Fishing walleyes in deep mine pits.

[Ely Lake Expert]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips for finding and catching walleyes in these 600-1000 foot deep mine pits; like lake orebegone for example;. I know there are walleyes in there but I don't know where to find them of how to catch them. Would down riggers work? How about planer boards with deep divers?

Thanks,

Ryan

[SledNeck]

Orebegone's max depth is 443 feet.

[cashcrews]

I normally fish those pits for the rainbows or lakers, using downriggers. I've seen guys that have caught nice walleyes in there, but I don't know the technique or exact location...sorry.

Sledneck, I'd say the DNR maps aren't perfect...there could be some deeper spots. 500 seems to be about right on Orebegone, and I've been in another one that's had over 700.

Cashcrews

[BobT]

I'm surprised to hear there are walleyes in there again. Back when the IRRRB decided to convert that pit to a trout lake, they had basically destroyed the competetive game fish that were in there so they wouldn't compete with the trout. That pit was a great walleye fishery before that took place. Apparently, all the walleyes were not removed.

It's been many years since I lived in Eveleth so hopefully I can remember enough to help you out. Before it was converted to a trout lake, a friend and I would catch walleyes in a couple places.

From the launch site, (that wasn't there when we fished there) I believe there is a bay to your left or east and north around the corner.. The bank along the west side of that bay was quite steep but we would climb down that bank onto a small ledge in that bay. Don't know if the ledge still exists but if it does, you could try around that area. We used floating jigs on a live bait rig from shore to catch walleyes.

Another area that we did okay was from the launch head west toward the far end of the old Gilbert pit. As you go through the narrows there is a point on the south side. From that point all along the south shore to the old production truck ramp produced nice walleyes for us.

I remember being upset because they took what was a great walleye/northern/crappie fishery and turned it into a trout lake that requires restocking to maintain. Seemed to me, and still does, that it would have been better to just leave it as it was, save us taxpayers some money, and just put in the access.

Fact is, most of those pits were good fisheries as they were. Others that come to mind include Kinney pit where I grew up. There were decent musky and northern in there. East of Kinney there was another pit but it's name eludes me. You go down the old road heading toward the water treatment facility and there is a pit back there which is now a trout lake. That was a great panfish lake before they converted it.

Bob

[SledNeck]

Quote:

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I'm surprised to hear there are walleyes in there again. Back when the IRRRB decided to convert that pit to a trout lake, they had basically destroyed the competetive game fish that were in there so they wouldn't compete with the trout. That pit was a great walleye fishery before that took place. Apparently, all the walleyes were not removed.

It's been many years since I lived in Eveleth so hopefully I can remember enough to help you out. Before it was converted to a trout lake, a friend and I would catch walleyes in a couple places.

From the launch site, (that wasn't there when we fished there) I believe there is a bay to your left or east and north around the corner.. The bank along the west side of that bay was quite steep but we would climb down that bank onto a small ledge in that bay. Don't know if the ledge still exists but if it does, you could try around that area. We used floating jigs on a live bait rig from shore to catch walleyes.

Another area that we did okay was from the launch head west toward the far end of the old Gilbert pit. As you go through the narrows there is a point on the south side. From that point all along the south shore to the old production truck ramp produced nice walleyes for us.

I remember being upset because they took what was a great walleye/northern/crappie fishery and turned it into a trout lake that requires restocking to maintain. Seemed to me, and still does, that it would have been better to just leave it as it was, save us taxpayers some money, and just put in the access.

Fact is, most of those pits were good fisheries as they were. Others that come to mind include Kinney pit where I grew up. There were decent musky and northern in there. East of Kinney there was another pit but it's name eludes me. You go down the old road heading toward the water treatment facility and there is a pit back there which is now a trout lake. That was a great panfish lake before they converted it.

Bob

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Youre referring to the Forsythe Pit. Its Minn-Tac property now NO ACCESS.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Thanks for the info Bob, I am going to have to get over there and try it soon.