Bay smallies just around the corner

[rascalP]

Won't be long now. I've started looking forward to this every year now. It's not a slam-dunk. Weather can really mess things up, but the smallmouth fishing can be outstanding.

JKH, what's your take on the spring conditions so far? Water temps about normal? Around here,(Lindstrom, just north of the cities)we seem to be a bit ahead. Not sure. I still hav'nt started that logbook I've been meaning to keep.

We're planning on coming up the first week in June and hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Maybe see ya on the water!

rascal

[Jim Hudson]

Rascal

Things were a bit ahead of schedule in April, but seem to have averaged out now with some big cold fronts that came into the area, like now. So I would say things are right on schedule for another normal year. Pre-spawn right now for sure...

I will look for ya if your out and about, what do you run for a boat?

[rascalP]

I'll be in a 17' Alumacraft Competitor, maroon & tan, 75 hp Merc -- me and 1 or 2 others. My buddy will have his gray Competitor, 60 hp Johnson. We'll probably be up Sun. the 4th thru Wed. That'll give us a few days in case the weather is nasty. We've learned a few lakes inland if the wind blows.

You ever fly-fish for smallies? I'm trying to talk a fly-rod buddy into coming along. I can flail away a bit myself, as well. I've seen the guy from Anglers All guiding some people, so it must be somewhat productive.

Deitz, you gonna give it a try again this year?

rascal

[Jim Hudson]

Personally I havent done the fly fishing gig... I know it is effective as I have taken people to do it... And yes, Roger, from Anglers All and his clients are always out there flinging with the flyfishing gear... A good time for some, but I just never gotten into it.. Something that I will probably dabble into more now though.. as my wife loves to fly fish.

I will look for you guys for sure..... I run a 17.5 SmokerCraft Millentia with a 115 Merc OptiMax...

[Jim Hudson]

Rascal

I was up in the "Cut" today, water was still under 50 degrees, where I put six bass into the boat. Still in deeper stretches of the water, working a plastic jerk bait really slow.

Checked the Kakagon as well, and she is dark dark red from all the rain. 50 degrees in there, where I monkeyed around up river for awhile...

[outdoor ran]

Jim, how far do them smallies go up them rivers to spawn or do they pretty much drop just before? Also, can a person go up them rivers even though its an reservation? Thanks

[Jim Hudson]

Randy

Fish can be found up in the river(s) as well, and yes you can run up the Kakagon and the Bad river... Fishing can be good up in the rivers too, but right now they are about as productive as the St. Louis!! And that is what you have to watch for, it takes a lot less rain to muddy and make the waters high in these rivers, so a lot of times they become un-fishable, even though they hold some nice fish!! The Kakagon is slow no wake though, due to the wild rice beds throughout her, so it can take awhile to reach some spots!!

Sorry I didnt get to chit chat with you this week, Steve called me and told me to stay home!! One of these days...

[rascalP]

JKH,

Sounds great. Makes me want to hook up the boat and scoot up my next day off. Unfortunatly, I'm working on the "list" that will get me up there in a few weeks. Did you get any of that snow last week?

rascal

[Deitz Dittrich]

With Gas prices as they are, not sure if I will make it up there or not this year.

[gotcatfish]

I just talked to a guy who lives up there and he said the Smallies have moved in and are on beds. Unfortunately my sister's graduation party is this weekend, so I won't be able to get up there. Next weekend though I am planning to leave Friday @ 430 am. I will post how I do. It's been a very long year since I have been up to the "Bay". I lived in Duluth for 4 years and was over every weekend all summer and fall. Now I'm back in the cities and I hate it. I went from an hour long ride to a 3-4 hour ride to get there. Ahhhhhhhh!!! Anyway, Good Luck to all who get out this weekend.

[bass-o-matic]

That's GREAT news, as we are leaving tomorrow (Sat.) morning for the bay. We'll fish the remainder of Sat., all of Sun. and Mon., and then Tues. morning before coming back. I hope the wind isn't TOO bad!

[Cooter]

How'd ya do Bassomatic?

[bass-o-matic]

We did pretty good. Averaged about 30 fish per day for 2 of us combined. Our two biggest were 5-2 and 4-14. Lots of fish in the 3 to 4 pound class. It was pretty rough coming back in on Sunday, but we managed. Overall, another successful trip!

[rascalP]

Sounds great Bass-o-matic. Did you put a tape to those fish? I'm used to inches. I would think 20-21" on that 5-2. Am I far off? Helps me so I don't have to dig down for the dig. scale which I don't trust anyhow.

rascal

[bass-o-matic]

No, actually the ones we weighed we didn't measure. However, we did measure 3 other ones over 20" that we didn't weigh, but they didn't have the girth that these two pigs had, which is why we weighed these and didn't measure.

I checked my digital against our club scale last year and found it was within an ounce, so until it gives out on me, it's close enough for me to count for bragging rights!

[rascalP]

Close enough for me! Care to share the hot bait?

rascal

[rascalP]

Back from another pretty typical trip to the Bay, maybe a little slower than our best. 20 - 25 fish on Sun. in our boat. 20" was the biggest with a few more 19 - 20". Monday, a few less, though we knocked off a little earlier. Tuesday, we got 10. Slept in and got about 45 min. of fishing before getting knocked off by a wicked storm around 10:30. Stayed 5 min. longer than we should've and ended up getting pelted with hail halfway back to the landing. Went back out and caught fish till hanging it at 2pm. Headed to Moose to fish muskies. Needless to say, we should've stayed to catch more smallies . Oh well, first time on Moose and it IS a neat lake. Water looks like rootbeer. Lots of islands, and not many cabins. Did catch 1 smallie to keep from being skunked.

Best bait on the bay seemed to be a greenish (watermelon seed?) 4" yumdinger. Fished a 5" dinger wacky style and got quite a few as well, along with typical tubes and creatures. Tues., a small fat rap got a few, and heard wart's and similar worked well.

JKH, if you are ever in the Lindstrom area, and want to see some mid 40's muskie's , let me know. Thanks again!

rascal

[Jim Hudson]

Hey man, glad you did well... Was pretty worried you might have a hard time, as a lot of fish already moved out... But guess you guys scored on the fish still hanging around!!! Sorry to hear about the hail shower you had to indure!!! Another story to tell anyways though... hehehe

Ya fished Moose huh? Yeah, pretty neat lake... With quite a few muskie in it, am suprised you didnt hook up...

And for sure, I might have to take you up on that offer!!! Where is Lindstrom located?

[rascalP]

Jim,

Lindstrom is about 35 miles NE of TC metro. 15 miles west of St. Croix Falls on HWY 8. Let me know.

rascal (Ethan)

[bass-o-matic]

our bait when we were there in May was a tube.

[Northlander]

Hey Jim the St.Louis is actually back to normal now. Much much better than the 1st couple weeks when it was mud and fast.