Thoughts on Rush (Chisago)

[mabr]

After reading the millfoil thread and seeing some of the responses, it got me wondering about Rush Lake. This was my all time favorite lake for bass until I moved away for a few years 06-09. It used to be nothing to go out and catch 50 fish with little effort. And if you didnt have almost 20 lbs on an all day tourny you werent in the race.

My wife and I fished a weekly tourny there for 4 years and it was amazing to see the bags brought in. Well after moving back last year we fished the same weekly tournement and boy has it changed. Im not saying there arent quality fish, but not the the quantity there once was. I follow tourny results on CB, and yes there are still some good bags brought in but not like it used to be IMO. Ive talked and asked alot of people who fish this lake as much if not more than I do and they all say the same thing. Its not the same lake anymore. All give different opinions on why it has changed ranging from tournement pressure, water levels, pellicans, weed control, Musky's and large pike, Im sure im forgetting some that have been brought up bit these are the majority given.

I thought i would ask what the majority on here think? Maybe im wrong and the lake is as healthy as it once was but most ive talked with agree with me. It's not the same Rush, so what has happened in 4 years?

[Neighbor_guy]

Two words....

Rhymes with Fishing Pressure.......

.

.

.

.

Weekends, eavnings, weekdays, that lake never gets a break. Spring, summer, fall, winter, busy, busy, busy.

Dont get me wrong, its a nice lake, and if it is quiet it can be a fun one to be on, but it can be crowded as all get out.

[olski]

I do think pressure has alot to do with it as well. I think you can say the same about most of the lakes in the Chisago area as well. Ya somebody can always find them but the average weights aren't what they used to be or at least not as deep.

I was at a tournament meeting a couple years ago and one of the older guys (kind of a loud mouth) was pi$%ing and moaning about smaller weights, after all he fished a tourney on a lake not far down the road a the week before and it didn't take much to win. Then his buddy had a club tourney on the lake across the road the next night and it didn't take much in that one either. And the one the week before that on that lake the guy that won had a good bag but 2nd was 4 or 5 lbs. less. Getting the idea?

Don't get me wrong I like tournaments as much as the next guy but I don't think it take a rocket scientist to figure out why the fishing is getting tougher. I guess if I wanted to go out and fun fish I would try and head out of town or find some small lake but if you find a good one you might want to kind of keep it to yourself.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[East Rush Rules]

I would have to agree and say fishing pressure. When i moved to the lake ten years ago, it was a huge deal to me when i saw a bass boat cruise by. I would run outside to see what kind it was/where they would go fish. Nowdays, there are bassboats running around all over. Our docks get fished 3 times more now then they did back then. There was never any big tournaments out there and now we average 2-3 40-50 boat tournaments a year out there plus many smaller club tourneys. These fish are really getting pounded and educated, and i believe pressure is what is doing it to them! You used to be able to go throw a spinnerbait or skip tubes under docks all day and just whack them on any given day, NOT the case anymore!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Truth be told.. All lakes cycle... have big fish for a while, get smaller fish after the word gets out... The metro area is growing, whre years ago I would have said Rush is a long way out of the metro, now I would say its a part of it?.. Fishing pressure will play some into it.. Id be willing to bet the above average carp population has something to do with declining bass numbers and maybe even the rising Muskie population.. ?.. Probably too many things to pin it on any one thing..

[Timmy D]

I totally agree, a lot of thing factor into fewer fish and smaller weights.

I know bigger fish are still in the lake, they didn't grow legs and leave the lake, but I know that if every time I left my house, someone punched me in the mouth, I would probably move.

I think the older and wiser fish got sick of getting harassed by fisherman and the musky, so they moved. Most guys are fishing the memories of the big fish they use to catch and they are just not many there.

My personal best day on Rush lake was just last summer, my best 5 bass would have been well over 25 lbs with lots of other 3's and 4's. I will just say I wasn't fishing the normal stuff I use to fish on Rush.

All the lakes are changing from many different things; weather, fishing pressure, cycles, etc. The fish don't have a choice but to figure out how to survive which can mean changing their locations and habits.

[Big A]

rush used to be just that... A RUSH!!

It was great. Fishing pressure has taken its toll on her now however, and its no longer the same RUSH to fish the lake. It is what it is... but its definately a bummer.