A few memorable days at the cabin with the grandson

Published 8:22 am Friday, July 17, 2009

This past week I headed to the north woods with my grandson Trevor to do a little fishing and work (very little) around the cabin. I had pretty much one thing in mind — heading to Spider Lake in search of muskies. Unfortunately almost seven hours on the lake produced no follows and only a few small pike, some bass and some panfish. There were a few other muskie fishermen on the lake but I didn’t see anyone catch a fish while we were there. It didn’t really matter because the day was beautiful and, after all, we did manage to catch some fish.

The lakes of this area are clear and while fishing the shallows of one of Spiders many bays Trevor said, “Grandpa, we’re right on top of a school of big crappies.” We grabbed our ultra lights and started tossing jigs and landed a few fish before continuing our quest for the ever-elusive muskie.

That evening Trevor took our small boat out on our lake to fish for some crappie. The best part about this is that we were told when we bought the land that the lake had no fish. Trevor fished until dark and came in with some dandy crappies. We cleaned them and put them in the cooler and that would be supper the next evening. When the time came I showed him how I liked to fry fish with a simple recipe of crushed cracker crumbs, eggs/milk and vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet. He jumped in and did the frying and I did the batter part. Using a paper towel to dry the fillets before dipping them in the egg/milk mixture is key, then just roll them in the cracker crumbs and the fillets come out golden brown. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it.

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The next day we fished a nearby lake and were able to catch a nice variety of fish. We had already decided to wait until the last day of fishing to keep any fish for home because we have no freezer at the cabin. This particular lake we were fishing is so deep and clear that most of the shoreline can go from 20 to 5 feet in just a few feet. Fishing this lake reminded me of how we fished when I was a kid. Just follow the shoreline and cast or troll. One of us will usually use a deep diver when fishing the side away from the weed edge and the other would use a shallow running lure along the weed edges.

The water is so clear you can see the fish along the weed edges and from time to time Trevor would spot a school of crappie and we’d stop and throw small power grubs for a while. I told Trevor I didn’t need a fish finder with him in the boat. We did catch a lot of bass and crappie that day along with some bluegill and Trevor was able to latch on to a decent northern. He was wondering if he’d ever catch a decent northern this time out so I told him to try something that used to work for me. Guess what? It worked — luck or skill? After it produced a nice pike for him I think he felt I really know my stuff but I’m kind of leaning towards the luck thing.

Although we’d spotted some “Hawgs” we weren’t able to make any of those big old bass take our lures. I told Trevor that it was more than likely the reason that those fish got that big. I do know that this lake, that will go unnamed at this time, is fast becoming our favorite.

Trevor spent 10 hours fishing in one day and close to the same the next. It’s great to watch his enthusiasm for fishing and the outdoors and I feel fortunate to be able to share a little bit of it with him.

A few statewide fishing reports:

ALEXANDRIA — Leeches and crawlers are triggering walleyes in 20 to 30 feet on Lake Miltona and Lake Ida during the day. On Lake Reno, spinners and crawlers are producing walleyes in 12 to 20 feet. Look for panfish and bass on the weedlines of Lake Geneva, Lake Le Homme Dieu, Lake Carlos, and Lake Darling.

BATTLE LAKE — Walleyes are in 16-22 feet of water on Ottertail, West Battle, East Battle, Rush, Big Pine and Eagle. Minnows and leeches are both working equally as well. Late evening to dark is the best time. Pike biting everywhere, try trolling with crankbaits on the weedlines. Bass are biting on everything, jungle jigs, plastic worms on all area lakes. Crappies a little harder to find, they have moved out deep to 15-20 feet of water. Sunnies biting great in 6-12 feet of water with crawlers and leeches. Lakes to try are Clitheral, Dead, Stalker, Deer, East Battle, Blanche and West Battle. Muskies are doing okay, not many out trying yet, but a few caught on big decoy suckers. Try casting cowbells and Northland bucktails for some great results.

BEMIDJI — Anglers are catching walleyes in 15-20 feet, casting in shallow water with leeches and nightcralwers. The water temp is in the mid-60s.

BRAINERD/NISSWA — The 6 to 10-foot weedlines of most lakes are holding bass and sucker minnows are producing northern pike on the deep weeds of Gull Lake, North Long Lake, and Round Lake. Livebait rigs tipped with leeches are turning walleyes on Gull and North Long during the evening hours in 16 to 20 feet. Look for panfish in the weeds and around docks on Roy Lake, Cullen Lake, Lake Margaret, and Gull.

ELY— The walleye bite has slowed somewhat but persistent anglers are still managing to fill a stringer on lakes such as Shagawa, White Iron and Fall lakes by slow trolling crankbaits or Lindy style spinners over reefs and points in 15 to 22 feet of water. Bear Island Lake is starting to produce some walleyes in the 16 to 20 inch range by jigging leeches on the drops surrounding the islands in ten to twenty feet of water. The northern pike bite is still going on most lakes with spinner baits retrieved quickly, and by trolling large cranks around weed beds near the drop-offs. Some anglers are having more success with suckers fished under a bobber. Sunnie action seems to be the hottest with small worm tipped jigs on Johnson, One Pine, Armstrong and Twin lakes. Fish the edges of the cabbage weeds for the best bite. Crappies are still tapping minnows on Farm and Fall lakes.

FAIRMONT — Large chubs or crankbaits are producing muskies on Fox Lake and numbers of pike on the weedlines of Lake Sissiton. Crappies remain active in 15 to 18 feet on Budd Lake, Hall Lake, Lake George, and Sissiton. Trolling Shad Raps has worked for walleyes on Hall in 18 to 20 feet and on Lake Imogene in 6 feet.

GRAND RAPIDS — Muskie anglers are starting to raise more fish with bucktails during the evening hours on North Star Lake, Deer Lake, and Moose Lake. Crawlers and spinners are turning walleyes on the 16 to 20-foot weedlines of Lake Pokegama and Trout Lake. There’s an evening walleye bite with a jig and minnow on Sugar Lake in 7 to 14 feet and with crawlers on Lakes Wabana and Deer in 7 to 18 feet. The weed edges on Six Mile Lake are holding crappies and sunfish remain shallow on most lakes. Work bucktails above the dam on the Mississippi River for pike.

Until next time keep fish‘n and take a little time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the year.