kabetogama,namakan,crane

[pike69]

I'm bringing my sisters 13yr old boy and my 12 yr old up to kab from july 1st-8th. they have both caught tons of pike but never anything over 3 pounds. help me out please....I would love to get these two into a 10-15 pounder(not to mention the hero status i would earn)We are catchers not eaters so everything goes back.thanks jim murphy sebeka mn

[Silver Scale]

I can't speak directly about the Crane, Nam, or Kab but I know on other similar type bodies of water the bigger northerns are related more to the rock reefs this time of year. Maybe try a few reefs that top out at 6-10 feet. Toss some spoons or crank baits around those and see what happens. You'll probably run into a few big smallmouth bass as well as some bigger walleyes too. Good luck.....

[Fish&Fowl]

Try using some good-sized lures whatever you use. Pike are not finicky and that big profile moving quickly through the water really seems to trigger them. I caught 3-4 yesterday while muskie fishing that were about the same size as the lure I was tossing.

Reefs may offer you a chance some nice pike, but I would stick to weed beds and rock/weed areas that would normally be good topwater smallmouth areas. Don't know which colors work the best on those lakes as I don't fish them, so bring some natural and some bright to cover your bases. Good luck!

[esox addict]

I have never done that much fishing on kabetogama, namakan, or crane, but I have fished rainy quite a bit and had some luck with some nice fish. Usually when I have gone up I have found the bigger ones mainly on the rocks. Mid lake rock piles and rocky points are good spots. As far as lures go my number 1 bait for them has been a no. 14 suspending husky jerk. You also can't go wrong with crankbaits, spoons and spinners. If you spend some time throwing these baits around on the rocks you should catch some nice fish.

[MNBIGBEAR]

When I saw this post it reminded me of a conversation I had with a DNR guy at Vermilion last year. He said they are actually going to do a musky assessment on Crane lake because of the number of reports of muskies being caught up there. I had never heard of any before I talked to him. Would be interesting to see the results though. Crane fits the bill for possibly another nice musky lake.

[Fish&Fowl]

I hope that happens. Never fished Crane before but I certainly would if it had some nice muskies in it. I would love to have a place that close to home on the U.S. side.

[Muskie-searcher]

I have fished Kab for pike quite a bit, and have caught some real nice fish. You have a legitimat shot at a 40". The baits I have the most success with are the Suick and the Bionic. Deep weed edges are one of the best spots to work, especially the edges of some of the bays. Nebraska has always been a good one for me. In addition the Grassies can be spectacular. Work the area between the islands, the weed beds and drop offs. This area always seems to hold nice fish. Good luck.