just got back from 4 days on Lake V...did well with the walleyes and smallies...
my concern? I was nearly hit twice by boaters not paying attention. Once last evening in Birch Narrows by a pleasure boat, and this morning fishing the channel markers near Muskrat Channel. We all need to slow down in the low light and foggy conditions...the guys in the red lund, with red raingear...missed my boat by 4 feet...at a high rate of speed...at 9:15 am...no excuses...

Sorry to hear about your back experience, stuff like that is just inexcuseable!

What type of pattern did you notice with the fish? Were they favoring crawlers or mostly minnows? I'm heading up on Thursday for a few days of fishing.

sounds like a normal day on Minnetonka-North....

It does get less crowded as fall goes on, which is nice.

I have noticed folks fishing even in between channel markers. That would seem to be an inherently risky thing to do. It also seems somewhat inconsiderate, asking everyone that passes to slow down and avoid the one boat fishing, especially in areas where the channel is fairly narrow.

I have seen people fishing in the channel off cemetery point where it is only about 20 feet wide. I always slow down but I wonder about whether fishing there is a good idea.

I wouldn't be fishing between channel markers either, you are asking for trouble. Plenty of places to fish on the lake without BLOCKING boat traffic.

I was trolling a shad rap near Shamrock last week and had my line cut off by a boat going full bore right behind me.Maybe the fireline will take out his prop shaft seal.Dang near jerked the rod out my hands..As far as slowing down near other boats my ranger leaves a smaller wake at 35mph then slowing down to 5 or 10 mph.

The wake size was not the point~! Safety is what matters!
Cliff

Thanks Cliff...safty is everything...
I was far enough away from the markers...I still don't get the point that faster is better...come on guys, how bad does someone need to be hurt before we get the point...??? Let's all be careful out there.

I didn't mean to go 35mph close by another boat,I was thinking more like 150 feet or so.I always slow way down when going near boats that are fishing a spot.And what about the boats that don't give or know the right of way rules.

muskie-mike,
You are certainly right about the fact that many boaters don't have a clue as far as right-of-way rules or even common curtesy!
Unfortunately, many do know and just do not care!
Cliff