Question for superbee

[ssaamm]

Hello Superbee, I need some advice please. A friend has a cabin on Clearwater-- ONe of the yellow ones by the south portage. We will be up for a quick guys trip. hopefully we get there early enough on fri to fish a couple hours in the evening. I would like to target smallies during the day and walleyes in the evening. Due to our location we will most likely head south. Do you have any words of wisdom? Depth, presentation, etc. I have fished this area a couple of times in late June with ok success. Casted cranks, plastics, jigs etc around the islands in the lakes across the portage for smallies and managed a couple of accidental walleyes. To be honest we'd be happy catching pike all day. Just want some action. Do you know if the store on the lake will be open to buy fishing licenses and ice on fri about 6:00? I appreciate any thoughts you'd like to share. Any bars close to watch some college FB on sat night? Thanks alot. Sam

[superbee]

The walleye should be around the first island in Rice Lake, work in that 12-15 fow. Most of the walleyes will be on the reefs and the smallies should be close by. I would use a lindy rig and minnow for the walleyes. The bass should be hitting on tubes. If you want to use live bait for the smallies, use some large minnows. The store is open 8-4, except Tues & Wed it is closed. The closest bar is the Back Alley Bar at the Emo Inn.

[ssaamm]

Thanks for the info Superbee. We had a great trip and crummy weather. Fri night caught plenty of walleyes trolling jointed shad raps just south of the float plane base on Clearwater in pouring rain. Saturday we ran through the shoot to get to, I believe, West Jackfish. The walleyes and a couple of 12in crappies were biting as well. That narrow shoot with all the current is quite an experience. Brian at the store was quite a character as always. We did catch a few off the islands you mentioned as well. Didn't fish for smallies very long, but they were hitting spinnerbaits, rat-l-traps and senkos. Thanks again. It was a great time to be up there.

[superbee]

Glad to hear that you got into some fish. The weather has been less than desireable lately. I am hoping it straightens out and gives us one last nice stretch before freeze up.

[Hoffer]

ssaamm-

Hey, we will be heading up on Friday to West jackfish for an annual Fall trip with college buddies. We have been going up there for over 20 years now and go up the mile river and then through the rapids/narrows.

was the water running pretty strong down the "narrows"??

where did you find your eyes in Jackfish?

When you went past the narrows did you then go futher NW and go through another narrow opening with high rocks on each side that opens up into the true West jackfish??

the cabin we stay at is about 1.5 miles further NW that 2nd opening on an island. It is a grey colored one. Depending on how far NW you went you either had to go through on the backside of that island (and therefore probably wouldnt have seen the cabin...) or else you went through right on the other side that goes right by the cabin - cant miss it right on the left as you go through.

Do you remember what the water temp was when you were there?

Thanks for any info!!

Hoffer

[ssaamm]

Hi Hoffer, The temp was 62 south of the portage and 59-60 on Clearwater. I've only gone through the rapids that time. No damage to the boat. Water was moving pretty good. My sphincter was puckered pretty tight. I was all turned around by the time we got through there. It seemed like we meandered straight for 1/2 a mile and veered to the left. Eventually there was a deep red cabin at the end of the bay. We hung a left here and went by a nice gray cabin on a point of an island I think. We went past this a bit and turned right. The wind was howling so we went to the calm side. We fished by what looked like a red outpost cabin on a very narrow piece of land. The walleyes and two nice crappies were in 14-18 fow. We jigged with really pathetic minnows. My buddy used gulp, and he caught some nicer ones. I don't know how helpful that was, but good luck. Sam

[Hoffer]

Sam...I know exactly where you were. The red cabin is just to thr right as you go further NW into the further NW part of jackfish...the nice grey cabin you saw is the one we will be at. You then went further on and the real think pensinsula of land that you were referring to is called locally "Ross' beach". was there a lot of sandy beach along that thin stretch? Then There is an outpost cabin a little further down there that has reeds in front of it. Just further down is a good walleye spot and and we also catch smallies all along that stretch from the sandy beach are further NW along that same shoreline. There is a strecth of rocky shoreline then reeds, then rocky shoreline, then reeds and thats where we catch some smallies. Let me know if you get up that way again -and i can email you some spots. Last...did you get any size to the walleyes?

I will give a report on the Canada thread when I get back.

Thanks-

Hoffer

[superbee]

Hoffer - do you try much for the crappies? Seems more every year being caught.

[Hoffer]

yes...we have been trying more and there is a bay if you go straight North from the narrows that we have found some in. About 6 years ago now I put a line out off the island at night with a lighted bobber for walleyes. I ended up catching a few monster crappies right off the island - and when i brought in the first one for the group to see they couldnt believe it = nobody had caught one up there ever - and this thing was huge.

How do you target them when you are trying? what method do you find works the best?

There must be some river connections up there where they are coming from...i figured they made there way up there from you area...I have seen your pics from Off lake - and there must be some kind of connection?

Gonna be a cold one this coming week! highs are only supposed to be in the low 50's. What do you think?? maybe that will drop the water temp even more and it will be good? You gonna maybe be up that way?? if so, stop by the grey cabin - they always have lots of cold ones ready to go!

[superbee]

Right now the crappie should be moving into the deep holes. Up this way have done well in the 30-40' holes using a jig and small minnow. Good electronics help in finding the big clouds of crappie and then the fun begins. I would think some of the deeper reefs by Ross' beach would be good and Squaw Bay. They never were in any of these lakes before, then about 10 years ago they started popping up all over. Off Lake was one of the first. Clearwater has a few, but the lakes below have the most right now. Have never heard any on Pipestone. The water will still be cooling dwon with these temps. You should have some good fishing. Let me know how you do. I doubt I will be down tha way. I am headed out to one of the outposts to do some work, then lock it up for the season.

[Hoffer]

Superbee, you sure know your way around!

When I mentioned that bay "straight north of the narrows...." that is "squaw bay" and the one I was referring to. i just didnt know if that was a local name for that area or if you would recognize that name- but thats the one!

I was hoping to have my new downrigger ready to go for this trip - but the place I ordered my mounts and track to mount to the boat didnt get it to me in time :-(

but, I am planning on some fast trolling with some deep divers in some of my "secret spots" :-)

Have you ever angled further up towards the NE where there is kind of a wide long channel that ultimately ends up at a small opening that goes into another "lake". On the NE side of that lake there is a river that you can walk that leads into Loonhaunt.

Well, rumor has it - that there is a deep hole in that lake to the east of that river (as your facing the river from the lake) and there are some trout that hang down there.

Apparently they may have gotten in there from loonhaunt. I wanted to try the riggers there too - but will have to wait another year!!

Hope all is well - and hopefully catch up with you next year!

[Hoffer]

Superbee, by the way...that stretch i am referring to that goes to that lake where the river is to loonhaunt is called the "black narrows". At least thats what my group has been calling it

[superbee]

I haven't fished up that way much. There are some trout in that hole you are talking about. I know a few people who have caught them there. Never in many numbers, but there are a few to be had. I would guess they came down from Loonhaunt too. Have you ever fished Albert? There is some excellent smallmouth fishing in there. Be sure to post a report when you get back.

[ssaamm]

Hoffer, I think we ARE talking about the exact same spot. We had pretty steady action for about 2 1/2 hours for walleyes. We fished, as you are facing the outpost cabin w/ the reeed, to the right by the end of the point. We casted for smallies and pike after that. The walleyes caught jiggin ran about 13-17in. We caught our bigger ones in the evening trolling jointed shad raps (17-19in) on Clearwater. The biggest was only 20 in. caught casting a rat-l-trap. My coat still smells like fried walleyes, spuds, and onions. Nice. Superbee, did we have to run that far to get into walleyes? I like seeing the sights as much as anyone, but we should drove by a lot of fishy looking water. Thanks

[Hoffer]

Superbee - I have never fished Albert - and it kills me because we are so close - and the lake is just over the hill from where the far NW jackfish lake ends. I guess there is a boat or 2 over there and my friends cousin has brought up a seperate small outboard and portaged that accross to Albert. I guess they had REALLY good smallie fishing there. I just dont have an extra outboard and I guess I could paddle around - but our group just hasnt tried that yet. I just wish it would be a little warmer this next week! I hate to admit it - but I just put the deer hunting bibs and jacket in the boat! I figured if I am warm enough I can fish until we get hard water

Sam, You guys traveled a long ways to come up through despair and footprint and all the way up to that area!! Superbee can put you on to lots of fish closer to "home" (big eyes!) - just look at his prior posts on the canada thread.

Again, if you are up in that area near us another time - post something here and i can try to point out a few spots. I have been going up there over 20 years and have just started in the last few years to figure out a few good spots to pick up something other than all those 13 to 15 inchers!

By the way...that area after the narrows that you go through with the high rocks on each side - gets a little hairy about a quarter mile past. There is a big sunken reef right in the middle and some years its marked and some not. The high water years you cant see it. I know. About 10 years ago we were up there and my buddy who has been going up there since he was a kid was driving hi sboat. he thought he was further away from that reef than he was and the 3 of us went right over the reef full speed - and the very back end of the engine was down about 4 inches - and it was enough to rip the lower unit right off. i was sitting in the bow of the boat looking back and all I remember was watching metal and pieces of prop and lower unit fly up through the air. the scary part was that if we were a tad lower (maybe just a few inches?) - the boat itself would have hit the reef and we would have been in real trouble. So, dont know if you noticed that reef or not - but keep that in mind for next time.

[superbee]

Hoffer - Albert would definately be worth your time if you get a motor. It would be a fair bit of paddling to get to the better areas up the lake from the portage. Everytime I have fished it, it has produced very well and some decent walleyes too.

[PoorWordUsage]. Pipestone has good areas to hit on the South end starting in Weld Lake, Canyon Bay Area, and Line Bay. Traditionally, the lakes over the South portage have been better for walleye, but that is definately changing. The lakes to the South are more stained and may be easier on different days.

[Boar]

hey Lucas i sent you an email few days ago, I have been having trouble with emails was wondering if ya got it? boar

[superbee]

I got it, I sent a reply, but you must not have got it. Shoot me another email once you have the problem resolved and I will resend it.

[Boar]

Alrighty.

[Hoffer]

Superbee-

Just got back from jackfish.

A cold - but very good fishing trip. Probably one of the best yet.

First hour there caught a 29 inch walleye. 2nd day caught a 27.5 AND 26 and also many around 20 to 22.

3rd day decided to focus on Northerns and caught 12 over 30 inches and most of them were fatties - 10 pounds or so. No giants...the biggest was 34 - but a respectable girthy one.

So...Crappies!! I went up to Squaw bay and scouted around. i found a place way in the back where the whole area was around 18 feet and flat. I found a little hole at 22 feet and there was a tree showing up on the graph on the bottom (I know for sure its a tree cause we hooked it many times!). Anyway, our group caught huge crappies at will on that sport. We would go for a few hours and catch 20 or more per boat and then go back. A few of the guys kept a limit - but we mainly just thre them back. Didnt even need minnows. used a 1/8 inch gold jig with a small chartreuse twister - tipped with a little gulp minnow. You could catch all you wanted on one jig and gulp unless you lost it to the tree. Many of the crappies were over 15 inches with the biggest being 1 pound 10 oz. We were shooting for some 2 pounders but they werent in that spot. But the ones we caugtht were still nice!

I took lots of pics - and now I fear I have lost my camera! Cant find it anywhere - but if I do - I will post some pics.

We didnt get to albert - but we stayed at la place rendezvous the first night in FF and ran into a guy that fishes that area alot and does some bass tournaments - and he also raved about Albert. Next time up we are going to try. But it was too darn cold to fool around much with portages etc... The first 2 days were nice - but the last 3 didnt get out of the low 50s. and yesterday i think the high was 49. I still fished from around 9 to sundown straight every day. Just dressed for it - and it was very tolerable. Overall, a great trip!!

Oh, by the way...the narrows was running stronger than I had ever experienced. i wasnt prepared and didnt give it enough throttle - and the current stopped me half way up. i have 2 new scrapes on the low part of the boat - and when we got to the island i checked my prop - and i was missing 1/2 of all 3 blades!!! Luckily I had another prop - and all was good. We also lost one of our boats the 2nd to last night. The 115 Johnson just seized up on my buddies on their way back to the cabin from the cut. Luckily they were only about a mile away and used the troller to get in the rest of the way

[superbee]

Good fishing Hoffer. I hope you find your camera and can share a few pics. The water is still coming up. We have had a fair bit more rain, so the chute will really be flowing now. Are you going to make a winter trip sometime?

[Hoffer]

Would like to do that again. I was up about 3 winters ago - and we just messed around jackfish. we did go one day to kairskons for trout. The usual gang that went this Fall normally makes a march trip before ice out. Would be fun...but I dont own a snowmobile - so had to borrow one - and not sure if I have that option this time around...

I will let you know though!

[superbee]

If you make an ice trip, let me know and we will go after some lakers.

[Hoffer]

Will do Superbee!

Would be alot easier getting over to your neck of the woods in the Winter vs. in the Summer!