Elk & Mantrap Lakes

[sdpikehntr]

Will be fishing in the area Friday through Tues. Just wondering if anyone has fished these two lakes in the past week or so, and if so was there any success. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We fished Elk last July and it was rather slow, Just hoping to land some nice fish. Thanks for any help.

[john skarie]

For both those lakes cloudy or windy days really help. They are very clear and have deep week edges.

If it's sunny and flat out, pick another lake.

JS

[sdpikehntr]

Thank you john Skarie, It looks like Sun & Mon both are blue bird days, but Sat looks to be the day to fish.

Any additional help or tips would be great. Looking forward to the long weekend.

[bronzeback]

Mantrap is a blast. I've only fished it three times but everytime we've seen a nice fish or two. Even boated a low 40's fish there last year. Watch the moon rise and moon set times and make sure you're in a good spot when those come around. The main basin has some nice weeds out in the middle, check a map or just cruise around until you find them. I like the west side of the lake better but I don't really think you can go wrong anywhere on that lake.

Just my two cents. I'll be up there next week for a few days too. Hoping for the weather to work out in our favor. I'm really just hoping to see some nice fish, it'll be a nice change of pace to fish up there again.

[MuskyBug85]

elk is tricky, unless the weather is absolute garbage i would avoid it, if you feel like you HAVE to fish it have a bulldawg on one rod the whole time, or until you find a pattern. 'Trap on the other hand, there are always fish biting out there, I am not saying they are easy to find but being thats the lake I learned to fish muskies on it holds a place in my heart. one thing to remember is there are only "two" (kinda more if you are from the area) musky lakes around park rapids so it gets beats to death. that being said you need to do things others aren't, for example inside edges with "slow" baits, trolling deep water with "traditional cranks" and fishing smaller then normal baits can pay in a big way. when we had bass club out there some one always caught a ski on "traditional bass gear". sorry this seams very vague but read between the lines and dont fear trolling in the dark and you WILL catch fish. P.S. avatar fish is a trap fish caught on an inside edge.

[Musky Buck]

I quit Elk mainly because after the roughly 14.5 mile journey through the park and having no parking spot the next closest roughly is mantrap, opened on elk in 1996 and was the only musky boat present, not the case anymore, Mantrap boated roughly a 100 muskies out there over the years, good lake with very educated fish, those boated fish primarily caught before muskie fever really took hold, fish low light, moon phases, majors, minors, and hope for overcast or even rain, they can be off for 4-5 days and then bang multiple fish day the next, good luck.

[john skarie]

Some tips for Elk;

Fish on a Wed.or Thurs. Weekends are busy there. There are only going to be so many biters on any given day, try to be on the lake with as little other fishing pressure are possible.

Don't be afraid to sit up shallow and cast out to the deep water.

Don't be afraid to fish a cast and a 1/2 off the breakline and throw in.

I love Elk. Very pretty lake to fish with some really nice fish in it. I'd rather get skunked on that lake than catch one on the busy lakes I'm used to fishing (most of the time).

JS

[sdpikehntr]

This information is great, Thanks. Right now the plan is to fish Elk Friaday PM and Mantrap Sat. AM and back to Elk on Sat PM. My son & I are looking forward to some exciting fishing, or just fishing!

Thanks again, this will help alot.

[Musky Buck]

1 last hint is both those lakes they love topwater, especially elk, but it has probably had 25,000 or more topwater casts and retrieves to date so I'd be very flexible on that small pond and it might be best fished at night and you'll likely have company.

[JJJ]

this seams very vague but read between the lines. Listen to the bug I was in his boat one time in August it paid off... Old baits fished new ways...

[MuskyBug85]

JJJ whats happening? after the perch migrated didnt see much of you on here and no bumps. i live in the cities and a buddy has a place on sugar, care to teach this fall?