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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | To keep with "analyzing a muskie lake" I thought I'd add a new one for the masses to break down. Take a few moments, read the map, tell us where YOU would start on this lake trying to hook up on some fish.
Early season, overcast day, water temps 58-62. Now....BREAK!
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | And ignore the box that says there's no muskies in this lake....this is just an exercise. This is an exercise, ONLY an exercise. |
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Posts: 16
| I think that I would start by that Inlet in the upper right.
And mabey hit some of those shallow bays on the north shore.
especialy if they have weeds in the spring.
Just what I would do.
Edited by 2big4boat 5/10/2009 9:38 PM
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Is this a trick question? According to the Key, there's no muskies in the lake? Anyway, there are a ton of factors as to where I would start, but I highlighted the areas that caught my eye. Not sure how many acres this pond is? But like I said these are the spot's I found interesting off the bat!
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Posts: 1168
| Need more info. When breaking down a body of water I like to have at least some of the following to better make a decision on this.
Predator/prey relationships from the bottom of the trophic level up.
Carrying capacity. Numbers lake or trophy lake?
What is the turbidity.
Existence of a stain? Bog stain? Algae stain? None at all?
Phosphorus and nitrogen levels.
Water hardness, alkalinity, ph levels.
Dissolved oxygen trends throughout the season.
Direction of the prevailing winds and how they drive the langmuir currents.
Shoreline development and effects of runoff.
Slope gradiant of surrounding land areas since this has a big impact on runoff.
What are the surrounding soil types?
What types of aquatic vegetation exist.
If vegetation exists, is it being treated either chemically or harvested.
Is Motor trolling allowed? Any Special size restrictions?
Special restrictions on other species?
Is there any historical information available? Catastrophic events?
Do any unique seasonal weather patterns exist.
Connectedness to other waterways, if yes how do the connected waterways differ.
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Posts: 38
| I dont see a launch anywhere??? Id start casting from shore near the east side in the woods...LOL |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | WOW, no offense, but you think way to much - If I ever got that involved to an actual body of water, I'm not sure if i'd ever make it out! You must be a biologist or something? |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Thank GOD! I thought for a second someone might actually be taking fricking soil samples and crap! |
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Posts: 4266
| Wow, I remember when these things used to be fun.
I'd fish the inlet bay and the point and vegetation around the mouth of it. I'd fish the north side and hit the mouths of every bay looking for new vegetation coming up. Same goes for the bay in the NE corner. I wouldn't spend much time on off-shore structure with such low temps. I'd spend my day looking for the warmest water and any new weed growth. |
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Posts: 1168
| In all seriousness though...do you ever head out to a new body of water "blind" with just a map? If the forage is primarily panfish or ciscos location could be very different. If this body of water was a "wilderness" lake as opposed to one that exists in an urban area it could make it different. North American vs. Eurasion milfoil vs. reeds vs. cabbage. They'll impact location and where I'd want to start. The soil stuff won't necessarily dictate a starting location on it's own but could be taken into consideration when thinking about underground water levels and seepage.
Here's an analogy....you are going to Mexico and all you have is a map and that's it. No other information other than a weather forecast. It would be pretty helpful to know that you'll blow out an o-ring if you drink the water...but you can't know that, all you have is a map. No history of the place, nothing about environmental factors, etc. Wouldn't be that great of a trip.
Maps are valuable but only give you one piece to the puzzle. If that other stuff wasn't considered to some degree then what is the point of research data? All of this stuff is helpful so you don't just end up wandering around like Helen Keller. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | ulbian - 5/11/2009 12:04 AM
It would be pretty helpful to know that you'll blow out an o-ring if you drink the water...
Would that be a Nitrile O-Ring? |
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Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | Under these water temps we've done surprisingly well open water trolling. I would also skirt structure as well, running baits high in the column 5-12 feet down. The obvious spots like weedy bays have probably been hit pretty hard, the bigger fish should be moved on and keying on deeper walleyes/suckers (insect hatches on mud flats, mid depth rocks and weeds) and suspending.
JS |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | .
Edited by Sam Ubl 5/11/2009 1:14 PM
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | Seeing as there are no musky present from the species chart, is this a trick question?
Assuming the chart is wrong and I positively knew there are actually muskies present this is how I'd proceed.
Knowing that the spawn should have been in full swing at mid fifty water temps my first guess would be that the spawn was just completed, unless there have been a huge succession of cold fronts keeping the water cooler than seasonal averages, then it could have been done for quite a while.
I'd pound the narrows areas where the shallow bays connect to the main lake if I thought the spawn was just done, working the water thoroughly, especially the deeper dropoffs very close to these spots. Maybe if I saw a lot of baitfish shallow I'd stay shallower, but I'd be wary of wasting time in the shallows by spawning areas if the fish had no reason to stay there.
Second choices would be the islands. As this is a deeper lake with sharp dropoffs, the fish would tend to disperse quickly after spawn and head for more summer oriented spots.
Third, I try the bigger weedbeds in the main lake if they were really well developed and it was a while past spawn.
Last would be to try a suspended bite, unless I could troll, then I'd be checking for suspended fish between every move from casting spot to casting spot. My feeling is this would be a smaller panfish/sucker forage lake and the panfish would not be suspending prior to their spawn, but maybe if there were minnows like golden shiners just maybe there would be a suspende bite.
Well, that's my attack plan given the information in your post. |
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Posts: 1168
| Jsondag - 5/10/2009 10:46 PM
Is this a trick question? According to the Key, there's no muskies in the lake?
Almost-B-Good - 5/11/2009 12:01 PM
Seeing as there are no musky present from the species chart, is this a trick question?
Assuming the chart is wrong and I positively knew there are actually muskies present this is how I'd proceed.
For the love of God people....did you even bother to read the second post on this thread that Slamr put up? Here it is as a refresher.
Slamr - 5/10/2009 10:34 PM
And ignore the box that says there's no muskies in this lake....this is just an exercise. This is an exercise, ONLY an exercise.
Edited by ulbian 5/11/2009 11:24 AM
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Seeing that the spawn should be over, the bigger fish (females) should be transitioning to edges and more summer like areas. I would stay out of the shallow bays unless there was no action on my 1st choices.
I would fish structures adjacent to shallow spawning areas. I am a firm believer that the majority of the females disperse very quickly after the spawn...and none stay around to protect their eggs.
Edited by nwild 5/11/2009 11:56 AM
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Posts: 785
| 3 islands to the west and there adjacent flats (as there quality structure near the deepest water in the lake). Then the Island and adjacent flat on the NE side of the lake. Maybe my 3rd spot would be the inlet. |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Exactly what Norm laid out for the same reasons and if that didn't work then open water as mentioned by J.S.
Good topic Slamr... |
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Posts: 172
| As a rookie I would hit shallow first. If its post spawn there's might be smaller male in shallow still n I l ltry catch them. If no action or whatso, start movin deeper n fishing the muck/sand transition. If none work I would crack open a pbr n let sucker do the work driftin down the weedline |
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Posts: 49
| I would start by hiring a good guide....1 day at least.
Preferably one who spends his time on the water and not the internet.
Just out of curiosity is motor trolling allowed on this lake?
If not I would be definitely bringing my row troller along to break the lake down. |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I have to save face here and admit that I read over 58-60 degree water temps. For some reason I have been thinking we were working with 54-56 degree water temps. . . I'm deleting my last posts with the map - Is that cheating? I have to jump on Jason and Norm's wagon here. . . And I was wondering why the heck everyone thought the spawn would be over.
Edited by Sam Ubl 5/11/2009 1:21 PM
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What Norm said with one caveat:
I'd go right up into the slop on the northeast end and pitch spinnerbaits, and I'd fish the cover and the JUST out of the heavy cover water in the current breaks at the opening on the east end. I see water flow/moving water potential there. |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Slamr - 5/10/2009 10:34 PM
For the love of God people....did you even bother to read the second post on this thread that Slamr put up? Here it is as a refresher.
I pulled the image to mark up before there was a single post - When I posted it, there was already a couple responses in the meantime - One of which by Slamr. I didn't feel the need to edit - Since I figured that people wouldn't be hanging on every word - Guess I was wrong. I'll try an be more careful next time...
Edited by Jsondag 5/11/2009 1:34 PM
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Jsondag - 5/11/2009 1:32 PM
Slamr - 5/10/2009 10:34 PM
For the love of God people....did you even bother to read the second post on this thread that Slamr put up? Here it is as a refresher.
I pulled the image to mark up before there was a single post - When I posted it, there was already a couple responses in the meantime - One of which by Slamr. I didn't feel the need to edit - Since I figured that people wouldn't be hanging on every word - Guess I was wrong. I'll try an be more careful next time...
You're being watched there Jerry....tighten it up, will ya? |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | Yeah Jerry, Geez |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Looks like Jerry and Norm cover the main areas well, like steve alluded to I would venture in the NE corner were is appears to be a inlet, and work the cover in there, looking for green weed growth. I would work the weed edge in the main lake, if nothing the motor back over the deeper breakline looking for suspend bait fish in the 14-22 range, if bait present starting working dawgs. I might also go explore the SW bay, might be a little warmen due to depth and it being kind of isolated.
Troyz |
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Posts: 227
Location: New Brighton, MN | wow. quite a variety of responses here. very interesting! I love hearing everyone's take on this.
My answer may be boring, but I would hit the entire North shore with glidebaits and jerkbaits, especially the inlet. Look for weeds and warm temps. I don't mind the smaller males at all. If this doesn't produce, I would hit the secondary spots as mentioned earlier. (Western bay - southern narrows) But basically, look for weeds and warmer temps.
I've never had luck finding larger females in the spring. I really don't know where they go, to be honest... |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I’ll add to this, but I need a bit more info.
Wind direction and speed, and for how many days (prevailing wind direction if the first day at this wind direction?)? How many days cloudy prior? Warming trend or cooling trend?
I find those things more important early in the year than I do water temps. Too many people get hung up on water temps and what they think the fish should be doing at those temps. 58-62° water temps on a warming trend (lets say it was sunny all week and the temps started at high 40’s-low 50’s early in the week) will result in a much different response from the fish than water temps that started at mid to high 60’s earlier in the week.
Ulbian may have seemed to be a bit overboard, but has some very valid questions. Well some of them at least  Forage base will greatly influence where I may fish as well. If no ciscos or pelagic baitfish I won’t be deep. If there are some pelagic baitfish, but a huge sucker base I still won’t go deep until the shallows are tried first.
Lots more goes into breaking down a map than just knowing water temps, sky conditions, and time of year.
Please, more clues to the puzzle.
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | CiscoKid - 5/12/2009 12:01 PM I’ll add to this, but I need a bit more info. Wind direction and speed, and for how many days (prevailing wind direction if the first day at this wind direction? )? How many days cloudy prior? Warming trend or cooling trend? I find those things more important early in the year than I do water temps. Too many people get hung up on water temps and what they think the fish should be doing at those temps. 58-62° water temps on a warming trend (lets say it was sunny all week and the temps started at high 40’s-low 50’s early in the week ) will result in a much different response from the fish than water temps that started at mid to high 60’s earlier in the week. Ulbian may have seemed to be a bit overboard, but has some very valid questions. Well some of them at least Forage base will greatly influence where I may fish as well. If no ciscos or pelagic baitfish I won’t be deep. If there are some pelagic baitfish, but a huge sucker base I still won’t go deep until the shallows are tried first. Lots more goes into breaking down a map than just knowing water temps, sky conditions, and time of year. Please, more clues to the puzzle. I agree - you are wise T.K. |
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | Thats why TK catches fish 
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