Itasca County and Surrounding areas...

[PaintPro1]

OK all of you Northwoods anglers, I need to get the scoop on the Itasca County and surrounding lakes as I am starting to think about our families annual trek to God's Country from Central Indiana the 1st week of August already...  I have been going up there since 1972 and have really only been on one small lake just south of Marcell and never really done great.  I am big on C&R (although my Dad was NOT - God rest him) but would like to hit some hotter lakes for both Bass and Crappie and actually keep a few this year as I will be bringing my bass-boat for the 1st time.

Lake size is not as important as the ramps.  I scouted a few lakes last year, Wabana chain, Spider, North Star but would like to know what you guys recommend.  My 16 yr old and I will be doing most of the fishing, but I gotta get my wife to snag a few Bass to get her excited too!

IF any of you get into Frontier Sports, you will know I have been there once there is a Purdue hat hanging on the wall there to offset that nasty IU hat that another Indiana person left...

[CraigP83]

Hey PaintPro1,

I don't really know the area all that well so not sure how much help I can be. However Pokegama and Bass lake are in Itasca County near Grand Rapids. Our State Bass tournament was held on Pokegama 2 years ago so it has to be a good fishery. I have tournaments on both those lakes in July so I can give you more info after that. Just check this forum around that time, I always try to put up reports. Hopefully someone else can chime in too..

[PaintPro1]

Craig -

I thought those 2 looked like good lakes, but looks can be deceiving...  Will keep an eye out and stay in touch.  Something about that area brings about great memories even if I don't catch a fish as I spent over 30 years of summers 1 week at a shot up there with my Dad...  Priceless! 

Thanks!

[CraigP83]

I just got back from our club tourneys this weekend. Saturday we fished bass, Im not going to give much of a report on that lake cause I didn't have very much fun at all. I will tell you that it took around 15lbs to win it and that it was slop fishing to the fullest.

On sunday however we went over to Pokegama and I had a blast. You can fish it any way you like, You can make a run up to the river and fish frogs and jigs in the slop, you can work drop offs with cranks and tubes, or you can drop shot midlake humps. GREAT VARIETY. Winning bag again was in the 15lb range (mixed bag of smallies and largies). Big fish was 5.6 lbs. I ended up catching my fish on Buzzfrogs, Cranks, Jigworms, Senkos. Here are two of my larger fish for the day. I didn't place well but we caught a lot of fish and had fun. I would definately suggest Pokegama

[PaintPro1]

Thanks Craig I will plan to make that one of the 1st lakes we hit!  We will get up there on Sat the 30th...