any information on this lake will be on it over the fourth for the first time

water temp as of sunday was 73.4 most fish are 12-18 fow.

the lake was busy so there where plenty of fish suspended in open water just hanging out.

live bait riggs w/ minnows working best early a.m. as the day goes on move to crawlers and slow down. work deeper structure
18-28 fow.

if your going to troll I would use minnow raps 100ft back

Hey fishgutz, any idea of what the muskies are doing out on sugar right now? Have you seen/caught any recently? Thanks!

I don't start working them on sugar until the middle of july.

spotted some big arcs out deep and one guy had a 47.5 incher
this lake will turn to a night bite about the end of july.

fish are heavily presured so try somthing different like tiger tubes or rip jigging the weed lines.

I have been out a couple times and got aggressive follows one near miss with bucktails I made and moved a huge muskie with a suick on the 4th at about 9:30 right before the lake got crazy. Like fishgutz said most were around 12-18ft or so.

I would interested to see how others are doing, its my second year fishing it and this year I have been out there more since I am still trying to get my first muskie. I have also heard about the night bite out there. So if I keep seeing fish and not getting them to bite, should I try them at night or just keep trying different lures/colors?

Nate

You are on the right track with how you are fishing. Sugar fish seem to be kind of picky from day to day on what they want to chase and eat. One day it's all about the gliders and the next it's all blades. Surface baits and more jerk-baits on are deck. Almost always get less follows on those days we catch fish. If I'm getting follows I usually stick to my same bait.

It's important to learn your spots very well. Like alot of lakes, Sugar fish are very particular about the ol' spot on the spot. I get sick of hearing it too but there are spots you'll find that will consistantly hold fish and sometimes they are in the middle of a featureless weedflat or weedline. These spots also change with the weed habitat during the year, but we fish the same general spots in fall and summer, just different ways. Definitely a lake you can call your action on within 3 or 4 casts once you know the spots.

More than any other lake I fish, I try not to assume too much. Build off of what worked yesterday, but don't get stuck to it too hard. Pay attention to those peak times moon/sunrise/sunset, lots of boats load up and go home just before the fish eat. Once you know the "where" the "when" will get alot easier.

I'm making myself sick here with all the general tips and cliches but it's all true and it's the most I can say without sharing my deepest secrets or Pis$ing anybody off. Please release them right!!!!!

50inchpig,

Thanks for all the info, even though its general I still think it is helpful. I have only fished it for a year and a half on and off and am still learning all the parts of the lake and where fish (5 of them) like to hang out. It seems I have noticed some of the things you mentioned, so its good to know I'm on the right track. I hope to get out there more from now until freeze up to get a better feel for it.

When you mention peak times, rise and set times, I thought I heard something about fish being more active when the sunrise and sunset times are close to the moonrise and moonset times. Any truth to that or anything you noticed? I think I'm only about 2000 into my 10000 casts but things like that can only help!

Nate

nate - personally i've noticed the action corresponding more to specific events, bites at moonrise or bites at sunset, etc, than more bites on average when two events come together, if that makes sense. we always have high hopes for evenings like that though and sometimes it works right.

there were a few instances last season where we got bit within minutes of a moon event in the middle of the afternoon. that thing i said about most boats loading up and going home at peak times - believe it, don't leave too early. weather trumps everything though.

there seem to be a couple other relatively consistent windows out there that don't match up to any events, times where we see fish pretty consistently for no good reason. i guess i worry more about staying on top of it than trying to figure out why it happens like that, because i haven't drawn many conclusions in the past. if you put in your time as you have been you will notice this stuff and it will help you out alot.

if you're really getting into the muskies, our Muskies, Inc club meets the 3rd tuesday of every month at the Waite Park American Legion @ 7:30 pm. when i moved here 3 years ago I joined right away and made some great friends. meetings are free and open and nobody is pushy - lots of good info and people to fish with there, could help shorten your learning curve quite a bit, would be nice to meet you sometime and hit the water this year.....

I just joined the St. Cloud muskies inc. and am looking forward to these meetings. Gotta work for this one in July though. Will be nice to meet and talk muskies with guys from the area.

I've only fished sugar twice...once last november and the day sucked too much to do much of any fishing...and once this past winter (with only a couple fishstick perch to show for it). From what I've seen though the lake looks to have some very healthy and deep weedlines...I'm anticipating some very good multi species fishing should I hit the lake in late september or october. I don't remember, is there a pike slot? Or does the sign at the access just recommend keeping small pike?

Sugar has a protected slot on pike. 24"-36" must be released.
And only 5 Crappies.
Just got to add- One of the best lakes to fish, once you learn how to fish it. But you have to put your time out there.

Yeah, I just learned about the St Cloud muskies inc recently and might have to look into joining. It would be fun to go out with some muskie fishermen.

If I don't get signed up by mail can I attend the next meeting and pay then?

I believe the next meeting is this Tuesday the 15th at the Waite Park American Legion. They will be able to give you the information you need there to sign up. I had to fill out a form and mail it to Wisconson. Not sure if there's other ways to sign up. I'm gonna try and make this as my first meeting.

nater - if you want to join it's easy online muskiesinc.com, you most definitely do not have to pay or be a member to come and enjoy the meetings and speakers, we always enjoy meeting new people and we are not some good ol' boy club where you have to be a member to be good enough to talk muskies with any of us.

tippman - looking forward to meeting you tuesday

Does anyone have any info on the bass fishing on this lake, I will be fishing a small club tournament on sunday and have never fished it. Any info would be great, thanks