Weekend Reports

[propster]

We saw a ski boat whippin' s...ties on Tonka Sunday night just like the jet skiers do, and the local coast guard (water patrol) pulled 'em over, which I was glad to see.

[uplander]

Huntbigfish-- you fished all those lakes this weekend??...Did you sleep?

[Lare Pie]

Fished Indy on Saturday morning, moved 2 in the first hour then nothing the rest of the morning. It was too nice of a morning I guess.

[propster]

He slept, his dad (me) didn't!

[10,000 Casts]

Keith,

You and Hunter should come up here and we can see if we can restore your faith in the mighty Leech.

By the way, do you guys throw alot of Low Riders? I picked one up last week and I have thrown it quite a bit and nothing. I even put it on after we had 2 blow ups on tail baits withing 20 mins and nothing. It is a loud little top water with a nice little spastic action. It seems like it will be money in rough water. It won't be long till she has some teeth marks in her.

[walleyepro]

What's the secret to fishing topwaters? I've only had one strike (hooks flew out on jump out of water - need to learn to feel the fish before setting the hook). Slow or fast retrieve? I've had a couple follows, where i took the lure underwater for the fig 8 and the fish sat there and looked but didnt strike. Is there a "time" that you guys throw them (weather, structure, etc.) Any help would be great

[10,000 Casts]

There really isn't any secrets to topwaters that I know of. They can be thrown in a fow to 40 fow. My general rule of thumb is that I like to throw them first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but some of our best days have come in July on an 80 degree sunny calm day. I really like them when it is overcast with a little chop. Louder baits seem to work better in big waves, walk the dog lures are good search baits and for some reason, the last 2 weeks we have only seen fish on single tail baits and WTD. No globes, no Sunamis, no lac Suel Turbos ect. Just plop plop plop baits.

[propster]

Hey John, good idea. Which weekend of the next three is best for you to try to get out for a half-day or do they make you work them all? We'll be coming up that way one of the next three for sure, maybe more. We're kind of watching the weather and reports and trying to decide. We've been following your posts and it seems Leech might be a decent destination. Heck, even Cjac caught one there (Sorry Chris, couldn't resist). As for the Lowriders, I throw them alot, Hunter hardly at all, he likes Pacemakers and WTD. Lowriders seem to keep working in calm or rough water, where sometimes a regular prop bait doesn't work so well in certain waves.

[10,000 Casts]

Not this weekend, I have a friend comming up from the cities but maybe the weekend after. Just give me a few days notice and we can make it work.

My last day at Reeds was last Monday. I had a chance to take over an Insurance agency down in Pequot Lakes so I took it. (I need more time to fish, so I figure that self employed is the way to )The darn house sold on the first day so we are renting a place on Leech until Oct 6 and I decided to take some time off to fish a little. Not a bad deal at all. My goal is to fish at least 6 days a week for the next month!

Fishing has been good, a bit spotty but good none the less. We were out tonight with no success but the lake needs a few days to recover after last weekend.

[Crestliner Rog]

I am new at this so here goes.

Was up at M-Lacs Saturday, two of us fished 12 hours on the north end & had one short strike. We worked Weeds, rocks and the outside edge. Casting & trolling. We threw everything in the box, but focused on Cow's and Dog's the most.

I was supprised to see how few people were on the lake during the day. There were some speed trollers covering a lot of ground but that was about it.

I am chalking it up to paying my dues. I learned a little more about the structure, and the need to carry advil in the boat.

We did not try the night bite, we cut out about 9 pm. I wish I had spent more time inside the weed line.

[50inchpig]

walleye dude - september is your topwater month. tie it on and go, it'll work on pretty much every type of structure you're fishing. don't think, just do.

you already know to wait until you feel the fish, that is key - you're going to lose some no matter what you do, sometimes they just don't eat it well, easy to say, hard to accept. i try to play them real easy until i get them to the boat and can see how they are hooked. fish do some weird things to those baits besides eating them. seen one bump my buddies bait out of the way last fall only to eat 2 hours later.

every bait has it ideal speed where it sounds the best. overcast and waves will only help you - try to go parallel to the waves if possible instead of against them or with them. don't take your eyes off that bait until it's well out of the water - it'll cost you

John - LOWrider? lights out man. nothing better. do you have the small one with the offset wire? they are not all made the same, don't know what kind of difference it makes, but it makes a difference. my favorite color is 'old soaked wood' - most of the paint is gone but the plop plop is still there. soaks up so much water it almost sinks. headed to the promised land tonight to throw some topwaters for the rest of the week. expect to see some tailwagging, big wakes, and boatside pandemonium.

[DHanson]

My god is it windy today. I have pretty much given up on topwater, I caught 11 muskies on one topwater bait a couple years ago and now I barely throw them. A lot of lakes I have fished have become conditioned to topwater lures. You might still get one here and there, but topwater lures today are not even close to how good they were 5 years ago. Good luck 50 inch, ride the waves!

[50inchpig]

Kind of what I heard about the Pacemaker and the topwater bite on the Pond. Wish I had been there 5,6,7 years ago throwing that stuff - I'M OUT!

[10,000 Casts]

nope, not the offset shank, but I have seen that one. I only have 1 and it is black and straight. It's only a matter of time before the dinner bell rings on that 1.

I was in Reeds earlier today and I picked up a Lac Suel Turbo that I have been eyeing up since June 7! I can't wait to see the action on that baby. I might even go out and give it a try here in a few hours.

You guys are talking pacemakers, my #1 for sure. About a month ago, I had one that wouldn't run after a fish hit it so I took the middle hook off completely and boy does it run nice now. No tink tink tink but it has a sweet action and nice sound without it.

[cjac]

Crestliner Rog,

Welcome to FM and nice report! Mille has been tough for all of us.

walleyepro: Topwater is a good option right now. Inlines like the Pacemaker are a very good option. Pretty easy to fish, cast....reel....repeat. Best tip is to wait 'til you feel the fish, not see the hit. Walk The Dogs (WTDs) are cool too, Weagle gets a lot of mention, and justifiably so, they work, as do others like a Viper, Jackpot, etc. Again, key is to feel, not see the strike.

There's an age-old adage that some fish always are shallow, and topside is a great way to move 'em. Plus, a topwater is less apt to get fouled up in weeds, meaning your lure is in productive water and running as it should.

I bass fish quite a bit, and that has made me a better angler for sure! You may have an edge in that regard, based on your user name, so apply what you know from walleye fishing, presentation, tactics, and you'll do well.

Good luck!

[propster]

John, good for you! Sounds like you are doing it right. I know nothing about insurance, but do you need a partner?

I'll call you next week and set something up for 20-21 or maybe 27-28th. Good luck in your new gig - I'm jealous

[walleyepro]

thanks for the topwater tips. i had a sweet wake follow by a mid 30s tonight, never hit it. small, but still fun to see it

haha definitely just a username - as soon as i can afford a ranger with a 300 i'll start to look like a pro, but for now, i'll just stick with the 88 16ft smokercraft

[DUCKJ]

Report from 8/29: Brainerd area

8/29 - Seen 3 low and slow, boated a 47.5

8/30 - Seen 2 low and slow, lost poss 50

9/02 - seen 4(1 turned on the 8 but wouldnt eat)

boated, 40.25, 43.5, 44, 46, 46.75 (lost mid 40's)

First 5 fish day

9/06 - Seen 3 all turned at boat, lost 52-53 15 ft from boat

9/08 - Seen 4(3 turned on the 8 but didnt eat, 1 tryed)

boated 42, 44.5 and my first 50

Should be out today with the weather. Work is overated. HEHEHE

Ill be out tomarrow all day. The lakes on fire

Duck

[cjac]

Duck is on fire!!!!!

You had to throw in the work comment, I'm stuck here.........go set the hooks on one for me!

[setterguy]

You work fo a big company, they would never know you're gone....

Duck, sounds like you are on fire. Had any luck with that brown jerk bait I had one hooked up on earlier in the year? Remember when I asked to throw something you would never throw then 5 casts later I had one hooked up and she tossed me?

[DUCKJ]

setterguy,

I did toss it a few times after that but I think the fish that ate it for you was the only fish in the lake that thought it looked tasty. I havnt seen another fish with it. Im tossing only one bait now, and they seem to want it in a bad way. Good for me bad for them. HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Duck

[muskyhunter57]

Duck,

I have seen you out before in central minnesota. Is that where you saw all the fish?

[muskyhunter57]

Duck,

I have seen you out before in central minnesota. Is that where you saw all the fish?

[DUCKJ]

If you know it was me, then yes it is.

Duck

[muskyhunter57]

Awesome, I don't get there very often. But I know now is golden for all species.