2024 Minnesota Season Thread

[throttleplate]

The crappie have abandoned my lake bank fishing honey hole in Detroit lakes for the summer, the big sunfish have left also and only their small siblings remain, the bass left along with them.

The river dams i fish from the bank are still flooded on the Sheyene river in north dakota so i havnt been out in 2 weeks, going on vacation monday, no fishing gear is going with us.

[Adrift]

Anybody been on Borden lately? We're in the area for a couple of days for a family get together.  The kid and I might try and sneak out early and fish a bit. 

 

ETA: The kid wanted to sleep in so I got out solo this morning. Total dinkfest! Caught fish on deep weedlines with wacky worm,  swimbait and fluke. Water is 78°

[gim]

I've only fished that lake once years ago when Mille Lacs was too rough.  It was OK.  Better than getting beat up on the big lake by 3 footers.

 

I took Thurs and Fri off later this week.  Plan to fish both days and target largemouth.  Will post a report after each outing.

[gim]

I went yesterday morning and this morning.  Yesterday wasn't so good.  It was calm, sunny, and slow.  Caught 7 bass but none worth taking a photo of.

 

This morning was a completely different story.  My Father and I caught 22 largemouth and 17 pike in about 5 hours.  It was a nice low cloud deck all morning and windy, which made for a good chop.  The pike were on a freaking rampage.  They bit my Father off twice and ruined tackle all morning.  At one point I caught one on three consecutive casts - 28, 29, and 31 inchers.  31 inch pike is my biggest this season so far.

 

Did manage several nice largemouth though, including a pair of 4 pounders about 10 minutes apart.  Most of the fish came on a white or neon green chatter bait fished aggressively through the weeds.  Water temp is 76.5 degrees.

[gim]

I fished in a 3 boat derby this morning just north of the metro and fishing was good.  We caught 20 bass and 5 pike in 4 hours, including 3 fish that were 18-18.5 inches.  I had not been fishing since before the heat wave and subsequent cool down this week, so I wasn't really sure what to expect.  All the fish were on the windy side of the lake.  Water temp was 70 degrees.

 

This is my partner with a few of his nicer fish.

 

[WaskaCrank12]

I finally got out this weekend - I had been battling engine issues since prior to the opener (1992 Evinrude V4 90hp) , I chose to take on the challenge and do the work myself, had to wait for parts, figure out what I was doing, buy tools, got great advice from some Bass Resource people, watched many hours of YouTube - and now it is running (fingers crossed that will continue) - caught low numbers but was grateful to finally be on the water ! -- two SMB -- 16.5 and 20 inch both on a Megabass Griffon near weed lines -- then three toothy pike -- 17, 22, 24.5 inches on crankbaits  -- they were about 20/30 yards out from the weed lines

[gim]

Fished in some rain this morning. Caught 10 largemouth, including several solid fish.

 

The pike were on the war path. Landed 27 of those dang things. All were in the annoying slime dart range too. My hands reek of pike slime even after washing them 4 times.

 

 

[throttleplate]

@gimruis we went fishing friday in detroit lakes, a day before you fished and we had rain and high winds, from the bank the crappie which were offshore for the summer came in with the big waves and were caught within 10 feet from the rocky shoreline.

The bluegills stayed out away from shore and were caught in the green weed beds.

[Standard]

Fished the upper Mississippi this past weekend.  It was flowing pretty decent, and surprisingly muddied up where I was.  Bit of a bummer, was hoping it had cleared up by now.  Saturday was rough, I was off my game and had maybe a 50% hookup rate.  

 

Sunday was much better.  Got on the water early, and the bass were up shallower and hanging out around current seams and breaks.  Only fished for a few hours, but got some decent smallmouth and a surprise largemouth.  First time I've got one in the Miss' here, and it was the biggest one I've got in a while.  Smashed a walking topwater.  Just over 4lbs and somewhere above 19".  I need to find my bump board..

 

 

[Hawkeye21]

My annual fishing trip up to Alexandria is coming up in a few weeks.  How's the bass bite been?  Every year it seems to be completely different.

[gim]

21 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

My annual fishing trip up to Alexandria is coming up in a few weeks.  How's the bass bite been?  Every year it seems to be completely different.

 

I can't really help you specifically with that area, as its about 2 hours northwest of me.

 

I presume the target is largemouth in lakes.  I was doing well targeting them in August...until my last outing.  Something changed my last time out about week ago.  The fish were not nearly as aggressive as they had been most of August.  I really had to slow my presentation down, whereas earlier in the month I was fishing fast and aggressive.

 

Post a message here a week before you go and I'll see what I can come up with then.  I think we're still in more of a summer pattern right now but could be in more of a fall pattern when you go.

[Hawkeye21]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I can't really help you specifically with that area, as its about 2 hours northwest of me.

 

I presume the target is largemouth in lakes.  I was doing well targeting them in August...until my last outing.  Something changed my last time out about week ago.  The fish were not nearly as aggressive as they had been most of August.  I really had to slow my presentation down, whereas earlier in the month I was fishing fast and aggressive.

 

Post a message here a week before you go and I'll see what I can come up with then.  I think we're still in more of a summer pattern right now but could be in more of a fall pattern when you go.

Thanks for the reply.  My goal is to hit up Lake Ida and find some smallmouth.  Trying to get better at fishing offshore.  We are there for a week and fish about a bunch of different lakes in the area each year.

 

Last year the bite was decent.  Top water was great.  I didn't catch a lot but the quality was great.  Caught my largest bass of all our trips last year at 5.6lbs.

[gim]

@Hawkeye21 you'd be surprised but there just isn't much opportunity for me near where I live to specifically target smallmouth.  Most of the lakes (which are very numerous) are largemouth-oriented.  The nearest lake that has a quality smallmouth population is Mille Lacs, or a river.  Mille Lacs is 90 mins away and and river fishing is a bit of a gamble here.

[Hawkeye21]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

@Hawkeye21 you'd be surprised but there just isn't much opportunity for me near where I live to specifically target smallmouth.  Most of the lakes (which are very numerous) are largemouth-oriented.  The nearest lake that has a quality smallmouth population is Mille Lacs, or a river.  Mille Lacs is 90 mins away and and river fishing is a bit of a gamble here.

I think this is my 10th or 11th year doing this trip.  I've noticed there are very few smallmouth opportunities in that area.  That's ok though.  The largemouth fishing can be fantastic.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Tuesday I had a good evening, throwing mainly a jig around some grass and chatterbait over the top of and around the edge of some deep coontail. Yesterday wasn’t as great but I managed to pick up a few on the jig, and some on a swim jig by casting it into the pads and working it out.

I haven’t fish in September much my whole life so I’m slightly nervous about finding fish this next month. Is there any tips you could give me for fall fishing up north? I’ve heard a couple different things about fall fishing up here, some about bass pulling up shallow in cover, and some about them grouping up out deeper. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[gim]

17 minutes ago, August said:

Is there any tips you could give me for fall fishing up north? I’ve heard a couple different things about fall fishing up here

 

My experience probably isn't as far north as you are, but I'll offer what I can.  You will probably continue to see a summer-type pattern for at least a couple weeks into September, as long as we have summer-type weather.  I know a lot of people think of September as a fall month on the calendar, but its still summery to me.  Last year it was still 85 degreed the first week of October.

 

Once you get towards the end of the month there should be a change to more consistently cooler fall weather.  Leaves will change and water temps will start to drop.  When I see that happen, I start switching over to a more aggressive pattern in shallower water.  Jerk baits also come back into play if your after smallmouth.  As you get further into October, a lot of weeds will start to die and lose their greenery.  You will want to look for any remaining green weeds you can find.  The key with fall fishing is the overnight lows.  If the air temps drop down near freezing or below, its best to wait to go fishing until later in the morning or at midday once its warmed up.  If the air temps remain pretty warm overnight, then you can start early in the morning.  A cloud deck will keep the over night temps warmer.  Clear skies usually send the temps lower.

 

My best fall fishing comes when the water temps are in the mid 50's.

 

After late October, I can't help you.  I usually hang it up around the end of the month and start hunting instead.

 

@Tlauz fishes the Bemidji area so maybe he can help you more too.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Thank you @gimruis! I saw that we were supposed to get a couple lows in the 40s sometime next week so I’m not sure what that’ll do.
So once it gets colder you focus mainly up shallow with more aggressive stuff? Is your main goal to cover water, just basically burning the bank? Is there any cover that you look for other than green weeds? Sorry if I’m bothering you with all these questions!

[gim]

24 minutes ago, August said:

So once it gets colder you focus mainly up shallow with more aggressive stuff?

Yes. A chatterbait or spinnerbait reeled slower through green weeds is a very effective strategy. Don’t burn it like you would when the water is warmer though. Just fast enough to get the blades moving. You’ll probably catch northern pike mixed right in with the bass.

 

Usually the first real cold front of the season can shut em down. Once the weather stabilizes a day or two later it shouldn’t be an issue.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes. A chatterbait or spinnerbait reeled slower through green weeds is a very effective strategy. Don’t burn it like you would when the water is warmer though. Just fast enough to get the blades moving. You’ll probably catch northern pike mixed right in with the bass.

 

Usually the first real cold front of the season can shut em down. Once the weather stabilizes a day or two later it shouldn’t be an issue.

Thanks man! I’m normally so busy in the spring and fall that I just fish June to August lots of the time, but I know I’m missing out of some of the best fishing of the year. Now I’m excited to get into the fall stuff especially because I love fishing up shallow 

[WaskaCrank12]

Hello @Hawkeye21 - which of the lakes in Alexandria will you be fishing at ?

I live a bit south of Alex and primarily (this is only my second year of fishing) I fish at Lake Minnewaska (Glenwood) and Lake Reno (just south of Alex)

In the past two weeks I have caught several 17/18 inch largemouth (at Lake Reno) and 16/17 inch small mouth (at Lake Minnewaska) - and oddly, I caught a 33 plus inch Carp yesterday (at Lake Minnewaska, I had never caught a Carp, didn't want to catch a Carp, it put up quite a big fight) 

I have not gone out on any of the lakes right in Alex so I cannot help with that right now - I did go out on Lake Miltona but caught mostly 14/15 inch small mouth - it seemed most of the people out on that lake were looking for musky/walleye (as do many people in this area)

Alex is a beautiful area - I hope you have safe travels, a relaxing time and catch some big ones !

PS - I will ask around and see if anyone has heard of a good bite on any of the Alex lakes -- Christopherson's Bait and Tackle in Alex may be a place that can give you some up to date information, all of the people that work there seem nice and helpful and in to fishing (although some of them are really in to walleye/musky, only a few seem in to bass fishing) 

[Hawkeye21]

On 8/29/2024 at 2:56 PM, August said:

Tuesday I had a good evening, throwing mainly a jig around some grass and chatterbait over the top of and around the edge of some deep coontail. Yesterday wasn’t as great but I managed to pick up a few on the jig, and some on a swim jig by casting it into the pads and working it out.

I haven’t fish in September much my whole life so I’m slightly nervous about finding fish this next month. Is there any tips you could give me for fall fishing up north? I’ve heard a couple different things about fall fishing up here, some about bass pulling up shallow in cover, and some about them grouping up out deeper. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

We pretty much just work the shorelines and grass patches.  Majority of the time we're throwing a spinnerbait or chatterbait.  Topwater works great too, frogs and buzzbaits.

On 8/31/2024 at 3:10 PM, WaskaCrank12 said:

Hello @Hawkeye21 - which of the lakes in Alexandria will you be fishing at ?

I live a bit south of Alex and primarily (this is only my second year of fishing) I fish at Lake Minnewaska (Glenwood) and Lake Reno (just south of Alex)

In the past two weeks I have caught several 17/18 inch largemouth (at Lake Reno) and 16/17 inch small mouth (at Lake Minnewaska) - and oddly, I caught a 33 plus inch Carp yesterday (at Lake Minnewaska, I had never caught a Carp, didn't want to catch a Carp, it put up quite a big fight) 

I have not gone out on any of the lakes right in Alex so I cannot help with that right now - I did go out on Lake Miltona but caught mostly 14/15 inch small mouth - it seemed most of the people out on that lake were looking for musky/walleye (as do many people in this area)

Alex is a beautiful area - I hope you have safe travels, a relaxing time and catch some big ones !

PS - I will ask around and see if anyone has heard of a good bite on any of the Alex lakes -- Christopherson's Bait and Tackle in Alex may be a place that can give you some up to date information, all of the people that work there seem nice and helpful and in to fishing (although some of them are really in to walleye/musky, only a few seem in to bass fishing) 

Our group has been on just about every lake in a 30 mile radius of Alexandria over the years.  I have not fished Minnewaska yet, we usually avoid the larger lakes, but I have fished Pelican a few times.  Our greatest day of fishing ever was on Pelican.

[WaskaCrank12]

@Hawkeye21 - I hope you will have great weather and fun fishing on your visit to MN !

 

I spoke with someone from Alexandria today and they said Elk Lake in Hoffman, MN (about 20 miles south west of Alexandria) is a small lake (200 or so acres) that they have had success catching some decent sized large mouth bass and some Walleye on (they said they have never caught a small mouth there) - I have not fished it so I am not sure - yet you had mentioned you enjoy fishing some of the smaller lakes, so it might be worth a look (you many have already fished it in previous years).

 

My hope is that the wind settles down for your visit - Monday and today (Tuesday) were windy here and Wednesday/Thursday are supposed to be a bit breezy - yet Fri/Sat/Sun should be very nice weather.

 

I have not traveled up to or fished at Pelican Lake - yet I have heard many good things about it - and with you having your greatest day of fishing on it I will have to make a plan to get there at some point (most likely not this year, but hopefully next year).

 

Safe travels and enjoy you time in MN ! 

[Pogues2300]

Broke my toe when the weather is getting prime in Minnesota…. I have to fight through in my pedal kayak! lol hope everyone is catching

[gim]

A cool down for a couple days is on tap later this week, over night lows in the 30's in northeastern MN.  Coolest over night lows since late May.

 

However, next week looks like a rebound.  The ridge of high pressure out west will be moving eastward and a string of 80+ is likely again.  Summer isn't over yet here.

 

 

[Hawkeye21]

On 9/3/2024 at 11:35 PM, WaskaCrank12 said:

@Hawkeye21 - I hope you will have great weather and fun fishing on your visit to MN !

 

I spoke with someone from Alexandria today and they said Elk Lake in Hoffman, MN (about 20 miles south west of Alexandria) is a small lake (200 or so acres) that they have had success catching some decent sized large mouth bass and some Walleye on (they said they have never caught a small mouth there) - I have not fished it so I am not sure - yet you had mentioned you enjoy fishing some of the smaller lakes, so it might be worth a look (you many have already fished it in previous years).

 

My hope is that the wind settles down for your visit - Monday and today (Tuesday) were windy here and Wednesday/Thursday are supposed to be a bit breezy - yet Fri/Sat/Sun should be very nice weather.

 

I have not traveled up to or fished at Pelican Lake - yet I have heard many good things about it - and with you having your greatest day of fishing on it I will have to make a plan to get there at some point (most likely not this year, but hopefully next year).

 

Safe travels and enjoy you time in MN ! 

I fished Elk last year for the first time.  Looked like it had potential but we have very little luck.  Every year is different though.

 

That one year on Pelican was a fluke.  We've fished it multiple times and it has never come close to that day.  A local told us it wasn't a very good lake but I think it's just hard to fish most of the time.  It has big walleye though.