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Posts: 833
| Locally the fishing has been weird, but this year has by far been the least I've fished since I took up the sport, so I wouldn't put much stock in my mileage. |
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Posts: 3136
| I would say the true barometer of this would be answered in Wisconsin,,Minnesota s stocked fisheries may be the result of decreased stocking or second generation fall off.
But what about the long established wisconsin lakes that have had muskies forever are they off too??? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | locals here are doing well from reports i'm seeing, nothing different year over year, one hit his 100 mark early this year ... still no big fish in Wisconsin though. heard about a 53.5 caught today. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | hmm interesting some locals that you know I've heard have had slow years..... and some others I know that fish up there have said it is slow... does catching 100 without knowing the hours to do it tell "the rest of the story"? not really. how many you got this year Sled? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i just watch a few guys, talk to some here and there around town. maybe they aren't on your list. |
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Posts: 221
| Been tough in western MN as well, but that means the fish will hopefully be extra dumb this fall. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | I've spent more time fishing quarters out of kid's mouth than any real fishing the last couple of summers, but from reports and limited hours on the water it does seem like fishing seems to be getting tougher with each season. Every year there is different theories, like spearing or that you're just asking the wrong guy (muskies are tough afterall). I have to think the drastic reduction in WI stocking this century has had a significant impact, especially with the number of anglers increasing year after year. A similar situation has to be playing out on LOTW with the rusties wiping out weeds for spawn. You guys in MN will have to come up with your own theories though  |
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Posts: 107
| These negative responses to someone else's report is precisely why we will never be able to effectively organize against the political forces threatening musky fishing....because EVERYTHING becomes a peeing match. Generally speaking it appears to be a difficult year, but that doesn't mean that some are having better years than in the past.
Edited by Conservation Guy 8/6/2018 6:26 PM
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Posts: 69
Location: Pine River MN. | This year has been a bust for us. We haven't fished nearly as often as we usually do, but we haven't even been seeing anything lately. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | I am in Northern Wisconsin and having my best year yet for numbers and doing decent size wise. 40, 45, and 48 within the last 2 days. A lot of people don’t adjust to conditions and just try the same old spots with the same old lures. Just tossing mag dawgs and big blades isn’t always the best option yet every boat is doing it! That or a FB. A lot of my go to spots from years past aren’t producing but spending more time on secondary spots has paid off. |
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Posts: 252
| I just returned from fishing 8 days in the lakes around Hayward and had two follow ins. Also went out with a guide. I put in a lot of fishing hours, caught lots of Northerns and bass, but no muskies. We cut our trip short and drove 15 hours to get back home and I caught two muskies as soon as I got home.
I love Northern Wisconsin and we will go back. I just hope that next time, the bite is better.
We fished the Tiger Cat, Lost Land, Spider, Teal, and the Chippewa Flowage while we were there. |
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Posts: 1664
| Not directing this towards anybody at all.
But aren't fisherman liars? How many here do you really believe are telling the truth about what they caught, what they didn't catch, where they caught it, on what, what time,what day.................................
I find the threads interesting but I don't know that I really put a lot of stock into whats said.
Maybe I'm reading everybody wrong, if so I apologize. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Its been a tough year in northern WI for the guys in my circle, not just my boat partner and I. Is it a combination of weather and yearly increased fishing pressure? Cant say for sure but northern WI isn't what it used to be especially for 45" and larger fish.
I dont want to hear about a great day with 3 under 40".....who really gives a rip unless you're a new fisherman. Some may take this as snotty....but way to many musky fisherman pounding northern WI waters vs even just 10 years ago.
Hope I'm wrong but the years of close to empty boat landings and good populations of big fish (45" and larger) is probably over.
.....and yeah before someone chimes in..... count the fish over 45" the guide has, that hit 100 total fish. He's a nice guy and running a good business but what he catches in a year fishing full time for big fish my partner and I would at least double with us only fishing weekends with minimal days during the week after work. (10 years ago numbers, not today) Some may say the fish are still there, you need to try different locations and tactics. I'll listen if you have over 20 fish to date this season (northern WI) 45" or over. That's only about two fish a week since season start.
Edited by Hodag Hunter 8/6/2018 11:21 PM
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Posts: 32784
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | My hamster can beat up your cat.
And I don't even have a garage, you can call home and ask my wife. |
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Posts: 315
| sworrall - 8/6/2018 11:12 PM
My hamster can beat up your cat.
And I don't even have a garage, you can call home and ask my wife.
He may look dumb but that’s just a disguise
He’s a mastermind in the ways of espionage
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Posts: 430
| So, not this is my opinion, I am thinking there are two reasons we may be seeing this. First, has the tactics we have been programmed, or brainwashed, to use lost their appeal? As mentioned above, still throwing big blades and big rubber!!!! Second, has this run its course? My self, I have become very disillusioned with musky fishing. And I restate this is my opinion. The constant exploration on the internet, getting to the boat landing at 5 am and its full, driving to Ontario and seeing people you know almost daily, the constant grandstanding of guides, the vast number of new guides. I find that I get way more enjoyment out of crappie and large mouth fishing up north than fishing for muskies. |
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | I don't know now, I am starting to think it's cave run legands fault too. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Wow, 20 over 45” by August? I doubt many are even doing that in mn. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if N. Wisconsin is a >45" destination? why drive to MN. or Eagle? 20 over 45" in N. WI. by August would be on a brag-board 18 years ago.
as it goes with all species, when you aren't catching fish, someone is. the butt-hurt is big in the air today ... OFM > Netflix this week!!
last week there was a big fish bite happening in MN too, one of my gypsy friends was on em ... that's a young man's game. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | catching muskies is not hard when you are on the water every day. 100 fish can be put in the boat by literally anyone with enough hours... what I always respect the most are the guys that tell you how many hours they fish for X # of fish...if you are around 4 to 5 hrs per fish by end of season on most WI/MN waters you are well above avg... always crax me up when a guide brags about 100 fish and then you realize they are on the water 100s and 100s of hrs to do it...oh and count 27"ers in the total...c'mon mannnnn
fishing is always different each year, lakes cycle, weather patterns, cycle, baitfish cycles, and water temps.... only thing a guy can do is try to adapt and find where the fish are. sometimes they just don't want bite tho...
Edited by BNelson 8/7/2018 7:12 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | it's like golf, the course is the same for everyone and some guys own it even when it's playing tough. even tiger made triple bogeys when steve williamson (edit: williams) left his bag.
Edited by jonnysled 8/7/2018 7:21 AM
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Location: Contrarian Island | it is like golf, any ding dong can get 100 birdies if they simply play enough rounds |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i agree with Brad, any tom, dick or pointer can shoot par
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Location: Contrarian Island | or guys that can't golf switch to fishing bass lol |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | "if you can't shoot par you should sell everything" ...
i just raised a couple golfers, they don't need me anymore. i can still find my way around the track ...
170/34/12/4/8.5/6 ... |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I play in the low 80`s but I generally do a little better on the second hole. |
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Posts: 200
Location: Twin Cities | jonnysled - 8/7/2018 7:28 AM
i agree with Brad, any tom, dick or pointer can shoot par
Disagree, the amount of people that can shoot par is extremely low |
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Posts: 1759
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Fish on! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | jchiggins - 8/7/2018 10:20 AM
Fish on!
easy as catching a dumb bass!!! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'll be pointer's net man on this fish ... at least he won't blame me as another excuse. |
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