Friday, May 23, 2008

Annie Battle lake action 5/19-22/2008

Yesterday I got back from from my camping/fishing trip @ Glendalough State Park. The fishing for crappies was excellent, the fishing for bluegills was pathetic. I tried for walleyes ana stream outlet, but didn't catch any. I was camping and fishing the west shore, and what really increased the bluegill bite was the wind blowing into the shore. Monday and thursday the winds were favorable and the bluegill bite was on. Tuesday/wednesday saw north to northwest winds post-frontal conditions which really slowed the bluegill action. East to southeast winds are best, which is what happened on monday and thursday.

Ready to go monday morning...


The campsite is carry-in only. Two trips to get my stuff to my campsite...
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Arriving at campsite...


My campsite is right by the lake. This is the view about 50 feet away. The lake is down a small bluff. I kept my canoe, float tube, ant other things right at lakeside...


Here's a view of my campsite from a trail that goes around the lake...


The campgrounds are a beautiful...


The best fishing I found was in the reeds. They were right in front of my campsite and extended a couple hundred yards along the shoreline...


I decided to fish in the canoe first. So I anchored in front of some reeds ans started fishing. First fish of the trip was this small bass. They were everywhere! I didn't catch any big ones, though I heard there are some monsters in there...


Here's the first crappie. Most crappies were 11-12" fish. This one was close to 12", they were spawning and very easy to catch. 11" minimum and five per day limit on the crappies. Most I caught were realeased...


Another slab...


Crappie eye...


On my second trip out in the canoe, I fell out of it!!! Fortunately it didn't capsize, and the only thing I lost was my favorite baseball cap. Here's a pic of my clothes drying...


I didn't want to mess with the canoe anymore, so I used my float tube for the rest of the trip...


Here's a bluegill. The size of these gills were small compared to my two trips there. Still early. In a couple weeks the bigger ones will be in. I hear you can catch 'em up to a pound...


A hybrid...


Another gill...


Pumpkinseed mouth...

Typical of the size of the crappies. Didn't catch any bigger that 12"...


A nice male...


Some ready to be cleaned...


My new camera is waterproof, so I took some pictures underwater of the spawning crappies. Got some video too, and I'll post those as soon as I figure out how to do that...




Saturday, May 17, 2008

upcoming camping and fishing trip 5/19-22

Monday I blast off to Glendalough State Park in Ottertail county (by Fergus Falls). My campsite is right on Annie Battle lake, which is a heritage fishery; they don't allow motors of any kind or any electronic devices on the lake. Consequently, there are some big panfish in there, as well as walleye, bass (too early for that though) and northerns. Me and my family have camped there the last two Memorial Day weekends. It's a pretty cool place. I'll be spending three nights there, fishing and camping. My primary means of fishing will be either by canoe or float tube. There is an inlet from another lake close by so I might shore fish that at night for walleyes. Right now the crappies are coming up into the shallows, but I don't know about the bluegills. I may have to fish a little deeper to get them. I also want to drag a lindy rig behind my float tube and see if I can pick up some walleyes that way. The weather outlook is looking favorable, so it should be a great time, enjoying the Lord and His creation in peace and solitude.

Friday, May 16, 2008

odds and ends 5-16-2008

Here's an assortment of pictures I took that are worthy of posting...
Opener morning 2008...

Alpine garden...

Fannie lake bass...

Tulip from the garden...

My son Lucas...

Opener 2008 walleyes. My brother's son Aaron holding the stringer...

Mother's day flower basket...

Must be one of the "ends" I was talking about. How did that get in here!!!

My mom with her bird...

A big ol' rock mitch found. He thinks it might be an agate...

More metro panfish 5-16-08

Got out for a bit this morning for some fishing. Went to the same lake hoping to find those nice gills. They were a little bigger than my last 2 outings, and more active, but not the size they were 2 years ago. Here's a sample of today's catch...

Pretty crappie...

sunny

Check out this big ol' golden shiner I caught!

Cool crappie eye...

Biggest sunny of the day


The crappies in this lake are getting bigger. There should be some good slab fishing in a year or two.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

more metro action 5-14-2008

Went to the same lake again, this time I fared a little better on the bluegills. Still not the size I got the last couple years, probably a little early. Here's today's catch...

Nice crappie. Check out my halo!
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Another small bass. Should be good bass fishin' there in a few years...


Respectable bluegill...


Close-up


Here's a hybrid, which I don't remember ever catching any on that lake...


Next opportunity to get out will either be tonight on Minnetonka walleye fishing, or tomorrow morning, destination unknown.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Metro Fishing report 5/13/08

Went out last night for some fishing. Went to a metro area lake that had produced some nice gills and crappies in the past. Key is to go in the spring. Went there a couple weeks ago, fished the shallows and nothing. Last night fared better. They seem to be in the shallows, but no bruiser gills. But then I only fished for an hour and a half. Here's a look...

Lots of these 9" crappies...

Here's a Small sunny. Didn't catch any big ones today...

Here's the biggest of the outing @ 11"...

There's alot of these "Micro-Bass" in there. They are bigger than they were a couple years ago.

Here's a sunny that is barely a keeper...

Here's what I brought home for dinner