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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Anybody Fish these lakes lately? Any info you can give up? I will be up there over Labor Day Weekend. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Galva, Illinois | Let me start by saying I am a novice to this sport. I have only spent a week late last fall and a week this August fishing for Muskie. I was on Lost Land/Teal Aug 9th - 16th and hope to be back Sept 14th - 17th.
It was hotter than hell and most were complaining that it was extremely slow. The water appear to be down about a foot from normal. I did manage to catch a 3 pound small mouth and 3 undersided fish all on a White Mepps Giant Muskie Killer. On the night of the 14th after leaving the lodge bar around 10:00 pm, I went down to the dock to finish a stogie I'd been burning and thought I would cast from the dock for grins and giggles. I was throwing that same Muskie Killer lure and on the 2nd or 3rd cast I felt a bump and a miss but within a few cranks I got a solid hook up. After a great fight I got the muskie up to the dock but had no way to land it. There was a big mecury vapor light right on the shoreline so we got a great look at it. My friend and I were admiring the fish and wondering what the heck we were going to do next as we had no net big enough and I don't have a craddle yet. After the fish made another decent run I decided to try to walk the dock to shore, go over a beached boat and work with the fish in shallow water. The plan was going great, I had the muskie in 6 inches of water or so and then the line broke before I could make it down to unhook him. After breaking the line he just laid there so I scrambled over the rocks, down into the water and started to run my hand up behind the gills when he decide that this was all too much and absolutely drenched me with a tail slap and he was gone. My friend who has seen a few muskies swears it was over 45", I don't know if it was that big but I'm sure it was well over 40" which is huge to a newbie like myself.
Sorry about the long disertation. I am still excited about hooking that fish!
If you've never fished Lost Land and Teal I think I would stop at Happy Hooker Bait and Tackle on Upper A about a mile north of WI-77 and buy a map of the two lakes. It will show you all of the weed bars, structure and features you'll want to know about. The folks that run Happy Hooker are also very knowledgable on what and where is hot on the lakes. You'll have to fish by casting or drifting as there is no trolling on this lake. Lost Land, Teal and Ghost are "Quiet Lakes" so you won't have to put up with jetski's or waterskiers over Labor Day. There will be a lot of pontoons boats cruising from early afternoon to late evening but they don't seem to bother things.
I wish I had more info to give you but like I say I really don't know what I am doing yet so it's hard for me to be much help. I hope you do well on your trip. Post back when you return on what kind of luck you had on your trip.
Thanks,
Mark
Edited by TinCup 8/25/2003 2:38 PM
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Mark,
Thanks for the update. Where were you staying? I have been hitting these lakes annually for around 10 years. Any fish that goes 40 or better is above average there. I have never thrown White on these lakes but apparently will have to start.
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Posts: 5
Location: Galva, Illinois | We have been staying at Red Deer Resort since 1982. Stayed in the campground at Reel Living before that. We had always went up for bowhunting and never really fished much except for bass and crappie a little. I made my mind up that I wanted to get into Muskie awhile back. My only source of info on it has been the internet. I don't have any friends that are into it here in Illinois. The one I lost was because I didn't have a leader, just tied off to the bucktail. I had it in my mind that they just used leaders when floating a sucker. Oh well live and learn. I need to keep reading and listening while I'm 'Up North'.
Where do you stay if I might ask?
Mark
Edited by TinCup 8/25/2003 9:11 PM
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Posts: 199
Location: Anchorage | Fished Teal last Sat. the 23rd and saw 3 fish on a topper stopper along the edges of the thickest weeds in 6-8 feet. Shoulda had one well over 40 but only landed a 27". also had one bite the twister tail trailer off a black bucktail. Water was 74-75. Hope it helps.
Elwood Brehmer |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Thanks for the info.
Mark, I will be staying at the Northland Resort on LLL. Great place run by 1st class people. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I have not been there in a couple of years but I like these lakes best when we don't have a hot summer. If the lakes don't bloom bad the late august/early sept fishing can be good. Teal is definitley a pretty lake. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Galva, Illinois | Is that the one that has all of the play stuff(raft, slide etc.) out in the lake coming out of Steamboat Bay just south of Totem Pole?
Mark |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | Mark,
Northland is the first resort past Totem Pole as you are heading to steamboat. They have two large T-Docks out front that surround their swimming area with the big slide.
Dave |
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| Fished Teal Lake the last two Wisconsin openers. Didn't see a fish, but that could just be the fisherman. Stayed at Ross Teal resort, wouldn't recomend it. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | If you are looking to stay on teal lake, stay at Back o Beyond. Great people. Ross are snobs and would love to be the only resort on that lake. |
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Posts: 50
Location: Far Northwest Chicago Suburb | I was just fishing these two lakes last week (Aug 16-23). I strictly fished for musky, and have been fishing these lakes for 10+ years. I have my go to baits when fish are following and baits when fish are not moving. My first choice are small natural colored bucktails, buzzed over the thick weeds in wilson, baileys, and landing camp bays(mepps,ghosttaisl,etc.). If this does not trigger fish, try the bars or big points with jerkbaits and cranks in natural colors.(t-bone,suick,magicmaker,cobbs, slammer, minnow,etc.)
This time of year muskies are moving deeper along the (green) weed edges, or right in the slop. Mid-week I had a large fish following a topwater lure in 2 feet of water, looked like a nuclear sub! Caught a 44" fish along a deep water point, a 32" fish along a rocky bottom in teal, and had more than ten follows for the week. Buddy lost a 46 incher by the boat, threw the damn hook(bucktail)! All the follows were fish over 40.
I stayed at totem, where the hospitality is second to none! I always have a good time musky fishing these two lakes, because of the action they bring, and the quality fishing locations. The trick is to never stop casting, and change lures often because they are pressured muskies, and sometimes you need to show them a different technique or lure from time to time. Also, never give up on these lakes because a big one may attack when you may not expect it. Always figure eight after each cast. (The 44" fish hit a bucktail at night on the first L sweep into the 8)
Remember to throw creepers, topraiders at dusk into night, because this is your best opportunity on teal and LLL.
I'll post the 44 and 32 inch fish under my photo album before laborday weekend begins.(Both released properly)
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| ToddM,
Agreed on Ross Teal being snobs. Probably isn't the place to vent, but after they gave us our damage deposit back they charged us an extra $300 for minor damages-closet rod, plastic lawn chair, ect.. Love the area, and the lake looks promising, didn't give it much of an effort. |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | There are some great places to stay on LLL/Teal. My choice has and will continue to be Northland Lodge. If you have kids, they have a lot of things for the kids to do, beach, water toys, etc. Nice bar in the lodge with game room for the kids, pool table etc.
Check them out if you plan to head up there again. |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Nick, stayed at Totem myself and have enjoyed my time there as well. We're usually there in June. They've kept the bar open just so we can watch the Stanley cup and drink them out of beer and Morgans. Great hosts.
Heard good things about Northland too so can't go wrong w/ either.
I've had my best luck on bright baits - greens/yellows/chart. Brown/Bronze/Copper stuff too. I always have a white twister on the hook.
Small gliders are good! I use phantoms out there.
Double what Nick said about fig 8's. Even if you don't see a fish, do at least a couple and look around. I've had 'em come out of nowhere and slam baits right at the boat. Exciting stuff.
Good luck,
Jono
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Posts: 50
Location: Far Northwest Chicago Suburb | Hey Jono, are you the ones that made the other stanley cup for Totem Pole! Mike and Mimi told me the story this year about New Jersey Devil nuts staying at the resort during the stanley cup finals. That cup looked like an old metal milk jug with a silver bowl welded to the top. HaaaaHaaaa!
Totem is a great resort, but the other ones are just fine, except Ross's. Hate to say it but they were not the friendliest people to hang around. My buddy and I were fishing Teal in the afternoon when a monster storm blewup out of nowhere! Once I saw lightning hit water west of the boat, I instintly flew over to Ross's for shelter. When we were inside their lodge they didn't let us go any farther then the foyer, until the storm passed, my buddy also wanted a beer but they did not offer drinks to non guests! I should have flew over to Back O Beyond instead. At least we were safe.
I attached the 44 incher to this thread for viewing pleasure!
Attachments
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 nightbight.gif (84KB - 290 downloads)
release2.gif (82KB - 216 downloads)
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Hi Nick. Ya, that's us. My brother is the "artist". Built out of plastic bowls and who knows what else. We even had a presentation ceremony in the bar. Too funny to hear that Mike and Mimi mentioned it. My crew will love to hear that!
I've had the same type experiences with Ross'. You know, the workin' man ruined musky fishing. Just ask them.
Good luck out there. Maybe we'll cross paths sometime.
Nice fish, by the way. It's interesting that some of the fish out there are clear and other have real nice markings.
Jono
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Dave, just wondering how the bloom was this year? Was the water low? Fishing success for me there at this time depended if it bloomed or not. |
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Posts: 492
Location: Lindenhurst, Illinois | ToddM
Didn't make it up there. Family emergency precluded us from going. I have been speding all my time shuttling between home and Terre Haute Ind.
Dave |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Dave, I hope all is well and you are able to make it up there before it gets cold. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Galva, Illinois | Sorry to hear of the family problems MeHabeeb. We all know what comes first!
Anyone in the thread planning on being on Lost Land/Teal on the 14-17 of Sept? We'll be at Red Deer Lodge Bar on the 15th and 16th. They are closed on Sunday's(14th). Any bars open on the the 14th for Sunday Night Football on the Lakes?
Thanks,
Mark |
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Posts: 50
Location: Far Northwest Chicago Suburb | Hey Dave sorry to hear you didn't make it to the quiet lakes this past labor day weekend.(frown) -what happen to those little faces anyway! Did I miss something! I also hope everything is O.K. down in Indiana.
Jono, every musky I have caught on LLL and Teal are clear, with almost faded markings, of a typical musky. The Tigers are obviously different.
Next year I plan on going up to totem in mid-june, so we may cross paths, and talk hockey, plus muskies. I'll have to buy your troop a round!
The water levels were low on both LLL and teal lakes, but the weeds were about average, not as thick as in the past. Although, these lakes especially LLL, always have thick weed growth, every year. The water color back in late august was clear to light stain, for the amount of weed growth. Didn't notice a bloom, yet. |
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Posts: 5
Location: Galva, Illinois | I'm headed up north this weekend through next Wednesday and hope to fish Teal & LLL again. Any new reports from up there?
Thanks,
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