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
James
OP
"Minka"
|
OP
"Minka"
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]
#7352510
09/10/21 06:02 PM
09/10/21 06:02 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,939 east central WI
Dirty D
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,939
east central WI
|
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: 7,357 W NY
Turtledale
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,357
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]
#7352542
09/10/21 06:55 PM
09/10/21 06:55 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,843 St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,843
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: 2,785 Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,785
Northern lower Michigan
|
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: 10,481 mn north of blakely
Steven 49er
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,481
mn north of blakely
|
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
James
OP
"Minka"
|
OP
"Minka"
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: 10,481 mn north of blakely
Steven 49er
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,481
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: 18,583 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,583
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
James
OP
"Minka"
|
OP
"Minka"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
|
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]
#7352786
09/10/21 10:33 PM
09/10/21 10:33 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379 Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
James
OP
"Minka"
|
OP
"Minka"
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]
#7352855
09/11/21 12:36 AM
09/11/21 12:36 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,210 Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,210
Oregon
|
Hopefully an Oregon win tomorrow will complete the misery for you! LOL
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
|
|
|
|
|