are some real nice ones in there and good numbers along with good pike. |
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Location: Red Wing, Minnesota | Toro - 4/17/2013 7:50 PM
I will tell you the truth. There are definitely still fish in Bone, BUT is about a 1/3 of the fishery it once was. I have fished it for years, along with Deer lake up the road, and they are not what they used to be. These lakes were GREAT lakes with many fish and some big ones in the mix. To go out and catch 2-5 fish a day was very common. Not anywhere near as good as it was but still has fish. I would definitely bring some bass gear as there are some real nice ones in there and good numbers along with good pike.
Toro has given a good assessment. Go fish them both. |
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Posts: 580
| Back in the '90's and early 00's, Bone and nearby Deer had abnormally high densities of muskies. This was mostly due to very aggressive stocking by the WDNR in the 80's and early '90's. Due to high densities, the size distribution left a bit to be desired. Yes, 2-5 fish days were possible, but fish >45" were few and far between. Most fish were 32-38". I used to fish these lakes an awful lot.
I haven't been on Bone in the last few years, but if it is now 1/3 of what it once was, it would now resemble a more typical Muskie lake (.3-.4 adult fish/acre as opposed to 1.0 adult fish/acre as it was in the '90's) as opposed to an abnormally high density lake. |
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Location: Hudson, WI | Matt DeVos - 4/17/2013 10:05 PM
Back in the '90's and early 00's, Bone and nearby Deer had abnormally high densities of muskies. This was mostly due to very aggressive stocking by the WDNR in the 80's and early '90's. Due to high densities, the size distribution left a bit to be desired. Yes, 2-5 fish days were possible, but fish >45" were few and far between. Most fish were 32-38". I used to fish these lakes an awful lot.
I haven't been on Bone in the last few years, but if it is now 1/3 of what it once was, it would now resemble a more typical Muskie lake (.3-.4 adult fish/acre as opposed to 1.0 adult fish/acre as it was in the '90's) as opposed to an abnormally high density lake.
Not exactly, Matt. The DNR backed the stocking off quite a bit in the early 2000's and raised it to a 50" limit. '05-'08 were phenomenal...best size structure ever out there and it was more like a .5 per acre density. It was then the spearing bonanza happened, so I wouldn't count on any density like that.
That said, sounds like there are still fish out there, just mostly small. Glifwc and the DNR did a two year survey and there hasn't been any spearing since. Should get good again in a few years. |
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| Moltisanti - 4/17/2013 10:17 PM
Matt DeVos - 4/17/2013 10:05 PM
Back in the '90's and early 00's, Bone and nearby Deer had abnormally high densities of muskies. This was mostly due to very aggressive stocking by the WDNR in the 80's and early '90's. Due to high densities, the size distribution left a bit to be desired. Yes, 2-5 fish days were possible, but fish >45" were few and far between. Most fish were 32-38". I used to fish these lakes an awful lot.
I haven't been on Bone in the last few years, but if it is now 1/3 of what it once was, it would now resemble a more typical Muskie lake (.3-.4 adult fish/acre as opposed to 1.0 adult fish/acre as it was in the '90's) as opposed to an abnormally high density lake.
Not exactly, Matt. The DNR backed the stocking off quite a bit in the early 2000's and raised it to a 50" limit. '05-'08 were phenomenal...best size structure ever out there and it was more like a .5 per acre density. It was then the spearing bonanza happened, so I wouldn't count on any density like that.
That said, sounds like there are still fish out there, just mostly small. Glifwc and the DNR did a two year survey and there hasn't been any spearing since. Should get good again in a few years.
Good info. Like I said, it's been a few years since I've fished either Bone or Deer. But in the late 90's especially, both lakes were overloaded and stocking had to be cut back. If memory serves, there is some good info on the WDNR website from '05 or so about both lakes and the conclusion from the studies showed that the lakes were very healthy. But that was obviously before the spearing took place.
(My comment about the current densities was just in relation to Toro's comment that the lake is 1/3rd of its former self...which from a historical perspective would still mean .3 or so fish/acre...which is fairly normal for a decent muskie lake).
Edited by Matt DeVos 4/17/2013 10:48 PM
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Moltisanti, a month ago you were posting for info on bone lake. Did you even you even read that eight year old study? Another expert conceived? Actually go to Polk county and stop in a bait shop. And ask the questions your 're answering now. Gotta love the interweb.
. When was the two year study and when was it spearing stopped?sorry to come across brash. Sitting up last night with a foot in a cast watching bombings,poisonings,and explosions does something to a guy. Everything's a speculation. The days multiple fish in Polk county a fewer and far between. The shot a good one is better then ever. Last year's Indianhead tourney a 48 1/2" didn't even place or take big fish.
Edited by jchiggins 4/18/2013 8:07 AM
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Posts: 89
| Thanks for all the info guys! I've been going to MN for the passed 5 years (vermilion or the pond) and We are switching it up. This will be my first trip to Wisconsin, and then I'm doing Lac Suel/English river in august. I hope to get a couple of my buddies hooked up on bone and hooked on the big green fish fix!
Thanks! |
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Posts: 639
Location: Hudson, WI | When did I post for info on Bone?
The two year study done in 05/06 had the density at .55 fish/acre, which was before the spearing started. My response was to Matt in that the density had already decreased by almost half from the .98 fish per acre it was in '95. I'm not claiming to be the expert...I'm basing it off of this.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/reports/polkbonelakemusky...
The next two year study was 2011/2012, and I have never found those concrete numbers.
Both of the big ones in the Indianhead were on Deer, which is a different lake. |
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Location: Hudson, WI | Long TIme Lurker - 4/18/2013 10:04 AM
Thanks for all the info guys! I've been going to MN for the passed 5 years (vermilion or the pond) and We are switching it up. This will be my first trip to Wisconsin, and then I'm doing Lac Suel/English river in august. I hope to get a couple of my buddies hooked up on bone and hooked on the big green fish fix!
Thanks!
You will really enjoy Bone. Lots of great looking structure and cabbage everywhere. Good luck! |
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Moltisanti - 4/18/2013 10:13 AM
When did I post for info on Bone?
The two year study done in 05/06 had the density at .55 fish/acre, which was before the spearing started. My response was to Matt in that the density had already decreased by almost half from the .98 fish per acre it was in '95. I'm not claiming to be the expert...I'm basing it off of this.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/reports/polkbonelakemusky...
The next two year study ws 2011/2012, and I have never found those concrete numbers.
Both of the big ones in the Indianhead were on Deer, which is a different lake.  , a 49" was caught on deer next two big fish were caught on bone. Sincerely Jason Higgins cpt. Team# 67 |
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Location: Hudson, WI | jchiggins - 4/18/2013 10:33 AM
Moltisanti - 4/18/2013 10:13 AM
When did I post for info on Bone?
The two year study done in 05/06 had the density at .55 fish/acre, which was before the spearing started. My response was to Matt in that the density had already decreased by almost half from the .98 fish per acre it was in '95. I'm not claiming to be the expert...I'm basing it off of this.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/reports/polkbonelakemusky...
The next two year study ws 2011/2012, and I have never found those concrete numbers.
Both of the big ones in the Indianhead were on Deer, which is a different lake. on 3/11 you asked for info on where to find creel reports on bone. I've never been able to find info on the last survey either. Yes , a 49" was caught on deer next two big fish were caught on bone. Sincerely Jason Higgins cpt. Team# 67
Yeah...the 2011/2012 were the one's I was after and could never find them. What are you trying to prove here? |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Just trying to keep things real. Pm me and we can chat |
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Location: New Richmond, WI | I have the latest creel count. It is sad and for the first time it does say that size has decreased. They have never stopped stocking and spearing has not decreased. As with any lake you have to fish it to see what it has in it.
I enjoy fishing the lake in tournaments and the people that live on the lake. I usually catch at least a couple over 45" each year. There are nice fish on this lake but not many anymore. It was a lake I would take beginners to because it would guarantee action when we went out.
When I talked to the people on the lake this year a new opinion has come up. They are frustrated with the spearing on this lake and are thinking "why not get rid of the 50 inch limit because right now all we are is a fishery for the tribe. They are the only ones that can take a fish out of here". My first thought is well that would make it even worse but can you blame them. This is the only lake in I know of in Wisconsin that residents went out on the lake and kept count of how many fish were speared over a winter.
As to the original writer of this post. The bass population is unreal on this lake. They have stocked smallmouth for the last 4 years and they are in the 14-15 inch range. I would go out with bass lures with a leader and see what happens. The bass tournament guys will tell you how many times they have been bitten off.
Mark |
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Location: New Richmond, WI | Document too large. PM me with e-mail address if you want copy of the creel study.
Edited by longhunter 6/3/2013 4:03 PM
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