Which metro lake?

[mainbutter]

After having pretty much given up on Island Lake in pine county for skis (haven't even seen a single follow and going out with my much more experienced buddy in his boat) I've decided to try and see if I can get anything happening a little closer to home.

I fish out of a canoe for the most part, which does make it that much more challenging, but I was hoping maybe you guys would give me a suggestion for which metro lake I stand a better chance at getting some follows on.

Harriet? Cedar (in Hennepin)? Calhoun? One of the eastern bays on Minnetonka? Some other suggestion?

At this point I'm not even concerned about boating fish, I just want to get some follows this year and learn a lake.

[Nick Kuhn]

Minneapolis Lakes would be a good bet for the canoe. Other lakes get a little to torn up and it'll be easier to position the canoe for accurate casts.

[hunterjoe]

Maybe GoBlue will speak up. I know he fishes a lot in the metro out of a canoe. I'd agree and stay on the downtown chain with a canoe. No powerboat wakes to deal with.

[HugoBox]

Up until a week ago I would have said White Bear - that said the recreational traffic would make it rough in a canoe. I'd also suggest checking Phalen (great canoe lake) but I'd also suggest not leaving anything nice in the car there. I know break-ins there were common years ago.

[justinT]

I don't think Tonka would be worth the headache from a canoe. I haven't fished them for two years, but the fish weren't terribly shy on harriet or the Calhoun chain.

[JRedig]

Have you tried night fishing on island? Also, given my experience with muskies, are you sure you haven't had any follows? This year i've had a lot of deep follows that were hard to see standing on the front deck of my boat....

[goblueM]

hey hunterjoe - didn't you move from Virginia? I'm moving down there in a week to go to grad school at Virginia Tech... heard there are muskies in the rivers down there

Mainbutter, I'd go for Harriet, Calhoun, Isles, and Cedar. Each are different but great lakes for the canoe

I like using a small bucktail or spinnerbait in front to pull the canoe down the weedline, then the guy in back can use a topwater or a dawg, something that doesn't have much boat-pulling power

good luck!

[Andrew Erickson]

agreed on the city lakes, and you'll know if the fish are goin or not fairly quick. Lot of fish in those lakes.

[mainbutter]

Have you tried night fishing on island? Also, given my experience with muskies, are you sure you haven't had any follows? This year i've had a lot of deep follows that were hard to see standing on the front deck of my boat....

Unless they were following far FAR behind (possible), but water clarity has been great compared to most of the lakes I fish.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Sounds like I have my choice between a number of fishable lakes.

[goldie11]

if you want to see follows i would go to harriet. i think it is infested with muskies! one day between my friend and i we had 15 follows! one problem..... we could not get anything to eat!

[hunterjoe]

GoBlue, sent you an e-mail.

[MHWANNABE]

Hey Hugo,

White Bear or Forest? I've fished Forest a handful of times in the past year or two...usually a follow each time but nothing in boat. Never fished White Bear but heard there are some biguns but low numbers. Any advice?

[MHWANNABE]

Hey butter,

I don't own a canoe but a buddy of mine fishes out a small alumacraft with a trolling motor and does VERY well on Cedar, Calhoun and Harriet. On opener he boated 2 and had 9-10 follows. Don't think you can go wrong on any of these lakes from what I hear (at least for seeing fish). Good luck. Nothing in my boat yet this year on mainly metro lakes but have been seeing fish almost every time out. Lot of interest but no eaters as of yet.

[jjf]

I fish the city lakes often and actually started out of a canoe 4 years ago. I have a small boat now. You will see fish but it may get frustrating as in my canoe I was not comfortable standing up to do a large figure 8. Hence lots of followers not many eaters. Still a lot more fun than shore fishing. The fish on those lakes get a lot of pressure for their size and the vast majority of fish that I catch on them are in the 8. It is really fun to catch one in a canoe man so good luck.

[Zelmsdawg]

I'd say go for cedar. Its the furthest in the chain (i dont' count brownie) so there's less traffic, and the lake isn't that big either so you'll never get blown off. Its nice and clear too, I didn't have any problems seeing fish even from a canoe last time I went out there.

As far as harriet goes, it had been my favorite lake the last 5 6 years but the last 3 times I've been out there - 2 last fall once this year - I've seen more dead fish then live. Kinda sad, it was hard keeping them from biting when I first fished it but like someone mentioned earlier, tough to get them to commit now. Maybe others have had a different experience?

Goblue, get a michigan musky yet? My boats going to be lonely the rest of this year now

Zelmsdawg

[goblueM]

if by michigan musky you mean carp, then yes. going out in the kayak sometime this weekend, there's a few tigers in the river i'm going to fish, and some pike. we'll see

haven't had much time to fish in Michigan , but I actually found 2 potential musky partners down in VA, both with boats who go out regularly

[TrophyEyes]

Anyone fish Bryant lake for Tiger Muskies? Is it a numbers game or are their some good fish in there as well? Also I heard something about motor restrictions, but have not confirmed. Thoughts?

[AWH]

I believe the only motor restrictions on Bryant are this. 15 mph noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. From what I can tell in driving by it, there's plenty of pleasure boaters out there.

Aaron

[Grunt L]

I think as long as you stay away from the front of Waconia lake between the island and the docks you would be happy. Also after 4pm you will do well out there. They also have a nice launch for small craft on the North side of the parking lot. Only a launch for "walk-ins".

James