Tonka Help

[BassNut33]

I have a club tournament coming up on Tonka. I do not have a ton of experience out there. I am not looking for specific spots or strategies, sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed on the big lake. Everything looks great to me, what bays do you guys typically concentrate your efforts in?

[Deitz Dittrich]

What a great question.. But. We are talking about Tonka here. FIsh your strength.

If we are talking me, I prefer the clear side. Yet a lot of tournaments are won on the dark side. HOneslty, fish your strength, and go from ther on that lake.

[Elia]

I don't mean to be coy, but every section of 'Tonka holds bass. At any minute you'll find shallow, deep, agressive, dormant, neutral, weed-oriented, rock pile, dock fish--especially in summer.

The west side is murkier and a bit muckier, and it might be wise to focus there if you're fishing post frontal conditions. The east side is much clearer and rockier.

Given 'Tonka's size, the word "bay" can indicate a very small or very large water section. Brown, Excelsior, and Wayzata (to name a few) are large bays with a variety of structure and breaks that are often connected to the main lake basin. Carson, St. Albans, Gray, and St. Louis are smaller, more discrete sections that function as their own mini lakes.

Very Generally Speaking, if you're a slop guy--fish the west side. If you're a cranker or finesse guy fish the east end.

[BassNut33]

Wow thanks guys I really appreciate the advice, with the lack of time I am going have to prepare I think I will focus on the west side of the lake. I feel like I can key on the sloppy stuff quicker than I can the deep water cranking.

[TODDY]

Generally, what depth is the deep weed line at? I suppose that depends on the dark or clear water as well....

Thanks in advance!

TODDY

[Deitz Dittrich]

yeah, its all going to depend on where you are. If your talking Halsteads bay.. then you are talking 3-4 feet maybe.. If your talking Gidions and Wayzeta.. then maybe 18 or better?

[EBass]

Do you have time to prefish? If you don't I'd focus on docks n slop since those are obvious targets. If nothings going on there work the milfoil. Channels are good, but don't let the CO see ya or you'll get a warning/ticket. Good luck!

[BassNut33]

I think we are going to try and pre-fish twice once this week and once next week. I am more of a slop guy anyway, so I am going to try and focus on that rather than going out of my comfort zone. If I have to I will, I want to try and key in on some deep stuff in case the slop bite is off on tourny day. So it is not legal to fish in the channels?

[TR21HP]

Tonka is about milfoil and rock, if you can find them in the same area you should do well. You can also try points off Carsons and Robinsons bays.

[BassNut33]

What size sinker do you guys use when fishing the milfoil, 1/2 or bigger?

[TR21HP]

I almost always use a football head jig with a 1/2 oz. min. and sometimes a 1 oz. depending on the depth of the milfoil.

[BassNut33]

Doesn't the football head get hung up in the weeds?

[blakjack23]

I have heard that its illegal to fish the channels...and I've also heard its legal. Does anyone have any proof if it is or not?

[EBass]

It's illegal to fish the channels per Tonka Sheriff Patrol. Got a warning from them before. That lake has its own set of rules. But if you do fish the channels and get pulled over just play dumb. But yeah if you obstruct the channel then your in violation. Good times on Tonka, good times. (insert sarcasm)

[TNFL]

Tonka is about milfoil and rock, if you can find them in the same area you should do well. You can also try points off Carsons and Robinsons bays.

Ding ding ding, winner. I personally prefer the middle of the lake, From spring park bay to maxwell, etc. Find rocks on the weed edges 12-16 ft. HINT 1 ft GPS is huge !!!

[mww24]

AHH heck. Forget the tourney. I would just go anchor up at big island and catch all that bikini eye candy. Much easier than bass fishing.

[BassNut33]

AHH heck. Forget the tourney. I would just go anchor up at big island and catch all that bikini eye candy. Much easier than bass fishing.

If the bite is tough that might be our pattern haha!

[sicheneder]

for pitching foil: plastics i would go with a 1/2 ounce bullet weight and jigs 3/4- 1 ounce.

[BassNut33]

Thanks for all the advice, we were out there last Thursday and did OK. No giants but a lot of solid 2 pounders. Caught them on plastics and shallow cranks. We did the best in the West Arm, headed back there this Thursday after work. Looking to cover some more water and find a handful of deep spots and some bigger fish.

[EBass]

Link to the Lake Minnetonka Rules.

http://www.lmcd.org/pdf/2011%20LMCD%20Summer%20Rules%20(2).pdf

[blakjack23]

Thanks Ebass. So technically its not illegal to fish the channels, you just can't obstruct them. So you can fish them but if a boat comes you better move your [PoorWordUsage] along?

[EBass]

Just don't let the Sheriff see ya!

[BassNut33]

Today will be our last day of pre-fishing (weather permitting). We are more than likely going to be facing totally different conditions today than we will this weekend. Would guys focus more on finding fish than establishing a pattern?

[sicheneder]

So, how did it go? We got our butts kicked on monday out there.

[BassNut33]

We caught a small 6 fish limit, my partner lost a 3.5 - 4 pounder at the boat and I lost a 2 pounder at the boat. The winning bag was over 21 pounds. If we would have boated those two we would have most likley been in the money. Had a blast fishing the lake, thanks for all the advice it helped.