(05-07-2025, 11:43 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: Ira and I got up to the North marina today and met up with Alan around 6:30 am. We were on the water and fishing a few minutes later. We started off just north of Freeway bay and picked up three eyes, using BBers, before the action slowed, so we moved to the East run of the Openness. We were marking a ton of fish there but for the most part, they were not interested but we did pick up 4 more eyes and a wiper, the largest eye was over 20". We finally switched over to trolling cranks and headed back to Freeway bay, where we picked up two more eyes. Water temps was 61 degrees and it could have gotten up a little more than that before we left but I did not notice.  Nice day on the water today with good friends, so it was a great day.

(05-08-2025, 12:20 AM)lovetofish Wrote: Thanks for the report. Have you heard of anyone catching any Crappie. Do you know if they have started spawning yet.

(05-08-2025, 12:19 AM)Mildog Wrote: Great job, sounds like you guys had a good day! Had to work a bit but sounds like you figured them out and got into some nice fish. Good report, thanks for posting!

(05-08-2025, 12:18 AM)oldguy Wrote: Thanks for sharing Curt any special color of crank?

(05-08-2025, 02:40 PM)Paddler Wrote: Lots of small walleye this year.  When I was up last Friday a couple came to the cleaning station to clean some fish.  They had a couple of nice walleye and a half dozen that looked to be 12"-14".  They were gutting and scaling them in preparation for cooking them whole.  They also had some small wipers.

I release everything under 16", figure they need to grow a bit.  By the way, all of the fish I've kept were fat, really excellent condition.

I'm heading up sometime today, hopefully the warmer weather will help the bite.

(05-09-2025, 03:24 PM)Paddler Wrote: Water temp 67F to start, rose to 70F later.  It started out pretty good.  First fish, an 18.5" walleye, then one just barely under 20".  Thought I was in for a great day.  Both caught in Freeway Bay on an SR7 in walleye trolled 80' off the board.  My third fish was just under 16" so I released it.  It slowed down, so I trolled west along the edge of the Feedlot flat, by the Island to the North Dike, trolled west again, then ran to the South Dike, east along it, then set my AP to go back to the North Marina, which took me along the south side of the Island.  I caught exactly one small wiper for several hours of trolling, on an SR5 flat lined. 

So, after passing the Island, I picked up and ran back to Freeway Bay, and almost immediately hooked a double, the same SR7 plus a Flicker Minnoe 7 in Slick Mouse.  Both 15" and under, so released.  Hooked another double on my way in, both less than 16". 

That's the first time I've caught fish in one location but nowhere else.  Beautiful day, all in all, but I'm not too good with an electric fillet knife.

(05-09-2025, 04:45 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(05-09-2025, 03:24 PM)Paddler Wrote: Water temp 67F to start, rose to 70F later.  It started out pretty good.  First fish, an 18.5" walleye, then one just barely under 20".  Thought I was in for a great day.  Both caught in Freeway Bay on an SR7 in walleye trolled 80' off the board.  My third fish was just under 16" so I released it.  It slowed down, so I trolled west along the edge of the Feedlot flat, by the Island to the North Dike, trolled west again, then ran to the South Dike, east along it, then set my AP to go back to the North Marina, which took me along the south side of the Island.  I caught exactly one small wiper for several hours of trolling, on an SR5 flat lined. 

So, after passing the Island, I picked up and ran back to Freeway Bay, and almost immediately hooked a double, the same SR7 plus a Flicker Minnoe 7 in Slick Mouse.  Both 15" and under, so released.  Hooked another double on my way in, both less than 16". 

That's the first time I've caught fish in one location but nowhere else.  Beautiful day, all in all, but I'm not too good with an electric fillet knife.

It's going to improve and likely be better all over the lake, we are just not there yet. Can't say I've ever heard of a Slick Mouse, what does it look like? Is this the same lure? Thanks for the report.

(05-09-2025, 04:26 PM)BoatBallast Wrote: Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

(05-09-2025, 06:50 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: Thanks guys, I use one similar to that but it's more of a purple color.

(05-09-2025, 06:55 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(05-09-2025, 04:26 PM)BoatBallast Wrote: Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

All the ones we are catching are smaller, no bigger than 16" but around 14".

(05-09-2025, 07:18 PM)Paddler Wrote:

(05-09-2025, 06:50 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: Thanks guys, I use one similar to that but it's more of a purple color.

This one?:

https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/flicker-minnow?variant=42291005128843

It's called Prime Time.  It wasn't ready yesterday when I ran it.

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(05-09-2025, 06:55 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote:

(05-09-2025, 04:26 PM)BoatBallast Wrote: Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

All the ones we are catching are smaller, no bigger than 16" but around 14".

(05-09-2025, 04:26 PM)BoatBallast Wrote: Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.