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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | It's April 7,2003 and it's time to start this years reports. Last years report went to 6 pages and over 10,000 views. Wow, that has to be a site record! Remember that this thread is intended to be for both West and East Metro lakes, keep that in mind, that I live on the East side of the cities so my reports will mostly deal with lakes on that side of town.
So to get this years report rolling I have the following, Went for a little ride around White Bear and Bald Eagle Lake. I would estimiate that Bald Eagle is about 90% open water. There is a large patch of ice about 1/2 way up the North end of the lake. But then there is open water on the very North end of the lake.
White Bear is about 40% open, note that I didn't get all the way down to the Mahtomedi end of the lake, The large shallow bay on the N.W. end of the lake is open water and there is some open water over Ordways bar, but the rest of the lake looks to be ice bound yet.
I heard a report that Clear lake (tiger 'skis) was open, this is just south of Forest Lake. I haven't been into town yet to see if Forest Lake is open water, but again heard that part of lake 1 was open.
Granted this is a early report and not much will happen for awhile, but it was good to get out and do a little scouting. I hope that this years report goes to 10 pages!! Think Spring !
Edited by fishpoop 4/7/2003 8:47 PM
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Thank you for the report sir, I am sure this will be bigger and better than last year! When does the Muskie season in the Metro open? |
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN | We can't start fishing until June 7th! Seems like a day that will never come. It's not so bad on the years when the ice lasts until early/mid May, we only have to stare at open un-fishable water for 3 weeks. This year we are seeing open water 2 months before we can start tossing wood.
I will do my share of posting, live in the NW Metro, so I fish Tonka, Eagle, Forest, Clear, Mississippi and a few others. I also will fish Sugar (Annandale)and then I head north.
I usually try to hit the lakes early and leave by noon, the lakes are just too busy during the day. I also will go out in some nasty weather, when those "boaters" aren't out.
Let's keep the posts going this summer, my boat comes out of storage SATURDAY!!
Freak |
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Posts: 229
| Well I live in Rochester, MN and will be making trips up to the cities to fish some muskies mostly on Tonka, though I may try and hit Independence this year. I have worked out a few days off during the week so I hopefully won't have to fight weekend boat traffic in my 14'Lund. For those of you up there, if you ever need a boat partner let me know. Thanks.
P.S.> Since everyone seems to have a Lake X this year I also plan on giving reports on my new Lake X I'm going to start fishing this year (or in my case Lake Z would be more appropriate.) 
Andy |
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | A couple of friends were out on the Bear last week breaking in his new boat and motor. According to his Pinpoint water temps were 41 degrees! They should be warmer on the shallower lakes. Things are heating up! |
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Posts: 346
| I normally fish French (from Owatonna, MN), a specific WI musky lake, Mille Lacs...I hope to hit Tonka, the Mississippi and the St. croix more this season.
MJB |
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Posts: 46
Location: Hugo, Mn | I will be fishing Baldy, WBL and Forest alot this year. I live within 8 miles of all 3. Just purchased a 98 Pro V so my 15 and 14 year old sons and myself can all fish a little more comfortably than in the old 14 ft. If you plan on fishing WB, don't forget to get your launch permit for Matoska (by the island). Price is $25 for non WBL residents this year and I heard they were not going to give out as many as in the past.
Seeya on the water
Dave
P.S.
The crappie action is heating up. Last weekend with the south winds and warm temps they were really hitting. |
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Posts: 3165
| since the seaon for skis isnt here,Has anybody ventured up to the north shore rivers or wisc brule for steelhead???? any info??? |
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Posts: 925
| Just like Hugo, I live within about 7 miles of White Bear, Bald Eagle, and Forest Lake.
I have spent most of my time on White Bear the past few years. I think I am going to concentrate more on Bald Eagle this year and see if I can't up my numbers a little more.
Midge |
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Posts: 46
Location: Hugo, Mn | Midge
Where you at?? You do Forest much?
Dave |
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Posts: 925
| Hugo:
I live in Hugo. Fished Forest quite a bit two years ago. Only once or twice last year.
Hope to hit Baldy and Forest more than White Bear this year. |
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Posts: 182
| Hey Midge!
The only place to go from "0", is up!
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Posts: 129
| Fished Deer yesterday for crappies and bass. I wasn't even in the 90% of fishermen who catch 10% of the fish.
Surface temperature ranged from about 49 - 52. The lake seemed a little
behind previous years. We saw no muskies, but I think bass and crappies will
improve over the next several weeks. We saw a fly fisherman catch a number of panfish, however
they were unresponsive to our flies yesterday, so today after the family stuff is over
it is time to make a few steel leaders. Thanks to fishpoop for starting this thread.
tom |
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Posts: 46
Location: Hugo, Mn | Fished Bald Eagle last evening. Caught a 34" muskie on a jig and fathead. Very fun. Nice healthy spotted fish. The walleye were biting very well, me and one on my boys caught our limit plus threw back 20 or so. Lots of people fishing the area, bite starts in the late evening.
Dave |
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Posts: 15
| I live in Woodbury, I have my own boat so if anybody would like to hook up for some metro skis e-mail me.
[email protected] |
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Posts: 113
Location: Shoreview, MN | I also fish WB, BE and Forest a lot. And like the others I also intend to fish BE and Forest more this year. WB's been pretty good for me, but want to expand my horizons.
Already fished WB for pike a couple times this year. The pike are hammering 6" Jakes and baby DRs along the emerging weedlines, but are mostly small. Got a couple nice bass (3-4 lb range) and saw a couple ski's. Not targeting the bass or ski's but they eat the same baits as the pike.
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Posts: 129
| Any thoughts on Deer or Bone this weekend? We fished Medicine today for bass.
We will probably fish Tonka for bass tomorrow and then try musky at either of those lakes on Monday.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Tom |
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN |
Edited by Fish-n-Freak 5/27/2003 2:17 PM
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Posts: 633
| I talked to a friend of mine who fished Bald Eagle Saturday, and he said they caught 2 bass in 4 hours, but raised 12 muskies, and caught a 40" muskie. He said the majority were in the 36" - 42" range, but one was pushing 50". He said these fish were all chasing bass-size spinnerbaits. I didn't see anything on White Bear on Monday, but I was fishing for bass with my son and nephew.
Lance |
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Posts: 925
| Fished WBL on Memorial Day for 1 hour. Caught two small largemouth.
Cabbage is looking real nice, I can't wait to start tearing a Rad Dog thru it =O) |
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| I was on Bone last weekend. The caught two (35 and 30 inches) on twitch baits. The fish were still spawning and really only saw ones sitting deep in the weeds and not moving real fast.
Was out on White Bear on Thursday and caught some notherns and bass. No muskies to be seen.
Chip |
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Posts: 678
Location: Twin Cities, MN | Tried Cedar Lake today. Water temps througout pretty much all of the big bowl were 60 degrees. My partner and I saw one muskie, but I think we scared it when our lure came by. It went one way, and my partners lure went the other. Off to Forest next weekend.
Pal |
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | This isn't really a Metro Lake report, but due to the proximity of the lake to the cities and also because someone asked about it, I have a report on Deer Lake in Ws.
Went out this past Sat. It's the first time I have ever fished the lake. Went out with 2 friends from the N. Metro chapter. We didn't catch any muskies, but we saw 6 fish. Size rangee from mid 30 inches to mid 40 inchs. I had 4 follow and my friends each and 1 follow a piece.
My follows were on perch color Phantoms in both 6 and 8 inch size. 1 follow on a perch 6 inch Reef Hawg. They would come in kind of fast behind the bait and then hit the breaks and kind of sit there looking at the bait, then turn a swim away. I need to learn to do better figure 8's.
The other two follows were on a Triklops and a 6 inch Phantom in black with orange belly.
Water temps were 60 degrees in the A.M. and up to 62 by late P.M. Found some nice broad leaf cabbage, but didn't really see any fish in them. Fish were found off a point that the light wind had been blowing into all day.
Again, this was Saturday. 1 day after the cold front came through with all the heavy winds on Friday. Saw some other boats fishing Muskies, but didn't notice anyone catching anything. Seemed like a slow day. Panfishermen were getting some fish. |
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Posts: 129
| Fished Bone over the weekend. Water started out in the upper 50s and
moved to the low 60s. A number of boats out, but nobody got in anybody elses
way. We saw a number of bass still on beds, but no active ones. Three musky follows
in the warm water that afternoon, but no bites. Panfish were popping all
over, so we caught a bunch of crappies on flies. Kept some for a great meal.
The fish seemed spooky. However, Minnesota opens on Saturday.
Enjoy the opener!
Tom |
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Posts: 925
| Hit Deer Lake on Sunday the 1st on way back home from Rollie & Helen's Spring Shootout.
Don't even know why I fish those damn tourneys. 3rd cast on Deer, had at least a 48" up, possible 50". I've seen lots of fish on Deer, but that was by far the biggest.
Couldn't get her to go. Within the next 10 minutes, I brought up another mid 40" fish who didn't want to bite either. My partner brought up a high 30" fish not too long after.
Then fished for another hour with nothing to be seen.
Deer sure lived up to its nickname "Follow-Up Lake"
Finally, the MN opener this weekend !!! WOO HOO |
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN | Sounds like a cloudy wet opener for the metro. I will be out on Tonka trying to find a few active fish. I will let you all know what I find.
Freak |
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Posts: 346
| Trying White Bear Lake Sunday, I have never fished it. What colors/lures have produced the best, locations?
Thanks,
MJB
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Posts: 229
| I'll be out with Freak fishing Tonka. Will have the alarm set for 2am so I don't miss the 4:30 launch time. I'll have the water gear along. I just looked in the archives of MF and found that the 2002 version of the metro report got over 10,000 veiws and had 173 posts. Lets keep the reports coming and see if this year we can top it. Opener is tomorrow and and we already are in the 20s. Hope all have a successfull season.
Andy |
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Posts: 51
| I spent the morning on White Bear with a neighbor. My neighbor had a fish on, but lost it because his drag was set too loose (early season mistake). I had a nice follow-probably a mid 30 inch fish-nose right on the tail of my spinner bait, but the fish wouldn't eat. Also caught well over 20 northerns, but all dinks. No size.
Still, not a bad morning.
Bill |
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Posts: 229
| Fished Tonka this morning with Fish-n-Freak. Musky action was slow. I think we only raised three fish. We caught a handful of northerns between us though. I got a chance to work a lot of different baits so it was rather productive. I loved my Slammer drop belly glider. I think it will become my new favorite lure. I got two northerns on that, one on my first cast with the lure, and another northern on an undertaker. I also had another fish hit the undertaker, but was gone after a few tugs. I didn't get a chance to see what that one was as it hit pretty far out from the boat. Probably won't get out until a week from Monday when I will probably be fishing Lake Z.
Andy
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