MN-Dak Cat Safari

The Red River Of The North is a world class cat fishery to be sure. Great channel cat fishing can be had from Fargo north and the further north the bigger the fish. Me and  mi esposa recently made a quick recon to the Drayton ND area. Though we didn't hook the giants we were after on this trip, the remoteness and average size of the cats left us wanting more.

 

 

 

 

cheers and hooksets!

 

 

The Fish Of 10,000 Casts

 9998...9999...YAHTZEE!

This year has been really slow to get started in the muskie fishing word. After a late ice out, very few follows and hookup opportunities have presented themselves. Water temps are back down around the 70 degree mark on Leech lake and surrounding waters but an increase of just five degrees could turn on the light switch and put the great esox in to search and destroy mode. This warmer-upper fish fell to a down sized crankbait worked through 15 f.o.w.

cheers and hooksets!

Shorts Check!

Bring-Yo-Bling For Leech Lake Walleyes

What do shallow woman and leech lake walleyes have in common?

They both LOVE shiny things.

With the lake full of forage options right now, get a walleyes attention with flash and bling.

Here are some of my best patterns from the past few weeks. Mostly silver combos with a little gold here and there. 1.7-2 mph is a good speed to start out at right now. I use planer boards for fish shallower then 20' or when fishing multiple lines. For breaklines, try sending a shallow diver behind a planer board up-top and run a deeper model straight behind, keeping the boat in 15-25 f.o.w. Run Husky Jerks or Bomber Long A's with a short lead (40'-60') behind the board when fishing over weeds.

 
                                                                cheers and hooksets!

MN River-Fancaster's First Flathead

I was south of the 218 this week and decided to wet a line for a flattie on the MN river. I located some nice water with rafts of timber on an outside corner bend on Google Earth before hand. I was fishing from shore so access is also a major consideration in this type of planning. A 9" Sucker on a 8/0 hook did the trick. The 30 second video that my p&s camera took captured the best part.

 

I had several other fish run line off of the reel with the bait clicker sounding like my boyhood playing card in the bicycle spoke routine but they were only brief encounters. I hope to try it again sometime soon.

cheers and hooksets!

First Week Of June- Leech Lake

I'm finding plenty of eater sized Walleyes most trips out with a few anchor fish between 25"-27" each time to keep things interesting. Wind swept shoreline structures are still holding fish in 5-10 f.o.w. with some fish starting to scatter to the mid-depth flats. We had a strong night bite last night with fish slamming raps trolled at 1.5mph. A jig and shiner is best for daytime shoreline stuff. However, I have been switching out the shiner for plastics when the fish are really banging and the strikes come even harder, you just have to up your jig one size and rip it a little more.

My Muskie outings have been uneventful thus far with a few follows that were low and slow. We need some warm weather to get these monsters going. I did have one come after an 18" Walleye boatside with it's mouth open though. Always cool to see.

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cheers and hooksets!

Gimme Shelter

 

 

 

 

With the main lake still pretty chilly, look to sheltered backwaters now for crappies, bluegills, largemouths, pike and more. The shallower and more protected the better.

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 doggies too! 

 

 

 

cheers and hooksets!