I really suck (Part II)

[Scoot]

After taking a shot to the groin in the Bemidji area for three straight days (fishing lakes I know and have caught fish on before on many trips), I wasn't smart enough to learn my lesson. I spent two full days (25 hours of fishing) on LOW on Fri and Sat and didn't see a fish. Nothing! Not one!!! I fished points, saddles, reefs, walls, spines, cabbage filled bays... I hit 'em all. I focussed on early season spots first, but when that didn't pan out, I fished everything under the sun after that. 90% of the spots I fished were places I've seen and caught fish for the past couple decades, but not this trip...

Arguably the best musky fishery in the world and I can't even see a fish in two straight days... I must really suck!

[RK]

Hey Scoot -

Don't feel bad. It's been pretty stinky up there from what I've heard. Big wind a week or so back turned it into a mudhole and knocked the water temps down 10 degrees. Some guys I know that know more about LoTWs than you, I, and 3 other people put together know were struggling for a fish every other day...

Can't fight Ma Nature - especially on that lake.

Rob Kimm

[JimBuck]

Scoot,

Your not alone on the frustration. I fished LOTW near Nestor Falls and into Sabaskong Bay and couldn't land a fish for the life of me. We arrived on the 4th and went out that evening for a bit....we ran into a big female that was all spawned out just floating around in a nearby bay. She looked pretty beat up and it really made me nervous going into the rest of the week as I've heard spawn was a good 3 weeks behind. A few days later, I hooked up with 2 on figure 8's (low 40's and high 40's) and they would just BARELY nip the tail of my lure only to come unbuttoned shortly after. Hooked up with a 3rd that was well into the 50's trolling lindy's for eye's (go figure). We saw probably 40 fish for the 5-6 days we were up there. Visibility in some parts was below 6" but we still found fish holding in those areas as well. The key for us was smaller bucks near rock points with vegetation nearby. The final day the topwater bite was starting to pick up and had a few blowups early morning in bullrush and heard of a few caught on topwaters at camp. Weather was phenomenal and even though we didn't net any, we moved quite a few and had a good time doing so. Ah, the frustrations of chasing esox.

[BrianLucky13]

Should have stayed around home Scoot!!! We have been pounding some big fish with a few over 50!!!

[Musky Buck]

Thank heavens for Mantrap or I'd be at 0 on the season instead of looking for fish # 13. Bet Jonah, who taught the creeper how to creep wishes he was still in P.R. Just for Jonah

...Alcohol free since 01/01/09..........

[Quackaddict9]

Thank heavens for Mantrap or I'd be at 0 on the season instead of looking for fish # 13. Bet Jonah, who taught the creeper how to creep wishes he was still in P.R. Just for Jonah

...Alcohol free since 01/01/09..........

what happened to that guy? Is he still around here? He would get some nice fish out of the Trap when he was in P.R.!

MB- I'll have to show ya a neat looking buck we have on the trail cam, just waiting to see how it grows out!

[b1gf1sh1]

Quote:

Arguably the best musky fishery in the world and I can't even see a fish in two straight days... I must really suck!

did you try putting a topwater bait on, casting out, sticking the rod in a rod-holder and opening up the throttle? heck, never know what mighta happened nah just jawin' ya.

[Scoot]

Quote:

Arguably the best musky fishery in the world and I can't even see a fish in two straight days... I must really suck!

did you try putting a topwater bait on, casting out, sticking the rod in a rod-holder and opening up the throttle? heck, never know what mighta happened nah just jawin' ya.

I tried everything BUT that! Dang, if I'd only have known...

[10,000 Casts]

LOTW can do that to the best of em. I know alot of people that have a love hate relationship with it. It's just a little too early maybe and liek RK said, when she gets stirred up she shuts down.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

did you try putting a topwater bait on, casting out, sticking the rod in a rod-holder and opening up the throttle? heck, never know what mighta happened nah just jawin' ya.

There is a guy on Leech that does that on his sailboat. He pulls around an orange hawg wobbler and he caught 2 muskies last year.

[Musky Buck]

Can't wait to see it quack, I haven't put mine out yet although after a 4 muskie night last night pulled into the yard and in the garden there stood the one that will keep me going till fall, pretty blurry as he swiveled his head but a definite horse with 2 other yearling bucks. Had a great Mantrap night last night with a 48 ish being the biggest. Had 5 strikes, no follows, I like those nights best. My last Jonah report was he was Twin Cities fishing Waconia and area lakes some. I would bet he's juggling career, women or woman, etc. I always liked his alcohol free since 1/1/08, I've been saying that for years following New Year's Eve, but like many I'll never do that again but time heals and I get plowed again lol. Quack boated 16 now, been an excellent year considering I've made roughly a dozen muskie runs. Getting almost zilch for follows, but hooking up a bunch, lost another mid 40 yesterday with the others, hit no moon phase or major or minors, the key was the sun wasn't out and the Trap was on fire, wondering when it will end, fished alone last night as well and had quite a few people watching me close as they knew I was doing battle, but that's what 21 years of muskie experience does for a guy.

[WRD]

Musky buck, that's a good year you got going. I'm hoping that lake stays hot as I'm staying at Olson cabins a couple weekends from now with my wife. She hasn't had a muskie in the boat for a couple years now. It's time for her to shine again.

[Musky Buck]

Yes it has been a good year, I like hearing so many slow fishing reports yet my theory out there has been rock solid thus far, patterns change and I hope it doesn't just shut off on me but until it quits I'm staying after them. I hate the long boatride out to the main lake but I like to stick to what works. Last year was a tougher year for me but landing a pb helps the cause, 52.5 crushing a topwater is all I need to remember from last year.

[Musky Buck]

I equate it to like Joe mauer when he's in a groove hitting the ball, sometimes you get in those grooves generally they don't last this long though.

[Scoot]

I equate it to like Joe mauer when he's in a groove hitting the ball, sometimes you get in those grooves generally they don't last this long though.

Yeah, I'm more on the groove that Mauer found right before the all star break-- 0 for 5 with four strike outs!!!

Those grooves can be fun, can't they?!? I've got an Aug pattern that's been pretty solid for me. I hope to find it again soon...

[MJCatfish]

Well, Scooter, you're definitely "due". If you'd like to lay that "due" card down next week on our trip to LOTW, I'd be more than happy to know it.

See you in a few. How'd your bro do with the twins yesterday down at Orwell?

MJ

[Scoot]

The Engel Streak continues!!! They got whooped by tough conditions- high, fast, dirty water = diddly squat!

Yes, let's team up in a couple weeks and see if we can have a better go of it on LOW. My worst fear is that the weather will become more normal and water temps will shoot up very quickly, right before we get there. Water temp spikes also = no muskies. We'll see...

I can tell you this- after the beating I've taken lately, I will not spend 25 hours chasing muskies without seeing a dang fish on the next trip. I'll fish for something that doesn't suck and make me feel miserable. Maybe we can find a good rock bass spot...

[MJCatfish]

Crankin' #5s on OT has been killer for the old red eye. We can try that pattern up north, also!

MJ