Lake Vermilion 2011

We had our annual work trip to Lake Vermilion over the weekend.  The trip is always after the September 15th corporate tax deadline and we stay at Rod's place on Birch Point.  Lake Vermilion is a pretty impressive lake but I highly recommend using a GPS - a map doesn't cut-it because you can get turned around pretty quickly (look it up on Google.maps)

The real story is the trip up there.  We were going to use Matt's Green Machine but there was a trailer part snafu that required us to get my boat late Wednesday night - we took my boat off the lift in Minong at midnight (fortunately the sheriff wasn't called).  Matt and I hung out for 2-3 hours and then drove up to Tower, MN getting to Rod's around 5:30 am.  Got our gear in order and launched the boat for a full day of Muskie fishing.  Since the temp had dropped to 28 degrees, there was little fog. 

As the fog lifted we started moving around the lake trying new spots - we cover a lot of water over the 2 days.

We saw 5 fish the first day and 2 the second (and caught a nice pike).  Some of the follows were pretty aggressive but we couldn't get any hook-ups.  I know it makes for lame blogging when there aren't any fish pictures so I included Gary's 26.5 walleye (he was with the group).

Overall it was a great trip - we Muskie fished much more than past years and it was interesting being up for 42 straight hours but we survived.  Next year will be the year we boat a nice 50 incher.

Another St Croix year in the books & Gus's 19 inch SMB

Labor Day weekend pretty much marks the end of smallmouth fishing on the Upper St Croix.  In the next week or two most smallies will start their migration downstream to the reservoir portion above St Croix Falls/ Taylor Falls.  I've tried catching them later in September, even during stable warm weather but they're gone. 

Another sign pointing to the end of summer is the MN State Fair (I think Henry enjoyed it?).

I took the boys out for their first trip in the drift boat Friday with Blake chaperoning us.  On Gus's 2nd cast, he landed a 19 inch smallmouth bass (now on referred to as SMB - it's funnier when kids say it). 

We got a bunch of fish but the water was definitely down and we hit a lot of rocks.  Blake finds it very humorous that I laugh every time a SMB takes a top-water.  We also enjoy coming up with household references during a good cast like - "you just put that one in his living room" or "right on the kitchen table". 

Blake, Matt L and I did the stretch from CCC down to Riverside Sunday.  That was the day the weather turned.

We started catching quite a few and Matt even hooked a Muskie (I think - it rolled and was fat with a white belly and red fins).  The river has changed since the heavy rains earlier in the month.  It moved sand a half mile from where it was before and improved some sections.  Not to mention that Riverside looks completely different losing 3/4 of its trees.  Rowing out the winds picked up - not easy rowing the boat and defintely not good for top-water.

The Mississippi is getting back into shape so hopefully that fishes well into October otherwise we've got Brule steelhead but really I'm looking forward to early November Flambeau Muskies.

Upper, Upper, Upper St Croix

The past 2 weekends the flows have been perfect to float a very upper section of the St Croix from County T Landing down to Louise Park Landing.  On the map it doesn't look like very much water but the water is prime, the shuttle is short, and the fish don't have any pressure. 

Russ, Austin and I floated August 20th and we got a number of quality fish.

The picture I wish I had would be of Austin holding a 35 plus inch Muskie.  He was fishing the Skitter Prop when a big fish took it.  Austin did great and battled the fish close enough to the boat for us to get a good look at her before the she turned her head and bit him off.

The 27th Brian and I fished the same stretch of river and because of the previous weekend's results, I had high expectations and it didn't disappoint.

Brian caught a bunch of nice fish with this 20 inch fish as the best.

I also finally put the Bank Robber through a little test and loved it.  Hopefully next weekend and can get some better use and I'll right a little report.  I was using the heaviest tip on the Rio Versitip for a 7 wt and it casted great - and I was throwing an articulated Butt Monkey - Kelly Galloup would be very proud.

St Croix report and devastating hook set

Fished the St Croix last Friday and it was really good considering the water levels leading up to it.  The record high waters had receded considerably but the Kettle and Snake were still sending above average flows down the river.  Last year I was dragging the boat - this year I'm not even touching rocks.  We decided that our best bet was to put in at Nelsons above the Kettle and Snake.  Fish were right on the bank and we definitely caught some quality fish like Bob's 17.5 incher -

Jeff did boat the biggest of the day with this beauty that was 19.5

Overall we landed 16 plus fish with 10 of them 16 inches or bigger.  I was surprised by the clarity but probably should have expected that it clears faster than it drops. 

Saturday we slayed the bluegills off the cabin dock and had to share two great pics.  One is of Gus's great over acting hook set

The second is a cool shot of the bluegill

St Croix Report 7-29-11

Hit the St Croix Friday with Bob and John.  I thought the flows seemed great but looking at the clarity it was murky.  Fish were not on top water as they were earlier, most likely to due to the conditions.  We did manage a few fish including the 18 inch beauty by Bob.

You really had to get the lures right in front of the fish.  We went larger and if you hit the bank there were fish.  The catch of the day though was a turtle.  Bob put the size 9 Shallow Shad Rap right on a grassy bank and a soft shell turtle bit it.  I wouldn't have believed if I didn't see it for myself.  See the pics

St. Croix and Kinni - big weekend

Started out the fishing weekend Friday taking Tom and Dana on a float down my favorite stretch of water from Fox Landing to Hwy 70.  Driving across the river to Wild River Outfitters there were 2 drift boats already in and fishing and a 3rd at Wild River.  It was to be a beautiful day and it didn't disappoint.

Fishing started a little slow and I was surprised the fish weren't in the faster water yet.  Seams and pocket water held fish but mostly slower water by drop-offs and steep shorelines.  Overall I think we got about 15-20 smallies - all on top water and a few pike and walleyes.

The next day Brian and I took our eldest out for the first joint trout fishing on the Kinni.  We went in at River Falls and had low expectations.  There were few people out so we were able to hit some nice water right away and to our surprise caught a few - I think all on prince nymphs.

The more humours part was that Gus and Collin got temporarily separated from us.  Since they were fine it was pretty funny - they stayed close by for the rest of the morning.

4th of July and a huge storm

Brittany the boys and I took an extra long weekend at the cabin in Minong over the 4th.  Blake, Grant and I floated the upper St. Croix at Cty Rd T to Louise Friday - caught a bunch of smallies but nothing of any size.

 Grant Grinna (Double G) was in the bow of the boat and hooked this catfish on a shallow shad rap in a riffle (which I initially thought was a Muskie) and from the picture you can tell he didn't want to touch it.

The big news happened that afternoon however - we had 80 mph straighline winds that destroyed the area.  Fortunately we were not hurt badly but look at some of these pictures (not all mine).

Wall cloud from Solon Springs

 Red pine plantation by Danbury.

 Tuber shuttle smashed at Riverside.  The Riverside landing is destroyed, this was still there Tuesday on our drive back.

Red pines by Totagatic Cty Park on the Minong Flowage.

We canoed the St. Croix Saturday

 I thought Henry was going to be scared for life after the first 2 rapids - he recovered and both did great on their trip.

 The take-out was destroyed though - look at this tent.

And this is what we had to drag the canoes over.

Lastly, I tried out some of the camera functions - look at these firework shots that night - I need my tripod next year.