So be ready, call about available dates and make your reservations today.". A few casts into good looking shallow water structures using plastics or crankbaits can pay off. The idea for this trip was that he-they wanted us to be situated where we could fish for 3 days but check out a different lake each day. Even with hunting customers scheduled to arrive soon, fishing traffic on Lake Kabetogama is still robust. Stop by the store on your way to the lake and we’ll explain why. We were living a charmed life until the past weekend, but Mother Nature finally caught up to us. The park is very close to Coyote Point. It’s not a bad idea to have a dead stick ready for action either. We’ve had very robust traffic, with everyone in the family working 16 to 18-hour days, we might have even used the term “overwhelming” at times. If you've been on the fence about making a trip up to Kabetogama, this might be your chance." We have located one decent stretch of ice that’s 12 to 13 inches thick, that is the best so far. Trent Snyder's report from Snyder's Guide Service sums it up pretty well. Wind, rain and stormy weather seldom encourage big game movement, bit we did a good job of baiting this year and we’re blessed with a strong bear population too. A slow presentation is working best with anglers reporting that holding their bait a few inches off the bottom with a less aggressive approach is working best. But I was impressed by the fact that despite less than ideal conditions, we were able to find as many fish as we did. Use a bottom bouncer to control depth and maintain boat speeds between .9 MPH and 1.3 MPH; often times, 1.1 MPH is “the sweet spot”. There are some anglers fishing deep structure using bottom bouncers and spinners as well. But right now, the water temperature remains chilly and the same jig and minnow suspended below a Thill slip-float will produce more fish, faster. We knew we loved it and we knew we wanted one, but naturally we were apprehensive about making the investment. Fishing for smallmouth bass is another popular daytime pursuit and they are moving up. Heavier weights will come into play later, as the fish move away from the shoreline. But don’t be bashful to stop by the store and ask for advice, we can help get you pointed in the right direction. — For More Information >> Contact KAB OUTDOORS or Call 218.875.2281. For More Information >> Contact KAB OUTDOORS or Call 218.875.2281. — The shelves are stocked with everything you’ll need to convince those fish to bite; so be sure to stop in and let us help. When the sun shines and the water calms, try slower presentations that allow you to reach pike holding deeper in the water column. Now we’re putting the finishing touches on the SnoBear, adding a live scope to it for this winter and looking forward to having some fun with that. We have been throwing both large, in-line bucktail spinners and big Suick jerk baits. Fishing has been inconsistent at best with similar results throughout the area. Who knows how many customers will fill their bear tags this fall? Typical key depths during spring are 4 to 8 feet and fish are using typical early season structure. “They spawn everywhere”; said Peterson. Kent likes to get started early, most days he leaves the dock at 6:00 AM, so you can imagine what he was thinking when Carl’s reply to his inquiry about our Tuesday morning start time was; “How about 10:30?” Everybody knew that we’d leave earlier than that, but these negotiations are part of the banter that makes these trips fun. Slowing down the speed was the first trick I learned from Keeler. The leeches and crawlers are looking great too, we have you covered for any situation. We have some exciting news about a cause that we personally really believe in. Smallmouth get curious and cruise over to inspect your offering, many of them will pause for a moment before pouncing, so be sure to allow plenty of time between twitches. Kabetogama Outdoors of Northern MN. Johnathan and Blaze, the dock hands were super helpful and very courteous. Apparently, 2018 was a good spawning season for walleye because we’re seeing a bumper crop of the young up-and-comers. Kari2020-05-27T09:42:24-05:00Fishing Report|, KICK OFF TO SUMMER!!! There are always a few fish roaming solo over the mud bottom and you never know when a phantom pike or giant walleye will be looking for a one bite meal. Catch Leopard Shark from shore! For a family, this could be accomplished by taking turns at offering specialized presentations. Outdoors; Friday fishing report. Our guides have been attacking the weed lines, catching lots of fish wiggle worming using both 1/8th and 1/16th ounce Lindy Live Bait Jigs. In fact, in some areas the warm weather has made conditions worse than they were before. Most anglers are happy to catch them as part of a mixed bag while they search for walleyes. The outer edges of mid-lake reefs or points leading from shore toward deep water are good starting spots. Pitching jig and minnow combinations is good and during twilight, slip floats remains one of the best presentations. It feels good to have the season underway and we’re off to a good start. But since most of it has been un-explored, we don’t feel comfortable giving anybody the “green light” to begin traveling out there. Under these conditions, the best presentation has been small, 1/16-ounce Live Bait Jigs tipped with ½ night crawlers. Many shallow running stick baits will work, so will soft plastic jerk baits or plastic worms rigged “wacky style”. Spring runs of spawning spottails are in full swing and right now, we have an unlimited supply at KAB Outdoors. Figuring out the right position, in the right weeds, was trick #2 for me. Life is good on Kabetogama, the weather is gorgeous, the shiners are running and the fish are active. Planning is important, today, we still have a few openings for sleepers and day shelter rentals. Females, typically larger, are performance oriented; they move in, get the job done and move back out. We’ve even had some success fishing in deeper water using Glow Streaks, an aggressive rip jigging presentation. Occasionally, anglers will locate dormant spawning beds, shallow depressions fanned out by crappies during a previous season. Spottail Shiners arrived at the store this morning and we have them in the tanks, ready to help you catch fish on Kabetogama tomorrow morning! During the daytime, walleyes move on and off the shallower structures. He’ll cast large, wood jerk baits like the Suicks, musky size spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. We're pleased to announce that our very own Vets on the Water Ice Castle to be used by veterans will be available soon. Keeping your presentation within 2 inches off the bottom has been productive. For More Information >> Contact KAB OUTDOORS or Call 218.875.2281. Lindy Rigs tipped with air injected night crawlers produced better average size fish, but not greater numbers. And if you’re thinking about giving Kabetogama a try this summer, give us a call. There doesn’t appear to be a morning sunrise that doesn’t include fishing anytime in the foreseeable future either. Walleye in the protected slot are showing up more frequently too, it has become more common to catch larger fish in the mix each day. I’ve been going to Kab since the late 90’s. With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. We’re keeping it simple, all we’re using is a straight 4 foot long leader with a small hook. So there's still no access for "wheel houses", but snowmobiles and tracked machines should be able to use access. Chartreuse Greens and Yellows are always popular too and when it sunny outside, gold jigs with lots of flash is deadly.”. 1 Ice Fishing Forum - Duluth Harbor ; 1 Ice Fishing Forum - Bracket for mounting carrier on snowmobile. Early mornings and evenings have by far been the most productive times to fish. Having a few of everything is often better, diversifying protects you from getting caught flat-footed when the fish’ feeding preferences shift. Snowmobiling is the next best alternative for anybody who’d like to strike out on their own to fish. One pattern often overlooked by pike anglers is crayfish, pike love to root around in the rocks feed on crawdads and when they do, this pattern in an awesome pike catcher. "Judging by the view from our docks, you would think that the fishing opener is still a way off. Crappies, another fish species that don’t get a lot of pressure on Kabetogama are beginning to school up in open water. Many anglers would rather sit it out at home than try to catch fish during a major bug hatch. Downsizing your jigging baits isn’t a bad idea either, smaller size Rattl'n Flyer Spoons tipped with a minnow head is always a good choice. Customize your trip to create the ice fishing experience that best suits your needs. We have extra large leeches, plenty of night crawlers and all of the rigs and accessories you’ll need to use them effectively. The good news is that whatever ice we have today is clear and solid. When we’re not fishing for walleye, we have been out chasing big pike. Overnight Monday, the shallow bay from our resort out to the main lake breakline froze over. Then we began sprucing up the grounds, clearing some tangled trees and over-grown brush. Voyageurs Park staff made some headway on the ice road on Lake Kabetogama on Thursday. Kent still loves his rainbows though and suggests not putting all of your eggs in one bait bucket. Even if fish are not present at the moment, mark those spots because crappies will eventually return; weather permitting of course. Cabins/Campers; Boat Rentals ; Guides; Bait/Tackle; Groceries/Liquor; Our Harbor; Photo Gallery; WINTER. Jacksonville Fishing Report: There Will Be Cobia. 1/21/20 A week later and almost two feet of snow has left the snowmobile, snowshoe and cross-country ski trails in premier condition. By Frank Sargeant, The Huntsville Times From Lake Guntersville, Captain Mike Gerry reports … — The tackle shelves are stocked with everything you’ll need to convince those fish to bite too; so be sure to stop in and let us help. Pitch the jigs into the outer sections of weeds and work them back toward the boat s-l-o-w-l-y. We can share some advice about the selection of our favorite baits and how to use them most effectively. On the way we found some smaller grade tuna and it gave everyone a chance to get there lines wet for an hour or so on not stop tuna on the chew. These fishing reports provided by the KAB Outdoors staff, cusotmers and guests, cover the 2020 fishing season. At twilight, the feeding intensifies as greater numbers of fish move toward feeding shelves. Bass are beginning to roam shallow water too, primarily to feed and explore territory for spawning. For More Information >> Contact KAB OUTDOORS or Call 218.875.2281. During this period, anglers can catch walleyes using a variety of presentations and that’s been the trend we have seen out on the lake. Be sure to stop at the store for and ice cream cone and for more specific, up-to-the-minute fishing updates. Jigging lures tipped with minnow heads is productive and so are set lines using tip-ups or dead-sticks tipped with large, live minnows. But yesterday, a stiff breeze blew the bay open again, so it's going to be a while longer before we see it locked up. If you’ve thought about an ice trip on Kabetogama, this is the time to jump on board. Our SnoBear has been doing a great job of keeping folks warm and safe on their way on and off the lake. "Surface water temperatures have pushed above 70 degrees and mayflies are emerging everywhere on Kabetogama. Kent has been fishing primarily with Lindy Glow Spoons and Quiver Spoons. Most folks had good luck on the lake this winter, there were enough walleye, perch and pike to keep the action interesting. Crawfish lovers by nature, perch roam gravel bars and rocky flats when the crawdads are most active. Because of wet spots and saturated snow, they were unable to make an additional plow pass heading back toward shore. Lake Mille Lacs Fishing Report – January 20, 2021 [video] Ice conditions warrant hunkering down – not a lot of hole-hopping these days. Jan 11th, 2021 by Keith Worrall Modified Jan 11th, 2021 at 6:44 PM. Lindy Rigs tipped with night crawlers are effective, jig and minnow combinations are catching some fish too. Key depths for open water pike range between 10 and 25 feet deep. The same Lindy Rig and ½ crawler presentation that catches walleye, will produce some bonus smallmouth too. Under the bluebird conditions, fish struck periodically, but the hits were lazy and slow. They’ve sponsored a lot of events, but to our knowledge, they’ve always only provided service to veterans during the open water fishing season. Your odds of catching a giant pike are better here than they are in any other area of the state. That produces occasional short spurts of action that occur periodically throughout the day. Moderate conditions are forecast for today as well, so we expect that most will find some fish again. Feeding heavily during fall, large pike often grab large lures. We’ll post an update whenever more of the snowmobile trails open up. "Folks are still getting on the lake early these days. Be sure to check out the gaps and pockets located in the Cabbage weeds too, these sparce weed patches offer fish better visibility for setting up ambush points. For folks like Terry Lee, the proclamation could ring out as he set the hook on a 40 inch pike like the one you see here. But we still do have some dates available, so if you, or someone you know is a Vet, get in touch for more information about open dates. We’re a couple of weeks away from the bass spawn, crappie spawning will begin at about the same time. We can help guide you with information about ice conditions and some of the better fishing spots. When the wind is blowing, follow it. One good trolling strategy is to plan a route that that takes your lure between structures, but not necessarily over the tops of them. Key fishing depths are from 26 to 32 feet during the daytime and 18 to 26 feet during the prime time, twilight feeding periods. We think that these baits remind the fish of crawfish moving on the bottom; who knows for sure about that? Many of those fish will strike the aggressive lures, but there’s always some that will prefer more subtle presentations. — The shelves are stocked with everything you’ll need to convince those fish to bite; so be sure to stop in and let us help. The bear season opened on September 1st and started off with a bang, pun intended! Shiners, rainbows, and fatheads, in that order of volume going out the door at the bait store. Not every bullet fired found its mark, but there wasn’t anyone who didn’t get the chance to test their marksmanship. Overnight sleepers, guided ice fishing packages and even day rental shelters are all options that we offer. With surface temperatures ranging from 73 to 75 degrees, fish are fairly active, we just have to learn which weed patches have fish and which ones don’t. Thank you Ebels on the Ash River for the first-rate houseboat and service. Although we are still catching fish in shallow water, the Lindy game is starting to come alive. So, for the best dates, give us a ring soon and lets get together this winter. You will find some fish already on spawning beds, and there are others still exploring the shallow breaklines and areas of small, broken rock. Smallmouths are up in the shallows and active, this is the pre-spawn period for them and the time when you can encounter multiple schools of fish roaming the shallow breaklines. On a typical guided fishing trip, walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and perch can come to the landing net in any random order. So, we’re tuning up the SnoBear, cleaning up the ice castles and checking over our snowplows; soon, we’ll be using them all. 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