More Big Fish To Hunt

 Yes, muskies are my passion, and I am after them the vast majority of the time. But when the musky season is closed (or even sometimes when it’s open), there are other opportunities for big fish that are just too good to pass up. One of these other types of fishing might be right up your alley!

Springtime on the Rainy River: without a doubt, the best place I know of to catch numbers of BIG walleye, and the “sleeper monster fish of Minnesota”…..the Lake Sturgeon. Since this is a border water, the season is open until mid-April, but it’s strictly catch and release for these trophy fish. I have been fishing the Rainy for many years now, and have many good spots to show you. 50 to 100 fish days are pretty common, as are walleyes 28-30 inches! Sturgeon are commonly 40-60 inches, weighing 25-60 pounds. These sturgeon have their own style of fighting….they are unbelievably powerful, and I can think of no better way to test out your musky gear. Keep in mind, there is a very limited window for this fishing opportunity. Once the ice melts from the river and the ramps are opened, there is generally a very short time before the runoff from tributaries muddies up the river and brings the fishing to a halt. On a typical year, this window usually lasts around a week. On a really good year, it will last two or three weeks. If you want to fish the Rainy with me, and if you want a legitimate chance at catching the biggest fish of your life, you need to book NOW! I can also help you with the whole “border water drill”…Ontario fishing license, remote border passes, fishing regulations, sleeping accommodations, and places to shop or eat.

Bill Marchel with smallmouth bass and Steve with largemouth bass

Large and Smallmouth Bass: When I fish largemouth bass, one of my favorite things to do is fish “slop” and weedlines. The Brainerd area is full of lakes that have slop, and almost all the lakes have bass in them. This is a very exciting and challenging method of fishing, and I have found that the really big bass around here like to “bury up” in that thick cover, year around. Mille Lacs Lake is a tremendous smallmouth bass fishery, and we have been catching some amazing trophy fish out there. These fish can be really aggressive as we’ve been catching them on a very regular basis on big musky tackle too. Another great opportunity is the Mississippi River. I like to do float trips down the river, where we combine fishing from a canoe or jonboat with wade-fishing. Great opportunity for numbers of bass, as well as a decent shot at a trophy. If bass fishing is your passion, and you’d like to come up and fish the Brainerd area, give me a call.

Wilderness canoe trips to Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario: this is my idea of the perfect vacation. A week-long get-away into the Canadian Shield, where you will see some of the most amazing scenery there is. By “get-away”, I mean that you will see very few people in the course of a week. No cell phones, no television, no responsibilities. Wildlife is abundant, and we typically see plenty of moose, deer, the occasional bear, eagles, otters, and a myriad of other birds and mammals. There are basically two ways to do this trip. The first is to stick to the beaten path. I know many “canoe routes” through the park where one can experience the wilderness in a very planned out and relaxing way. The other way is to take on an “exploratory” approach, and just play your trip by ear. For those of you that enjoy a good challenge, this can be a pretty physical trip. When I do this, I am portaging back into lakes that very seldom get fished. Oh yeah, and then there’s the fishing! Fishing Quetico, in my opinion, is right up there with the best fishing experiences that I know of. In May and June, lake trout are readily available in the top 30 feet of the water column, making them much easier to catch. These fish are real fighters, and are a treat to eat as well. For smallmouth bass, I don’t know of anything that can beat Quetico. From sheer numbers to trophy fish, along with the atmosphere you’re catching them in, this place is the best. For pike, we typically catch fish over 40 inches every time we go there. I don’t know of anywhere this close where you can do that on a consistent basis. Finally, walleye fishing is fantastic. This area has trophy potential, but the most impressive thing about Quetico is the numbers of walleyes you can catch. Fishing in current areas and below waterfalls can be a species smorgasboard, and we even catch the occasional sturgeon too. There is something incredibly satisfying about this experience….knowing that you’re completely on your own to travel, find a place to sleep, cook your own food, and survive whatever kind of weather gets thrown at you. You accomplish that, and then you experience the scenery, the wildlife, the fishing, and the friendships that you build….all making for a very rewarding trip. I’ve been going to Quetico for about 25 years now, and would love to share with you the places I know up there.

Carp.....with rod and reel OR bow and arrow!

We can’t forget about the carp! Another experience that involves really big fish that too few people take advantage of. I go at them two different ways. First, with hook and line, there are few fish powerful enough to strip line like a carp. Catch them with your regular spinning rod and reel, and you’re in for the fight of your life. And for you bow hunters, what better way to practice your shooting than to shoot really big fish in the off-season? On Lake Mille Lacs, we regularly shoot fish between 20 and 40 pounds. The action can be fast and furious at times, and will leave you exhausted and satisfied. For a really different experience, book a combination carp shoot/musky fishing day with me in early June out on Mille Lacs.

Got a cabin on a lake up here? Sometimes I fish with folks who have a cabin or lake home up in the Brainerd area. They want to learn to fish their lake, but have just never really taken the time to do it, or when they have, they haven’t had much success. Chances are, I have fished your lake numerous times. Give me a call, and I will teach you everything I know about “your” body of water. It’ll be a good investment for your future fishing adventures.

 From top left, Lauren Anderson, Ben Anderson, and Wesley Johnson

I want to also stress that your kids are welcome in my boat! My children grew up fishing with me, and I’ve got very fond memories of the great times we've had. My kids are almost grown up now, and we don’t get to fish as often as we used to, but I remain very passionate about getting young people involved in fishing. It’s very satisfying for me to see the excitement and joy on their faces when they catch fish, no matter how big they are. Sometimes you can just see the wheels spinning in their heads, when they make that connection with fishing, and you know that they can’t wait to go out and do it again. Now that’s a rewarding thing to be a part of.