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Captain Ken
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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Yes, Dances, I'm afraid you might be right. Well, at least we have a group since there are two of us! So, how do you like my reports? I think yours are nifty. I've got it, until we get more traffic we can just post replies to each other talking about what great fishermen we each think the other is. That'll make us feel good at least! wink.gif

See ya' on the water!

Ken

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Illinois Fisherman,

We have been following this site. We will be relocating to Illinois from Minnesota in about two months and looking to hookup with some advice and partners, etc.

Our speciality has been river fishing, anything and everything that will bite. Smallmouth are our preference, inland waters for largemouth and northerns. Will miss the north, but looking forward to retuning to Sweet Home Chicago.

We fish from a 17 ft Old Town Canoe. The son half of this team is an avid and intense 7 1/2 year old that has caught just about every freshwater specie except a musky and sturgeon.

Again, we'd like to get hooked up to meet people and learn from you folks out there.

Please feel free to write us through the forum or direct at:

[email protected]

Thanks
dadandsonfish

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we were up on the chain this weekend, the water was cold don't know the temp, but fishing was slow to dead . a couple of follows from 'skies in the shallows , but the crappies weren't biting either. Dozens of gills under the docks even they took a lot of coaxing to trick just a few of the small ones. We're going again this weekend, any insights from anyone. How's the water temp. I'm having a dispute with the other guys who fish there frequently. This was my first time. But I say that we should focus on the small lakes ( Petite) lokking foor warmer water, maybe more species will be active. But the guys who are experienced there are fixated on their regular spots and aren't adapting to the cold water.Problem is is that it's their boat and they don't or wont consider my stategy,(I've been fishing other waters for 40 yrs.),
Can I get some validation out there? Or am I wrong?
I'm recuperating froom back surgery.I had to give up my anual minn. trip because of the travel,and have been invited to my friends cottage for a few days .I don't want to be ugrateful but my boat time is limited due to my back.
Does'nt searching out the warmest water make sense?
Ide be happy with a couple of crappies or a bass, Any suggestions anyone?

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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Glad to see all of you are out there.

Dad and Son - Welcome to Illinois when you get here! We have rivers, which I know nothing about, and many lakes. Can't say fishing is as good as MN, but there are some great opportunities here. We also have Lake Michigan with a great fishery - though I'm not sure you'll want to go out too far with the canoe.

Jack, I fished the muskietourney a couple weeks ago (see my other reports here). Fishing was slow, as expected at this time of year. The water temp was pretty even across all the lakes including petite and bluff. My recommendation for you guys is to try the channel mouths and channels themselves. There were many people AND warmer water in the channel between bluff and petite from the bridge at Smith's on up to petite. At this time of year the fish will be seeking the warmest water possible. You will find that water in the channels and also in certain bays. For example, when you go into catherine the bay on your left (inside of the no wake bouys) would be a great choice, especially if the sun is up and the wind is blowing into that bay in some manner. There is clear water, some old weeds (making the bottom dark - remember dark colors/bottoms gets hotter sooner because they absorb light rays) and relatively shallow, clear water. When we fished the 'ski tourney a couple weeks ago I noted 4-5 degrees warming of the bay I speak of during the course of the day. The main lakes stayed pretty much the same. This only works if it is sunny of course. Net effect on the fishes---it warms their cold blooded little bodies up and makes them a little more active. Clear water makes stealth mode necessary. If you are chasing 'skies remember smaller baits are the key right now. Try even throwing baits that you would not usually think of as muskie baits - like a large bass spinner bait or crank bait. You might be surprised.
I think you're on the right track. Summer or late spring tactics will not work on the Chain right now.

------------------
Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

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Captain Ken,

Maybe when e get settled we can hook up for coffee and share some thoughts. We would like to up grade to a jon boat as we really enjoy river fishing and the smaller lakes. It's the serenity and lighhter traffic of the rivers that make it enjoyable. Once we have a boat we'll probably do some trips up to Wisconsin on the Wolf (less traffic?) and some of thise rivers. We sure did get spoiled here half dozen lakes and the St. Croix no more than 10 minutes in either direction. SOme of those dream spots that arenot accessible to bigger boats, but the fishing is ourstanding. We can always learn new water and found that most fishing enthusiasts are willing to point a new comer in the right direction.

Captain do you do charters and or guiding?

Thanks again,

dadandsonfish

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genegodawa Mentor

genegodawa

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I'm reading every day 'cause this is my therapy - until baseball season ends in July and then I can get out.

Most of the time I just hit Loon Lake a few times a year. But I am always interested in what is happening on the Chain.

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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Dads,

Coffee would be great.

I would say I'm more of a guide than a charter operator (since I have a smaller boat and no permanent slip), but I do go on Lake Michigan for salmon trips and inland for muskies. Nevertheless, I have my Captain's license from the USCG - got it last year.

I'll email you back channel--

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

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MuskyMark Explorer

MuskyMark

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I read this forum too. I live and fish N. Illinois waters, but I've also been fishing lakes around Cass Lake, MN. for the last twenty years... so I'm looking for fishing info locally and for up north. Haven't had much to contribute lately so I've just been looking. Fished the Chain twice this year with one 38" muskie in the boat (Channel Lake). Other than that, the water isn't in a hurry to warm up so the muskies haven't been overly active yet. I'll post again next time I fish it.

Mark

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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Hi MuskyMark,
Welcome! We'd love to hear any additional news you have regarding local fishing reports.

For those of us that like to double dip and fish the MN waters, the Minnesota forums on fishingminnesota are second to none. I have learned a great deal about Lake Vermilion in Tower, MN from the folks that post there!

I'll be hitting Lake Michigan hard (Sat and Sunday Salmon Unlimited Tourneys) and Monday with a guided trip. I'll post a report after that. Hopefully the weather Gods will be with us- rain I can handle, but the wind.... whew frown.gif .

Ken


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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Thanks for reading Don. We've got some incredible fishing opportunities around here, though I FULLY understand your love of fishing in MN. Think about wetting a line in IL once in a while.

Take Care

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

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dasfooter Rookie

dasfooter

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Hello,
I also check in, I am from Woodstock IL but live in the Twin Cities now. I always like to see how my fishing friends from my old home are doing. Keep up the good work.

Dasfooter

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Windy City Walleye Hunter Grand Master

Windy City Walleye Hunter

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I just checked into this forum. I am also from Illinois but never looked into this site before. I am a regular on the Cass Lake site though and I may be related to Musky Mark if he is who I think he is. Our family has been going up to Cass Lake for about 20 years, staying at Wishbone Resort. If this is Mark who recently had his first child ( a son ) then I am most definitly your brother in law, Curt. I don't fish a lot in Illinois but would welcome any tips when I get out. I have an 18 foot Lund and look to get out when I can.

Minnesota, and our 2 week vacation is another story. I am up and out by 6 am every morning and beat the waters all day till dark, taking a few breaks. " I Like It, I Love It, I Want More Of It".

Talk to all you Land Of Lincolners soon.

Curt

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MuskyMark Explorer

MuskyMark

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Windy City...,

Nope. Wrong Mark. Never stayed at Wishbone before. Heard good things about it though. Only places I've stayed are the Pike Hole Resort (currently) and years ago at place named Call of the North (used to be next to the dam), before the owners passed away.

See you spend a lot of time on the Cass Lake forum. Heading up there this weekend for a week. Focus mainly on walleyes on this outing, but I'll fish muskies a day or two. I'll head back up to Cass in the fall for a muskies-only trip. Drop me a line if you ever care to exchange any hot tips! Good luck this year.

Mark
[email protected]

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WCWH, not long now........only 7 more weeks until the Cass Lake trip. Looking forward to the trip with you and Brian on Sunday as well as a week of ski hunting. We should have a beer in the bar on Saturday night.

Muskymark, I'd be willing to trade some Cass Lake hotspots, or some Illinois hotspots for that matter. What time in the fall are you going to Cass? Shoot me an e-mail [email protected]

[This message has been edited by DANCES WITH FISH (edited 06-02-2003).]

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don62 Contributor

don62

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wcwh I too have been going up to cass for a lot of years. When I'm up there I fish all I can, but dont fish at all around here,,cant figure it out.. speaking of hot spots have you ever fished the "lake in the lake" at cass?

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Captain Ken Community Regular

Captain Ken

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Hi Guys!

Glad you all are here! Hey Musky Tom, glad ou dip down from your island on Lake Vermilion and visit us once in a while! smile.gif

OK guys, let's get those boats in the water here in Illinois- it may not be Cass lake or Lake Vermilion but you can have one heck of a time!!! As of late, I have been trolling the waters of Lake Michigan for those delicious coho salmon that are not too far off shore right now. All you need most days if a couple dodgers, flys and a couple dipsey divers and you're set! No down riggers necessary right now 'cause the water is still ever so chilly (but getting warmer).

Let me know if you want more info - till then Northpoint here I come.

Ken

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

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Windy City Walleye Hunter Grand Master

Windy City Walleye Hunter

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Hi Don,
Glad to talk to another Cass Laker, we stay at Wishbone, how bout you? I have visited Lake Windigo each year but never to fish. Our kids usually take a canoe over there with lunch and paddle around but not to fish. I hear there are mostly pan fish and some bass. My father in law likes to throw a rubber worm around Lost Lake which is walking distance from Wishbone. He usually casts off the dock and has landed a few 4-5 lb largemouth. Let me know if you have had any luck in Windigo, we can swap honey holes on the big lake if you would like, I go for eatin sized walleye and jumbo perch. Not into muskie much and the pike are usually by mistake when we are trolling a minnow (thats why I like to use crawlers). Talk to you later. I am now 39 days away from 2 weeks up at Cass...CANT WAIT!

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don62 Contributor

don62

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wcwh, we used to stay at Toms resort till about 6 years back, it just got to run down, what a shame. then we stayed at Cass lake lodge till 2 years ago when I made the plunge and bought a place by red lake, talk about suffering, going to work every day down here knowing my place just sits up there(were heading up july 4th for 10 days).Windigo is a blast to fish, we landed a lot of bluegill that we could barly get our hands on to take the hook out, not to mention a lot of 2-3 pound bass, and there is a lot of big northern in there, more than once we were reeling in a gill and it got hit by a big northern. I really recomend an afternoon and evening of fishing there,I bet you like it..

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