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The smallmouths are safe #7352492
09/10/21 05:43 PM
09/10/21 05:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Our trip to MN and Wisconsin for smallmouth bass fly-fishing did not yield much success. We caught and released a few on the Upper Mississippi, but I got skunked the first day. On the second day, I caught a few, then decided to give spin fishing a try for an hour, and caught half a dozen up to 17 inches. The guides and service they provided was first rate.

Then we fished out of Hayward Wisconsin for two days. Again, the fishing was slow, but we floated two beautiful wild rivers, the Chippewa and the Namekagon (sp?). Had a few muskies follow our flies, but no strikes. Saw a six-foot sturgeon in the water. The guide service was great.

Mille Laks Lake they can keep. Hired a guide who caught all the fish--never had a guide fish with paying customers before. Of course a guide should be able to out fish the clients, on his home waters anyway. He doesn't have to prove it. Real lousy service. We tipped accordingly. The three of us did not catch or even get a bite from a smallmouth. Instead of going out on the lake again, we're watching the Oregon-OSU game tomorrow.

All in all, it's been a good trip. Good fellowship, and beautiful scenery in Wisconsin. We head home on Sunday.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352507
09/10/21 05:58 PM
09/10/21 05:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
Nice trip. Maybe the guide catching all the fish had read your post here or elsewhere and figured with your political lean you would like him to do all the work for you? Did he offer to let you pose with the fish?

Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352510
09/10/21 06:02 PM
09/10/21 06:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
D
Dirty D Offline
trapper
Dirty D  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
Originally Posted by James
Hired a guide who caught all the fish--never had a guide fish with paying customers before.

All in all, it's been a good trip. Good fellowship, and beautiful scenery in Wisconsin. We head home on Sunday.

Jim


Have fished with many guides, never had one that fished with the clients. I have even offered guides my rod for a few minutes while I was taking a break and they refused.

Good to hear you had a good time, come back anytime and try again. We Wisconsin folks are generally pretty friendly and accommodating to strangers.

Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352511
09/10/21 06:05 PM
09/10/21 06:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,212
W NY
Turtledale Offline
trapper
Turtledale  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,212
W NY
Sounds like a great time James.. I never get to see sturgeon bet that looked awesome. Time out on the water with your buds is always priceless


NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352512
09/10/21 06:05 PM
09/10/21 06:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,526
MN
D
Donnersurvivor Online sick
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Online Sick
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,526
MN
I'm glad you had a good trip despite not hammering the fish. I pulled this lil feller out of the Mississippi just up from Monticello while trying to get a catfish for dinner.

I just got a new fly rod, if I can figure out the smallies on it I'll give you the inside scoop should you ever decide to come back

[Linked Image]

Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352542
09/10/21 06:55 PM
09/10/21 06:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
I was on the Mississippi just above the dam at St. Cloud last Saturday. Only caught 3 smallies. Best was 18-1/2". I was looking for you James, but didn't see anyone who I would have guessed to be in your age group.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: Providence Farm] #7352607
09/10/21 08:12 PM
09/10/21 08:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779
Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds Offline
trapper
Feedinggrounds  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779
Northern lower Michigan
Originally Posted by Providence Farm
Nice trip. Maybe the guide catching all the fish had read your post here or elsewhere and figured with your political lean you would like him to do all the work for you? Did he offer to let you pose with the fish?

Lol Lol Probably bought all the fishing gear from Midway, they jumped right into the fishing gear market...


you're only allowed so many sunrises... I aim to see every one of them!
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352686
09/10/21 09:13 PM
09/10/21 09:13 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
Originally Posted by James
Our trip to MN and Wisconsin for smallmouth bass fly-fishing did not yield much success. We caught and released a few on the Upper Mississippi, but I got skunked the first day. On the second day, I caught a few, then decided to give spin fishing a try for an hour, and caught half a dozen up to 17 inches. The guides and service they provided was first rate.

Then we fished out of Hayward Wisconsin for two days. Again, the fishing was slow, but we floated two beautiful wild rivers, the Chippewa and the Namekagon (sp?). Had a few muskies follow our flies, but no strikes. Saw a six-foot sturgeon in the water. The guide service was great.

Mille Laks Lake they can keep. Hired a guide who caught all the fish--never had a guide fish with paying customers before. Of course a guide should be able to out fish the clients, on his home waters anyway. He doesn't have to prove it. Real lousy service. We tipped accordingly. The three of us did not catch or even get a bite from a smallmouth. Instead of going out on the lake again, we're watching the Oregon-OSU game tomorrow.

All in all, it's been a good trip. Good fellowship, and beautiful scenery in Wisconsin. We head home on Sunday.

Jim


Your experience with the guide is unfortunate James, it's not the fault of the lake you got a poor guide. Mile Lacs is a premiere smallie factory and you should go out again tomorrow. Don't ever quit. Watch football or fish?


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352738
09/10/21 09:50 PM
09/10/21 09:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Well, the smallmouths don't seem to be biting, so we'll watch football.

The lake was very rough with all the wind. The guide said, for what it's worth, that the smallmouths are still deep because of the hot summer.

The only other time I had a guide fishing with me was when he took me fishing for free.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352745
09/10/21 09:55 PM
09/10/21 09:55 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
Where you trying to fly fish on Mile Lacs as well? Hustle, find a new guide and dig out the spinning gear. Tomorrow is a new day.

Looks like winds of 7to12 tomorrow according to Accuweather. Rowboat weather


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352759
09/10/21 10:05 PM
09/10/21 10:05 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
the heat did a number on the fishing this summer kind of all over Wisconsin

first the river was near record low water then it flooded

there was so much debris in the channel last Saturday in pool 10 we called it when it got dark , there were 3 logs across the channel floating down at sundown with more coming


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: Steven 49er] #7352774
09/10/21 10:20 PM
09/10/21 10:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Originally Posted by Steven 49er
Where you trying to fly fish on Mile Lacs as well? Hustle, find a new guide and dig out the spinning gear. Tomorrow is a new day.

Looks like winds of 7to12 tomorrow according to Accuweather. Rowboat weather


We were using spinning gear. Only Ed tried fly fishing the lake, when we were in six feet of water, and he soon gave it up because of the wind.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352782
09/10/21 10:29 PM
09/10/21 10:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
C
corky Offline
trapper
corky  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
When, knowing nothing, I first decided to begin Musky fishing, about 50 years ago, I hired a well known Wisconsin guide by the name of Tony Rizzo. He asked me if I wanted him to fish. I said yes because I figured that I could learn more from watching him than I could with him just watching me. I hired him to expand my knowledge and if I didn't learn how to catch fish it would be because I was not observant enough or too proud to ask questions. I had the same mind set when hiring other fishing or hunting guides. I learned an awful lot that and subsequent days and Tony became a great long time friend. He died recently and I truly miss fishing with him.

Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352786
09/10/21 10:33 PM
09/10/21 10:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
We wound up dunking minnows, which I learned to do in Ontario years ago. Not much science or art to it.

At least when I'm fly fishing, if the fish aren't biting I can practice on throwing tighter loops.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352853
09/11/21 12:30 AM
09/11/21 12:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,589
Ohio
N
newtoga Offline
trapper
newtoga  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,589
Ohio
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
They were hitting good where we were Jim.


lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352855
09/11/21 12:36 AM
09/11/21 12:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,991
Oregon
beaverpeeler Online content
trapper
beaverpeeler  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,991
Oregon
Hopefully an Oregon win tomorrow will complete the misery for you! LOL


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: The smallmouths are safe [Re: James] #7352878
09/11/21 04:50 AM
09/11/21 04:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,446
Tug Hill, NY
S
Squash Offline
trapper
Squash  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,446
Tug Hill, NY
Maybe next time you should try NY’s St Lawrence River, arguably the best smallmouth fishery in the world.

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