Lake Trout Jan 1

[cedarnarrowsguy]

I'm planning a trip up to Crow Lake on the opener. How is fishing on this lake, at that time of the year? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Eastwind]

I have fished Crow Lake the in very early January for the past 5 or six years. If you can get around and you keep trying spots to find the fish, you will get fish. The average size is fair. Make sure you either bring snowmobiles/four wheelers as it is very hard to depend on being able to drive trucks on Crow. Typically, you cannot get around very well with a truck due to thin ice (early) or too much snow (later). Buy a map at Thorne Bros ahead of time because it is very easy to get turned around on Crow. Good luck and have fun. My friends and I are going up the weekend of the 12th as we decided that a week later would likely be more dependable for good ice and some snow.

[Down Deep]

Early Jan on Crow can have some awsome fishing on any given year. Crow is big and has islands. I would advise you to get some rock solid advice for traveling on the ice the first week of Jan. Depending on the year there can be some bad ice in some spots. Check with Muskie Bay Rosort for info, better yet stay there although I doubt if they will have openings on the opener. GPS is essential. I've rode around an island or two trying to find my way around and there isn't much light that time of year.

Eastwind gave you the drill on Crow keep moving until you find the fish. Make note of where you see other fishermen and go back to those spots when they are vacant. Lakers can be had all over Crow.

Crow isn't the only attraction up there as you can access many other lakes by portage trail. Cameron, Shigwak, Otterskin, Rowan are a few of the lakes you can access and all have decent laker fishing.

[cedarnarrowsguy]

I will be staying at Muskie Bay.(Made reservations a couple months ago) I spoke with the owner and he was very infomative. I jusy want to get any general info I can. I have a cabin east of Rowan by Manitou. The ice on Manitou can be very iffy around the first. Lots of current. We wanted to mix it up this year and try something new. Are the steep breaks 20 to 100+ FOW what you're looking for on Crow?

[Eastwind]

We have a Bingo! The steep breaks are what I always look for. Just start checking breaks along shorelines that go up like rock walls. There are other shorelines that will break well but if I see a wall on shore, I figure that's a good place to look.

[tearin' lips]

Cedar Narrows Guy,

Fishing should be exceptional with the afternoon hours spent chasing crappies and walleyes on LOW. Early January on Crow is great, I can't give you any specific spots at the time, but I will be up there during the first week in January. We catch lots of fish in the 4-7 lb range with a few larger ones and some smaller ones. Generally speaking we don't look any deeper than 60' during this time of the year.

As the time gets closer drop a line and we could try to co-ordinate something for a day, if not I will fill ya in with a little information.

Take Care!

[cedarnarrowsguy]

TL

I will be staying at Muskie Bay Lodge 12/30-01/02/07. We would really like to chase some crappies and eyes 12/30 & 12/31. Is the crappie bit better during the day or just before dark? Are both species in the same areas? This will be my first time on Crow and this part of LOW. I've been fishing Manitou and other lakes off cedar narrows, where we have a cabin the last 10 years. I decided to see some new area around the first, rather than deal with slush, poor ice on the Tou early season. (I do realize these trout lakes just take time to freeze up well.) Anyway, getting to know Crow a little, I may take a ride later in Feb/Mar from the cabin Through Lawrence, Hill and Rowan and fish some over that way. Thanks!

Ps. How's UMD? Thanks to that University, I met my wife and In-laws from the Falls and got to know the cedar narrows area!

[tearin' lips]

cedarnarrowguy,

The best crappie fishing is going to be during the day. Last year we would usually trout fish till 11:00, then we would go and hit up LOW for eyes and crappies. 28'-38' has been the best depths for the crappies. Go out of Gordie Shrums and hit up any of the points or islands, they all pretty much hold crappies. Early on in the year like then I usually do well right around cyclone point, where the red building is on a point on your way out. You can't miss it there iwll be houses there. For walleyes, I fish the same islands, but I just move in a little shallower. I have found that the eyes hit better in the evening. Black and yellow southern crappie pro tube worked well late ice last year for me there. For walleyes I would use a red glow demon.

School is o.k, I like it down here, but it lacks the fishing that the north country offers. We might just miss each other, I will be up there on Jan. 3rd. Talk to the guys at muskie bay, they will be able to give you some good advice on the trout. You can always drop me an e-mail too [email protected]

Take Care!!!

[Tundra]

Hello All,

I have a group going up to Muskie Bay and fishing Crow and LOW for trout the first weekend in Jan but was wondering if anyone has fished for trout in Khiriskan (sp?) off of the Cedar Narrows Road by Furlong. Wondering how it is to get in there on snowmobile and if anyone goes in there on snowmobile in the winter. Any info appreciated. Thank you.

Tundra

Crow is great!!! white tubes and run and gun!!!

[JCR]

Several years back, we used to go in to Kairschons, using my ARGO ATV, off the Cedar Narrows road. You go through two small lakes. We always caught fish. It is a easy trip. Kairschons is a great lake trout lake. Most people come into it from the west, but it is farther.

[Down Deep]

Cedar Narrows Guy

My advice is a little different than Tearinlips. From Muski Bay you can go straight accross the road and access Stevens Bay. Hay Island is about 7 miles straight out from the access (boat landing) and is a good spot. I always find the just before dark bite the best which lasts until 1 hour after dark. The crappies will move into about 30 FOW. In early Jan we never head to LOW till about 2:00 pm. There is another spot just off the landing. Muskie Bay will help direct you.

[Eastwind]

Down Deep,

The spot just off of Muskie Bay's access in Stevens Bay is best in the hour or two before dark. The area around Cyclone Point that Tearinlips refers to has a Crappie bite that goes all day. If I just wanted to fish Crappies I would go to the Cyclone Point area. If I wanted to start the day with Lakers and finish it with Crappies I would go to the Stevens Bay spot around 2:00 or 3:00 pm after having fished Crow,Rowan etc. for Lakers. I have fished Hay out of Morson in the Fall by boat but never in the Winter out of Stevens. Is it easy to find the way from Stevens Bay to Hay by sled?

[cedarnarrowsguy]

Thanks all for the info. I'll post results when I get back. Kariskons Lake is a good trout lake (Big and Round)It has some islands out in the middle, and where I've seen people fishing. I've never dropped a line in this Lake, but traveled on it. Fished Lower and Upper Furlong with average results. Now that I've started to fish Essox and Manitou, its hard to go anywhere else when I'm at my cabin...it's pretty much out the back door through the bush on a trappers trail.

[Down Deep]

Cedar Narrows Guy

The Cyclone Point area can also be accessed from Muskie Bay. Cross the road and pick up the marked trail to the left. I believe it is about 5 miles to the access to Sabaskong Bay or the water that leads to it. From there Cyclone is a fairly short ride. The trail to the lake is usually pretty bumpy. Again, the Muskie Bay folks will point you in the right direction.

Eastwind.

Hay is not hard to find. From the landing leading to Stevens Bay Hay is almost dead west. Generally there are a enough tracks to make it look like a freeway. Most years the way is marked by pine trees placed in the snow. Hay usually has fisherman, a permanent house or two or you will see where others have been fishing. I generally set up on the first 30 FOW I find off of the shoreline and just wait for the fish to show up. Sometimes I find the 30 and drill holes out to 40 and follow the bite in.