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| Thinking about setting up a trip to LOTW next year in July. Already plan on staying near the Morson area and am looking at fishing west of Sabaskong Bay, Basil and Painted Rock Channel areas. Any tips or things to look for when going up there. I have the hydrographic maps and have already been pouring over them to try and get some ideas where to fish. Any help in narrowing the search is always appreciated. I will be taking my own boat up there and can handle the big water.
Thanks for your help.
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Posts: 3511
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Combinations of weed and rock will be areas to key in on. finding East-side west opening bays with weeds will be something to check as well...
Current areas, Rocky points, Larger reefs all can come in to play at this time of year. Having a bit of open water near by will increase the potential for large fish.
Lots of areas to try, and you can pick out many areas on the map, but until you are up there to fish them, it's hard to tell. everything can look "fishy" to begin with, so do your best not to let it intimidate you. Pick an area, and pick it apart.
Steve |
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Posts: 2024
| That's a tough question to answer. Pretty much all the spots up there produce well. However, it really depends on what the lake is doing come July. If it's been a cold spring and things are "lagging" you're probably going to find most of your fish in weedbeds, bays, or rock/weed combos. If May and June were consistently hot (relative term) then the fish will likely start transitioning out to mid-lake structure sooner, and you may find more fish using rocks. It also depends on lake levels. We have found that higher water levels will cause fish to hold in weeds longer than normal, and low levels push fish onto rocks more often then not.
It's good that you are starting to look at your map now. Look for broken rock symbols, look for bays next to those symbols. Try and find areas that combine a bunch of elements. You need to fish ALL types of cover/structure to figure out a pattern for your trip. That means fish mid-lake reefs, weedy bays, reed beds, rock/weed/reed spots, saddles, etc. until you find the most productive spots. Then, grab the map and find as many of the same spots as possible!!
Some really good water in the Basil/Painted Channels. Don't be afraid to go further west towards the entrance to Little Traverse Bay, especially if the fish seem to be using rock structure. |
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| Ive been looking for the Treasure Island in Basil Channel that I have seen referenced in some previous posts, I cannot find this on the maps.....any idea of where this is.
Thanks |
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Posts: 134
Location: (South of the 218) | The reason that black and silver combination baits work so well on LOTW is directly related to the size of the bears that swim the waters. Seriously.
One trip, one bait - I'm going with the Black and Silver Stump Hawg - but what do I know I'm just a beach bum.
out |
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Posts: 134
Location: (South of the 218) | And the reason why Black and Silver work so great on LOTW.....
(wheresthatbeargoing.jpg)
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Proof is in the pudding, as some are known to say. And I guess there's the proof. Black and silver it is on LOTW!!!
Aaron |
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Posts: 462
Location: Madison Wi. Chain | There are always numerous spots to fish and some really good looking areas. I would examine the map closely. Look for basins that are large and deep. Look closer and find the best neck down areas, islands and wind blown points and bays within that basin for the various wind directions. Find three to four basins near the area that is near your base camp. As you are fishing, share information with others in your group or at camp about where the fish are and what they are moving on. My experience suggests black and orange is a great color for the woods. Finally, have a lot of fun regardless of how many fish are caught. BG |
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Posts: 999
| I sure miss that pea green summer bloom!!!!!!!!!!!! Not!!
Mr Musky |
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Posts: 3511
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | The bloom moves around quite a bit, but that can be a factor at times... One day, a spot you fish can be just beutiful....the next day it can be filled in with bloom... That just requires you be mobile and fish good spots that are clear of the bloom...OR...you fish the bloom with baits that make a bunch of noise, or get below the bloom...
There are ways around that...
Steve |
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Posts: 999
| Well there's one Guarantee on Lotw Saby and that's a full blown bloom in the month of August!!! And half of September! No way around it unless you travel and that sucks!!! Been there and done that in October allready!! That's what keeps the pressure down though.
Mr Musky |
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Posts: 162
Location: East Troy, WI | so would the last full week of july 19-26th be a bad time to be in sabask. bay? |
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Posts: 2024
| Absolutely not. That is a great time to be up there. The bloom Mr. Musky is referring to typically starts in early August and lasts through late August, sometimes into early September.
There is no "bad time" to be up there. Some people such as Mr. Musky don't like the bloom which is fine, in fact I can't blame him because it can be downright miserable. However, you CAN find clean water it justs take a bit of effort on your part to search it out.
You won't be disappointed going up the last week of July.
Edited by esox50 1/18/2008 7:07 AM
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Posts: 2089
| I greee 100% with Sean, NEVER a bad time to be on Da Woods.Bloom? Go EAST young man. The Falls creates current. Current all over that Pond. Lots of clear, clean water. May be a bit of a ride depending on where you stay , but worth the effort. Heaven on Water. Steve |
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Posts: 2024
| Sparky or Kreegz,
Feel free to email with any questions. Get yourself Canadian Hydrographic Map 6215 (for the Basil Channel, Big Island region) and 6214 (Sab Bay) since you'll be fishing both areas (Basil Channel is the west edge of the 6214 map). I'd be more than happy to mark some spots if you take a picture of them and shoot them my way.
As Steve said, it is truly "Heaven on water"!
Edited by esox50 1/19/2008 3:43 PM
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| Hey Sean,
When are you up there again? Dawn and I upped our time to a full week, so we will be coming off the water on Monday the 14th of July. Will you be on the water then?
Steve |
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Posts: 2024
| No, we'll be up there starting the 16th. That couldn't come soon enough! |
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