WaskaCrank12

I was able to get out today (Saturday) - the weather was rough, contrary to what the forecast was - wind whipped and gusts howled, some rain lashed in and temps dropped hard during the day (the exact opposite of what the forecast said) - it was a struggle to fight the wind/gusts - my local big lake is wide open so there really is nowhere to go when the wind whips like this (if I knew this would be the case I would have gone to a much smaller lake, silly me for trusting a forecast) - you just have to do your best to stay in the middle of the boat, keep your life jacket on, bob up and down and deal with it - I was limited to what I could throw due to the wind - I caught several Northern Pike (Torpedo Fish) on an EVO Chatter bait, the largest was 26 inches - I caught 6 LMB ranging from 14 inches to 16 inches - 3 on a Mini-Max Chatter bait with a Yama Craw trailer and 3 on a P.D.Chopper "Dead Slow" jig with a Keitech trailer - it was a chatter bait type day (I hope to go out on Sunday, hopefully the weather/wind is better - I will then look to post pictures)

I took a chance and bought a pack of Isse Gill Flat Jr. and a D-Style Geelacanth - both are soft plastic blue gill style baits. There is a YouTube channel - BASS LABO that has a videos of rigging them and shows them under water. But.... I wanted to see if anyone here has had success in catching bass with either of these baits - and what rigging set-up you have used ? Thank you !

I have ones similar to those posted above (many different brands have them, I have some Kast King, some 6th Sense) - but I grew frustrated when treble hooks would get caught in the velcro on the edges of the lure wraps - so I purchased a few of the ones pictures below - they are a bit clunky but it keeps the treble hooks out of ropes/carpet/my clothes/the mesh rod sleeve/anything else those things can get snagged on so the trade off of time to put the lure in them and the clunkiness is worth it to me not to have the trebles endlessly snagging things Amazon.com : KastKing Bait Kapsule – Lure Cover with Vent Holes, Protects Hooks, Multiple Sizes (S, M, L, Jumbo,Drop Shot) - Multiple Attachments for Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing Gear. Patent Pending. : Sports & Outdoors

My closest lake is 8000+ acres, like your lake it is a glacial lake with clear waters - I would say the smallies I have caught on it have come on baits in the 2 inch to 4 inch range - my three largest smallies (18.5in, 19in, 19in) have been caught on - 1. a mini chatter bait with a bug trailer - 2. a Megabass Griffon - 3. a 3.5 inch RAID EGU Chunk --- a Nishine Lures Baby Albino (Spy Bait) and the small LLama Tubes have also been good producers for smallies

@gim - thank you for the info ! I did go out today (Sunday) and the weather was rougher than anticipated - 44 degrees, North wind with some very strong gusts, and the rain came at a steady pace - I threw around a bladed jig, a small spinner bait and small jerk bait for 3.5 hours - no bites, never felt I was near any fish at all - the rain started to come down heavier so I headed toward the ramp - when I got there four boats were also looking to get off the water - so I figured I would throw in a lure as I waited - I threw in a Zed-Man TDR Bugz on a ball head jig - an instant bite by an 8 inch LMB - next cast - bite, 6 inch LMB, next cast - bite, 8 inch LMB - I ended up catching a total of 20 of these small sized LMB on about 30 casts - it was crazy, never had anything like that happen before - this was in about 6 feet of water, rocky bottom, about a 50 yard long area

It was steady rain and cold (mid 30's) yesterday so I did not venture out - but that gave me time to re-spool a few reels - misty/light rain now (Sunday morning) but that should stop around 12 noon - so I will look to go out between 12 and 1, hopefully for 4 hours or so - @gim , thank you for the tip on the bladed jigs, I will get a few ready and give them a go today- I also will bring along some smaller jerk baits and smaller spinner baits

I have both - as @MN Fisher states they are from two different categories of Shimano reels - similar to @Eric 26 I have a JDM 2000 shallow spool Miravel that I use for lighter applications (light or med. light rod, lighter baits) and then I have several Stradics (2500, 3000, 4000) that I use for heavier, more power fishing techniques (on med. heavy or heavy rods) - I enjoy power fishing/cranking and have found the Stradics to be very good - I find the Miravel is fine for the lighter techniques but if I could only choose one I would go with the Stradic (based on my preferred fishing techniques) - Shimano makes a quality product

I have ordered three times from Digitaka - no signature required the first two times - but this most recent order (2 Shimano reels) a signature was required - the FedEX guy called me and let me know a signature was required - I was at work so he said if I could drive to his last stop of the day (a FedEX drop box a town over from me) I could get it then - so it worked out - he said that over the years he has dropped 100's of packages at the house and none ever needed a signature, so he figured it was important

@A-Jay - I went out yesterday (Thursday) after work - no trucks/trailers at any of the three parking lots/ramps I went to - that should have been a clear sign that the howling NorthWest winds were a bit too much to be on the water - but having waited since last November 2nd to be on the water - well, I went for it - no dock, wind screaming, waves crashing - when I backed the boat in it was rocking from the wind/waves - but hey, I'm Boston born and bred and now 20 years Minnesota weather hardened - which means I don't know how to quit (which has clear pros and cons) - put on my chest waders and snow mobile jacket, used ropes to secure the front and back of the boat to some trees - it took me a good 20 minutes of grunting and pushing (with the oar) to get the boat away from the shore to get in deep enough water to put the trolling motor down (and barely in the water) to try and get to deeper water - it was a rough ride, got tossed all over the place - caught 5 fish (16 inch LMB was the biggest, earliest bass I have ever caught) - for the landing I had to summon all my winter fitness training strength/endurance as I got battered around trying to not have the boat smash into the shore while trying to get it on the trailer (which was swaying from the crashing waves) - lots of swearing and cursing at the wind - somehow I got the boat onto the trailer without getting crushed - the boat was on the trailer crooked, but it was on the trailer - Hoping to get out tomorrow - and yes, I will have a full snowmobile suit as well as shorts and a t-shirt in the boat - the zany weather roller coaster continues

Ended up keeping the boat on the trailer and just backing in at the ramp -- with the new starter/starter solenoid the motor cranked over on the third try - some billowing smoke to start with (it's a 1993 Evinrude 2-Stroke) from the residual fogging oil - but otherwise idled well and ran smooth - finished gearing the boat up yesterday after work (safety gear/life jackets/tool kit/paddle/net/rod holders/ect...) - so it is now staged and ready to go for Saturday - if our roller coaster weather cooperates - we had 30's on M/T - today (W) it's 90 with 45mph winds - then the temps will drop hard again for Th/F - hoping for reasonable (50's) temps and low wind (anything under 20mph) on Saturday - I will also try to get out on Sunday if possible - looking at the success @Adrift (drop shot) and @gim (jerk bait) have had I will look to tie on those rigs - anything else I should try ?

Yes @gim - the temps have dropped again - 24 and snowing here (Sunday morning) - it has been below 32 each of the last three nights - I was planning on putting the boat on the water today for a test run but now might just back the boat in and start the motor with it still on the trailer and just let it run for a bit - and to think in a few days it's going to be 80 degrees (it looks like for the next 10 days or so the temps will continue to roller coast up and down, accompanied by big wind) - it's MN, it's Spring, it is what it is

Roller coaster weather --- 70 today - 30 and snow tomorrow - 40 big wind/rain Saturday - 40 sunny Sunday - Not up for slogging around in the 40's/wind/rain on Saturday so I will look to take my first 2026 voyage on Sunday -- not sure the water will be warm enough to allow for catching anything, but I will give it as go since my last day on the water was November 2nd, 2025 (so it would be a 168 day gap between tips out on the boat)

WCZ had a drop of the GutterToad Deathwish today (Tuesday) so I grabbed 1 pack in Brown and 1 pack in Green...based on some of the comments in this thread I also went ahead and ordered 2 packs of the Zoom UniToads from another company...so I will look to do a comparison this summer...they seem like unique enough baits that they might attract attention from the bass...our underwater grass/vegetation gets pretty thick in the summer time so my hope is that I can glide these over that submerged vegetation and experience some explosive bites (and hopefully not just swings and misses)

Wandered down to the local big lake today - then drove around to the ramps - looks like full "ice out" has been achieved - no boats that I could see and no trucks/trailers at any of the ramps - but the temp was mid 20's when I was there - with temps climbing into the low 50's today and maybe 70 tomorrow my guess is people will be out on the lake (although the forecast calls for strong winds/rain/some storms) - I will take the car out of the garage and back the boat in deep enough that I can be sheltered from the wind/rain to put in a new starter/starter solenoid and a new exhaust manifold gasket - and then possibly take the boat on the water Sunday to make sure everything is operating properly (and maybe throw a lure or two around for a bit) - then plan to go out next weekend (April 18/19)

The brawl between Winter and Spring continues - Winter has smashed Spring in the face multiple times - including snow and 16 degree temps last night - smaller lakes were skimmed over with ice this morning, yet the bigger lakes look to no longer have visible ice on them (yet my guess is they have ice chunks lurking below the surface) - temps will be mid 50's Saturday and mid 70's Sunday, both days with big wind - my guess is the lakes will be considered to have achieved "ice out" condition either Saturday or Sunday (I had predicted April 18th so this would be a week earlier than that) - if that occurs, no complaints here - this weekend I will install a new starter and starter solenoid and exhaust manifold gasket - then should be ready to go - possibly Sunday but most likely next weekend (18th) Hoping for rain/wind/sun for @A-Jay

For GLF lures/baits the Sneaky Underspin with a Hover Minnow has been my highest producer - followed closely by the Sneaky Underspin with a Dropkick Shad on it - the Juvvy Craw has been ok, I will give it more time this summer - I have ordered a few of their new Stay Pinned Spy/Prop lures and look forward to trying them out (the two Perch colors and the Matte Black look good) - overall my experiences are that they make quality, well thought out, fish catching products

A strange weather day here -- big winds, strong sun (sun was bright at sun rise and all day long), but temps only about 30 degrees -- but that combo was enough to melt snow and create enough waves to break up all the remaining ice -- I don't think it's "ice out" yet on the big lake as you can see that there is some ice under the water when the waves rise and fall -- but the smaller lakes look ice free -- and if the days stay like this it would seem "ice out" will happen this week (I had predicted April 18) -- but it's Spring in MN, so anything can happen !

@10,000 lakes Bassin We were at bare ground (except for some heavily shaded areas) and now have somewhere between 6 and 8 inches - a very heavy/wet snow - I cleared the driveway twice to try and stay a bit ahead of it as it is such heavy snow - you certainly must be in the heart of the storm as 2 feet is a big dump of snow (especially heavy/wet snow) - be safe if you are shoveling/clearing the snow

Blah -- ice out might be happening in the TC's but sadly not here -- more of this white stuff is supposed to fall between now and Monday morning -- temps at night look like they will be below freezing for the next 10 days

@bigbearstroop122 -- thank you for posting the rod holder - I do not have rod storage on my boat and have rigged up something (an old milk crate and some rod holders) that holds the rods vertically but in a strong wind and/or cruising with the boat it can put a lot of stress on the rods -- the ability to lower the rods down to a horizonal position when in heavy wind or when cruising in the boat might work for me -- thank you ! -- thank you @Joedodge for sharing info and asking great questions - all the best with your boat build/set-up !

@A-Jay -- happy to hear you got rain this time - Winter came screaming back in here, giving the Johnny Cash double middle finger salute to Spring - 4 inches of wet heavy snow yesterday (Thursday) and a predicted 6 to 8 inches more before the weekend is over - night-time temps as low as 15 degrees and it looks like those night-time below 32 temps persist for the next 10 days - I had predicted an April 18th ice out, not looking like that is going to happen unless sun/wind/rain/temps elevate considerably

It's MN weather at its finest - snort (snow/sleet/rain) - saw big ice chunks bobbing up and down in the waves - a reminder that you might think the ice is gone but it's just lurking under the surface -stay safe

Drove by multiple smaller ponds/lakes (football field sized bodies of water) and most of the ice on them is gone (big winds yesterday must have helped with that) and the larger lakes are showing signs of the ice retreating -- BUT -- snow/sleet/low temps over the next 4 days........blah

I like @A-Jay thoughts on this - a spot for catching giant smallies and a spot to catch bulky largemouth - I also like @Swamp Girl thoughts on keeping it simple (and as a born and bred New Englander moving back in that direction is something I often consider) --- many things to like here in MN, including access to some wonderful smallmouth fishing - but after 20 years here in the frozen tundra (and before that Upstate NY and MA) I have been worn down by seemingly endless/brutally cold/harsh winters that last 5 to 6 months - it would be great to have (as @A-Jay suggests) a northern place and a southern place, but that is not in the cards (unless that lottery ticket becomes a winner) - so in 5 to 8 years I will most likely make a move to NC/SC/TN or FL (I have family that have moved there and they are pushing for that) - that intense heat/humidity would not be for me - I love the change of seasons but would prefer winter to be 2 months instead of 6 so NC/SC/TN might offer a better yearly weather balance

We had big winds, temps in the 50's and mostly sunny this weekend - on my way in to work today I observed that smaller/shallower ponds/lakes have most of their edges with open water (20 to 30 yards out from shore is all open water) - larger lakes, in the area most exposed to the sun/wind, seem to have small edge areas (10 feet out or so) with open water - so progress towards ice out was made this past weekend - unfortunately it looks like the next 7 days will be mid 30's during the day, mid 20's at night -- with a few days of snow mixed in