Square Lake

[leech~~]

Any recent reports? Gonna give it the ol' college try sometime this week.

Don't forget this from Donbo's past post. This is all the regulation book says:

Square Lake (Washington County) trout: Catch-and-release from May 15 through June 11 and from October 1 through October 31. Remainder of the summer and winter seasons the possession limit for trout is two.

[DonBo]

Yeah, trout fishing is over till mid January.

[JBMasterAngler]

I don't keep fish. That's good though, I'll probably have the lake all to myself then Thanks for the heads up anyway though.

[MinnesotaMike]

DonBo,

When do they do the fall stocking???

[JBMasterAngler]

Last year the DNR told me that they stocked kamloops in there instead of the usual strain they use...I wonder if they made the switch back this year?

[reinhard1]

they did the same in grinstone, and have switched back to the normal strain of rainbows. if you catch a rainbow thats on the darker side its a looper. good luck.

[DonBo]

I'm not sure when they do the stocking. I for one hope they keep useing the Kamloops, man were they a blast to catch!

[JBMasterAngler]

They might as well keep using kamloops, as I believe they will be gradually phased out of lake superior.

[reinhard1]

i think they prefer the strain they are using now. i cant remember the strain right now. i talked to the dnr awhile back concerning stocking of rainbows in the finland/isabella area and grindstone, and the stocking of loopers was temporary for they could not get this other strain. so they stocked a variety of lakes with loopers in that period of time. maby since the stealhead are making a comback they want to spend more recources on them vs loopers. it would be interesting to talk to the people at the french river hatchery for information on that. i seen that in 2009 the dnr stocked rainbows twice in square lake, this would indicate a fall stocking as well as a spring stocking. the fall stocking at grinstone is for ice fishing, so perhapst they are doing the same at square lake.

[DonBo]

Interseting info.

I believe Square has been stocked twice a year for some time now. Hope they keep it up.

[JBMasterAngler]

Hit it up today. Caught 3 trout total. The 1st was a fat 18 inch looper, caught it trolling a 3 way rig across the middle of the lake...a silver floating rapala about 15 ft down. He absolutely hammered it! One of the funnest fish I've caught this season! The other 2 were regular rainbows, caught them casting a tiny floating minnow along the swimming beach. Hooked at least 10 others, but just couldn't keep them on It was pretty cool, these were my 1st ever trout out of the metro area.

How come the rainbows have such a dark distinct red stripe in this lake (aside from the looper, he was very silver)? It was fun watching them swim around (they were everywhere in the shallows), that red stripe was very easy to see in the water. I've caught rainbows all over and none of them have ever looked like these ones.

Also caught 3 bass and 2 tiny pike.

[DonBo]

I wonder if maybe they weren't just released?

[JBMasterAngler]

How big are yearlings when they're stocked? These fish all ranged from 12 to 18 inches. Couple guys fly fishing from shore caught a few too. And there was an eagle that was pretty interested in these fish, although I never seen him take a dive.

I'm glad this lake has such special regulations on it though, as these fish could easily be fished out right after stocking. I wish the other couple trout lakes in the metro area had the same regulations.

I think I might be heading out here again before the season closes. Definitely gonna get out there in the winter...speaking of which, are 2 lines and live minnows allowed?

[DonBo]

Yes, but the only thing I've caught on minnows were those tiny pike you mentioned.

[FishGuru]

When does the season close anyways can't find it anywhere? and I thought the season was closed already...

[DonBo]

The season closed end of September, but is open for "catch and release" thru Oct. 31.

[FishGuru]

Oh, okay that explains alot and thanks for the quick response maybe I'll have to give it a go befor it close's.

[JBMasterAngler]

Made another run at square today for a last hooray of the trout season. Caught 4 between 12 and 14 inches. 3 at the beach and 1 trolling a 3 way rig. Didn't get anywhere near as many hits as last week...they were there, but just didn't want to bite. Also caught 3 tiny bass, and 3 tiny pike.

[reinhard1]

glad to see you had some luck. i'm getting pumped for grindstone already in january. finaly got all the gps numbers for all the cribs which will hold fish year around [mostly sunnies and crappies], but they are near great trout and pike areas. hope to see you out there some time. good luck.

[JBMasterAngler]

Anyone get out there this weekend? Is the ice drivable? If the forecast can warm up a bit I might hit it on friday.

[DonBo]

Ice conditions are perfect. 18" good ice, 4-6" soft snow on top.

Fishing was good for me Sat morning. Caught my two in pretty short order, though they were both small. 12-13". A friend caught one of those nice 18"ers. Both of us out again yesterday morning and neither of us even saw a fish, go figure.

[hunt4food]

I was out there Saturday afternoon and got one 14.5" trout. Went back Sunday afternoon and saw a few on the camera but they were not at all interested in my baits.

[Mud]

We are thinking of going out this weekend for the first time. Any tips?

[DonBo]

We are thinking of going out this weekend for the first time. Any tips?

Most are caught in 10-12 FOW or less. Panfish jig tipped with euros or waxies. Read through this whole thread and you'll find lots of good tips.

[MidCoast]

I was out yesterday for a full day. I didnt catch anything except for a few really small sunfishes.