Chode2235

Most lakes around there have some decent bass fishing in them. Check out the MN DNR website. They have a great lake finder tool that allows you to look for lakes by name, county, or even click on them on the map. You will find all the information you need on finding a lake. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html This is right up your alley. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/compass.html?scale=100000&mapxy=371823.28283067+4818806.46477038 I have fished the lakes on the other side of Mankato quite a bit, and most of them are great bass lakes. Washington, Madison, Cedar

Getting out this weekend to chase some crappies. Ice just went off here in southern MN this week. Friends were up at lake of the woods last weekend and still needed the extension on their ice auger up there. It will be a while yet.

I would be hitting the upstream side of the wingdams, and upstream sides of islands. I would stay in the main or secondary channels, and not waste much time with the slower water. There is plenty of good fishing around the area where the LaCrosse river flows into the old miss. How is that? More? Use some jigs, soft plastics, or even troll some crankbaits along the RR tracks.

Are pagans not welcome?

For float trips I am a huge fan of the mini fat raps (crawdad) and the 2" jointed rapalas (gold or silver color). When I fished those OH streams I had the best luck on the fat raps. But those are both versitile baits that were made for floating and fishing. I sometimes slow it down with a 1/16 oz jig head and black grub.

The shows tend to be multi-species. What they did was edited the clips for each species into species specific DVDs. Don't get me wrong, I think theyre great DVDs and I love the Lindners. So yeah, theyre pretty good. Makes for a good watch in the winter, but in the summer I am too busy fishing.

Get the graph. Flashers are great for verticle applications, but the graph has the history, and helps you visualize the bottom much better. I don't even use a flasher for ice fishing anymore, as the new graphs give you the instantaneous info you need. Some of the Lowrance models have a flasher mode in them, you can use if you want, but you will find the graph mode much better for 99.999999% of the fishing applications you will do out of a boat. I think the 522C is probably the best value out there right now.

Thats awesome. I was walleye fishing a couple weeks ago and got about a 40" musky. They are such powerful fish.

A couple shad raps, small ones in crawdad color and maybe perch. Some jig heads, some of those gulp minnows to tip them with. Or some grubs. Yum Crawbugs. I have the best of luck with dark natural colors and small lures. I typically just throw some crankbaits around the different rocks, and then jig the flats for walleyes or bass or whatever. Take a couple top waters as was suggested too. It never hurts to throw in some hooks sinkers, and a bobber or 2 either.

We have fished the northern part around Taylor's Falls, and have had the best luck on small grubs, or crankbaits. DT4s in crawdad.

Al and Ron Lindner. They are such pioneers in the sport. I would want to fish with them on either Rainy lake, or Gull Lake, or on the Upper Miss for some smallmouth.

Oh its not that bad. I actually really like the transition line. I assume that is the one you are talking about. I really like the Gold color for jigging as you can see the lilne so much better. It changes to clear underwater. I have never had a problem with it, and find it to be a great line. Watch for nicks in the line though. The stuff isnt very abrasion resistant.

We do really well using them for walleyes up here in MN. I hear great things about the grubs, minnows, and leeches. I caught and released a 40" musky on the 3" minnow.

There is no way I would put an 18ft bass boat on Superior. You would have to be nuts. Superior is far to cold, and too deep. You can catch plenty of lake trout from shore. I do hear wonderful things about many of the rivers that flow into it though. Go about 10 miles upstream and float it down.

I think the lakes might still have a little ice on them. I know for sure there is snow still on the ground.

We have Gander Mountain's on practically every corner here in MN. Likely because I think they are headquartered here. They are price competetive, and typically have a good selection too. They do, however, have fantastic sales. They must not every want to keep out of season inventory as they let it go for CHEAP. I think they have some sort of relationship with Bass Pro, as the ones up here sell Tracker boats now...

I have the Coastas too. I really love them.

I love throwing a small 2" jointed rapala. Gold is the best color here, but experiment where you are. You can fish it slow, or fast and cover a lot of water with it. Works great for floating and fishing.

Good shore fishing is pretty easy to find. It can be tough as the weeds get pretty thick along the shore. But most of the lakes have nice fishing docks in pretty good spots. Also, in that neck of the woods don't overlook the upper mississippi river. Easy to fish from shore, and full of great fishing.

You can do pretty well fishing rock piles and big boulders near shore and the numerous islands. I have had good luck throwing crankbairs and bouncing them off the boulders. I have also had good luck 'calling' them. Which is when you take a really bright shallow crank or spinnerbait and run it shallow over the structure. Those curious and competitive smallmouth will come up and smash it. Nam is a great lake too, and much more out of the way so the fish are much less pressured. The biggest challenge that I have with those two lakes is that they are so huge. Do some research and pick a smaller subsection of the lake and concentrate on that. The fishing should be good and the mosquitos shouldnt be too bad. Sounds like a great trip.

I spent a couple years living out of state, and would never say that I hated it. I love this state, even when the weather is horrible. The fishing is great, the people are nice, and there isn't any fauna that can easily kill you.

Shouldn't be too long until we have open water. The Mississippi has been swarming with boats. Walleyes below the dam, I assume. Was planning on trout fishing this weekend, but with all the snow we are supposed to get, I may have to reconsider.

I wouldnt bother with it on the weekends, the lake is such a zoo. Go during the week, and I hear the walleye bite is great at night too. Just pick a part of the lake to fish, don't overwhelm yourself. Tight lines.

Key to the BWCA: every portage the fishing gets dramatically better. The further 'in' you can get the better. That being said, the fishing is wonderful and don't kill yourself to get to the good fishing, you don't really need to. Many people don't understand or appreciate how wild the place actually is. It is not an amusement park, its wild. Get a couple of the bear containers, to keep your food safe and to keep the bears safe too.

Don't overlook Gull lake either, located in central MN. In many ways I think it is the best, if not the most underrated, bass lake in the state. There are some big monsters in there, as well as numbers. If smallmouth are your thing, don't forget about the beautiful lake Vermillion. Both lakes are primarily thought of as walleye lakes, but the bass fishing is world class.