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Post by LV on Mar 31, 2012 23:49:21 GMT -6
Two of us in Duluth went out tonight for an hour or so and caught one. Another group caught 3. Every group said they are going to try again next week.
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Post by hookertoo on Apr 1, 2012 8:00:07 GMT -6
That sounds promising. Were you at the Lester?
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Post by LV on Apr 1, 2012 23:04:13 GMT -6
The first stop into Park Point
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 2, 2012 8:22:12 GMT -6
My son went down to the Lester last night to check things out. Water temp at 10pm was at 39 degrees. Getting close....nobody was out dipping, no smelty smell either, the water has cleared up a lot and dropped a bit, the weather looks good this week, so it shouldn't be long now...he may go back tonight to do some sampling, I will keep you posted!
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Post by schmelty on Apr 3, 2012 7:25:26 GMT -6
Thanks for the updates Domino..
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 3, 2012 8:13:11 GMT -6
UMD man went down to the Lester last night, water temp 41 degrees, he and his room mate dipped for a while, no smelt yet....the other group there had no luck as well...so they headed over to Park Pointe and found nothing happening there as well...the temps are rising...shouldn't be long now!
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Post by canada on Apr 3, 2012 10:24:03 GMT -6
At least what temperature are we looking for before the smelts start running?
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 3, 2012 18:01:06 GMT -6
You are asking the key question that is really the mystery behind the timing of the run. The DNR used to list a specific temp, 46 degrees, they have since changed it to a range of the mid to upper 40's. In my opinion, they still don't have it right. While it's true that they need a mid 40's temp to activate their instinct to spawn, you still need a certain time period of warm water pouring into the lake to start the run. The longer the warm finger of water sticks out into the lake the better, breaks in the warmer water column are bad. A cold rain can slow down or delay the run, as well as cold weather, snow, or a shifting icepack. So there are many variables to pay attention to. Another is sunshine...a bright sunny day can warm the stream temps up into the 50's during the day, only to cool back into the low 40's at night, so how do you take that into account? It's hard to say. Same with the shallows on Park Pointe, they warm during the day, and cool quickly at night, so many times the run begins at sunset and is over by midnight or so...while the stream runs can continue all night. Midday runs are a mystery as well..I've been standing in a stream trout fishing during the day, and had huge runs come up the river to do their deed, it's truly a beautiful sight to behold in daylight!
So a specific degree is tough to agree on, that's why web blogs like this are so valuable as long as current info is posted regularly. When the stream temps get into the low 40's at night, say 11pm, I believe that warm enough for them to begin to move into the streams, usually we get the smaller males early, and the ripened females during the "peak" of the run, things will start to ramp up fast if the temps continue to rise gradually and consistently, but sometimes a big snow or cold front will slow things down for a bit, so the dipping can be great ahead of or during a big storm, usually not afterward. A heavy rain can mess the rivers up for a while as well.
I will also say this, "Hear me now, and believe me later!" If you sit around waiting for a specific water temp to be reported, or wait for the DNR website to report that they are officially running....you likely will miss the best smelting of the year! By the time that info hits the regular information channels, it's usually almost over!
So stay tuned here on this blog on a daily basis, report your successes and failures, with specifics, so everyone can keep up and have the best chance at getting a few tasty meals during this most wonderful time of the year!
Good Luck, and Be Safe!
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Post by hookertoo on Apr 3, 2012 21:32:39 GMT -6
Well Said Dave. I will be hitting the big lake with the big boat tomorrow. I'm hearing a lot of good reports about salmon. I'll let you know what happens.
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2012 14:11:12 GMT -6
If I look real hard at that post, it almost could be taken as an invite! ;D ;D ;D I called Ashland today, they were out 2 nights ago and got 1 single smelt, last night they got 4 smelt, so maybe a trend.... ? Once they get started in Ashland, Park Pointe and the Lester are not far behind!
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Post by jimdvirkus on Apr 4, 2012 14:21:52 GMT -6
i checked the lester river last night, the water temp was 44-46deg, between 8 pm and 12AM only 2 smelt were caught.
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 4, 2012 14:39:31 GMT -6
And so it begins! Those temps are plenty warm enough to start bringing in a few, especially with some sunny weather...things could be heating up pretty quickly..I just got a call from my UMD man, he was one of the guys out dipping at the Lester last night and he did get one! I'm starting to get that feeling everyone! The weather looks stable, sunny days ahead, there might be some to eat by this weekend!
I know...I'm getting all excited about "one or two"...but a million could be close behind!!!!
OK Woodtick, I know you are out there somewhere, stop surfing, and join the conversation.
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Post by hookertoo on Apr 4, 2012 21:01:37 GMT -6
I fished the point today, trolled across from Duluth to Superior entry. Water temp was 38 all the way and 39 by the superior entry. Screen was blank for baitfish. Had some coho bites off the wall, and then it died. Trolled out to 80ft of water off the middle of the point still a blank screen. I don't think the smelt out in the lake know it's been warm on land. Sivertsons have had there pond nets in for 4 days, no smelt yet. Not much current coming out the entries so I think it will take awile for the point to start producing. lester will probably be first.
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Post by dominodaves on Apr 5, 2012 8:15:21 GMT -6
UMD man was out at the Lester last night, the water had cooled a bit to 41 degrees, and he caught no smelt what so ever.
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Post by hookertoo on Apr 5, 2012 15:45:27 GMT -6
Talked to a grand rapids smelter. Nothing running there yet either. Sivertsons caught about 20lbs in their pond nets in the bay.
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