Fishing Log: Lake Marion -- Lakeville, MN

On the morning of Sunday, May 18th, I awoke to bright sunny skies, a slight breeze, and temperatures in the 60's and rising. A perfect morning to try for some pike, or so I thought. Lake Marion is a 530 acre lake with a reputation for being dominated by northern pike and bluegill, with large numbers of largemouth as well. After finding topography maps for the lake, I noticed the lake is divided into two parts. The southern part of the lake is a wide pothole dropping down to an 18 foot maximum depth in the middle. The northern part of the lake is a flooded flat that maxes out at 5 feet deep and winds back through reeds and cattails for a long way, at least for a kayaker to paddle. A culvert from the main lake underneath highway 35 takes you to the shallows.

Topo Map of Lake Marion.

As I lowered my kayak off of my shoulders, I couldn't help but notice the temperature of the water around my ankles. Being May 18th, I expected the water to be at least in the high 50's, maybe low 60's. Also, a late spring and streak of cold rains the week prior to me fishing caused me to plan for dealing with colder temperatures than that. I planned to fish the shallower water on the northern side of the lake, as that would get the most sun and warm fastest. However, nothing could have prepared me for how cold that water was going to be. I didn't have a temperature gauge with me, so I can only give an estimate, but I would have to say it was no warmer that 45 degrees. Fishing the shallows was going to be more necessary than I could have possibly thought.

I paddled along the western shore from Casperson Park, reaching the shallows to the East of 35. Two other boats ended up fishing in the same bay I was, and nobody seemed to be having too much luck. I tried a myriad of lures, from Daredevle spoons, to Mepps in-line spinners, to a couple different types of Rapala jerk baits, with no results. I brought along a Joe Bucher Top Raider in baby-loon color pattern, and tried that for a moment after seeing some big shadows along the reeds. Musky season isn't quite open here, but musky aren't believed to be in Lake Marion, so I felt safe believing the shadows were large pike. No bites or follows to be found from those shadows though. A closer inspection as I paddled into the reeds didn't reveal any logs or anything of the sort, so at least a few of the shadows must have been pike.

A bit later, I paddled through the culvert passing under the highway to find even more reeds and sand flats covered by 3 to 5 feet of gin-clear water. One more boat filled with 5 guys throwing large pike baits sat along a reed edge, but they brought in no fish for the hour they casted near me. Never having fished this lake before, I felt pretty proud that the two areas I wanted to target were being targeted by fellow fishermen who probably had much more experience on this body of water than myself.

Jointed Deep Husky Jerk size 12 by Rapala.

The last bay I fished contained a large shadow that I saw from a distance. After getting skunked a bit earlier with a large topwater, I figured maybe a smaller, slower presentation would be my best bet. I rigged up a size 12 jointed Down Deep Husky Jerk by Rapala in fluorescent hot-tiger pattern. With such clear water, a slightly more realistic color pattern would've been a good choice, but you can only fish with what you have in your tackle box. I chose the Husky Jerk because it has great action at super slow speeds, with a suspending nature when paused. I made several pass-through's along the reed edge with this set up. No bites or strikes to be mentioned, but on one cast I did have a confirmed follow. After making a standard 40- to 50- foot cast, I had the lure just a few feet off of my bow. I was about ready to lift the super-bright lure out of the water, when I noticed a monster swimming absolutely sluggishly just behind the lure. I paused the bait, and twitched twice, to which the pike responded with a head-turn and then a reverse back into the reeds.

I think the clear water made my lure look just a bit-too conspicuous for the big fish to strike at. Fish don't get to be 30"+ like this one without growing smart, too. Also, the freezing cold water did nothing to help the fish in terms of feeding propensity and energy. When the water is that cold, they aren't really in a summer feeding mode quite yet, at least in my experience.

The next lake I plan to fish is going to be much smaller in nature. A pond is going to warm much quicker than a bigger lake like Lake Marion. Water temperatures need to be in the 50's at least for me to have luck with my predominantly strike-based lures. Frankly, I own very few passive lures like Lindy Rigs because I find them to be boring. I'm out there to have fun, right? All in all, it was a good morning on the lake. The weather was fantastic, and the paddling was easy. I just wish the fish had cooperated a little better.

Tight lines!

Gear Review: Heddon Zara Spook

The Heddon "Zara Spook" and "Chug'n Spook" are my two new favorite topwater lures. Their flash and action is unmatched in any other topwater I've found, and the beauty is in the simplicity. Good size and weight, excellent craftsmanship, and bottom-line bargain prices make this one of my staple lures.

Firstly, the Zara Spook. Measuring 4.5" long and just under 1/2 ounce, this topwater is fantastic for medium to medium-heavy set ups, particularly bass and pike. The simple tube-shape design yields a classic bait fish silhouette for apex predators. By implementing a simple "walk-the-dog" technique the tube frantically slides from side to side, triggering aggressive strikes. Several fantastic colors are offered for the Zara Spook, but I choose to go with "baby bass" or "Florida bass" most often. Large eyes painted onto each design help to aid in realism, and hook-guards prevent the hooks from orienting themselves towards the front of the lure,

Zara Spook.

reducing foul-ups. Large #1 sized hooks lead to increased hook-ups, minimizing the largest complaint about top-water lures. Fishing this type of lure is pretty self explanatory. Make sure to "walk-the-dog", and use it in places where fish are going to be going after topwaters. Pause the retrieve for a moment over possible holding areas and you might be greeted with the most aggressive strike of your life. The only changes I would advise for anglers would be to change out the hooks for VMC or Gamakatsu hooks, as the ones provided aren't exactly top-quality. This is less important if you aren't dealing with toothy predators, but if pike or musky are in your target range, be safe and switch them out.

Chug'n Spook.

Secondly, the Chug'n Spook. Slightly larger at 5" long, and a bit heaver at 1 solid ounce, the Chug'n Spook caters to a somewhat larger crowd of fish. Not in numbers of fish, but rather in their respective size. Despite the increased size, it can still be fished on a medium to medium-heavy rod. Go with a 6'10" rod or more to aid in casting this whopper. The cupped mouth on the Chug'n Spook spits loads of water with each pull, yet does not waver in it's natural walk-the-dog motion. A rattle is included inside of the body, allowing the lure to make a "clacking" noise as it runs from side to side. In my experience, it would take a very large bass to try and take on something this size. It is possible, so don't rule it out, but more often than not you're going to get pike on this size and action of lure. However, many times I've seen bass go after something they wouldn't feasibly be able to eat, so if your presentation is good enough, you'll probably have a fantastic time with largemouths, too. Shiny metallic paint provides great flash in the water, and in-laid reflective eyes provide loads of realism.

Cupped mouth for spitting loads of water.

I have a serious obsession with topwater lures. Being a kayak fisherman, I often times work my way back into bays and shallows where no other boats can go. As a result, snag ups are unavoidable. If I don't keep my baits on the top, they will prevent me from fishing all together. This has forced me to try out countless different types of topwaters. The Zara Spook and Chug'n Spook are top-of-the-line in my book when it comes to catering towards this type of fishing. Oftentimes, I like to customize my lures, and these are no different. A feather added to the aft ring on either of these lures could prove helpful. And as stated before, upgrading the rings and hooks probably wouldn't be a bad idea. Overall, there isn't too much to be done to make these lures the best they can be. If you're looking for a walk-the-dog type lure to get aggressive strikes from bass and pike that won't put a hurting on your billfold, check out the Heddon "Zara Spook" and "Chug'n Spook."

Fishing Log: St. Louis River -- Munger Landing -- Duluth, MN

Currently, I am still at college in Duluth. Finals will be wrapping up here soon, and I'll be headed back down to the metro. For now though, I don't have my kayak. Shore fishing it is then.

I absolutely detest shore fishing. Hangups in the trees, casting far enough to deep water, and dealing with other anglers are among the many reasons I prefer being out on the water. Still, some type of fishing is better than no fishing. You can't catch them when you're not out there.

This past weekend was the walleye and pike opener here in Minnesota. Bass opener doesn't quite come around until Memorial day, but still, we're making progress! After a bit of research online, I found that the St. Louis river estuary in Duluth provides excellent walleye and pike fishing, more so the walleye. Half a dozen piers and docks are possible to fish from, but I knew I would have company. I chose the Munger Landing, on the far southern end of West Duluth. I figured getting farther out of town might help my chances to not be rubbing elbows with other fishermen.

A great pike lure, when there are pike present.

I greeted the sun on Saturday morning around 7, and reached the landing by 8:15 A.M. The lot was full of trucks with trailers already in the water, but luckily, the pier was empty. I was absolutely shocked. The previous week had been in the 40's and drizzly all week. Saturday morning brought with it clear skies and prospects of getting to the mid-60's. As to why people weren't up fishing wasn't clear to me. I gladly took the opportunity.

The water all around the fishing pier maximizes at about 6 feet deep. The constant rain from the week prior combined with the last of the melt water made the river as brown as Kahlua. I didn't focus too much on pike, instead opting for walleye presentations. 4 hours on the dock that morning didn't yield me any catch, but I wasn't expecting fast fishing that morning. I've never had a terrible amount of luck on docks. I think the fish start to get a routine going with how many people fish them, and the big fish quickly learn what to bite and what not to.

A couple hours in, a fellow college student came down and fished alongside me. He was fishing a Lindy rig. He claimed last spring he had good luck just letting a worm sit on the bottom, rigged up with a big sinker and a 3 foot leader. Two sturgeon and a rare blue catfish had been caught that way by him last spring, or so he told. Perhaps I'll have to try something similar. My tactics of swimbaits, spinners, Gulp on a hook and bobber, and cranks surely didn't get me anywhere. It was a fun time, none the less.

Saturday evening, I went back. A storm was supposed to move in just after dark, so I thought the high pressure might induce some feeding. The water turned absolutely glass-calm for the last hour or so. I fished mostly top-waters, hoping to excite a big nasty pike for a strike. No luck for me, but a big largemouth bass did jump up right near me in the shallows after a bug on the surface. I know there are fish there, perhaps the 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook that I was using was just a bit too big for the bass present. Besides, bass season isn't even open yet, right? I kid, but still, I think with a smaller topwater, maybe a 2 inch plug with a nice concave mouth, and increased water temps, that pier could be a fantastic largemouth spot.

If you live in the Duluth area and want to know how to get to some shore-fishing spots on the St. Louis, check out this great article by Sam Cook of the Duluth News Tribune, hosted by Northland Outdoors!

Tight lines!

My Vessel

I suppose as a starter I should do a run through of what gear I use in my angling efforts. I'll do my actual terminal tackle, rods and reels and such, once I can get them all together in one place. For now, I'll do the most important part of my efforts; my kayak.

At just a hair under 9 feet, it doesn't require registration in the states of Minnesota or Wisconsin, saving me money every year. A little bit of upkeep is required, but a weekend of work on a boat that provides me with such fantastic memories is more than worth it. This spring, it being the second year I'll have this boat, I decided to make some changes so that it can be easier to fish out of. A PVC-pipe outfitted set of rod holders was installed just behind the seat. An anchor trolley is next on the to-do list, and a fresh coat of white paint for the bottom will be following. For now though, the rod holders improve my ability to fish ten-fold.


Plans to build a similar kayak can be found online. It was a very long and tedious process, but well worth it in the end. Extra special thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for the fantastic graduation gift! It will always get weird looks from people at boat launches, but it gets the job done at a price tag under $100.

If you want to know how the rod holders were put together in more detail, just shoot me a contact message.

Tight lines!

Purpose

What's up guys? This blog is going to serve as a collection point for all of my fishing efforts from here on out. I have found that there is a serious lack of quality writing available free on the internet concerning fishing tactics, habits, skills, etc. Moreover, if one is looking for kayak angling tips and tricks, that is an even drier market. So, that's what I'm going to try and do here.

Most of my fishing takes place in the state of Minnesota, from the arrowhead region near Duluth all the way to the south Metro. I will write in layman's terms, never making anything too fancy. Most of all, I just hope this can serve as a tool for new fishermen and women to get started into this exciting hobby. I will do reviews on rods, reels, and lures as they become available to me, and always make sure to highlight the lakes and rivers I'm fishing on.

Have any questions or comments? Please contact me!

Thanks for reading, and tight lines!