Lac Seul June Walleye Techniques

[KTroller]

Going to be heading up to Lac Seul (Ear Falls area). June 12th-17th and have never fished there before. Planning on getting a guide the first day, but would like to be prepared tackle-wise for the trip. Can anyone share the most common walleye techniques & tackle?

Thanks!

[fishyguy]

Ktroller,

I have been up to Lac Suel many times and have always had fantastic fishing that time of the year. We have always gone with jigs and live bait (minnows and leeches seem to both have success). Chartruese, white, pink and orange have all worked well. If I had to pick a color I would stay with the chartreuse. The spring weather will be a factor but I would focus on 7-15 feet to start.

disclaimer:

Most of my experience comes from the other end of the lake. Hopefully somebody can post if there are differences between the two ends.

[CodyDawg]

been going to the middle part of the lake for 19 years. buy plenty of twister tails, most times, that is all you need. sometimes it helps to add a minnow, we dont even bring leeches anymore. also, try cranks. the bigger the better. they will hit some unbelievably big cranks that time of year.

[KTroller]

I've heard that 3" tails are a good bet - has that been your finding? As far as cranks go, any you'd reccommend? Shad Raps? 7s or 9s?

Thanks for your feedback!

KTroller

[Fuzzy]

I also have been going to Lac Seul for many years in June.

We used to use minnows & leaches with good success but found that a jig tipped with a hunk of nightcrawler worked just as well and cost a lot less. Minnows are very expensive at Lac Seul. Last year we also tried Berkley Gulp products, 3 & 4 inch tails on a jig worked great. Had the best luck casting the jig into shore and pulling it back to the boat. Good luck.

[KTroller]

Do guys ever troll on Lac Seul to find 'eyes? Curious because of the time of year that we're going, wondering if trolling would put us on schools that we could then jig to CPR numbers of fish? Anyone fished Wabaskang for a change of pace to look for other species? Can you get on Wabaskang at a public access?

[KTroller]

Also curious about navigation on Lac Suel. I plan on using my GPS but have had little luck in finding detailed maps. Would hate to drop a lower unit. Do they post water levels anywhere to keep boaters informed about risks of hitting near surface obstuctions?

[Radke]

I went last year for the first time as part of a group that has been up there for years. We are going back the last week in June.

We used primarily jigs with crawlers or leaches. Minnows are expensive up there. We bring flats of crawlers with us. We also would use bottom bouncers when it was real choppy. When we found aggressive fish (which wasn't very hard to do) I found that the Gulp crawlers worked just as good as live bait.

The biggest thing I kept hearing and it definitely worked was to follow the wind. The fish tended to stack up around the points and the islands right where the waves were crashing into them. Roughly 10-15ft of water if I remember correctly.

It was an absolutely awesome fishing experience and I can't wait to go back.

[CodyDawg]

Shad raps in 7 and 9 will work. but fot the big ones, I use much, much bigger cranks. super shad raps and muskie baits. of course you have to have the rods that can handle it.

nothing is marked in the middle of the lake and i do mean nothing. you are on your own and i wouldnt trust a GPS to be accurate enough in some areas. go slow, have a spotter and fish your way to spots until you learn the lake.

[ozzie]

What we tried up there last year and will do it again this year is salted minnows. We got them very cheap somewhere off hwy 65(?) packaged in styrofoam coolers. Worked as good as live minnows or crawlers.

[WB make the CUT]

your gps will trak nice and allow for long trips, take a look at Turkey creek, its about an hour or so out but may be worth the trip in early june.

I fished for about 6 years on that end and now have about 8 years on the Hudson end both seem great.

I used Lindy Thumpin Grubs last year and went toe to toe with the live bait riggers in my boat.

Great to see the plastics getting so good, when Canada's bait sucks compared to state side. No offense just my opionion.

[KTroller]

Thanks all for the replies! I'm always up for a reason to have an excuse to load up on some additional tackle. Curious of your line of choice for jigging. I'm thinking fireline for sensitivity but also wondering about if color plays a factor.

[CodyDawg]

Can you remember the name of the place or where it was, I would prolly try some if i knew where. although most of time i dont use minnows.

[Radke]

Have any of you guys that have been up there a number of times ever done the houseboat thing? I saw a ton of them when I was up there and it looked like it could be a lot of fun.

I liked staying at the resort, but was just wondering if anybody had a good/bad experience on the house boats.

[cupper]

I know some friends who have done the House-boat thing on Lac Seul and rave about it. They have been doing it every year for the past decade or so. I have never done it myself, but from what I have heard it is a great experience.

[ozzie]

I will find out this weekend and get back to ya. I just know that for the price and how effective they were I know that we aren't bringing anything else!! It can get the boat a litle messy if you aren't careful but if you bring a towel in the boat you shouldn't have a problem.

[iffwalleyes]

What about later in July. We are going to be up there the last week of July this year. Somewhere near Hudson. I assume that vertical jigging with salted shiners or crawlers will probably produce some fish. The end of July isn't my first choice for the time of year to head up there but due to the place we are staying schedule this is when we could get in. I know some people that have been going earlier in July the past couple years and the just vertical jig and drift. Does that seem to be the best plan or should I plan to do something other than that? Also I am planning to get some salted shiners and flats of crawlers how much of each of these would you bring for a group of 6 guys? Thanks

[Rolly22]

I've been going up there for the last 25 years and have never had to try anything but a jig and a minnow. I've run out of minnows before and have used power bait and have had decent success. If you don't find them right away keep moving, usually trying the shoreline structures where the wind had been blowing in. Once you find them, anchor and cast until you're sick of catching them. One thing I did after getting sick of tying jigs on was use spiderwire, you'll get a few snags. It is tricky as far as water levels go. If it's high it will cover up spots that usually stick out and if its low will expose you to hazards that usually aren't there. It will definately help going with a guide on the first day and then start where you had success with him the next day and do a little exploring from there. We used to do the Lac Seul Floating Lodges and that's the way to go if you can afford it. It was convenience at it's finest. We fish out of Sioux Lookout. We trailer our boats to Deception Landing and then drive by boat from there. The houseboat saved alot of transit time and allowed for more fishing.

Rolly

[WB make the CUT]

Have any of you guys that have been up there a number of times ever done the houseboat thing? I saw a ton of them when I was up there and it looked like it could be a lot of fun.

Radke

I have been houseboating for about 8 years, it is second to none in my opinion, Hudson has two outfitters that do a good job. It can be a little spendy but for 5 or 6 guys for a week 4 grand is'nt too bad. If you try it make sure your guided out the first trip and alway buy the insurance although I think that's not an option.

A few years back we were on Taylor island when the big fire came through.

Image. sitting on the top of the house boat at midnite with the Norhternlights going in the north and the glow of the fire in the south, throw in a cold Labatts and you have a real memory maker.

Give it a try but you need to make reservations a year in advance or you may be required to get on a waiting list..

Good Luck

[Rolly22]

End of July? At that time of the year they usually have moved out onto the mid lake structures. I have had good luck on the edges of sunken islands/bars and have caught them anywhere from 12-50 ft.

Rolly

[KTroller]

Goint to be staying at Timberlane Lodge - Anyone have any good spots they're willing to share near there? I've been hearing to follow the wind to nearly any point and watch for breaks. Is that a good approach? If course we'll be getting a guide, so we should learn something from that but was just curious.

[Benny]

For maps, try Hudson Map Company.

I have almost all the sections of Lac Seul now, they are close enough to at least warn you of which areas to slow down in.

I took out my lower a few years back, wind pushed me into the rocks before I could get the boat turned out away.

I knew they were there but had to try to keep the boat off them.But it didn't work.

Best thing is to go slow till you know where the under water rocks are, have some one up front watching all the time.

Two years ago we were drifting from Eagle Island across the narrows toward the West.

We found an under water rock by bouncing off it.

No damage done, but you couldn't see it.

There was a pipe in the top that had been bent over and lots of scares from others who were not so lucky.

As for bait, try finding a bait dealer on the way there that is off the lake a ways.

We found one just an hour south of Hudson and east of Dryden that sold us bait for half the price the Indians wanted at Muhkwa Lodge.

Fishing areas to try, well every one covered them so far.Wind is key, but be careful if it starts blowing hard.

I seen that lake go from 1 foot swells to 8 foot breakers with in an hour!!

Got stuck down in Vaughn Bay for a complete day because we couldn't get through the narrows till night fall when the wind died down.

Good thing we had mix for shore lunch along

Benny

[KTroller]

I was also curious about fishing times. Obviously this may vary but is the bite usually a morning and then evening thing?

[CodyDawg]

nope, not at all. lac seul fish do not behave by the clock at all. they bite all day long. prolly a lack of fishing pressure thing. actually, we have found the worst fishing to be early in the morning...although that is a relative thing, it is still pretty good.

[KTroller]

Anyone ever fish Pike near Ear Falls? Would love to do some CPR for some big northerns.