I'm heading up to Ida on the 10nth of september for a few days was just wondering what the fishing has been like lately. I dont excpect any gps info just an over all report of what to excpect. I have never fished Ida before so I can't wait to get there and check it out! Many thanx for any replies.

Ida has been slow for walleyes these last couple weeks but around that time of year is when they really start to tick out there. bass have been biting both small mouth on the rocks and sand and large mouth on docks and deep weed edges. crappies and sunnies I haven't heard much about

I'll know more after this weekend. Heading up Thurs. around noon or so. Hopefully my typical late Aug./Labor day spots will be producing again this year. It's been awhile since I was up as I just spent 10 days in Alaska pounding salmon and Halibut.

Yeah, whatever!

Bob

Not going to lie, it was a wonderful time. As many Pinks and Silver's on the Kenai as we could catch (only kept silvers). Silvers on a flyout to a remote lake that they ran up into and a halibut trip that produced a boat limit.

So I guess if the eye's don't cooperate for the weekend I'll have to put up with halibut steaks on the grill!!!

WW,
I'll try to see you this weekend and say hi.
Julie

If I get up in time to grab bait on Fri. night, I'll be out at first light (if not a touch before) on Sat. and hopefully back to the cabin with my limit before 10. Then the same for Sun/Mon.

Sounds good on paper anyway??

You probably know this, but blue/tan lund pro v with a 75 merc. Maybe we'll see ya.

WW

WW,
Didn't see you Sat. am...you must have been on the north end.
We stayed south and only got one.
Didn't fish any more due to the wind and busy packing to move.
Hopefully the cool weather will get them going.
See you next time.
Julie

Answer to Big Julie and report on Ida...

Nope, didn't spend any time on the South end on Sat. morning. Loaded down with Redtails, I ran straight out to a spot that has produced at times on Labor day in the past with my fingers crossed and aspirations mixed.

Well lucky enough there were some fish there. I caught 6 and kept 4. Nothing all that big but 3 were around 15/16 inches and one 17". Other two were little "dinks". I must have missed 8 or so (presumed walleyes) so I'm not sure what the deal was with that.

Deep mid lake structure was what I was on. Topped out at around 25'. Most of the fish were on a small, slightly deeper (30') finger that came off of this before dumping into real deep water.
As I said, redtails on a live bait rig. Around a 6' snell and I did have a very small chartreuse bead on it. Fished from around 6:00 to 10:30.

Wind started blowing like nuts on Sat. afternoon and really didn't calm down all that much overnight, but I did run back out to the same spot on Sun. morning. It wasn't all that relaxing fishing with the waves. Only got one and then really didn't feel like fighting waves any more so I ran South and fished some shoreline structure in the 22' - 25' range. Ended up picking up 2 more mixed in with some largemouth's.

Woke up on Monday morning, stuck my head outside, thought about going and hitting some wind blown structure as it's been getting the same strong wind for a couple of days now but ended up tucking myself back into bed for an hour or so and then doing some dog training for a couple of hours before loading up and heading her home. I guess I'm getting soft as the summer season rolls to a close???

So, not the numbers that I was looking for but given the windy conditions, I wasn't all that disappointed with things.

WW

Pretty much what we did.
I expected to find more fish deeper...

'We' got 3. We had a bet on first, biggest and most.
I swept.
hahaha

How long do you let a fish go after you feel the initial bite?
In my experience with a redtail, the fish often grab ahold lightly and may wait for a minute or two before making their initial run...
I just stop the boat and wait them out then let them run. When they move again, they're mine. They usually do swallow the minnow totally.

When they're hooked deep, if I can see the hook, I go in carefully thru the gills with a forcep and 'turn the hook inside out'. If you cannot see the hook, put just a little pressure on the line to pull it out then do the same.
Seems to work very well, doesn't damage the gills at all to my observation.

For people new to fishing with redtails, think of it like you're winter fishing with a bobber and the bobber goes down 1" and just stays there. It sometimes takes some time before they make their run.

With the cooler weather, they should start going soon.
Hope to see you soon.

Julie

Excellent report Wave Wacker and Big Julie! I was talking with my brother last night and he said there were a couple fronts come thru. Looks like another good one today and another coming Sunday!! We got 10 days before we hit Lake Ida. Do you think I'm anxious. Heck yes I am.

Well good to hear there are some hungry fish sounds like you just need to find them. Will be leaving wednesday to head up there. Put it this way i could spend 3 or 4 days on that lake not catching anything but a buzz and it still beats workin. Hopefully i'll have a good report to post up here when i get home. Thanx a bunch!!!