Opener Ideas

[yoppdk]

With the upcoming opener for trout within lakes, I'd expect to see a bunch more discussions here about upcoming plans, tactics, etc. Maybe there just aren't that many folks getting excited about the opener, but quite frankly I've given up on walleyes for this season and look forward to hunting up some trout.

Last year was great right around opener but seemed to fizzle some after a couple weeks, then got hot again a couple weeks later. Last year I spent most time looking for stream trout (browns, brooks, bows & splake) whereas this year I'll probably focus on lakers. A late trip last year yeilded a couple nice lakers, and the May opener yielded a couple lakers ... so I personally am looking forward to yanking a couple outta that hole on the 18th.

Anybody else got any plans for opener?

[Dragon Fish ll]

Yes ive been looking forward to it to.but iwasnt sure of the exact date. is it jan.18th for sure. Wanted to ask the other day but lost my pass word when gator was down.and dnr trout regs were no help.Ive noticed someones caught a couple of trout at Christmas lake already,released.since I read of some realy nice size trout coming out of xmas lake last year I think Ill start out there next weekend.

[yoppdk]

Yep ... definitely Jan 18th for trout opener, I just double-checked the regs. For BWCA lakes it opened last weekend. I heard mixed reviews from folks going up for the opener last weekend ... some did well, others not.

I would think Xmas lake is a designated trout lake ... if so, they shouldn't even be drilling holes there yet. Whatever. We have a few designated trout lakes up here that are closed all winter ... those are the ones that seem to really produce (rainbows) in the spring. At least it's nice to have something to look forward to.

Good luck for the opener ...

[Dragon Fish ll]

That was quick, I take it you live up north. Christmas lake is not a designated trout lake. but there is one not to far from there that is, its only about 10 acres but should have some nice trout.I was up north in sept. and found what I considered a nice little trout lake, called Diamond lake about two miles south of the casino by Walker.I was real disapointed to find out that all the trout fishing is closed thru the winter.in that area.theres not a lot of trout down in the southern part of MN. from what Ive read up on. But the couple ponds we have can be pretty good around opener.after that depends on angler pressure. I moved here from California 12 years ago.and hadnt done any trout fishing until last year since imoved here. but I wish they had the same planting progam as they do out there.during the winter they stock almost all the main lakes and streams every two weeks with trout.Was ot there at the end of last May in the north east corner and caught alo of nice trout. since then its kind of in the blood. Welp gotta go. Good luck on Opener

[yoppdk]

I'm in Grand Rapids. I didn't pay much attention to the trout for the first couple years I was up here, but started looking into in last year. It's kinda nice to have something different to do other than chase the walleyes and panfish.

When you say you don't have much trout in the southern part of the state, I'll assume you mean only in lakes. There are great streams for trout in the southern part of the state ... at least they've become well-known in the past few years. I haven't tried any of them but probably would if I lived in the vicinity. We have some trout streams up here, too, but I haven't scoped any out except one local stream ... turned out to be nothing more than a small creek - that was not anything I could fish with a fly rod. The main streams up here are near Superior (tributaries).

By the way, there are some good publications available from DNR that list all trout streams and lakes in various areas ... info not readily available on their HSOforum. You can have them mail you these publications including maps, etc ... nice to have.

[knoppers]

not going to make it out for the state opener, but am going into canada on the 25th. lookin forward to those rod jerkin fish to be biten. good luck to those trying our state lakes next weekend. hopefully making it up to mink lake sometime in feb. or mar., do a little winter camping also. nothing sounds better, sittin' next to cracklin' fire, cookin some fresh brookies, sippin on some moose drools, and watchin the northern lights.

[Guest]

I'm not going to make opener, but I'm heading up the Gunflint around the first of Feb. It will be my first Laker trip. Just looking for some hotspots for Lakers, splake, and bows. What types of lures you use would be helpful too. Looking forward to your responses.

[knoppers]

for lakers, I have very good luck in canada using chartuesse rattle jigs, with glow twister power baits. for the streamers, any ice panfish jig with a waxie seems to work good. good luck on your trip, I hope they are biten' and keep biten' for the trip I go to that area.

[Xplorer]

I will either be heading up to Ely and fishing Burntside for lakers, or if that falls through I will hit a small local trout lake for some bows. Was realy looking forward to being on burntside but may have to wait until the get-together in Feb.
Xplorer

[Renneberg]

I'm headed to xmas on monday after the crowds have gone. Shouldn't have any problems finding a few trout that didn't eat over the weekend.