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Posts: 227
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Always have made my Canada trips in July/Aug timeframe. However, this year we can't get up there until the 2nd week of September.
Been to two great (and very well known) camps on both Eagle and LOTW, so don't need a location - just need to decide which lake!
I know we can't lose either way, but man, this is hard deciding which one.
Any feedback/opinions on that time of year, experiences vs. mid-summer, things that would factor into your decision, etc...would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Jeff
Edited by FishHateMe 2/27/2010 6:32 PM
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Never been to Eagle in September, but LOTW can and is often green and nasty in mid-sept. If I were you, I would keep going north east and hit Lac Seul. |
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Posts: 143
Location: Lake of The Woods | LOTW in september for me is by far MY weakest month for #'s, though i have stung some fish that looked like railroad ties. This year was an exception though for LOTW in september as the h2o temps peaked as they did in many lakes. I have only fished Eagle lake once and it was this year sept 25-27 the first to days were X-cellent, then on the 27th it was the first day of harsh weather for the fall and proceded into a deep fish slump  |
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Posts: 458
| I like Eagle in September and you have a shot at a real monster fish there. Good Luck! |
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| 1st 2nd week of sept can be an excellent time on eagle,really turnover shouldn't be an issue in the back of your mind during not over this time but really anytime thru sept on eagle. eagle has 6-7 diff basins with depths from 120' in the western arm ,40-60' vb,60-80'portgae bay,50-70',30-40,stanton/lone pine area,20-40,osbourne bay,12-15' nivens bay all which turn at diff times depending on water emps and wind.you can always be ahead or behind within boating distance.
the lake does not bloom except under the weirdest hottest septs and only in the extreme southern sections,you will never see anytime of bloom n of the match line.and rarely if ever in the central section.
1st 2nd week in most sections is pre turnpver,and can be a hot shallow bite,
some of the biggest goiing 50#+ we have boated have been during the so-called turnover period 3rd-4th week of sept and historically eagle has always given up some of her biggest fish in mid-late sept
around labour day and the week aftr has always been one of my fav times,no bugs,kids back at school and generally less people around,typically great fishing weather not to hot not to cold,and big fish moving,all in all a choice i wouldn't be worried about when it comes to eagle.
for more detailed info or discussion just pm me or [email protected]
herbie
andy myers lodge |
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Location: Des Moines IA | Booked my first trip to Eagle (Andy Meyers)for the third week in Septemeber. Can't wait! |
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Posts: 439
Location: Lake of the Woods, Morson, Ontario | Hasn't anybody else read the article in MH with Petros and Sandy about September?
Best sustained action of 2009 in our area of LOTW was in September.
Pressure is WAY down from summer months.
Plenty of current and areas to work around any bloom that may be around.
My fave time of the year to fish LOTW other than the trolling period of late fall.
I'm sure Eagle is great all around as well, but don't count out LOTW. |
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Posts: 814
| If its a true trophy hunt your after its Eagle hands down....
in reality has anyone caught a true fifty pounder out of LOTW? |
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Location: Windy City | In the waters of Eagle Lake, Girthra resides. IMHO
Edited by one last cast 3/1/2010 11:17 AM
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Posts: 2069
| mskyhntr - 2/28/2010 8:22 PM
If its a true trophy hunt your after its Eagle hands down....
in reality has anyone caught a true fifty pounder out of LOTW?
Patricia Strutz caught a 54.5 x 30" a few years back.....It might be scary if you put Herbie and his boys on a few sections of LOTW for 20 years (Not the NW angle) - I would not be surprised to see a 60 Lbs fish come out of one of the "trout water" sections of LOTW -There are most definitely true 50 Lbs fish in LOTW - and due to the fact its many times larger than Eagle there are almost certainly "more" 50 pounders in LOTW - Is your chance at encountering one more likely on Eagle - possibly. But in reality you will fish a lifetime in either lake and probably never land a true 50 pounder.
Edited by IAJustin 3/1/2010 11:22 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i've been to Eagle and AML 3 or 4 times during that week you mention and feel that it's a great choice. we've always done well in-fact well enough that i broke a 14+ year streak going to lotw and see no need to ever return there. lots of things of-course play into that, but for me it's late-august/early september on the rock at AML.
maybe we'll see you there this year ... |
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Posts: 221
| IAJustin, there aren't many 50lb fish on LOTW. Period. More then Eagle... I highly doubt that too.
If you were to boat a 50lber on LOTW it would most definitely be a fall fish. There is a MINUSCULE number of fish over 55" on LOTW. and 60LBS on LOTW... IMO, has never has happened. Maybe one miracle fish...
...and believe me, guys equivalent to Herbie have kicked the crap out of the sections you mentioned for many years.
Darcy Cox
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Posts: 2069
| And there aren't many 50Lb fish in Eagle either.
Darcy - How often do you have a 20" sucker hanging out the back of your boat? How many guys on LOTW are working a pounder 15-20 feet down?....of course it would be a fall fish... Does eagle have more GIANTS per acre - probably. But prove me to me that LOTW doesn't have more 50 pounders 
Edited by IAJustin 3/1/2010 2:59 PM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | You are far more likely to boat a 50" fish on Eagle then LOTW in my opinion. With that logic, it's easier to argue your chances of boating a 50 lb. fish would thus be greater on Eagle as well. I like LOTW a lot, but if the discussion is centered on where the bigger fish reside the answer is Eagle and I think it's not even close |
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Posts: 227
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Thanks for all of the feedback guys but I wasn't trying to start a "which lake gives you a better shot on a 50lber" thread.
The feedback on bloom, turnover and previous experience on both bodies of water in early/mid-September is much appreciated. I know last year's crazy cold summer and hot September weather through everything out the window...
Keep it coming! |
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Posts: 964
| I would pick Eagle. My biggest eagle fish 40#+ came in Sept. staying at Herbies a few years ago.
I have fished lake of the woods many times, If you want numbers of fish in this time frame I would go to LOW. If you want big fish go to Eagle.
Either lake at any time you have a shot at a giant. But in Sept. I would go to Eagle
Good luck
Jeff Hanson
Madisonmuskyguide.com |
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Posts: 582
| Some more input:
I've fished LOTW multiple times late Aug/early Sept and although I've only fished Eagle once in early Sept, a number of my good fishing friends are Eagle-lake-diehards. You really can't go wrong with either choice, IMO.
Some generalities: on average, the size of fish that you will encounter on Eagle will be bigger, and as far as opportunities at a top-end trophy, I don't think Eagle plays second-fiddle to any lake, anywhere. LOTW, on the other hand, will likely show you more numbers of fish of all sizes, although 48"+ fish will make up a lesser proportion of the fish you encounter. I agree with Jeff that if you want numbers of quality (43"+) fish, LOTW is the better choice. If you are really after a 50"+, or once-in-a-lifetime type fish, Eagle is a better choice. Again, just generalities here, because you can catch good numbers of fish of all sizes on Eagle, and LOTW has it's share of 50"+ fish and once-in-a-lifetime fish as well.
I'll respectfully disagree with Mr. Malack's statement that "it's not even close" when comparing where the bigger fish reside. I agree with you, Brian, that the nod should go to Eagle, but I just wouldn't quite say it so emphatically/decisively. LOTW is no slouch when it comes to trophy opportunities.....now, if by "bigger" we're not just talking about opportunities at fish which are 50"+, but rather are only talking about 54"+ type-fish, I'd guess that the gap between the two lakes does widen, and in general, I'd also agree that Eagle fish tend to carry more weight/girth than their LOTW counterparts.
In Late Aug/Sept on LOTW, if you're fishing the NW Angle region, you're going to have to deal with bloom. Understandably, it's a turnoff to some, but if you're observant you can find clear areas to fish as the wind and current is constantly cleaning areas out. The converse of that is true though too, in that wind and current will be constantly moving bloom into formerly clear areas. If you're new to LOTW and don't have a large milk-run of spots, it can be pretty maddening to find your good spots turned into pea soup, sometimes within a matter of hours. To be honest, we've still had some luck fishing good spots even when algae-filled, but confidence does wane when it's really green.
I don't think that Eagle has issues like that, and Eagle also has the advantage of allowing differing water characteristics in differing regions, all within a reasonable boatride at all times that you're on the water.
I like LOTW in late Aug/early Sept because of reduced fishing pressure. (I'd guess that the same could be said for Eagle). Of course, boat traffic as a whole declines after Labor Day, but I also think that the bloom issue keeps guys away from LOTW....which in my mind makes it a good timeframe on LOTW, since the Angle and particularly the Big Narrows can get fairly busy during the summer.
The other big advantage that Eagle has is a camp like Herbie's, which with top guides on the water every day, you'll have up-to-the-minute patterns being shared. I don't think there are any fishing camps that can offer that same level of fishing assistance to their guests.
But like I said, either way, you are making a choice between two exceptionally good options. |
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