MR Hazelton stretch

[Allen]

At ~0900 on Saturday, my buddy counted 71 boat/trailer combos at Hazelton. I am guessing it was higher by 1000.

All we could find were smaller (12-18 inch) males. And a 12 lb northern. I caught all mine sitting in 6 ft of water pitching a twister tail up on to a sandbar. I am guessing every bite I had came in 3 ft of water, or less. My buddies were sitting just a few yards away and were catching fish out in somewhat deeper water.

Lots of boats fishing the community hole by the ramp, I have to imagine they were catching...but far too many boats for me.

 

[wslayer]

It can be a zoo down there. Haven't been there for many years because of that.

 

[Wall-eyes]

Yes it was loaded good fishing and a beautiful day. Few big girls every time out in warmer sandy areas and all over the system no need to stack up boats

 

[Pheasant 54]

One good thing about it , all fisherman , in and out quickly , can you imagine if you had the pleasure boat crew mixed in . Start loading the boat at the dock etc . We were down there and yes it was packed , we found our fish , great day

 

[5575]

Heard this weekend was pretty crazy.
Its so nice to be able to fish the weekdays this past month.

 

[NodakBob]

Tried the river around Bismarck on Saturday…every decent looking spot was filled to capacity with boats. We explored areas with no boats…found some really good secret spots that the fish didn’t know about yet. We only caught one 16” walleye. Earlier in the week I picked up a 12 pounder, and that was our only walleye that day too.

 

[Bfishn]

Yeah you knew Saturday was going to be busy considering the bite and the forecast. Rigs were parked almost back out to the Hwy entrance. We got our limit of males and fished a few more spots for some females but no dice. Thankfully we got out of there before the hwy closure. Did anybody get caught by that?

 

[Fester]

Yeah you knew Saturday was going to be busy considering the bite and the forecast. Rigs were parked almost back out to the Hwy entrance. We got our limit of males and fished a few more spots for some females but no dice. Thankfully we got out of there before the hwy closure. Did anybody get caught by that?

Why did they close it?

 

[LOV2HNT]

Grass fire

 

[fly2cast]

We didn't have a great day that day at Hazelton but did catch nine pretty nice ones jig drifting. What surprised me is how many people have taken to anchoring and casting. Made it impossible to drift and jig like the good ol days so we had to find our own spot. As far as I could tell, the people casting did not do that well compared to the few that were drifting.

 

[Obi-Wan]

We didn't have a great day that day at Hazelton but did catch nine pretty nice ones jig drifting. What surprised me is how many people have taken to anchoring and casting. Made it impossible to drift and jig like the good ol days so we had to find our own spot. As far as I could tell, the people casting did not do that well compared to the few that were drifting.

What did you expect from kuchen county ? A bunch of stubborn Germans refusing to change the way they are fishing even though they are not catching anything.

​

 

[ndfinfan]

^^Hey...us Germans resemble that remark!

 

[wslayer]

We didn't have a great day that day at Hazelton but did catch nine pretty nice ones jig drifting. What surprised me is how many people have taken to anchoring and casting. Made it impossible to drift and jig like the good ol days so we had to find our own spot. As far as I could tell, the people casting did not do that well compared to the few that were drifting.

That's FF sona for ya. See them ahead and try to pitch to them without going forward and spooking with boat. Or catch one from a spot and spot lock to see if more sitting in that hole. Bud that was up at Ft Rice said that's what majority were doing there also.

 

[ice head]

That's FF sona for ya. See them ahead and try to pitch to them without going forward and spooking with boat. Or catch one from a spot and spot lock to see if more sitting in that hole. Bud that was up at Ft Rice said that's what majority were doing there also.

This is nothing new, spot lock on the trolling motor changed the game. Anchor and pitch, it's the most effective way to fish the river.

 

[Rowdie]

Anyone trolling cranks?

 

[Wall-eyes]

Anyone trolling cranks?

Was with buddy that is all he does caught a few a liitle to early.

 

[NodakBob]

Yes…when nuthin working gotta try everything

 

[Wall-eyes]

We don't use FFS spooks fish in shallows we side scan or as said spot look cast to spots etc.. and of course dragging jigs too.

 

[Allen]

Grass fire

I wonder which of our fellow members were out shooting tannerite that day?

 

[Allen Gamble]

We don't use FFS spooks fish in shallows we side scan or as said spot look cast to spots etc.. and of course dragging jigs too.

Every lake is different. I have been on a couple where FFS certainly has an effect on the fish, but I've really only experienced this through the ice.

So far, I haven't seen a negative impact on the lakes I open water fish. I actually find I spoke the fish easier running the big motor with SI than I do creeping up to them with FFS and my TM.