Ear Falls

[RthrBfshg]

Myself and few guys are heading up to Manitou Falls near Ear Falls in a couple weeks and would like to hear from anyone who has fished in the area about what we can expect. I know when your talking fishing you should expect just about anything. Just looking for your thoughts.

Thanks

[Guest]

Expect raw thumbs from releasing so many walleyes! I will be heading up this way on Saturday as well. Fishing should be excellent, fish the wind blown side of islands with your bait of preference and hold on. We will be out of Fishermans Cove in Ear Falls. If you see a maroon 620 give us a wave.

[JJB]

I just got back from manitou falls last week.We had a blast,It was my second year in a row going up there and already have next year booked.Water was at 56-59 degrees.Waterlevel was up 8 feet from last year but just a couple feet over normal.Lots of current out there dont even waste your time in the narrows.

I dont know exactly where they will be in a few weeks but 6-8 feet in weeds(WEED LINE)were the key.I cought 1 at 27 and about a dozen total between 24-27.One boat in our group caught 8 in a row between 24-28 inches.Hard to watch when your on the opposite weed line.

What areas do you usually fish on the system?

[Guest]

Are you talking about Ghost narrows. We fish quite a large area from south bay all the way up to Mckenzee and everywhere in-between.

[Big G]

JJB

Gary here.......neighbor.............email me @ gwellman@midwestlendingcorp dot com

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Let em go, so they can grow!

[RthrBfshg]

Thanks Guys, I'm not going for a couple weeks. I should have waited because now it's all I can think about. This will be my first year to this area, Have been to Lac Suel in the past. A lot of fish but never any size. Any of you had the pleasure of fishing both? Whats your thoughts?

[RthrBfshg]

Hope you have good fishing MrBigEyes. Let us know how it went when you get back.

[RthrBfshg]

Thanks JJB, I will post when I get back. Hope we get some action like you had.

[can it be luck?]

When in Ear Falls try below the dam. Drive down the dirt road to the back of the power plant and walk down the hill. Stand on the large rock and use a slip sinker, hook, and leech. Also casting a bottom bouncer, 2-3' leader, hook, and leech works great as well. The current requires you to drift your bait downstream, the bottom bouncer reduces snags(lots). When the gates are open it's like ringing a dinner bell....A LOUD ONE!


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[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 07-12-2004).]

[RthrBfshg]

can it be luck, It is funny to hear from you because I was just reading all the back and forth between you and some guys about keeping fish on the brag-board. You were set up! Thanks for the pictures and the tips. I might as well leave now because I am doing my company no good sitting around thinking about our trip. I would love to talk to you sometime about fishing Erie. Looks like a blast. Is it all down rigger or can a guy catch nice fish on a jig?

[can it be luck?]

RthrBfshg, Naw, we were just having fun! A little friendly debating!
Good luck on your trip. If you can, try that area below the dam. Once you get the weight/drift/angle of cast down...You'll kill em!
PS: The large smooth rock makes for a pleasant shore lunch area, although any walleye over 21"s taste like **** there IMO. Real fatty.

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[JJB]

Fishing below the dam was not much of an option when we were up there.That back bay near where you took the pics wasnt to bad but usually have better luck with pike over walleye in there.That water was moving.You would have needed a 4 ounce jig to hit bottom when we were there.The water might have slowed down a bit by now.Tell mike and angie that the guys from direct said hi! Good luck out there.

Gary did you get my e-mail??

[can it be luck?]

At times you get a pike on every cast, but the walleyes are defenitly there! Yes, the current can be swift, but in my experience's the faster the current, the better the fishing. I've watched people go fishless as I caught fish on EVERY CAST only because they couldn't get the weight/drift down pat. A long upstrem cast towards the dam is needed. Then the bait will be tapping bottom when it's directly in front of you. It need not be on bottom long, you'll have a fish on by then. The flat rock has an eddy on its back side and a shelf on it's front side...A natural ambush/resting area when the current is swift. Add in the amount of baitfish and wounded baitfish from the water discharge...Yee Haa!!! Fishing Bonanza!!!

PS: Don't use jigs, whether 4oz jigs or not.
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[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 07-12-2004).]

[Big G]

Hey;

G here.........

Mark, I have a picture of the same dam!!! Except mine has about a gadzillion gallons of water flowing over it. When we were there, it was no use fishing where you were. Just like JJB said, a downrigger would of been the only thing to get you in the "zone". Cool pic!!!

JJB;
Didn't get the email????.........
Got a new address: [email protected]

I need to get a detailed report from you. I'm planning on going there next year. A buddy and I have been planning it. Are you going next year???

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Let em go, so they can grow!

[can it be luck?]

Hey G, good to hear from you again!
I must've been lucky everytime I've been there, conditions were always good(6 times). Well, I guess you can't control old Mother Nature!

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[RthrBfshg]

JJB, I will be sure to let Mike & Angie know you said Hi.

JJB and CIBL, Did you guys ever venture around when you were fishing? How are the other lakes attached to the system? We have a couple guys in our group that will spend a lot of time hunting Muskie. What are your thoughts on how they will do?

[Big G]

Go to Goose lake. That is suppose to hold your best ski action.

Also, for good walleyes and if you want to be by yourself............Go to the very west end of Unexpected lake. There is a good reef there. We fished that in depths of 3 to 8 feet. Pulled spinners accross it. We pulled walleyes off that reef all day long...........

Also, just north of that reef is a good waterfall. Can't miss it. It is loaded with Pike and Walleye..........BIG ONES!!!!

It is a long haul.........but you will have it all to yourself........

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Let em go, so they can grow!

[RthrBfshg]

Thanks big G, That will help a lot. Sure are a lot of nice guys on this forum. Hope I can repay the favor sometime.

[Big G]

Mark;

Maybe you should join us.........Maybe I can arrange the same time that JJB will be there next year????

[JJB]

Just like BIG G said, Goose is a good bet for skis. When I was up there one guy caught a 48 inch at the mouth of goose creek(the creek comes in on the nw side of the lake). I have talked to everyone I can about skis out there and a few say wegg is a great lake also.I got one on wegg about 34-36 inches but got off at the boat.The resort owner has heard alot of reports of a 60 inch plus ski off an island on wegg.They all have seen it at the same spot.

BIG G would know the island it the one just b4 you get to johnson on the left.You have to stay way to the right of it the shallow rock come out about 100 yards.

[Big G]

Are you talking "Old Reliable". That is the island just straight south of Johnson, in Wegg Lake. It comes off a point on Wegg.

There is also an island just to the east of the opening to Johnson. This is basically a smooth face rock. This is basically at the center of the "bay" that leads to clear lake.

Just for note, Naughty Pines fish camp had 3 muskies over 50lbs pulled out of that water. a 57lb, 55lb, & 52lb. I knew one of the dock boys at Naughty Pines. He claimed that each summer, multiple 30s and a handfull of 40s came out of there. We are talking pounds, not inches............

So a 60 incher is very beleiveable.........

I don't care what happens.........I'm going next year!!!!!!!!

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Let em go, so they can grow!

[JJB]

Just bumping this one up!
Any reports on how fishing was for you guys.

[RthrBfshg]

JJB, Mike said hi. We had a great time but the fishing was a little slow. Spent way to much time hunting muskie. Only one to report from our trip. (MW corner of Wegg) Water was very dirty. When we could get up to the damm the fishing was good but high winds kept us out a lot of the time.

[JJB]

Too bad the fishing wasnt to great, but hey ya made it up there!!
How was the weather?
Where was the water at?