How do we get the big one????

[Guest]

Hi. We are two semi-new fisherwomen. At the end of April we will be fishing Northerns at Zipple Bay in Baudette. Can anyone give us advice on how we can get the big one??? IE What type of lure, both for casting and deadbaiting? What color lure? Any tips and suggestions would be most welcome...we want to beat the men! Thanks! :-)

[Guest]

For casting, work the edge of weedbeds with spinner baits (black, white, orange), and big spoons -- red eye, Dardevle, and the large Johnson weedless. On the Johnson use an Uncle Josh bass strip, preferably the red/white ones if you can find them, otherwise the plain white.

Don't overlook trolling. Northerns often take trolled lures readily. Try the magnum Shad Rap, Rapala Husky Jerk (esp. in clown, and fire tiger), and countdown Rapalas in blue/silver, black/silver, and fire tiger.

Good luck.

[Guest]

Now I have a question -- Do you think Zippel Bay will be ice free by end of April?

[Guest]

IT BETTER BE. We have "bets" that we can catch the largest northern one of the days (and get it in the boat LOL) and I really dont want to have to pay up! SIGH Had to miss our ice fishing tourney this year cuz of no ice...and if we dont get to fish the northern tourney because of ice...two crabby ladies are gonna be in Northern MN!!! Thanks for the advice!

[fiskyknut]

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[This message has been edited by fiskyknut (edited 04-08-2002).]

[Guest]

My partner and I fished up there for a few yrs and did real well with plastic worms real shallow. There are a couple of beaver huts closer to the lake shore that hold some huge ones pre spawn. Post spawn I would try casting husky jerk rapalas in the state park harbor. The big ones like to hide under the docks and rest up after spawning. We also saw a couple real big ones but couldn't keep them on way back in the south bay past the power line. The people that dead bait fish all day very rarely win it if the water temp is up a bit. However if the ice just goes off the week before I would anchor in the middle of the channel out by lake and fish with frozen ciscos. You don't happen to be the all girl team from two yrs ago do you? Hope this helps you out!

Big

[Guest]

Thanks for the info Bigpike and also fiskynut (wanted to say thanks earlier but just got a chance to get back on the computer!!!)!!!

Yea Bigpike...we are the crew that went out two years ago...I HOPE we have learned something from it! If nothing else...what not to pack in the boat and what do if the motor quits working! :-)

Good luck to everyone else in the tourney...

[Guest]

Good luck to the two of you and anyone else that fishes it. I'll be there this yr also, Just look for a lund boat! We will even buy the two of you a drink after weigh-in saturday. Are there any good bars in the area for saturday evening?

Big

[fiskyknut]

Bigpike
Wigwam is the busiest of the watering holes up that way.

Zipplebabes
Glad you saw that post, I went to add a bit a few days later and lost the whole post somehow as I edited it? Oh well can't give out all my secrets....hehehe!!!

I'm starting to wonder if the ice will be gone by the 27th, or if we will be fishing it on May 4 and 5. I walked out yesterday from the state park ramp, did the tip-up thing with good results. We'll be there again this year regardless!

Good Luck....Fisky

[Guest]

Well if I mean WHEN we get the big fishies...we will thank you two for the good advice! And maybe let you touch the big one!!!!! LOL :-) Just an FYI...Wigwam is fun to hang at but so is Sportsmans...they are advertising a sturgeon tourney the same weekend so I wonder if they wont be having a band..depending on the # of teams entered!

Once again Thanks so much for the advice..that tourney was so fun the first time we entered it...hope this one will be even more fun!

[fiskyknut]

It's about 10-11 miles to either the 'wam or to the sportsmans lodge from Zippel bay.

[Guest]

Bigpike

We will look for you BEHIND us in that big line! heehee I havent heard how many have signed up for sportman's tourney so dont know how much it will take away from the northern one. Had heard its $100/team for that tourney. Just an FYI suppose to get colder the next 3-4 days..down to like 20 something at night...possible snow :-(

[Guest]

Behind?? sheesh is that a challenge? hehe I heard the cold weather forcast too. Maybe someone could go out with an icebreaker and bust it up now so the wind could blow it on shore?

[Guest]

I think the ice should be out as long as it doesnt get real cold at night this weekend. Boy do I hope so...... pulled out the tackle, rods, and other junk out of winter hiding and am pumped to go! WHEN??? you two catch the big one???? Get in line....lol I wonder if the sportsmans sturgeon tourny will pull some of the ppl off zippel. How far is it from wigwam to zippel? Lets all pray for warm weather and some wind to move that ice!

[Guest]

any word on the ice? Getting anxious!

[Guest]

Hey ZippelBabes, you still around or did we scare you off from the tourney? J\K lol

[Guest]

My partner and I have been drinking pineapple juice constant for the last week. We heard the fish liked that.... LOL see you saturday.