10# Water

Soliciting opinions on the best MN/WI waters to hook-up with a 10 pound walleye or better. Please limit choices to your top two.

Mississippi River Pool 4

Rainy River/Lake of the Woods

Mille Lacs just learning the river so I really couldnt tell you about that

Definitely Pool 4 then Pool 2(heresay only).

Mille Lacs – Because I know it better than any other water I fish, and that would give me my best chance.

Little and Big Bay de Noc. – A real hog heaven!!

1. Rainy River/LOW
2. Pool 2 Mississippi River

Take a look at the past fishing reports here and you will probably draw your own conclusion. Time of year and preferred tactics will change the answer from what I have observed. Hope you get that big one this year!

mille lacs it’s a asome lake with alot of big fish or the rainy river

Pool #2 and Pool #4 get some thumbs up, why not Pool #3?

A lot of votes for Mille Lacs, but….. A true, on the scale 10+ pounder is very rare on Mille Lacs. Eights and nines are common however!

Rainey River early April.
LOW – August/Sep
Pool 4 Late April/Early May
LBDN in July/August.

-J.

I concur that Pool 2 or 4 is the closest/highest probability to you. If you’re going to travel, there’s lots of opportunities throughout northern MN. However, I agree with Jon J. about Mille Lacs. In talking to some of the guys that are on the puddle a lot, finding a speciman over 30″ on Mille Lacs is really tough. However, my experience on Gull Lake (Brainard area) has been multiple trips with most trips yielding eyes between 30″ and 34″. Spring and fall trips have both produced these hogs.

In WI, I know of a little lake we can do some night trolling in the fall and likely produce a big pig. If we can hook up, I’ll do my best to see you get into one! The biggest eye measured this fall was 36″ long and took a muskie lure!!! However, I don’t know how spring/summer is on that water.

Pool 2 or 4 and Bay de Noc.

Jon,

No more rare than most lakes. It is a very seasonal quest. A 28-30″ fish you caught this last summer on Mille Lacs was short of that elusive 10# mark, but if you caught it today, it would most likely easily surpass that mark. In all honesty, there are very few bodies of water that are known for giving up 10# fish on a regular basis during the warm weather months. The exception being Lake Erie, and that is somewhat exagerated also.

Your best chance to top the 10# mark, will always be in the cold weather months prior to the spawn.

Quote:

---

Jon,

No more rare than most lakes. It is a very seasonal quest. A 28-30″ fish you caught this last summer on Mille Lacs was short of that elusive 10# mark, but if you caught it today, it would most likely easily surpass that mark. In all honesty, there are very few bodies of water that are known for giving up 10# fish on a regular basis during the warm weather months. The exception being Lake Erie, and that is somewhat exagerated also.

Your best chance to top the 10# mark, will always be in the cold weather months prior to the spawn.

---

And also Jon are those Big 10#+ fish females ready for spawn?

Obviously there are big eyes in the Miss. The MN river always has reports of true giants as well. Here is a new one: Little MacDonald in Otter Tail country.

Protected slot from 18-26″ and this lake is full of big fish. It is only 1000 acres, so dont tell anyone about it.

Quote:

---

In WI, I know of a little lake we can do some night trolling in the fall and likely produce a big pig. If we can hook up, I’ll do my best to see you get into one! The biggest eye measured this fall was 36″ long and took a muskie lure!!! However, I don’t know how spring/summer is on that water.

---

Kid,Your boat or mine?? Why is the SCR or Pool #3 not mentioned? I note a 12#er was caught in the Croix just south of the I94 bridge a couple of years back(November 16, 2002) by a guy from Woodbury! One would think these waters must hold some younger sisters!

For a true 10# trophy, I would have to place Miss River Pool 2/4 and Mille Lacs Lake. Up until this year, I have not witnessed a true 10# fish on Mille LAcs for quite a few years. This past fall we were fortunate enough to boat 2 fish hitting the 10# mark in one night. Truely blessed!

As mentioned in a earlier post, 10# true trophy are not that abundnant in the upper Midwest. Lots of waters are capable of producing a fish of that cailiber, but they are a rare specimen!

What about the Red-doesnt Backwater Eddy get a fair number up there?

Thanks for the replies, guys! I truly appreciate it!
New Years Resolution is to pursue the 10# Eye and hunt the 40# Muskie! I decided to up my goals as I currently have an 8# Eye and a 37# Muskie inked in my fishing log. The Eye came out of Lake Vermilion and the Muskie out of the Mississippi (Sartell area). Nothing like a challenge to give one direction. Thanks again for the “directions”.
Geronimo

I didn’t mention Pool 3 because I have no experience on it. As for the Croix, I believe they’re in there……. I just can’t find ’em and I know most of us struggle to do so. While these waters are possibilities and capable of fulfilling your dream, I just think the others hold better percentages.

Noone’s mentioned Erie? Lots of big fish in that system. Take a look at some of the past walleye tourneys. Always fish over 10lbs weighed in.

mnfish,

I 100% agree with your opinion on Lake Erie. I think eyejacker was looking for MN/WI waters….Erie was the very first spot in my mind. After experienced for several years now, if anyone ever askes me where would I go for a true trophy….Lake Erie without a doubt!!

Right you are, Steve, I was looking for waters in my home range. I am fully aware of the Erie bonanza, however, I do not think I will get to fish it anytime in the near future.

My bad. Then P2 would be my choice but can’t keep anything there to put on the wall (not that you would keep any / graphite rep). Gary caught one there last fall over 10lbs.

Oh Yea!!!! actually, it was 10.6lbs!!!!!!!!

Do not need a wall hanger, already have a 9# mount caught by my Ex out of Boulder Lake (Duluth area) some years ago. Appears she didn’t want either me or the fish….both got stuffed. My claim to fame was the Jigs….made the one she caught it on and danced one when the big D was finalized(took 1 1/2 years from start to fini).
A digital photo will suffice should I ever hook-up with a 10!(walleye that is, wouldn’t want a photo of the other)
A happily married Geronimo

Eye Jacker……….THAT is funny!!!

I don’t care where you fish a true ten pound walleye is a rare and fabulous creature.
That being said I would say if you wanted to catch a ten pounder I would hit any body of water where it is legal to fish for pre-spawn walleyes. Remember though if you catch a big mamma let her go and get a replica mount.
If I had to name 2 places I would say the Columbia River and Lake Erie. These two places consistantly put out monsters.
My two cents.