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Posts: 93
| Well said Brad. It is all relative, and maybe I should have phrased it, "MY TOP 10 MUSKY WATERS". I was tempted to put the St Louis River, and ten other bodies of water up.
I haven't fished 60 lakes like you have, but it would be great to hear some stories from you, and I'm sure you have plenty. Go to the new facebook page, "Adventures In Musky Fishing". I think it was sent to you already, but if not, the url is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventures-in-Musky-Fishing/228929550...
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Posts: 2015
| BNelson - 6/23/2011 1:27 PM
the question is so relative..."best" lakes for what? size? action? avg size? etc etc....you ask best in the title but then list your 10 "favorite"....favorites may or may not be best?
I have fished about 60 lakes with musky in them to date from IL, IA, IN, WI, MN, MO, MN, and Canada...oh but i love that Pleasant Creek Justin! teehehehheee
Where is PC in the 60 you have fished? Top 10?  |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I checked my records to see how many lakes I have fished...I count 73, more then I expected but makes sense because I'm a little adventurous and love trying out new water..all of these lakes are from Illinois, Wi, MN, and NW Ontario..many of these are/were "under the radar"
I can't really rate them because there's too many factors in play..some take longer to get to then others, some provide tons of action but few big ones, some provide trophies but horrible action, etc...
But as a basic summary of my experiences..
Biggest Fish I have ever caught - Mianki, Ontario
Biggest Fish I have ever seen - Vermilion
Best Week of action - Small NW Ontario Lake system that rarely gets fished
Best week of action/size ratio I ever had - Eagle
Most overrated in my opinion - Vermilion ( by far number one on this list), Wabigoon, Eagle , Chippewa Flowage ( Eagle makes my favorite list and most overrated...because that makes so much sense ha)
I simply can't group together Canada, Wi, and MN lakes..
I have 3 Northern WI Favorites all apread out, 3 MN favorites all spread out, and I think I enjoyed Lac Seul more then any Candian water I have been on ( and I have been on quite a few) |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | of the waters i've fished thus far in my lifetime
1. Eagle
2. the one Cal won't let me mention
3. Wisconsin River
4. Kentuck
5. Mille Lacs
6. Plantangenet
7. Lake Tomahawk
8. Trout Lake
9. the private one i learned from a friend
10. Long Lake
on the short list of places i plan to go
1. St. Lawrence - Montreal guided
2. St. Claire to spend some time with Jeff in my old boat
3. Green Bay cuz it will be close to where i spend a lot of work-time
4. Eagle ... why go anywhere else?? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | PC...luv it! ha...I might have to count like Brian did.. in any case..PC might be my least favorite!! ; )))) I have to chuckle at Eagle being overrated... I've only spent 10 days there but from others that go I'd have to say it is right up there in the overrated category.. 
got me thinking of all the lakes...fun to look back on
Edited by BNelson 6/23/2011 5:28 PM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
Edited by Musky Brian 6/23/2011 5:47 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Musky Brian - 6/23/2011 5:46 PM
I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
boat control under difficult conditions makes Eagle my all-time favorite because it does sort people out and challenges your skills at a high level. sure you get some of those days where it all comes your way on calm water, but usually you have to really work hard to score there which is why i love that place ... over time it becomes addicting in kind of a mental mind over matter ... control in chaos kind of stuff. i've had times when it really gets rocking and a boat partner looks at you like you're crazy wondering if you really plan on casting at that in those conditions ... while you're just going to start fishing another spot on eagle ... lol, albeit while you're getting p!ss-pounded by the angry seas. |
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Posts: 171
| Kinkaid......probably out fishes those Ontario lakes in, say, March? We had fun on the Cave in March, too. I'm enjoying the thread, fellers. Keep it going!
ErieBoy75 |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | jonnysled - 6/23/2011 5:58 PM
Musky Brian - 6/23/2011 5:46 PM
I have a love/ angry with relationship with Eagle... I hate to even put it on an overrated list, I only do so because there's just too many guys out there that get their butts handed to them when NOT guided as say opposed to LOTW...
I'm not sure the average guy signing on the Internet realizes what a difficult fishery it can be, at times....
boat control under difficult conditions makes Eagle my all-time favorite because it does sort people out and challenges your skills at a high level. sure you get some of those days where it all comes your way on calm water, but usually you have to really work hard to score there which is why i love that place ... over time it becomes addicting in kind of a mental mind over matter ... control in chaos kind of stuff. i've had times when it really gets rocking and a boat partner looks at you like you're crazy wondering if you really plan on casting at that in those conditions ... while you're just going to start fishing another spot on eagle ... lol, albeit while you're getting p!ss-pounded by the angry seas.
ever ran into one of those guys yet Jon who sits in the lodge with a beer at night and tells you all of their old LOTW battle tales while crying how Eagle sucks? I agree, at times the men are separated from the boys on Eagle. If you can consistently catch fish on Eagle you will generally do well on every other lake you run across in Canada. I find a good week on Eagle more rewarding then any other lake I have fished up there...but I certainly have my moments when I want to pull my hair out and put the boat on the trailer too. Let the insanity continue in September |
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Posts: 5171
| I have to agree with brian vermillion way overated.Two fish registered on day two at pmtt about 90 boats brutal.I have fished there three times and have not had one strike follow follow follow.WEbster a few years ago boat one to two if you did not see 25 fish a day something was wrong.Shelbyville seen tons of fish have many mutiple days one five fish daydie off hurt shelby.massive cold front there 100 boats 49 fish registered unbelieveable..Madison chain 8 fish day from 3 to 9 alot of fish there.Leeech awesome size numbers has it all.st louis very nice.chip flowage super fat fish they will bite also.cave run great about 7 to ten years ago not the same right now.cass lake not to shabby either.pike bvay has some scary fish.to each his own i guess. b ramit |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | 0723 - 6/23/2011 3:41 PM
I have to agree with brian vermillion way overated.Two fish registered on day two at pmtt about 90 boats brutal.I have fished there three times and have not had one strike follow follow follow.WEbster a few years ago boat one to two if you did not see 25 fish a day something was wrong.Shelbyville seen tons of fish have many mutiple days one five fish daydie off hurt shelby.massive cold front there 100 boats 49 fish registered unbelieveable..Madison chain 8 fish day from 3 to 9 alot of fish there.Leeech awesome size numbers has it all.st louis very nice.chip flowage super fat fish they will bite also.cave run great about 7 to ten years ago not the same right now.cass lake not to shabby either.pike bvay has some scary fish.to each his own i guess. b ramit
Wow,
I had trouble reading that.
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Musky Brian - 6/24/2011 1:28 AM
ever ran into one of those guys yet Jon who sits in the lodge with a beer at night and tells you all of their old LOTW battle tales while crying how Eagle sucks? :)
:0) ... that's funny, and accurate. |
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Posts: 56
| LSC is by far the greatest musky lake for numbers and size just not the big heavies!! It isn't as beautiful but numbers don't lie!!! |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | IAJustin - 6/23/2011 1:16 PM
I have easily 10x the amount of hrs on IA lakes vs MN & Canada.....yet of the 23 fish 48" + I have ever caught 4 are from IA .......
)
We have at least that number or better of 48"+ just from Iowa waters including 6 over 50 in the past 3-4 years.... All off 2 lakes.... |
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Posts: 50
| In no specific order
1. Lac Seul
2. Eagle Lake, Ontario
3. Lake of the Woods (Whitefish Bay Included)
4. St. Lawrence
5. Georgian Bay
6. Lake Vermillion
7. Mille Lacs
8. Smaller water system near Sioux Narrows which I won't mention
9. Lake Nippeeing
10. Lake St Clair
Number 8 on the list I have fished several times. I have seen one of the biggest fish I have ever seen on this lake, I have seen four fish come off the same spot (all landed) in under an hour. One day I saw 25 follows, and three different times I saw two fish follow the same cast. I saw seven fish off the same shore line. This is a small like and the boat launch is on a native reserve.
Ps. If anyone wants to try and guess the name of this lake PM me and I will let you know
Ravigne
Edited by ravigne 7/4/2011 4:45 PM
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Posts: 1023
| alright ravine - how much money do I need to send to your paypal account to get the name of that lake:) |
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | Not a very pretty lake to fish, but lake St. Clair is just amazing. Don't know of any other popular lakes where a person can catch 45 fish trolling in one day or 15+ fish casting in one day. That being said I would still rather fish Eagle and a couple other lakes around there. |
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Posts: 50
| Haha, trade me a few lures |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | 45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
Edited by Top H2O 7/4/2011 8:47 PM
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
No, definitely true. The charter boats out there catch them like crazy. I think it was on opening day and the boat went 45 for 60 or something ridiculous like that. Definitely not uncommon for the trolling boats to catch 20+ fish a day. |
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Posts: 184
| I can tell you Chautauqua deserves a lot more respect than what you guys give it. How can Lake Webster (a tiny little lake) rank higher than Chautauqua? You guys are funny! For #'s its all about LSC and I will argue with anyone that Chautauqua is the best east of LSC- bar none! Most over rated- Cave Run!
Edited by zach2626 7/4/2011 10:28 PM
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | jasonvkop - 7/4/2011 10:11 PM
Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
No, definitely true. The charter boats out there catch them like crazy. I think it was on opening day and the boat went 45 for 60 or something ridiculous like that. Definitely not uncommon for the trolling boats to catch 20+ fish a day.
Nope, Jason was just having fun. St. Clair is one of the most difficult lakes to fish. Especially trolling. Put down the beer, Jason. Muskies in St Clair is like a needle in a haystack. |
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| Cave Run Lake, Ky....Hardly ever fished for Musky and rarely trolled. It is stocked every year. |
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Posts: 112
Location: Nielsen's Fly-In Lodge, on Rowan Lake | Step out side the box grab your gear and your buddy get on a float plane in Nestor Falls Ont. And see how Canadian muskies act with NO pressure just being what they are preditors and you'll say why haven't i done this before just check it out.Or maby on the old BUCKET LIST Thanks |
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Posts: 79
| I have to agree with zach. Chautauqua does not get the credit it deserves. Its an awesome numbers lake, but also has a fair amount of real slobs. If I'm not mistaken, the pmtt set some records there a few years ago. Its a real shame they haven't come back! |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Top H2O - 7/4/2011 9:45 PM
45,.... Muskies in one day ??? Huhhhh???, wHAT???
bULL Shnit !
That's no bull. Opening day 2010 several boats caught 40 to 62 musky that day trolling on LSC. Most were small but still an awesome day to catch numbers like that.
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| 1. Lake Skegemog, MI
2. Lake Bellaire, MI
3. Torch Lake, MI
4. Elk lake, MI
5. World Record East Bay Lake Michigan! |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I like the little 200-300 acre puddles... |
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Posts: 122
| Herb_b - 6/22/2011 4:13 PM
For me it would be pretty much any Muskie lake I can find time to fish.
I wouldn't rule out Leech lake. We fished it a couple weeks ago and had the big fish going. Lots of action and my 11 year old daughter almost had a +50 at boatside. Never thought her eyes could get so big.
Lots of good lakes in MN, WI, and Canada. Even Iowa has good Muskie fishing these days.
What lakes in Iowa I have a good friend that recently moved there from minnesota... poor guy loves muskies keeps having to drive six hours back to us... what do you recommend there? |
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Posts: 173
| If you had asked me this 10 years ago, Pelican Lake in northern Wisconsin would have made it from a numbers perspective. Chippewa Flowage is one of the most overrated lakes I have ever spent time on in my life. |
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