big stone and traverse info needed

[fishing addict]

going with friends of my brother to big stone and traverse 4/25-27th. Never fished this area before. any tips or names of resorts/bait shops that I can contact to do some research before going. thanks.

[Guest]

Try http://www.schmidtslanding.com/fishing.htm and http://www.bigstonelake.com to find info on where to stay and other area info.
If you contact the Big Stone Chamber they Will send you a packet with maps and other goodies that will pay off on your trip.

If the lake gets tough, try the White Rock Dam outlet or the Reservation Dam after dark. Caught many a nice walleye there over the years, big pike too.

Good luck on the trip, catch a piggy or two for me while your at it.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

[email protected]

[viddles456]

Check out Wing-n-Fin on the E side of Lake Traverse. They are just W of Browns Valley. I went out there a couple times duck hunting last fall, you're right on the lake and the price is good. Staff was real good about checking on you and making sure you had everything you wanted. (Good place for a group of guys to go, maybe not a family though) Sorry, I don't remember the number.

[Guest]

Addict,

If you fish Traverse, get a map and go very S.L.O.W. around this lake!

It has some of the most dangerous rock piles on the Planet. Many of them lie just below the waters surface. It is only 11-12ft. deep almost everywhere.

If you shore cast at night below the White Rock spillway, use Motor-Oil colored twister tail jigs 1/4 oz...

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Chells

[Bruce Mosher]

I will be doing a T.V. Show with Midwest Outdoors at the very end of April on Bigstone with my Wave Buster Bobbers. Does anyone have any good info. for a Slip Bobber bite? Please let me know I'd appreciate it, Bruce Mosher

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Bruce Mosher,www.icebusterbobbers.com

[guideman]

Hey Bruce,
I fished the MWC event there for about 7 years, we caught all our weigh fish on plain slip bobber rigs.

The wind is what makes this lake come alive, fish the windblow points and the
weed flats on the south end. Hard NW or SE winds, will put the fish right on the shoreline or off the first break.

There are some small midlake rockpiles
about midway up the lake, they are at the mercy of a good bobber pattern.
Have Fun!

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Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service.
aceguideservice.com
218-753-2612
[email protected]

[Guest]

I agree with guideman 100%. Slip bobbers rigs are great in late April. Bobbers produce a lot more fish than jigging. I believe the water temps are typically cold and the fish are not too aggressive, so you have to put that bait right in their face!

Target creek outlets early and the fish can be within inches from the rock shoreline.

Good luck on filming and catching!

[Bruce Mosher]

Thanks for the reply guys! What color jigs work best below the Slip bobber on this body of water? Or are you using a plain hook and split shot? Bruce Mosher

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Bruce Mosher,www.icebusterbobbers.com

[Finlander]

Don't they mark the shallow rock area's with
"Danger Rocks" buoy's? Or are there too many
rocks to mark?

[Havin' Fun]

The majority of Big Stone is pretty easy to navigate. But on Traverse, there is way too many rocks. I mean WAY too many to mark with bouys.

[Guest]

This season odds are very good there will be plenty of rock to go around.

A good map is very handy! Not locking down your motor is wise. A lower unit protector is fast paid for, and advised.

Once you know the main danger areas it is not too bad. That lake eats up a lot of lower units, yup-yup.

[Navigator]

Ed,
Is Big Stone open (ice free) yet? Just curious. Nav

[Guest]

You may want to pack a spare Prop

Seriously, Traverse is just that dangerous. Just when you think you've got it figured-out, you run the boat onto the rocks, bend a prop, or worse--bust your lower unit. We watched a guy burning up the center of the lake some years back. He was running a 200hp on a Ranger at warp factor 5 and ran into Skunk Island going probably 45-50mph!

His lower unit was destroyed and the cover of his motor flew 40ft. into the air!

He's lucky t be alive to tell about it...

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Chells

[Bruce Mosher]

Thanks for the Tip guys. Hopefully we'll get a good show for T.V. Bruce Mosher

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Bruce Mosher,www.icebusterbobbers.com

[Flipnripem]

Don`t overlook the north end of the lake! When I fished it some locals at the ramp told me I picked the better end to fish. Pattern`s were much the same. Tight on the shore with the wind blowing in. Small jig`s and small clown colored rap`s put many in the boat. In the evening we found a strech of downed tree`s and slip bobbed some nice fish in the cover tight. Good fishing.

[Navigator]

Bruce,
I agree with what has been written, but also try around the south side of the islands and make sure you bring your "Foam Walker" rigs. I pull them with floaters and spinners in that shallow water. The rougher the waves the BETTER!! hint...hint...but look out for rocks around the islands, there is a reason why they call it BIG STONE!! That should give you an idea of how shallow I am pulling those rigs.

The Big Stone opener has been a tradition going on 8 years and the fishing (usually) is great. Maybe, I'll see you out there. Look for a Skeeter tiller with my HSOforum on the side. Best of luck! Nav
www.naviguides.com

[Guest]

I fish it often only live few miles away.
#1 factor is the weather on how to fish it and where.

Bruce if you want to email me at my username @yahoo.com I can give you some ideas on where to fish. If possible try and stick around for the night bite it is outstanding.

[Kevin Turner]

How big do the swells get on these lakes?

[Navigator]

Kevin,
I've been out there when there were "honest" 3' waves a rollin'. The thing is it can be miserable to position the boat, but the fishing can be great under those conditions!! Nav

[Guest]

Eh Kevin, from Big Stone Lake North to the big pond in Canada, Lake Winnipeg, a River-Pro IS the way to go in my opinion.

Rocks, stumps, concrete, re-bar, more rocks, more stumps, more re-bar, rocks and stumps...you get the idea..Yup-Yup.

I went through 7 props last season. All on rivers. That is a new personal best for me Eh.

Ya know what, I envision a River-Pro in my future more and more these days.

Can I get one in "Viagra Blue Urban Camo"?

That way I can hide from "Opie" better near "da-big-dam" this year...Eh.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 04-11-2003).]