Well throat is feeling a little better anyway...

 

Got out to a lake in the NW metro on Sunday with my cousin. Water temps 44-46. Tried a number of presentations, but again (same lake as before), the only thing we could get bit on were Ned Rigs. Ended up with approx. 30 fish for the day with constant action throughout. Fished from 9am -5pm. Biggest was a mid 4lber and we also mangaed a couple 3s and plenty of fat 2lbers. Very fun day. 

 

Pic of the 4lber

 

Wow nice fish boys!  Turns out seeing these pics makes me ill. Might need to take a sick day as well. Lol!  

 

Frydog, same pattern for you?

2 minutes ago, OperationEagle said:

Wow nice fish boys!  Turns out seeing these pics makes me ill. Might need to take a sick day as well. Lol!  

You sound t-e-r-r-i-b-l-e... probably have a fever, it’s going around, better get on the water quick..

I had a pretty darn good afternoon chasing smallies yesterday. My best five went for 19.88lbs. I used a Ned rig on a heavy 1/4oz head (custom made ones I get) with the coppertruse TRD & it worked all day. I didn't need any other baits. The fish were all offshore in about 15-18' around a 30' hole. There were very small rock piles around the bowl, which I was able to pick up on my side scan. It's funny how smallies will group up over the smallest of rocks. Some buddies of mine caught some nice ones up shallower in like 6' on a sandbar with swimbaits. I had the deep Ned bite dialed-in though. Working extremely slow what's the deal, which is much easier to do if you use a heavier head. 

 

The last couple years the Ned rig has been the number one Smallmouth producer for me. I still throw swimbaits and drop shot but the Ned rig comes out first almost every time. Coppertruse is definitely my confidence color for smallies. 

 

The fish in the pic was a 4.6lb 

3 hours ago, punch said:

I had a pretty darn good afternoon chasing smallies yesterday. My best five went for 19.88lbs. I used a Ned rig on a heavy 1/4oz head (custom made ones I get) with the coppertruse TRD & it worked all day. I didn't need any other baits. The fish were all offshore in about 15-18' around a 30' hole. There were very small rock piles around the bowl, which I was able to pick up on my side scan. It's funny how smallies will group up over the smallest of rocks. Some buddies of mine caught some nice ones up shallower in like 6' on a sandbar with swimbaits. I had the deep Ned bite dialed-in though. Working extremely slow what's the deal, which is much easier to do if you use a heavier head. 

 

The last couple years the Ned rig has been the number one Smallmouth producer for me. I still throw swimbaits and drop shot but the Ned rig comes out first almost every time. Coppertruse is definitely my confidence color for smallies. 

 

The fish in the pic was a 4.6lb 

Sounds like a good day.  The water looks pretty calm for Mille Lacs standards anyway.  Agree that the Coppertreuse or Orange/Green Pumpkin are great colors for the smallies!

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Sounds like a good day.  The water looks pretty calm for Mille Lacs standards anyway.  Agree that the Coppertreuse or Orange/Green Pumpkin are great colors for the smallies!

Wasn't on Mille Lacs! Was a bit windy to go up there. 

A few 19’s and 20’s left in the river.  Water temps 44.

Mille Lacs water temps 43-44 yesterday. Fish were munching swimbaits

Even my daughter got in the act, before she moves for her new job out of state.  Sad day for me, but good fishing for her...

Man, some nice brown fish going this last week. Need to even the photos out with some green ones. ?

 

Got out on the water yesterday for a few hours before the Vikings game. Ended up having my best day of the year, size wise. Ended up with my best 5 going just over 20lbs, anchored by these two 5.5lb and 4.4lb studs. The 5.5 is my biggest of the year so far. All bit on a bluegill pattern Chatterbait that I made myself with a Yamamoto Zako trailer. Slow rolling the chatterbait over weeds in 4-5 feet of water right near a steep break line. Was windy out, but it was worth fighting the wind for sure. Water was 46-47 degrees. I think I may be "coming down with something" on Thursday as the wind is supposed to be minimal. May need to make one last Mille Lacs run for the year.

 

 

Wow.  I'm impressed with how everybody is doing.  Wish I could join the party.  I haven't done as well, with the exception of today. Got on the river and did real good numbers wise, but nothing over 18".  Lakes have been tough for me, but seeing how you all are doing, I plan on at least a couple more trips to the lakes.  Far now, I'll hit the river a few more times and keep burning vacation time.

Ended the season today with a bang... time to winterize the boat as the weather looks like it’s taking a dive..

Frydog you had a great year.  Congrats!

 

Winterized my boat just last night.  With an earlier start to winter (compared to last year) we will be rewarded with an early spring right?

 

Time now to switch to trout.

26 minutes ago, OperationEagle said:

With an earlier start to winter (compared to last year) we will be rewarded with an early spring right?

 

I will hold you to it my friend!!

Only 171 days to stare out the window until I take my boat out of storage and head out of state to fish...?

I'm probably tucking the boat way also. Time to drop off the boat at my dads place and grab my clam thermal shack. Bring on the ice!

 

 

On 11/2/2018 at 10:31 PM, FryDog62 said:

Only 171 days to stare out the window until I take my boat out of storage and head out of state to fish...?

I know this feeling. 154 days until I am headed to Lake Fork in April..........Hold me! 

1 hour ago, ThatOneBigKid said:

I know this feeling. 154 days until I am headed to Lake Fork in April..........Hold me! 

I’ll join you... 154 sounds a lot better than 171..!

It looks like we MIGHT get 40+ degrees next weekend? Guess I won't put the boat away QUITE yet. 

Lakes are icing up pretty good. Bummer because this time last year we we're still out fishing open water.  Guess I'll be putting away the skeeter next weekend. Time to ready the ice gear!

I was wondering if anyone was still out there braving the elements.  Guess not...

11 hours ago, gimruis said:

I was wondering if anyone was still out there braving the elements.  Guess not...

I saw the long range forecast a week ago and raised the white flag.  Have my sites set on some bass fishing maybe this winter in FLA. 

 

Dam this was a short season...

Spring was non-existent.  Seems like fall was really quick too.  Summer was sweltering hot.  Almost 100 degrees by Memorial Day?  Hope this past season isn't a preview of things to come more often.

I took out my ice gear yesterday... already 3-4" on some of the smaller lakes. Who else is already thinking hardwater? 

 

Bass fishing on ice is actually pretty fun fellas.