Cass Lake Report by Travis Giffen

5/9/08  Cass Lake Fishing Report

I’ve been waiting until the last possible moment before opener to give you this update as you all would expect this year it revolves mostly around whether or not we will be out on the lake.  There will be some ice out there at least on Saturday.  Right now we have a large sheet that is moving around from shore to shore depending on wind and current flow.  There will be fishable waters on Saturday, but there will also be some un-fishable areas also.  My prediction would be that early next week it will be all clear, and fingers crossed, maybe sooner.

 Fishing tips for the ‘08 opener.  Walleyes will definitely be heavily congregated in and around the river systems.  A lot of the fish are still in pre-spawn mode meaning they may have not even dropped their eggs as of yet.  Be responsible sportsman and quickly return these fish back to the water for reproduction.  Also, help spread the word to other sportsman about these ethics.  It has been awhile since fishing season opened while these fish were still in spawn and some fisherman simply do not know this.  You can easily tell by the fat, egg carrying bellies on the females.  Another method is just keep the under 17” fish, most are males or females not substantial to large egg production.  Make sure you check the recent update for river areas that are protected for the ‘08 opener.  This is your responsibility to check and know what’s open and what isn’t.  Cass Lake Chain early season picks:  Andrusia inlet and outlet, Big Wolf inlet and outlet, Turtle river inlet and upward on the chain, Cass Lake inlet.   

The technique is easy in super early season, JIG! JIG! JIG!  Don’t worry about finding shiners at the bait shop either.  You won’t find them until the lakes open up, and you know what?  You Don’t Need Them!   This early season the fish will snap at a fathead chub jerked by them just as they would a shiner minnow.  Give it a couple of weeks and granted you will find shiners in my bait well, but not this weekend.  Good luck, and don’t get stranded trying to troll around the lake by ice fishing a floating ice chunk.

Travis

Travis Giffen

218-760-7059

Travis_Giffen@yahoo.com

Travis Giffen

Edge Custom Guide Service

Bemidji, MN

218/760-7059

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