 |
||||||||
|
Or, what kind of fish are in those lakes, anyway? The Woman Lake Chain is home to walleye, northern, large and small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and muskie. It is a top rated fishing area and a popular destination for many Minnesotans and folks from all over the country. Girl Lake has an excellent population of northern, bass and bluegill. In a hurry to start fishing when you arrive? This can help. Just below is a direct link to the Minnesota DNR's website where you can buy your Minnesota Fishing license on-line. There is a list of resident and non-resident licenses and the costs. For non-residents, there are several different packages including a family package and different time periods. Just click the web address below for the link to the Minnesota DNR site. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/fishing/index.html?type=fishing Click here for this year's Big Fish Pics Guide service is available on the Woman Lake Chain. Click here for more information about Dan Krone and Lake State Taxidermy and Guide Service, Inc.
Spring time is pan fish time. Ice off on Girl Lake is usually around the end of April. Ten days to two weeks later, the crappies are in the shallow, muddy channels and harbors looking for those early season bug hatches. 10" to 14" fish are not uncommon. Bluegills can also be found with those early season crappies but the best gill fishing is towards the end of May and into early June. Warming water triggers weed growth and the bluegills get ready to spawn. For the best bluegill action, dust off that fly rod and buy a few panfish poppers (and a big fish basket).
At the risk of seeming too modest, the guy to the left is me holding a beautiful 21" largemouth caught in Broadwater Bay mid-June of 2001. I was fishing with Dan Swan, an old friend who stops by once or twice each summer with his fishing rod looking for a morning on the lake. We spent a couple of hours splashing lures all around the bay and then found the fish. There were others, not quite this big, and all were returned to the lake to swim again.
Fall walleye are the best. Anytime from mid-September on until it's too cold for you, the walleye fishing just keeps getting better. Doug Dyer, his son, Jordan, and friend Todd Jacklin show off their late season catch. Of course, the other big fall fish is our perch. Shortly after Labor Day, thousands of jumbo perch begin to school in the shallows. We have several groups of guests who plan their vacations around the September perch fishing. George Porter, below, with a few of the nicer ones from his basket.
And just so you don't forget, there are northern in these lakes also. Since 2003, Woman and Girl Lake have had a slot limit imposed on northern to increase the size of fish. Well, let me tell you, it's working. Each year, we see bigger fish caught. Here is Tony Weeks with a beauty he caught fishing with his Dad, Greg, one afternoon. Caught and released, of course.
When to Fish. The best fishing time of the year is late September into October. All species are bulking up for winter but the bass and walleyes seem to be the most aggressive during this time. Bluegills are also moving back into shallower water and schooling up after being scattered throughout the weed beds all summer long. Spring time from just after ice out until mid to late June is the second best time of the year to be fishing. Fishing runs from hot to cold as the fish enter their spawning runs and the different bug hatches appear. Walleyes spawn early in the channel leading to Child Lake and then gradually spread out over the rest of the lake. Bass can be tight lipped for a couple of weeks after they spawn. Summer time is always the most frustrating for anglers. You know the fish are there and you know they are feeding heavily. But why can't you catch them? Mostly because, during the day, fish go deep to avoid bright sun and busy surface activities and also to look for cooler water. Finding the right water temperatures and depths and fishing during the early morning and late evening hours are the keys to productive summer time fishing.
|
||||||||
|
Terry and Donna Holloway 1-218-363-2828 Table of Contents About Pine Ridge Resort Our Location Our Cabins Our Rates Cabin Availability Reservations Our Swimming Pine Ridge Video Picture Gallery Our Lakes Our Fishing Docks, Boats, Etc Misc. Resort Info Other Area Activities Fall Activities Bird Watching Winter Activities
|
