2016 Fishing Outlook for Northeast Minnesota

Transcription

1 2016 Fishing Outlook for Northeast Minnesota Lake Vermilion and Tower area The outlook for Lake Vermilion looks excellent this year with the 2012 year class providing lots of harvest sized walleye under the protected slot (18-26 inches). Vermilion also offers opportunity to catch, photo, and release memorable size fish. Also in the Tower-Ely area within the BWCAW, Basswood Lake offers great fishing and large sizes of walleye, northern pike, smallmouth, and even lake trout. (24 to 36 inch protected slot on northern pike). Basswood requires a BWCAW permit but boat motors 25hp or less are allowed in some areas. And if you re looking for a challenge in the BWCAW, Neglige Lake offers great brook trout fishing in a remote access lake. Grand Marais Area We have not experienced an early spring in the Grand Marais area, so on opener the big, deep walleye lakes may still be cold, and the fishing slow. On the other hand, conditions should be nearly ideal for lake trout, and for stream trout in lakes. Anglers that can be more flexible with their fishing should find plenty of unique coldwater opportunities. If walleye are your goal, look first at the larger, shallower lakes, like Elbow, Two Island, Cascade, and Tait. Finland Area Finland Fisheries Management Area has numerous lakes with good walleye populations and a variety of sizes. However, early season walleye fishing can be challenging. Patches of snow on the ground and the remnants of winter ice on larger/deeper lakes are not unusual for the fishing opener. Typically, the shallower, darker, and riverine lakes in the area provide the best walleye fishing early in the season as walleye spawning is completed earlier in these waters. As water temperature increases in late May/early June the deeper, colder, and clearer lakes become more productive for walleye angling. Northern pike are abundant in many Finland Area lakes and generally provide for good angling action throughout the year. The lakes in the Finland area are relatively small with varying degrees of access, small fishing boats and canoes will get the angler on most lakes while larger trailer-in boats are limited to about 25 lakes with concrete plank or gravel back-down accesses. Parking can be an issue with few accesses having capacity for ten vehicle/trailer combinations. Lakes to consider for opener in the Finland Area include: Crooked, Four Mile, Greenwood, the McDougal Chain of Lakes, Sand, and Windy. Crooked Lake Crooked Lake is 272 acres and has a maximum depth of 18 feet even though most of the lake is less than 15 feet, with the north and south basins being less than 5 feet deep. There is a back-in concrete ramp on the main (east) basin of the lake off of USFS Road # One resort is located on the main basin

2 that also has an access. The walleye population in Crooked Lake is above average and the size of walleye is usually around average for the area. Zebra mussels were found in the lake in 2014, so boaters should remember to drain all water before leaving the access to prevent the spread of invasive species. Four Mile Lake Four Mile Lake is 593 acres and has a maximum depth of 19.5 feet. There is a back-in concrete ramp, with a small dock at the public access on the north end of the lake. The U.S. Forest Service also maintains a four site campground (no fee) at this location with fire grate, picnic table and outhouse. Four Mile Lake has strong natural reproduction and the walleye numbers are well above average for the lake class. Northern pike, black crappie, and yellow perch are also present. Greenwood Lake Greenwood Lake is 1329 acres and has a maximum depth of 7 feet. It is shallow with heavily bog stained water and the many boulders that can make boating hazardous. Access is a concrete ramp on the southwest end of the lake, off of Lake County Road #2. The walleye population in Greenwood Lake is above average for the lake class and anglers report good numbers of fish but the walleyes tend to run small. Northern pike numbers are average for the lake class. The McDougal Chain of Lakes The McDougal Chain of Lakes offers three lakes in one stop. A large USFS campground is located on North McDougal Lake along with a boat launch (concrete ramp) and ample parking. Middle McDougal and South McDougal lakes are accessed by traveling upstream (up to a moderate sized boat depending on water conditions) through an inlet on North McDougal. All of the lakes in the McDougal Lakes chain have dark brown bog stained water which can make fishing productive during the day, but can conceal the large underwater boulders. The walleye populations in these lakes are self-sustaining with average to above average numbers of walleye for their lake class. Northern pike, bluegill, and yellow perch can also be found in all three lakes. Sand Lake Sand Lake is 486 acres and has a maximum depth of 11 feet with dark brown bog stained water. A carry down access, suitable for small boats and canoes, is located at the small USFS campground (no fee) on the east side of the lake off of USFS Road #941. The walleye population in Sand Lake is above average for the lake class but the walleye size tends to run small. There is an above average bluegill population in the lake with fish up to 10 inches present. A special regulation on bluegills of a reduced daily bag limit of 5 fish is also on the lake. Northern pike and yellow perch are also present in the lake. Windy Lake Windy Lake is 450 acres and has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The U.S. Forest Service maintains the concrete ramp access on the northwest side of the lake off of Lake County Road #7. Daytime fishing can be productive on the lake from the brown bog stained water, but boaters should be cautious as there are many boulders in the water. The walleye population in Windy Lake is maintained by natural reproduction and is above average for the lake class. The average size of walleye is generally on the small side, but fish over 20 inches are present. Northern pike, yellow perch, and lake whitefish also reside in the lake at lower than average numbers for the lake class. BWCAW Anglers that prefer a remote wilderness fishing experience might try the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) lakes of Isabella, Kawishiwi, Bog, and Perent Lakes. All these lakes are good bets

3 early in the season and are also located near the edge of the BWCAW making a day trip feasible. Island and Isabella Rivers may also provide good river fishing within the BWCAW. Anglers seeking a wilderness fishing experience outside the BWCAW might try the Timber-Frear Loop. The Timber-Frear is a 15-mile loop of backcountry lakes (Whitefish, Elbow, Finger, Timber, Frear, and Lost Lake) that offers a wilderness type of canoe trip without wilderness regulation or the need for a permit. The walleye populations in these lakes are well above average for their lake class. Northern pike are also present in most of these lakes. Duluth area and Lake Superior Very high quality Lake Trout fishing on Lake Superior has been had in recent years. Fishing pressure north of Duluth/Two Harbors is relatively light and populations are very healthy. Folks can get by with their walleye boats if they pick their day, watch the Nearshore Marine Forecast, and follow safety precautions for boating the Great Lakes. Shore fishing for Kamloops Rainbow Trout and Coho Salmon started early this year along the lower North Shore. The Rainbow Trout spawning runs into North Shore tributaries began in late March and will end before Memorial Day. As Lake Superior warms up in late April and May, boaters will venture onto the big lake to catch Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Lake Trout. Expect fishing success to track closely with the warmer water as it moves from Duluth toward Grand Marais into the summer months. Salmon fishing will probably be noticeably better than the last couple of years. Lake Trout fishing was good last year and the fundamentals of the fishery have not changed, which suggests that fishing will be good again in As usual, weather patterns will dictate each angler s opportunities on any given day or weekend and those anglers who put in the time are likely to find success. North Shore Trout Lakes For anglers that may prefer to seek trout on opener the Finland Fisheries Management Area has numerous stream-trout lakes. Many of the easily accessible lakes are stocked with yearling brook trout and/or rainbow trout prior to opening weekend, depending on ice-out and hatchery schedules. The more remote stream trout lakes can be difficult to access early in the season with frost coming out of the roads making for soft spots. Water temperatures in the area s stream-trout lakes should be ideal and trout should be actively feeding. Lakes such as Hogback and Echo have boats accesses suitable for small boats and canoes. While, lakes such as Divide and Section Eight require anglers to carry-in boats or canoes a short distance. Remote lake such as Eikela, Steer, Trappers, and Goldeneye Lakes will require a longer carry and best suited for canoe or float tube fishing. Anglers with ATVs can access Bean Lake near Silver Bay and Beaver Hut Lake near Babbitt. North Shore streams Fishing the anadromous portion of Lake Superior s north shore streams can be very good the early portion of May. Steelhead rainbow trout are in the streams each spring, the timing of the spring melt and suitable water temperatures influence the steelhead run. Fishing the inland trout streams of the Finland area improves as the stream levels subside and water temperatures warm. Again, be cautious traveling the back roads in the early season, cell phone coverage is poor over much of the Finland area. A good source of information for individual lakes in the Finland Area is the Lake Finder application on the DNR web site: the most recent fish data is posted and the public access

4 information is listed. The U. S. Forest Service provides information on permits and regulations for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at: Aitkin Area Open water fishing in the Aitkin Area should get off to a good start. Ice off on area lakes happened in early to mid-april, and spawning runs should be well done by opener. As such, water temperatures should be well into the 50 degree range and offer some excellent conditions for chasing walleye and pike. Slow trolling or drifting with live bait is often one of the best methods to put fish in the boat this time of year. Some lakes in the area with decent walleye populations include Farm Island, Hill, Big Sandy, Round (west of Palisade), Big Pine (North of Garrison) and Cedar Lakes. The very dark water of Big Sandy will be the first to warm in comparison to the clearer waters of Cedar and Farm Island, will probably make it one the bests bet for numbers of walleye early in the season. Other, often forgotten fishing options are the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries (Willow, Sandy, Swan, Rice Rivers) in the area. These waters often don t get the same fishing pressure of the more popular lakes and can provide for some fast action. Also, don t forget there are special regulations on a number of area lakes, including Big Sandy and connecting waters, Farm Island, Long (near Glen) and Sissibagama Lakes. Northern pike should also provide plenty of action on most lakes in the area. Remember CPR (Catch/Photo/Release) for those big ones you catch! With recycling of these large fish, the next time you or your kids are out in the same area you'll have another chance at catching a trophy, which may be even bigger the second time around. And won't it add to the excitement knowing that trophy still lurks in your favorite fishing hole! Good luck with your fishing! Brainerd area Walleye fishing on the Brainerd Area s largest lakes, Gull, Whitefish and North Long should be solid. Stream trout fishing in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is a great alternative fishing outing especially for those with smaller crafts or shore anglers. Catch and release largemouth bass opportunities abound across Crow Wing and Cass Counties. Grand Rapids Area The Grand Rapids Area provides excellent walleye angling opportunities, and May and June are considered to be prime time on many of our best waters. Anglers looking to catch good numbers of quality walleye, along with some fish for the frying pan should focus on shallow, fertile lakes early in the fishing season. These lakes have stained water that warms up quickly, and are typical favorites for early season anglers. Some lakes to try include Winnibigoshish, Cut Foot Sioux, Island, Split Hand, or Round lakes. Anglers will find that these lakes support good numbers of keeper size fish, and provide the chance at catching a large fish. Be sure to note that special regulations exist on these waters so consult the fishing regulation book prior to heading out. Angler s looking for fast action for smaller walleye should consider Bowstring, Sand, or Jessie lakes. Cold, clear, deep lakes such as Pokegama, Siseebakwet, and Trout lakes also provide excellent walleye fishing opportunities, but the action typically improves a little later in the season, as water temperatures increase. Northern pike anglers will find many good options in the Grand Rapids area. Anglers looking for fast action and the chance to keep an expanded bag limit should consider Round, Sand, and Bowstring lakes. These lakes have an abundance of smaller pike, along with a few lunkers, and anglers can possess up to nine pike under 22 inches, while pike inches must be immediately released.

5 Large pike can be found in several area lakes including Swan, Trout, and Pokegama. Although these lakes do not have special pike regulations, anglers are encouraged to protect the resource by releasing pike over 24 inches. Spider, Coon Sandwick, and North Star are other good lakes for catching a large pike. These lakes have a special regulation requiring the release of pike from inches. Anglers looking for a break from walleye or pike fishing will find excellent panfish opportunities throughout the Grand Rapids area. Several area lakes provide good bluegill and crappie action early in the season. Popular spring panfish locations include Split Hand, Bass, Graves, and Dixon lakes. These lakes are known for big panfish and have a special 5 fish bag limit for bluegill. Split Hand also has a 5 fish bag limit for crappie. Several lakes in the area are infested with invasive species including Eurasian milfoil, curly leaf pondweed, and faucet snails. Zebra mussels were recently found in Winnibigoshish and Sand lakes. Anglers are reminded to drain their boats, live wells, and bait buckets and to transport their boat with the drain plug removed. The transportation of invasive species is illegal and anglers are encouraged to thoroughly wash their equipment before moving it into another lake.