french lake

[goldie11]

how has the fishing been? Anybody have any action? i heard its pretty slow.

[Fishin_Jacks7]

Haven't been out there yet this year... I bet the water temp is climbing to the 80's though! I'll let you know if I get out at all this week!

[smeese]

Been there a ton this year, have not even seen a northern or bass. Fox I guess has had a little more action, but I think I may try Cedar next. (New Prague)Water temp was high 70's, low 80's not sure below thermocline. Not saying don't go, but if you do.....good luck, hope it goes better for you.

[The_Dude]

I've heard that French is more of a fall muskie lake. Is that true? I went down there once late last summer and my pops caught an 8 lb muskie.

[smeese]

really not one to take advice from with none under my belt in three years of fishing for them.........but generally I would assume fall is the best route period if your looking for bigger fish no matter what lake your on. The late summer muck sucks, one morning last august I got out at 430 or so (am) started working the first bar straight out and about ten casts deep I had noticed my rod handle was slick.....green slime all over me......gross LOL

[Rebel9921]

The dude is correct... I've hit French more than few times... heck its one of my favorite lakes to fish for Muskies... I make it a personal rule not to touch this lake til after September... Its only 800+ acres yet its being hit EXTRA HARD during the summer months... and I've hit it twice during summer with NOTHING to tell about except how GREEN the water is...

Once the hunting season rolls around, I love hitting French... Everything's so quiet there... spots are easy to pick out & fished hard... my first two times at French was two years ago in September & October... lost a total of 5 muskies at either boatside or in the deep water... Its like those fishes has an internal switch inside them, off during heavy-pressured summer time, on during minimal pressure fall time...

I've also noticed that the reports for French are usually BAD from June to August but excellent from Sept to November...

Just cant wait for the Long-Range Muskie Plan to kick start few lakes in Southern MN just so that French would have less pressure...

Yes... French does have its own "BIG MOMMA"... I've seen her on few occasions... and yes I know where she lives... and one of those days, Im gonna get her into my net!!!

[brad coin]

are you sure big momma still there??? rumor has it a 55 was caught and kept????

[Rebel9921]

When was this rumor??? I did hear of something about a 55" being caught back in late 90's but nothing since then til about a year ago, a walleye guy pulled out a 53" which was released quickly... I remember telling few of my friends that there were big ones in French, which was met with "yeah right" and some scoffs... and I got vindicated when the news of the 53" broke out...

All I can say is that I believe French is one heck of an excellent Muskie lake... Its already heavily pressured, maybe more than it should be... but if the lake loves you... you'll definitely be rewarded...

[brad coin]

A friend here at work fished for the day on French about 2 weeks ago and he stopped in at the resort and someone there showed him a picture of a supposed 55 caught recently,,,he also said watertemp was 82..he fished 12 hrs that day and never saw a fish.

[rugbymn]

I fished it on the 4th of July and I couldn't tell you if I had a follow or not. I was pulling a big, shiny, sparkly DCG among other things and the water was so green that I couldn't even see the tiniest hint of a blade flash when my leader hit my rod tip. It was that bad.

[Nick Kuhn]

I haven't seen how green French gets but I've fished the greenest of the green (looks more like a lawn than a lake). It may seem counter-intuitive but fish in the wind. Yes the algae piles up on that side of the lake but the wave action prevents it from "filming" across the surface, allowing you to see just far enough for a figure 8.

[smeese]

Send you an email, but it came back to me undeliverable. Shoot me one I want to discuss this pig and see if it is the one I saw a couple times last year. I have not seen her yet this year so hopefully whe is still around. If you would rather not share info I understand. I would still have to catch her though.....then release her

Yes... French does have its own "BIG MOMMA"... I've seen her on few occasions... and yes I know where she lives... and one of those days, Im gonna get her into my net!!!

[smeese]

I am sure that 55 is gone by now, but the 53 was definately there, seen the pic with a very familiar shoreline in the backround. Sweet fish but needed some girth. One thing about french is there is a ton of forage, but no Ciscos, which seem to really stack up the weight up north on Ski's. Plenty of Small fish though, mostly Shiners, sheephead, bullead, perch and suckers, with the ocasional pike, muskie or panfish I am sure.

When was this rumor??? I did hear of something about a 55" being caught back in late 90's but nothing since then til about a year ago, a walleye guy pulled out a 53" which was released quickly

[Rebel9921]

Not surprisingly about how GREEN the water is... At least Rice County and Faribault are talking about doing something about the watershed down there... Something about 3-5 years study and doing something to improve the water quality... Im guessing that this green stuff is what turns off the muskie fishing... maybe which is why French excels in the fall as those green stuff dies off and the water becomes more clearer...

Brad... I'll bet the resort is Hoy's... Maybe I should stop in there someday and see whats up with that rumor... Maybe this rumor hasnt really spread around yet...

[The_Dude]

Anyone been out to French lately?

I'm headed out there this Thursday. I'm pretty excited because it will only be my 3rd time out fishing this year.... stupid grad school & baby...

We are solid C&R fishermen, just looking for a little tip.

Thanks gents.

[Fishin_Jacks7]

Only got out there once this year. Had no luck. The water quality was bad but it also was august... Good luck! let us know how ya did!

[kyleharty]

Water was still real green last time I was there on Oct. 8; did put one fish in the boat though. I'm hoping to get out there at least once between Wed.-Fri. but I'm not the one with the boat so we'll see.

Good luck dude!

[The_Dude]

How was the access?

Last year when we went, we barely got the boat in & out because it was so shallow.

[kyleharty]

I believe the water is a little higher than last year, we didn't have any problems getting a 16 ft. Lund in and out.

[Muskiefool]

4 boats went out Sat I know of that didnt see anything, one hit but it coulda been a pike.

[smeese]

No luck there on Sunday......fish were all watching the game I guess