If you had 10days to fish where would you go?

[dan2957]

Hey guys

Sluggomaster and I were going to be heading down to Kentucky Lake, KY next week for a big bass tournament but it looks like we won't be able to make it this year We already took off work and we are still going fishing but we have to stay in the area, soooooo.

My question to you guys, if you had 10 days to go fishing during the best time of the year to catch MONSTER TOADS where would you go? We have our big bass lakes around home but we want to go hit some new water. We have tossed around going to Vermillion, Green Lake(Kandoyhi County), or I was thinking maybe the Brainard area.

Keep in mind we don't want your honey holes, just lake suggestions. I know this can be a touchy subject here in the forum because people don't want to give up their hot spots for all the world to see.

I will keep everyone posted on our fishing adventures and give you a fish count or something fun like that. We will be fishing from 29-Sept thur 8-Oct.

Thanks in advance,

Dan2957 and Sluggomaster

[grab the net]

The area between Alex and Fergus is loaded with lakes that are worthy of some lunker hunts. Pomme De Terre is a good one, a check of some bait shops bragging boards would get you started on some lakes with big fish potential. 10 days with nothing to do but hunt lunkers would be a great way to start the fall.

[Tebassco]

Anytime before freezeup? Right here at home. These were caught yesterday.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/Tebassco/DSC00203.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/Tebassco/DSC00206.jpg

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dan- I guess it would have to depend on how far you wanted to drive and what lakes you felt you knew best?

If it were me, I might make a northern Minnesota swing?... Vermillion, Leech, and a bunch of small lakes in the Bemidji area?... I think the further you go north the better chance you may get to nail a hog. Alex and brainerd may also be good choices?

[swampbuck]

Go to Rainy lake if you have a few days, go to the North arm, find any main lake point or hump, look for bait fish and drag a 6" white worms around your arms will get tired of catching 4lb smallies,Oh yeah they will eat topwaters woo! As Larry Bollig says they will eat topwaters on Rainy until they cant get through the ice!

[Fever]

You mentioned Green... There are alot of very very good Bass lakes that just west of there that get next to zero pressure. Otter tail county has well over 1,000 lakes... Lots of 5 lb + bass In lakes like Fiske, MollyStark, Ethel, Norway and German. Not to mention your previously mentioned trophy small mouth lake.... I think heading west would be rather rewarding and If I could... I would.

[ikeslayer]

if i had 10 days to hunt lunkers i would go start in the Alex area and move north and probably end over by duluth. Duluth is full of large largemouth only everyone that fishes over there fishes that darn big cold lake for Salmonids. i would give that area my time. Also if you can get on a lake that has a crappy public acess or no access at all then there has probably been little if any pressure and you will have them all to yourself. good luck. it would be great if you journaled the whole thing and came back and posted everything i would love that. ike

[EBass]

Gosh - I'd want to try Mille Lacs for the pig smallies in there. Wait, maybe rainy, wait maybe LOW, wait... ah heck I dunno

[Boedigheimer]

dan and Sluggo, if I had ten days to bass fish I would hit some of the lakes near Grand Rapids like Deer, Turtle or Pokegama, these lakes have real trophy smallmouth potential. Although the Mississippi, or Chequamegon bay would be fun. If that doesn't sound appealing then I would do exactly what Swampbuck said.

Swampbuck, what do you know about rainy lake smallmouth anyway, just kidding. Congrats on the I-falls tourney, and Fort Frances for that matter. We should hook-up.

[dan2957]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,

I think we may head west, my inlaws have a place on the Horseshoe chain in Cold Springs so we may use it as a bass headquarters to hit the Willmar area. The Brainard area sounds like fun to me so I may find myself up there for a day or two.

I will keep everyone posted with a fish count, lake count, and a few pictures of the new state record I hope.

[Doufish2]

I would definitely hit the Alex area. I know one person that reads this will be upset, but he will get over it. Hit Moon lake near Brandon, clear water, lots of big fish and NO NONE fishes it. Also hit South Union near Forada. Deep weed lines will have some pigs for ya!!!

[kt]

Caught one just under 22" last weekend in the alex area.

[sachem longrifle]

Sportfishing again in hawaii. It was fun. mahi mahi are not in minnesota, or wisc sad to say

[Fluker]

Holy cow Tebassco!!! Nice piggies!! My and a couple buddies make a trip to Longville each spring the weekend after opener. Do you think I'd be driving distance from some hogs like that?

Fluker

[email protected]

[Tebassco]

Fluker: I have fished that area several times and helped with the WAM tournaments there. There are some very nice fish there. The fish here are now up shallow after the ciscoes that have come shallow.

[basssmasher*]

dan when are you gonna be in the willmar area?? I have a couple of hot tips for you!!

[SluggoMaster]

It's looking like probably Tuesday/Wednesday. Dan and I are not sure of our interary as of yet.

[basssmasher*]

slug.. send me an e-mail if ya want a good tip on a gr8 bite... [YouNeedAuthorization] @ yahoo.com

[dan2957]

Here is the update on our trip. The week started off on a bad foot because the starter on my truck decided to quit. Its a long story but we finally got on the lake for about an hour on Monday afternoon. Tuesday we hit Waconia or the BIG WAC as we have been calling it. The bite was a bit slower than we had hope but we did manage to catch three fish over 4 pounds. We also decided to check out Auburn lake were the current state record was caught. I have come to the conclusion that if Auborn can make a state record then just about any lake we fish has potential. Auborn is just a small bowl type lake, lots of pads and milfoil.

On Wednesday we drove out to the Willmar area and hit Long Lake. Sluggo caught a few nice fish and I ended up catching a 30 pound carp on a jig n pig. The carp was a lot of fun to catch, when I get the picture I'll post a picture in the carp forum. The bite was pretty tough on Long Lake so we headed to the cabin for a few hours rest and then hit Rice Lake that evening since it was about 15 minutes from the cabin. I caught six fish that evening but I owe Scott the credit for waking them up with the buzzbait he was throwing.

Thursday we hit Green Lake. Wow what an incredible lake! We must have seen close to 60 or 70 fish with several in the 5-6 pound range. The lake was like glass and all we could manage was one fish a piece. I have never been so fustrated while fishing. We could see the fish come right up to the bait and then turn away. We threw everything in the boat at them. I saw several fish swim right up to the boat and follow us a bit, it was pretty neat. The water is so clear that a little wind is probably what you need to get these fish active. No wind and a blue bird sky made catching fish next to impossible.

Friday and the weekend we stayed home and I was able to pull off some great days of fishing. I caught this fish Sunday

She was 5.02lbs, I caught her on a jig in 8 feet of water.

Over all I caught 96 fish in 10 days. I was hoping to crack the 150 mark but the weather made fishing kinda tough on a few days.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Great report Dan.. thanks for checking back in with us!

Bummer on the day on Green.. Some days they dont want to eat!

[dan2957]

Here is the link for that monster carp I caught out near Willmar. http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=880234&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1