hello

[RK]

Hiya -

Said I'd report back from my LoTWs trip....

We had a pretty decent trip. Got 12 for 3 1/4 days of fishing. No real big ones though. Biggest was a 47" (which we got 10 minutes before we were planning to quit yesterday morning - real bottom of the 9th fish...) Lots of 20 pounders. First 5 we caught looked like you'd poured them out of a bullet mold - clone 41-42 inchers. Couple in the mid-40s mixed in. Water temps varied from 38 to 43 depending on where we were. All the fish came on 10" Jakes with one exception on an 8" believer.

Weather was really squirrly. Bright sunshine one minute, then snow that blotted out the islands a half a mile away the next. More wind than we really needed too. Trolling 15' off shore in 10 feet of water gets a little hairy when there are big rollers. There were some areas we flat out couldn't fish.

Wierdest thing about the trip was the number of fish we missed. If you'd have asked me Thursday night what my hooking percentage was trolling in the fall I'd have said 90%. Not so much this weekend. We missed a ton of fish. Drag would screech for 3 feet and the fish was gone. Didn't get the rod out of the rod holder most of the time. Some of the fish we did land were hooked wierd too. More often than not in the past fish are hooked on the front hook or middle hook - to the point where I sometimes take the back hook off completely. This trip, several fish were on the back hook, and quite a few of them were hooked on the outside of the mouth - under the chin or on the side of the head with the bait alongside their head. Even got one that was hooked on top of his snout. Only thing we could figure was they were slashing baits close-mouthed, which they do sometimes for whatever reason.

Wierdest event was one of my partners got hit coming across a point, got the rod out of the holder, and was fighting the fish while the rest of us cleared our lines. On the way in, another guy in the boat got hit but didn't get hooks. While that was going on, the guy with the fish on looses it...his bait ran free for 10 seconds - all 4 of us saw his rod tip with the bait obviosuly vibrating, then he said "It's BACK!" Landed a 42 incher... So, at least 2 fish hit, maybe 3, in the span of 15 seconds. I'd love to have known what was going on 9' down right then...it was wierd.

Very pretty weekend up there. Lots of ducks and eagles, and the snow buntings and Lapland longspurs were migrating through - white birdies all over.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[mtreno]

nice report RK - sounds like you had some interesting weather......

that is weird how they do that - i always said its like there trying to head-butt the bait. wonder why - i always seen it on glide baits and thought maybe it was just a mille lacs thing.

[propster]

Thought I'd pitch in a report of our weekend. Actually 4 days since my son was off school for MEA Thur and Friday. Fished Leech Thursday, casted rocks and trolled Walker Bay. Had one follow mid 40s in the morning around Pelican. Water temps main lake 42, and Walker bay 48-49. Fished Mantrap Fri and Sat. Casted some shoreline and deeper weeds, and trolled a bunch in open water and a few breaks. Never saw a fish, though heard about 2 caught by others, one using suckers, which we just don't do. Water temps 45-46. Then finished up on Little Boy Sunday, casted reeds and shallow spots, then trolled open water and around humps. Saw on 38-40' fish, water temps 45. Fished about 28 hours altogether for each of us, mostly cold and wet all weekend, and loved every minute of it, though could have handled some action!

[RK]

Hiya -

I think that's pretty much what they're up to. Just slashing at it. Have seen it casting lots, all over the place. Definitely not just a Mille Lacs thing. Maybe just territorial aggression, or an "I'm not going to eat you now, but if you're crippled I might..." kind of deal. Who knows... Was maddening though

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Professional Edge]

Did you do any casting Rob or was it all trolling?

Keith

[RK]

Hey Keith -

Welcome to FM (All - Keith Terlinden owns Professional Edge custom rods, and he makes the rods I use...)

It was troll-o-rama. At one point I think we covered something like 14 miles of shoreline without taking the kicker up... It was cold and windy enough that casting wouldn't have been all that much fun, plus trolling is just so effective there. Only hit a few rocks, and never actually beached the boat at all although we got close a few times. We got one fish on a wind-blown shore that got pretty hairy for a while though. Took a few waves over the stern while we were getting away from a big rock bar so we could land the fish.

cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

Hi,

Boated a healthy 44 on Friday, and had another one hooked up that was a few inches longer and quite thick. Set the hook hard, hooks were sharp, but she shook it after about 30 seconds, still cool to see such a pretty fish. They were not hitting hard at all, more like they were "slurping" it in. Was out all day Saturday, nothing to show for it, but I'd like to thik I learned from it!

Pretty much followed the RK article in O. News last week to a "T". Outside weed edge, they were still relating to weeds, and spots adjactent to deep water. Quality electronics do help as I was set up precisely on the edge and able to graph the baitfish as well. I was slow rolling bucktails and single blade spinnerbaits both days.

Special thanks to FMer Lals for taking me out in his boat! Much appreticated, except now I think I need a Ranger!

Hoping to do the Bear again this weekend, I'll look for a few of ya out there.

Chris

PS On a side note, I'm trying the new line Suffix, so far I like it, seems to behave on the spool well. Trying one reel with 65 and another with 80. Anyone else using this? Some of the bass guys have and like it, I guess it fades, but all I care about is performance.

[Blaineski]

MJBO-Unfortunately, I did not make it out last weekend. Had some stuff for work to get done. Hoping to get my last outting in on Friday before I store my boat Sat AM. Wishfull thinking on my part.

CJAC-I have been using the suffix 65lb all season and I am extremely pleased with it. If you have it packed tight on the spool--backlashes are zero. Some fading, but they all do. Great line, highly recommended.

[mtreno]

will be out on the bear sunday - maybe saturday as well but we will see (was kinda still planning on fishing tonka if anyone was still going). should have the stratos back on the gas so watch out......

[cjac]

mtreno: Not sure of which day yet but I'll be out one of them. I am familiar with the Stratos by sight and sound, I'll be on full alert! Should be out today, just made the mistake of going outside, gotta look into the wireless laptop!

Blaineski: I tie my line to the truck hitch and walk it out thru the neighborhood when putting on new line, packs it tight and gives me a chance to say "hi" to the neighbors. Put the 65lb on a Luna and like it!

[mtreno]

think i may hit it for a bit today. got to go pick up the boat and its right down the street from white bear. have to be back to the south side by 730 so it will be a short one -

[Lals]

Chris,

You were money on WBL. It was a pleasure to be your net man It was a fun afternoon. I look forward to be out there again with you sometime.

Lals

[Blaineski]

CJAC--Sweet set up with the Luna, I'm hoping to put my 65lbs on a Luna next year.

ALL--I forgot to ask what everybody has been doing for success on WBL. Got my last one trolling, you guys doing the same or casting? Lure of choice?

Got the green light to squeek my last one in on Friday, unless stuff hits the fan at work. Forgot to ask MJBO and Mtreno how they did last weekend.

[mtreno]

boated one - right around 40 or so. did not put a tape on her but thats about where she was. she came to the boat three times on a bucktail but darted away once i turned the bait everytime. came back with a twitch bait and she sucked it in right away. saw a few others and had a good time learning a new lake. lots more for me to explore out there. i did not get up there in time to get out at all last night but the badger is back on gas i am happy to report. be out there sunday.

busted my jerkin stick last night - not sure how maybe my tackle box smashed it when i was running around town. makes a guy wonder whats up with that. suxs to be in the rod market this late in the year.

who uses what and likes it why? i had a 7 ft heavy action falcon i purchased from thornes years ago - one of my all-time favs...... i am still using my 7 ft compre for bucktails and i guess it is time to upgrade that as well - like to move to something longer there. got a couple of trooling rods but there no good for casting. also have a old 6.5 ft st croix someone loaned me but i just dont like the feel of it - and its to short. but it will work for the time being.

[cjac]

Bummer with the rod.......good to hear you are back in the saddle. Might see you on Sunday. Better yet, call me when you need me to buzz over and net a big one for you!

I picked up an 8ft Thorne Bros C series rod and really like it. I've been able to use it in many applications. It's rated heavy action, but still has enough play to load up nicely and stays loaded with a fish on. Mag dawgs, big bucktails, and other heavier baits work well on this stick, more than enough backbone for throwing the weight. Plus, I can still throw a 10 inch Jake and twitch it pretty well. Love the length too. For this time of year and the baits being tossed, it's a great option and around $180. Since we are spending YOUR money, I think you should get one!

The other is the stand by 7'6'' med-heavy St Croix. It's a great economical and all around stick. Handles on the Croix rods are a little shorter, so check it out first.

Blaineski: Love the reel, I actually got the 253 and not the 300, still tons of line capacity, paired up on a 7'6'' rod and the fall J&P presentation is launched! Suffix packs well on it. So far so good!

Chris

[RK]

Hiya Mtreno -

Bugger about the rod. I blew one up this year too... Pretty sure I stepped on it...

I've been using Diamondbacks the last couple of seasons - Keith Terlinden has made mine. Love the things. They're light, fast, and just plain pleasant to fish with. I pick up some of the rods on the market today and I can't believe the weight. How do people fish with them all day? Maybe they don't I guess. I just have zero tolerance for pool cues.

I use the 7'6" light for bucktails and topwaters, and the 7'6" medium for jerkbaits like Suicks, Magic Makers or Hell Hounds, plus big Believers and spinnerbaits like Rad Dogs.

I do have a couple other rods I use, both of which are Thorne Brothers customs built on All Star blanks that, alas, aren't made anymore. One is a 7 footer I had extended out to 7'10", which I use for twitching big cranks like Jakes, or for big spinnerbaits in cover.

The other two rods I use are both bass rods. One is a flipping stick which I use for small cranks and for topwaters, and an 8' Shimano Crucial Swimbait rod which is a pretty good light bucktail/topwater rod, and as close to perfect a jig rod as you're likely to find.

That's what I use. If I had to look at something over the counter, I'd look pretty hard at the Shimanos. The old Compre series was gawd awful I always thought, but since they redesigned them, there are actually some pretty nice rods in that line. Very nice when you consider they're around $100....

Check Thorne Bros - they may have some end of season deals on rods...never know.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[cjac]

Quote:

---

I pick up some of the rods on the market today and I can't believe the weight. How do people fish with them all day?

---

There is a direct correlation between weight of the rod and weight of the wallet! That's how we do it!

Great point on the bass rods, love the 7'10'' flippin' stick!

[mtreno]

i checked out keiths webpage to see what he had to offer. already had a thorne trip planned on my way back into town friday so i will check theres out as well. i think i will shoot keith a email as well i would like to take a look at a few options - local number so my guess is he is in town here somewhere.

about how long does it take to get a rod made? i am kinda a buy today fish tonight kinda guy so this will be new to me. oh ya any other rod builders i should check out?

[Professional Edge]

If you need something right away I would sure let you use one of mine until I get yours done. I have a horrible habit that leads me to musky lakes this time of year and the only thing that seems to cure it is ice.

I was out on a local lake today and the fish were really chasing mojo double colorado spinners. Glad I got one of them to eat.

Hope all is well.

Keith

[JRedig]

Well, I made it out on WBL last saturday AM, got into some weeds, had 1 follow but only stayed out about 2.5 hours. As i was taking out, some guys motored in who said they'd caught a 40incher on a buchertail trolling around the end of the island.

Hit Owasso on sunday AM, from sun up to about 12:30. Didn't see squat till the sun came out around 10:30 and then we started to see a bunch of fish, but no takers. I had 1 fish follow about 6 times and i could watch him just nipping at the marabou on my bucktail. It was driving me NUTS!! wish i had a little trailer hook then!! Didn't end up with any fish in the boat.

There is a double cowgirl not too far off the launch resting wonferfully on the bottom thanks to freezing guides fraying the line and wadding up my reel on a cast. I'm sure the gloves didn't help any....it was pretty cool out till the sun came out! Are there better line's to use in the cold?

Been out two nights this week after work, haven't seen squat....oh well it's called fishin and not catchin for a reason!

Maybe WBL or forest this weekend, we'll see.

-Jeff