Lower Manitou Lake Fishing Reports by Camp Manitou

[Outfitter17]

10/6/09

The water temps are starting to drop, we have had cool weather the past week or so with temps in the low 30's at night and only up to mid 50's in the day time.

The weeds are really starting to take a turn for the worse as the temps drop.

Muskies have moved out to the very deep water and they are really only catchable trolling believers or jakes at a pretty good speed.

The bass are deep and starting to school up, you can still find them on the reefs, but they are in 21'-25'fow.

Trout season is now closed until Jan. 1, so there is nothing to report on for them.

The lake is really quiet right now, just a few boats around. I would guess you might only see 1 or 2 boats up in the beaverhead area next weekend.

We have some moose hunters coming in on Friday and that will be it for us until we start with our deer hunts at the end of Oct.

Good Luck on your trip.

[Lower Manitou]

Thanks Outfitter.

[Outfitter17]

10/10/09

There was 3" of snow on the ground this morning, and with the wind other than the open water it looked like we were right in the middle of a winter storm. The moose hunters that are in, saw 1 bull and a cow yesterday while out for about 6 hrs.

2 guys tried a little pike fishing - wanting a couple for a fish fry. They boated about 25 in 3 hrs, mainly fishing in hidden bay and at the grant lake waterfall. They also picked up a few small smallmouth, but the majority of them along with the big ones are all deep right now.

I will post how the hunt turns out in a couple of days.

[Outfitter17]

10/20/09

The local moose hunter we had in camp last week ended up going home empty handed. They saw a few moose during the trip, but couldn't get shots off, one guys gun jammed on a nice bull the 2nd day and that was the only real opportunity at a nice one. They will be back next year, being happy with what they saw. The conditions were terrible, but that's what happens sometimes this time of the year.

We are heading back in for deer camp next weekend, so I will post how the deer hunters do, when I get a chance.

[Outfitter17]

10/31/09

Temps have been varing between 25 and 35 degrees, and we have had about 3 inches of snow between yesterday afternoon and today.

The deer have started to move a bit the last couple of days with alot of nice deer being seen along with alot more scraps and rubs the past few days.

I will report in a couple of days what was taken and how big.

[Outfitter17]

11/9/09

The temps have warmed up quite a bit, we hit 57 on saturday. We are seeing more sign each day, but not tons like I am use to seeing this part of the season. There are a few nice ones on the pole, the biggest grossing 164 1/8".

The temps look like they are going to hold in the mid 40's for the week, hopefully they are wrong and it drops to the low 30's and we get some white stuff on the ground.

[prov1900]

Matt,

Tell me you are finding time to fish now. Where are those reports? I need to live vicariously through you

Then again, a 164 deer sounds pretty tasty too!!

[Outfitter17]

Well guys, all the boats are put away for the season and it's time to wrap up the 2009 thread. Enjoy thanksgiving, we will post a few icefishing reports and then start a new thread for the 2010 open water season.

Thanks for following.

[Outfitter17]

12/4/09

Ice is slowly starting to form along the shorelines and it has closed up some of the smaller bays. I am guessing with the forecast that we have coming up (couple days with lows in the 0's to -0's that esox and the stretch will skim over. The main lake will still be a week or so after that. Let's all hope there is no snow in the forecast for about 3 weeks or so, so we can get a good ice base.

[Outfitter17]

12/15/09

Hey Guys just wanted to let you know that the temps up here have been very cold (-16F last night) with very little wind, so we are starting to make very good ice. It is shaping up to be a great ice season.

If anyone is still looking for a winter trout spot, we have a few opening for mid Feb. and March.

Here are the Sport shows dates and locations that we will be at, if anyone is in the area feel free to stop by and say Hi.

Jan. 7-10 Kansas City, MO (Bartle Hall)

Jan. 14-17 Chicago, IL (Pheasant Run Hotel and Convention center)

Jan. 27-31 Chicago, IL (Donald E. Stephens Convention Center)

Feb. 10-14 St. Louis, MO (America's Center & Edward Jones Dome)

Feb. 18-21 Claremore, OK (Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs)

I will update the list if we decide to add another show.

[SimilarIsland]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for the dates. We'll be down to say "hi".

[Outfitter17]

I would like to thank everyone who followed our posts this past summer season. It was nice to see the page views go up, it shows there are alot of avid anglers out there keeping up on the fishing reports for our area and we are not just writing to ourselves. I will get the winter posts going after we run a few groups thorugh this winter season.

Sara and I would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you and your family. Enjoy this time with loved ones and look for our new 2010 post this upcoming season.

[IceCab]

Hey Matt....shoot me an email when you get a [email protected] If you remember I was registered as "cedarnarrowsguy"....same email though...

Thanks, Rich

[Outfitter17]

Rich,

You have mail.

[Outfitter17]

Hey Rich,

Did you ever make it up the lake?

We went up the lake yesterday with a few guys and the lake conditions are fantastic. We put on about 100 miles and didn't encounter slush anywhere. We started at Dogfly, went over to the Manitou, down the manitou stretch, over to Straw Lake, Cross to Yoke, then over to Pipestone, and then return with a few detours.

If anyone is still looking for a last minute spot for ice fishing, we have openings for:

Feb. 25-28

Mar. 11-15

Ap. 1-4

If you want something midweek, just email me at [email protected]

[NoWiser]

Outfitter,

Did you do the Mister to Missus to Floyd route when you headed over to Straw?? If so, how were the two portages between Floyd and Missus? I haven't been on them in 2 or 3 years, and that was in summer, carrying a canoe. They weren't much fun then. We'll be up at Watson Bay Thursday - Sunday this week and if conditions are that nice, we were thinking about heading up that direction to do some exploring, with a little fishing mixed in. Its not every trip that you find plenty of snow on the portages and no slush on the lakes, we might have to bring an extra 5 gallons for the sleds and take advantage of it.

Thanks!

[Outfitter17]

NoWiser,

We went from the bottom of the manitou stretch, through the woods, accross a small lake over to a trappers cabin. From the trappers cabin we followed the mister road out to the cedar narrows, we went down the cedar for about 2 blocks and then got on straw. The entire trip was on a nice base of snow and no slush to be found.

You wouldn't need extra gas if you were running a 4 stroke;)

[NoWiser]

Thanks Outfitter,

We headed across Straw and Floyd, and then opened up the portage to the little unnamed lake between Floyd and Missus (should have brought a chainsaw), then got into Missus and made it up to Harris where we spent a few hours fishing and caught some trout. On the way back we veered south off of the unnamed lake and took the Mister Rd back out to Cedar Narrows. (Saw the trail to Manitou) Then we headed down towards the gravel pit to try to fish a few lakes around there, but decided it was too late by the time we got there so we just headed back and fished Pipestone in the evening. You are right, conditions are perfect. It was a blast up there!

As far as the 4-stroke goes.....I bet Superbee would sell me his Bearcat for real cheap I only burned 9 gallons of gas all weekend, so I think I'll stick with the sled that will start everytime at -30!

[Outfitter17]

We had 9 guys up this weekend and they did pretty good on the LT and very good on the walleyes. For 3 days of morning trout fishing they caught 93 trout and they didn't keep track of the number of walleyes but they said they caught a ton. The weather was great and ice travel is fantastic.

If anyone is looking for a late season trip we have 2 weekends open:

Mar. 20 and Ap. 3 weekends and that's it.

Call or email if you have questions.

Thanks

[Outfitter17]

A group of us just got back from camp and the walleye fishing in James lake was awesome, we limited out both days fishing in the evenings with plenty of small ones going back for next year. We only fished lakers this morning for a bit and landed a few, we were mainly up to try James and it was well worth it. It is only a shore ride from the main camp and it adds a little more adventure to an already remote trip.

[pnut]

Heading up this weekend to Lower Manitou (march 5). Any info on Trails from logging road to South bay? Ice conditions? Looking for fishing info in the straights for Lakers.

[Outfitter17]

Hey Pnut,

Welcome to the board, where are you staying? That will help for giving you info right near your area.

[pnut]

We have a place just up Hidden river. Wondering the best route in from the logging road to south bay: Ministry Snowmobile trail, Along a hill lake, Dogfly? Trails holding up? Probably fishing mostly in the straights but a trip up to Calder Bay/Lake not out of the question.

[Outfitter17]

Pnut,

I would plan on parking at the 24km spot and take the ministry trail in, The dogfly parking lot will be full by friday I am guessing. I don't know if anyone has used the min. trail, but it is an easy flat ride in with no real hills to deal with. I might try it thursday, not sure yet. I would stay away from alonghill portage, I have never had good luck with it.

If you want to fish around your cabin, you can just use the traditional spots, out in front of snare bay, the point across from hidden river's bay, off the flag pole at camp manitou, east end of black island. If you want to ride a bit, the nw side of the first point on the left as the big lake opens up. Fish off the weaseal, pecker point.

You also will see old holes where people have fished in the past few weeks.

Good Luck

[SimilarIsland]

Welcome pnut,

My friend has the cabin/island right by the Dogfly portage. Been going there since about '85.