Can anyone comment on how the fishing has been the last few years on Knife Lake? All species. Thanks, Rick

quote drrick: "Can anyone comment on how the fishing has been the last few years on Knife Lake? All species. Thanks, Rick"

Good.

time of the year is a factor, but generally speaking very good, my last trip spring 2011. many released fish.

I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?

quote pastorjsackett: "I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?"

We may cross paths, we're heading in on the 10th. With the spring getting later by the day the lakers may not be in too deep of water and the smallmouth my still be in the shallow water.

quote drrick: "Can anyone comment on how the fishing has been the last few years on Knife Lake? All species. Thanks, Rick"

I ventured in for 3 days last spring, and it was some of the best fishing I have ever experienced (walleye/Lake Trout/Northerns). Not sure if we will have a repeat this year, but we are going back to find out on May 14th.

Was up there for 8 days Mid June in 2012. My advice is look for the reefs on the North East arm right outside the big bay using Google earth. Punch in the coordinates of the reefs on your GPS (hover the curser over them and the coordinates display on the bottom). There is like 4 or 5 nice reefs you can spot with Google. Now, when you are there, go find the reefs and anchor right on top. Fish in the evenings (last hour of light) or right after dark with slip bobbers and leeches or jigs tipped with minnows or grubs. Be sure to be quiet and don't bang the canoe. The first reef right outside the bay is dynamite.

We caught nice fat 3 - 5 lbs walleyes every night doing this. Also troll around deep breaks around the main basin with deep diving Tail Dancers and you should be able to pick up a few lakers. Bass are everywhere in that lake. The channel to little knife where there is some current produced nice football size bass for us. Pitch husky jerks or shad raps up there and hold on. Just be stealth when your approaching that shallow structure, doesn't take much to spook fish in that clear, shallow water. Also with it being clear water, fishing low light hours is key. Also pay attention to wind pound shorelines for walleyes. Do these things and I promise you have a great trip and catch plenty of fish. Good luck!

To me it seems like lake trout fishing has improved on that lake the last decade? Opinions?

quote PINETREE: "To me it seems like lake trout fishing has improved on that lake the last decade? Opinions?"

i dont think it has improved(but i hope people realize how valuable lakers are) i think it just a great fisherier, able to produce trophy fish of all specie's. #5 lakers can be common early spring. 1 year i witness this and i've read about this. it was opener 1995 in the evening from camp we saw football fields of ciscoe's right on top of the water(it was glass that evening) and there was many different patches of them as far as the eye could see. it has the forage base. with more fisherman doing C/R and just keeping supper, doesnt hurt. a 5 pound laker in these waters can be anywhere from 10-15 years old, same with a #5 smallie. IMO knife could hold a state record of all 4 in this lake

quote shock: "

quote PINETREE: "To me it seems like lake trout fishing has improved on that lake the last decade? Opinions?"

i dont think it has improved(but i hope people realize how valuable lakers are) i think it just a great fisherier, able to produce trophy fish of all specie's. #5 lakers can be common early spring. 1 year i witness this and i've read about this. it was opener 1995 in the evening from camp we saw football fields of ciscoe's right on top of the water(it was glass that evening) and there was many different patches of them as far as the eye could see. it has the forage base. with more fisherman doing C/R and just keeping supper, doesnt hurt. a 5 pound laker in these waters can be anywhere from 10-15 years old, same with a #5 smallie. IMO knife could hold a state record of all 4 in this lake "

I agree with catch and release of lakers if possible,in most studies I have seen and charts I bet that 5 pound laker is probably at least 20 years.
I was going back to the late 70's mainly when from personnel fishing and friends laker fishing was much slower than now,at least for people I know and creel surveys from that time showed low catch rates.

What many people don't realize lake trout populations are very vulnerable to fishing pressure.

quote PINETREE: "

quote shock: "

quote PINETREE: "To me it seems like lake trout fishing has improved on that lake the last decade? Opinions?"

i dont think it has improved(but i hope people realize how valuable lakers are) i think it just a great fisherier, able to produce trophy fish of all specie's. #5 lakers can be common early spring. 1 year i witness this and i've read about this. it was opener 1995 in the evening from camp we saw football fields of ciscoe's right on top of the water(it was glass that evening) and there was many different patches of them as far as the eye could see. it has the forage base. with more fisherman doing C/R and just keeping supper, doesnt hurt. a 5 pound laker in these waters can be anywhere from 10-15 years old, same with a #5 smallie. IMO knife could hold a state record of all 4 in this lake "

I agree with catch and release of lakers if possible,in most studies I have seen and charts I bet that 5 pound laker is probably at least 20 years.
I was going back to the late 70's mainly when from personnel fishing and friends laker fishing was much slower than now,at least for people I know and creel surveys from that time showed low catch rates.


What many people don't realize lake trout populations are very vulnerable to fishing pressure."

absolutely, i agree with most lakes in the BW a #5 laker is 20 years old but lakes like knife with a superior forage base when there big enough to eat those "5-"6 ciscoe's they put on the weight a bit faster then lakes that dont have that make up. laker limit use to be 3 now its 2 , i would have no problem with it being changed to 1, one #5 laker will feed 2 people very nicely. they do need to be protected.

quote DeanL: "

quote pastorjsackett: "I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?"

We may cross paths, we're heading in on the 10th. With the spring getting later by the day the lakers may not be in too deep of water and the smallmouth my still be in the shallow water. "

We will be there starting the 9th, look for 2 Mad River canoes.

quote shock: "

quote PINETREE: "

quote shock: "

quote PINETREE: "To me it seems like lake trout fishing has improved on that lake the last decade? Opinions?"

i dont think it has improved(but i hope people realize how valuable lakers are) i think it just a great fisherier, able to produce trophy fish of all specie's. #5 lakers can be common early spring. 1 year i witness this and i've read about this. it was opener 1995 in the evening from camp we saw football fields of ciscoe's right on top of the water(it was glass that evening) and there was many different patches of them as far as the eye could see. it has the forage base. with more fisherman doing C/R and just keeping supper, doesnt hurt. a 5 pound laker in these waters can be anywhere from 10-15 years old, same with a #5 smallie. IMO knife could hold a state record of all 4 in this lake "

I agree with catch and release of lakers if possible,in most studies I have seen and charts I bet that 5 pound laker is probably at least 20 years.
I was going back to the late 70's mainly when from personnel fishing and friends laker fishing was much slower than now,at least for people I know and creel surveys from that time showed low catch rates.



What many people don't realize lake trout populations are very vulnerable to fishing pressure."

absolutely, i agree with most lakes in the BW a #5 laker is 20 years old but lakes like knife with a superior forage base when there big enough to eat those "5-"6 ciscoe's they put on the weight a bit faster then lakes that dont have that make up. laker limit use to be 3 now its 2 , i would have no problem with it being changed to 1, one #5 laker will feed 2 people very nicely. they do need to be protected."

The south arm is supposed to have the greatest number of cisco's. I will be camping there mid May. And I totally agree that the amount of forage makes the lakers grow faster. When you fillet them you can tell, the smaller ones that have been eating bugs are very red meat and the larger ones that have been eating minnows are whiter meat and often have fat deposits on the rib bones.

Thanks for all the great information. When is the best time of year to fish for lake trout? Is a fish/depth finder a must? What type of tackle and lures? Rick

quote drrick: "Thanks for all the great information. When is the best time of year to fish for lake trout? Is a fish/depth finder a must? What type of tackle and lures? Rick"

rick theres many threads on lures/fishing lakers, just keep scrolling, the best time is ice out and up to 3 ? weeks after that. i never bring a depth finder but alot do. in the early spring lakers will be shallow.

quote shock: "

quote drrick: "Thanks for all the great information. When is the best time of year to fish for lake trout? Is a fish/depth finder a must? What type of tackle and lures? Rick"

rick theres many threads on lures/fishing lakers, just keep scrolling, the best time is ice out and up to 3 ? weeks after that. i never bring a depth finder but alot do. in the early spring lakers will be shallow."

+1 No need for a depthfinder in early spring for lakers.

quote GSP: "

quote DeanL: "

quote pastorjsackett: "I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?"

We may cross paths, we're heading in on the 10th. With the spring getting later by the day the lakers may not be in too deep of water and the smallmouth my still be in the shallow water. "

We will be there starting the 9th, look for 2 Mad River canoes."

Going in on the 11th, so will keep an eye out for the flying moose!

quote GSP: "

quote DeanL: "

quote pastorjsackett: "I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?"

We may cross paths, we're heading in on the 10th. With the spring getting later by the day the lakers may not be in too deep of water and the smallmouth my still be in the shallow water. "

We will be there starting the 9th, look for 2 Mad River canoes."

Going in on the 11th, so will keep an eye out for the flying moose!

halvorsonchristopher: "I ventured in for 3 days last spring, and it was some of the best fishing I have ever experienced (walleye/Lake Trout/Northerns). Not sure if we will have a repeat this year, but we are going back to find out on May 14th."

Saw your trip pics from both years. Looks like a great time. Also looks like you concentrated your fishing on the South Arm. Do any fishing west of Thunder point?

We're headed in on June 9th for the first time in that area. If you see 2 Kevlar it might be us... My wife and I will be taking another couple who will be on their first trip but are very good at fishing.

GSP: "

quote DeanL: "

quote pastorjsackett: "I am heading there mid-June. Any tips?"

We may cross paths, we're heading in on the 10th. With the spring getting later by the day the lakers may not be in too deep of water and the smallmouth my still be in the shallow water. "

We will be there starting the 9th, look for 2 Mad River canoes."

We'll be starting at Moose same day if you're talking June. Taking any GSP with you? Ours will be at a kennel for the week...

cyclones30: "We're headed in on June 9th for the first time in that area. If you see 2 Kevlar it might be us... My wife and I will be taking another couple who will be on their first trip but are very good at fishing. "

We are going the week of May 20th. Sorry for the confusion but the folks that said they will be there and made you actually did so five years ago. I kind of resurrected this thread. Good luck on your trip and go cyclones.

Ha,good call! I never checked the dates on the posts