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Posts: 37
| Heading to this chain the last week of June. Looking for any info I can on other people's experiences.
Already searched and there wasn't much.
Anyone have any info?
Thanks,
Mike |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Clear water, good structure, and some very big fish. It's been years since I fished it. We used to stay on Loonhaunt at Art Lotto's remote camp. I remember challenging fishing, but big fish in decent numbers. I stayed at a cabin on one of the smaller lakes too. During one trip there, Tony Portincaso got a fish that was about 40#.
I think most of the muskies we chased were on Pipestone. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I'm trying to put together an outing in mid July this year and am interested in the lake as well. We'd be staying on Clearwater.
How are the hazards?
Is there enough fishable area where a group of 5-8 boats won't be crowding each other out?
Are there any other lakes in the chain that have muskies?
Is there a map anywhere?
Thanks |
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Posts: 37
| We are staying on Clearwater at Little Moose Lodge. New owner said lake is very navigable, just a few major hazards and they are well marked. His advice was to fish the north end of Clearwater, the lake between Clearwater and Pipestone, and the island system in Pipestone.
Haven't seen any maps yet but the owner said that it was about a 45 min (30 HP) trip from middle of Clearwater over portage and into Pipestone. Seems there would be enough space, but I can't be sure.
There are maps, but I haven't seen them.
Mike |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Thanks Mike,
I know that there's about 70 miles of water in the whole chain of lakes. 30 minutes with a 30hp should translate to about 8min in with my 225hp LOL!
We're looking at staying at Trails End Lodge. They've been a great sponsor of our tournament and we thought it'd be nice to give back with an outing up there.
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| Fished it quite a few years back... Like previously mentioned, some big fish in this system. Lake Trout type water, very deep & clear. You can fish everything from island complexes with weed & rock saddles to standing timber and laydowns.
Get comfortable with the water and make an effort to venture out after dark for night fishing.... 
Also made a 1 day portage into Lake Kishkutena.... Only fish in the lake are smallies, perch, & muskies. Very cool body of water and lots of skies. |
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Posts: 37
| Thanks everyone, for their replies. Great information. Only...gulp... 19 more weeks. (15 weeks for WI opener and 16 for MN)
Mike |
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| Yep, trout water is challenging, but there's something about muskie that crystal clear water that's awesome. I fished it a few years back and there are some awefully big fish in there that's for sure. I'm hoping to return there this year or next! |
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| I agree with Worrall and John, though the gin clear waters of Pipestone are challenging, it has unbelievable structure with all the island, points, and reefs it has, plus like Esox1850 said, many complexes, has some weeds, and standing timber. Believe me, there are some huge fish in there.
Hit the the islands around and north of Ross Island and Mink Island, there are a lot of them. Also try Schistose Lake - the lake that connects off of the NW Arm of Pipestone. If you have a GPS Mike, don;t be afraid to night fish, the gin clear waters in Canada often have a night bite too! Good luck!
Lane |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | John or Lane, is there a map of this lake? Even if it isn't a hydro map, just something where I can take a look at it.
I'll be making the pitch to our MI chapter starting this month. If anyone else is interested in getting in with the group let me know. One of our tournament sponsors is getting us a group rate and I'd like to give him some good business. We're probably going to be going the 2nd week in July, although nothing's set in stone yet. |
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| I have a cabin on Pipestone. Lots of water, structure and great opportunity for trophy muskies. You can find some maps on the
Pipestone Lodge website. These maps break down the lake into sections. If you want a detailed topo map(s) that show all islands etc I'd suggest you order Canadian topos for 52F4 Kakagi (Crow) Lake which covers most of Pipestone, and 52F3 Harris Lake (covers NE portion of Pipestone. You can go to the Ontario MNR site and view these maps online. On the main lake channels there are not too many problems ref hazards. You do have to be careful around islands points etc. The water level has been lower than normal. Beautiful area, Good luck |
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| I spent a fair amount of time on those lakes, but they are both super clear and i got sick of getting totally skunked whenever the weather was nice. Pipestone is really pretty but has a few prop eaters and there's no really good maps except the topo maps of the land (not the water). From what I found, the the good muskie stuff is a way up the lake up on the arm, and it can be a long ride in rough weather. I rented an outpost cabin up there one summer and that was better than going back and forth. Clearwater is a runway and there are cabins everywhere. When you are not being bombed by a bush pilot in a float plane it's okay but Pipestone is were its at.
There are big fish in Pipeston for sure, but the bite can be TOUGH. For the average joe that only has a week or two a year to figure out the lake I think other waters are a better bet and that's why I stopped going there, I think pressure's up too because I started to have to fight for more spots. It is cool to explore someplace different w/ a group but these lakes aren't the promised land like I thought they were--go have fun and don't get frustrated like I did! |
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| As far as big, trophy potential waters with less pressure and without having to fly-in, this is definitely a great lake to consider.
The bite can be tough, but that's trout water. I go with a group every year the first couple weeks of July, and we often go to Pipestone. It’s an awesome lake, and like others have said, it's loaded with different kinds of structure - has a lot of islands/reefs/saddles, has some weeds, and even has some standing timber. Be sure to fish the NW arm and Schistose Lake (off of the NW arm).
To get a feel of the lake/different sections of the lake, check out the maps on www.pipestonelodge.com.
Pipestone has some huge fish swimming around in there no doubt. Pipestone held a WR at one time, or at least a line class WR.
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| t-minus 14 weeks!!!!!!!!! |
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| Hi All.Heading up to Pipestone on the Aug 20th! Any info or updates would be appreciated.Water temp,fishing tips if possible.Mainly Skies.Thanks Manny  |
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| Muskyman how did your trip go? Heading up on the 20th.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks |
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | I've fished Pipestone twice in the last few years. Both times I stayed at Art's at Pipestone Lodge. If you want any info just let me know. |
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| Sure,i appreciate any help.My E-mail is [email protected],ve fished the NW end of LOTW for 20 years.Be more than happy to help you out if interested or Big V as well.Thanks .Greg |
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | e-mail sent |
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Posts: 37
| Just got back from 3 1/2 days on Pipestone up at Gateway North Outpost's Watson Bay Outpost. Nice little place and a good location, except there may only be 6 muskies in the entire lake.
Fished hard for 3 days and only raised 5 or 6, only one of those was over 40", I would say. Got one 30" or so on a Suick. I did get a 29" walleye on a black Bulldog, though.
Water temps were 73-74 with very little wind, except for yesterday, our last day, the 14th.
We muskie fished about 30 hours in the time we were up there covering the 3-20' depths with those few fish to show for it. Fished reefs, islands, complexes, shallow bays, shallow bays with deep water adjacent, shallow bays with adjacent deep water with wind, etc., etc.
We assume (since we pounded the "shallow" water with everything from #5 Mepps to 10" Swimming Joes) that the fish weren't shallow.
We didn't try to troll out in the open water, because we are stubborn (really, I don't even know how to start). Finding open water fish, or suspended fish, is daunting.
Hope you have better luck.
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