Question for Deitz or other Chisago area guys

[Presco]

Was out on Chisago last night for a couple hours. Good times until we were blown off the water. Anyway, was just curious if you've noticed really skinny bass being caught in that area? I thought they had the feed bags on this time of year and would be more plump. Based on where we were catching them, I'd assume these were pretty aggressive fish and were actively feeding. However, a couple of the larger fish looked almost unhealthy they were so skinny. Anyway, thought it was interesting, at least for this time of year.

[BassNut33]

I was out there Monday morning and was thinking the same thing. We caught a few that should have been pushing 4 pounds and I think they would be lucky to even hit 3 pounds. They were really skinny and pale. I contributed it to fish transitioning, I read somewhere that fish that live deep the majority of the year will be longer and skinnier and the fish that stay shallow all year are shorter and stockier. I don't know if there is any truth to that, but you could be onto something. Maybe the catch and release rule needs to be lifted and the population needs to be thinned out a bit? I am always in favor of catch and release, if anybody has more knowledge about how this could adversely affect the population I would love to hear it. We did catch some really fat pike out there.

[mww24]

The pike are getting big on chisago. Last two years we've caught some big ones. I agree on the C&R being lifted for a season. I've noticed it on a small metro lake I fish that has C&R only. first few years the fish were massive for the size of lake. size has gone down drastically this year though. the more fish. the more forage needed. thin the herd the rest eat better and gett fatter in my opinion. It's great the DNR has special regs but I think they need to be studied more often on these smaller bodies of water. Maybe not to the extent mille lacs is for walley. But maybe every few years lift the ban and let the herd thin out.

[BassNut33]

I fished a small lake west of the metro last year that did not have Pike in it due the DNR killing everything off to get rid of the massive amount of rough fish. They did not put pike back in it. We caught a ton of bass, but they were all thin with masive heads. I beleive I read another article where Ray Scott was saying that some fish should be harvested now and that total catch and release is not always good for the population. Not sure how that applies up here where the bass is not on top of the food chain.

[IBFishin2]

Catch and release should be lifted on most of the local lakes. It's the reason I don't fish those lakes. I've caught a 22" at demontreville weighing 4.1 pounds with a huge head but really unhealthy skinny body. Yes there are plenty of fish to catch but trophies are few and really far between. Like mentioned before lifting the restriction for a few season will help the bass bulk up.

[scott b]

You know it's funny that In-Fisherman had a spot in this months issue where a 21in bass had been caught but weighed less than three lbs. After dissection they found soft baits in "various degrees of digestion". The article also stated that "heavily salted soft baits expand dramatically in a fishes gut readily blocking it."

So to me, it makes sense that a catch and release only lake could have fish with blocked digestive systems. Given the Boom that "Bio degradable" baits have taken in the last 15 yrs, It's no wonder that there would be a natural consequence.

I love my soft plastics and you will have to pry my Gulp out of my dead hands.. but I'm just sayin'

[Deitz Dittrich]

I think its just been the weather lately. No fear they will plump up.

As for chisago, there is still plenty of food in the lake for all the fish. TONS of small crappie and gills. THe water level being lower and having about 1/4 less lake for them to go into is a larger problem.

[Basschaser]

I'm not ready to pull the plug on C&R on Chisago. With the massive pressure that lake gets, especially in the winter for pan fish, that lake is loaded with pan fish. IMO if you eliminate the C&R on Chisago, the size structure for gills and crappies will get even worse than it already is. DNR sampling has clearly shown that the size structure for bass has improved since putting the C&R regulation in place.

[reinhard1]

i agree that there is plenty of panfish and baitfish in chisago/lindstrom lakes. i probably went about 5 times this year fishing from shore by the park on lindstrom [brought the grandkids there]. earlier in the year i have caught and released some surprisingly nice bluegills along with many small ones. the crappies were mostly in the 6 to 7 inchers with one 12 incher i caught off shore there. i caught lots of small bass as well fishing for panfish. hard water somehow produces slightly larger crappies but most still in the 8 inch area which are nice for a few meals.

i think the catch and release regs are working and hopefully extended for years to come. you would think the stomach acids of the fish could eat up the plastics. however i am no authority on that issue. i think the bass will put on the feedbag and fatten up this fall and they always do. good luck.

[BassNut33]

I think its just been the weather lately. No fear they will plump up.

As for chisago, there is still plenty of food in the lake for all the fish. TONS of small crappie and gills. THe water level being lower and having about 1/4 less lake for them to go into is a larger problem.

Deitz that is a really good point the lake is low, I heard that they are working on connecting all the lakes up there is there any truth to that and how would that affect the water level in Chisago?

[Nick Kuhn]

Water level impacts would be a few inches at most. Groundwater levels is what maintains those lakes. It would have very little effect on the fish populations: each lake is already sustaining what it can sustain.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Actually up until about 3 years ago, you could take a canoe off of 83 on the far south end of Chisago, paddle all the way through Chisago, into S. Lindstrom, under Hwy 8(now dry) under 19(I think its 19?) threw bow or bowl lake into N.Center, back under Hwy 8 Into S.Center. By ground water they are all attached already and if the water would come up 3-5 feet they would again.

I too know the plan, or have heard it. They already fixed the bridge from N.Center to S.Center. But they would have to redo 2 other bridges as well.. and more dredging between N.Lindstrom and N.Center. The water would have to come up a lot to make it any where near doable.

Green Lake is the ugly step child not allowed to play in the game.(No offence meant to any ugly step children, of all the lakes Green is top notch).. . Green lake is SEVERAL feet below the "Chain". Not sure the exact number, but have heard 8-10.. There is currently a weir? Not sure if that is spelled right.. But an outlet from Chisago to Green for when Chisago is high water.. Which feels like it will never happen in my life time. I do remember it being open about 7 years ago for a few weeks.. Green has a larger water shed and flows a different direction to the Chain and thus works well for dispersing water.

Man what a ramble that was.

[BassNut33]

Thanks Deitz, that was quit an education. I wish Chisago would come up a few feet, so many stumps only in a few inches of water.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The really sad thing, there were a ton more stumps. But as the water fell, people collected/burned them, so even when the water does come back up, there will not be the wood that was there 5 years ago. Ohh well, adjust.. move on.

[HellaBass]

You know it's funny that In-Fisherman had a spot in this months issue where a 21in bass had been caught but weighed less than three lbs. After dissection they found soft baits in "various degrees of digestion". The article also stated that "heavily salted soft baits expand dramatically in a fishes gut readily blocking it."

All the more reason to fish JIGS more

[mww24]

i miss the stumps on chisago to. oh well. nice info onthe lake system deitz. thank you for sharing.

[BassNut33]

I always fish the ones over there by 8, and have not had the same kind of success as I did years ago.

[mww24]

I've all but abandoned those bassnut. I will still go there from time to time. but not very often

[Larson15]

Regarding the size of the fish on Chisago I have found that the ones found shallow have been a little on the thin side this year. BUT the ones I have been catching deep are definitely eating well.

[sicheneder]

the ones we caught out deep 2 tuesdays ago were nice healthy fish, but by that thursday my buddy when out and the fish were moving.

i love the idea of the regulations and there is all kinds of bass in chisago. i don't catch as many fish 5 lbs or over but there is all kinds of the mid-size fish.

i see all kinds of bass caught on tip-ups during the winter on chisago that would usually be kept.

[bassfshin24]

Hey guys....just wondering where the boat ramp is located on Green Lake? Thinking about heading out tomorrow morning.

[reinhard1]

go east on hyw 8 till you get to county 23 and take a right. there is a practice golf ball course there at the lights where you take a right on 23. follow 23 until you see the public access sign. the landing will be on your left. there is a bathroom on the landing as well. good luck.

[bassfshin24]

Well made my first trip to Green lake this morning. I did pretty well with numbers but could not get any big fish. Got out at around 730 this morning and fish until about 1230. I probably caught around 30 fish but nothing over 3lbs. Most were in the 12-14in range. Caught most fish in about 5.5-6.5ft of water throwing a KVD 1.5. What's everyones favorite approach to fishing Green in the Fall?