The dog days of summer are offcially here and the fish are still biting fairly well. Walleyes have moved out into deeper structure and the basins, anywhere from 17-26ft depending on the lake. There is a few different ways to catch these fish, one is pulling spinners. Experimenting with your spinner presentation is key, whether that means switching weight sizes, blade color or size, or even speed. Another factor to think about is how long your spinner is as well, with clear water being common around the area don't be afraid to try spinners up to 6 or 7 feet long. Often times during the day it is effective to speed up to 1.5 to 1.7 mph when pulling spinners to create a reaction bite. Another option for the deeper fish, especially basin fish, is to pull leadcore. Some key colors have been firetiger, perch patterns, and purple. For those new to leadcore here is a good video that explains the basics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m48LRDJTXgQ. Slip bobbers and jigging raps are another good option when you find fish more concentrated. There are still some fishing holding shallow in the weeds, casting plastics or jig/minnow combo works well for that. Best bets for walleyes are Minnewaska, Reno, Mary, Andrew, and Amelia.
Bass are still biting well on most area lakes. It can be a fun time of year to fish bass since they can be schooled up on the deep weedlines, especially on lakes like Minnewaska or the Le Homme Dieu chain. A variety of baits can work on the weedlines but some of my favorites are a jig worm (ned rig), drop shot, and a finesse jig. Finding sunfish and coontail are the two keys to finding the bass. If you can locate both of those in the same area you should be catching fish shortly. Here is a good video explain how to fish deep weeds for bass, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4zlvVjUQY0.
Sunfish and crappies are biting well if you can find them. Both are on the deeper side or just into the weeds. Cabbage weeds are very good this time of year for all species but especially panfish. Vertical jigging a smaller jig tipped with a panfish leech or piece of crawler is the best option for sunfish, once you find a few there is usually a bunch. Casting and slowy trolling through/over the weeds has been working best for crappies. Sunfish have been good on most lakes, for crappies I would look at Reno, Mary, and Villard.
Summer patterns have offcialy arivved for all species as the majority of water temps are in the mid 70s range. Weed growth is ahead of schedule as well with the above average temps we have had.
Look for walleyes to be in deeper water during the daylight hours, anywhere from 16-25ft. Trolling spinners with nighcrawlers, typically anywhere from 1.0 to 1.7 mph, on the breaks or through the basin is a great option. The leadcore and jigging rap bite should pick up soon as bait gets pushed into deeper water. Another option that puts a bunch of walleyes on the boat is trolling crankbaits/stickbaits at night, either on the inside weedlines or over the top of the weeds in 5-12ft. Best lakes in the area for walleyes currently are Minnewaska, Reno, Mary, and Osakis.
Bass fishing is doing great in the area, most fish have moved into thick shallow cover or the deep weedlines. Using a jig or frog up shallow is working well, black/blue for dirtier water and green pumpkin for clear water. On the deeper weedline jig worms, drop shots, and texas rigs with plastics are the best. Look for the deeper edge of the weeds, typically in 15-18ft. Best lakes for bass right now are Minnewaska, Pelican, Alexandria Chain, and Scandi.
Crappies and sunfish are relating to the weeds as well, look for cabbage and coontail to hold the most fish. Trolling smaller jigs over the tops of weeds and along the edge is a good method. Once a group of fish is located try vertical jigging or slip bobbers with live bait. Anglers are picking up a lot of nice sunfish while pulling crawler harnesses for walleyes as well. Good options for panfish are Minnewaska and Reno.
Ice Report/Fishing Report Lake Minnewaska 1/22/21
Ice conditions are pretty good on Waska and Reno, Travel is very easy as there is not much snow on the lake.
Ice is anywhere from 14 to 16 inches on both Waska and Reno. Full size trucks and tandem axel fish houses being pulled out.
The DNR access is not usable, as a truck went thru last week-end. The Access at Lakeside is also not useable as a truck
went thru there as well. People have been using the beech access as well as Hunt's Resort access. Hunts asks for a $2 fee
to use their access. Please remember to pay, they also plow roads out on the lake. Fishing has slowed down some, out in front of Lake
Side has been good for panfish, sunfish especially, but you do have to pick thru them. There is also a lot of people out by the Hole
as well as Sacks landing. We have Shiners!!! So stop in before you hit the lake and get your minnows and last minute snacks.
12/21/2020 Ice Report Lake Minnewaska/Lake Reno
Both lakes have a good 8' of ice on the lake. Minnewaska still has some open water on it past the high school bar. So please be aware of that.
There is also a huge ice heave that has formed on Minnewaska that runs from Halverson Point all the way over to the DNR Landing on the Glenwood
side. We would not recommend trying to drive over this heave. There is smaller vehicle traffic and also ATV's out on the both of the lakes. Fishing has been
a little harder this year, especially during day light hours, as there is no snow on the ice. The night time bite is still going good on both lakes. We have your favorite
shiners in stock, carrying 3 sizes again, Small, Large and XXL. We also sell propane, plus have a full line of tackle and all your snacks for the lake.
5/1/2020 Koep's Business Update
Koep's has been open during all this craziness as we are considered essential. You can still purchase fishing liceses from us as well,
those have not been shut down.
We have crappie and fathead minnows in, along with nightcralwers and wax worms. Hoping that our leeches will be in at the
beging of next weeek. Not sure of the size they will be, but we will have some.
Lake Shiners are another story. We will have to see what happens. Our minnow trappers will be working hard to trap them,
and get them to the area bait shops. Please keep in mind if the lake is infected with AIS, they need to get the minnow tested by
the DNR prior to trapping any minnows out of the lake. Once the DNR clears the lake, the trappper can start taking minnows out of it.
So it is a process, not as easy as just putting in a trap.
We have some great deli specials as well
2 foot long subs for only $11.99
or
3 large 12 inch pizza's for only $25.99
Our normal hours have changed a little - they are now
Monday - Friday 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Satruday - 6:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday - 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Spring has sprung!!! YEAH.. I hope this all finds you happy and most importantly healthy. This is a whole new 'normal' then most of us are used too,
but we will get thru it together. At the shop, we are doing all we can to stop the spread. Bleach, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes are our new friends. One thing is for sure, we
can all practice social distancing while fishing. The ice has been off since April 9th, and fishing is going strong. Crappies are on the chow right now, few good spots to try, is by
Captains bar, where the creek comes in, Hunt's bay, and in front of the creek that comes out past the DNR landing. A variety of presentations are working well right now. Tube jigs tipped with a
crappie minnow and a bobber is super easy way to catch fish right now. Plastics have been working well too, seems like anything with a tail is the key to entice the bite. Water temps around
42-45 degrees look for fish in 6-8 feet - the lake is clear till about 4 feet down. This is a great time to go shore fishing too.. don't forget about that. Bridge by Captains is always good, off the
docks at Lakeside are a good choice, and don't forger the docks at the DNR landing. HOBO park in Starbuck hasn't been producing the fish like it should right now, but one more
day with warmer temps, that will be a great choice as well. Also the creek between Maple Lake and Reno is a good choice as well, especially during the early mornings and evening.
We have crappie and fathead minnows in right now, as well as wax worms and night crawlers. So we are set for all your fishing needs. Our shelves are stocked and we have a great
selection of tackle for you. We have new pizza as well. Check it out when you stop - you are going to love it. Order one to take home after fishing.
12/4/2019 Ice Update on Lake Minnewaska and surrounding lakes
Lake Minnewaska was froze over on November 12th, and has re-opened by bottle bay and the open water extends out to the high school bar. As of yesterday
there was still alot of open water out there. The DNR landing on the Glenwood side, has seen a few people on the ice. From what we have heard anywhere from 3-5 inches
out there. We have not seen any 4-wheeler traffic out there or permanent fish houses. Yesterday a cracked form by the landing, however you can still access the ice
as it has not opened up. Lake Reno bay by HWY 29 has been seeing a lot of action. Fishing has slowed down some, but the night bite still continues to be good. There is anywhere
from 3-7 inches out there, so please use caution when heading out. Smaller permanent houses have been going out, but no big ones. Most people are still
walking out and pulling portables. Maple's main bay just froze over on Monday night, so please use caution while out there. We are loaded for ice fishing, all our minnows
are in stock and ready to go, with our 3 sizes of shiners. We have everything in stock that you need to go fishing! Plus we have propane and do fill 100# tanks. Please be
safe out there, and remember no ice is safe ice.
Fishing Opener Lake Minnewaska 05/11/2019
The MN fishing opener is finally upon us. We have a full line of bait for you, including leeches, and golden shiners, in two different sizes.
It's our 20 year anniversary so stop in and celebrate with us. We have drawings, games, etc to play. Plus Free coffee and cookies
on Saturday. The crappies have been biting well in the bay by hunt's as well as in front the creek on Minnewaska.
Golden Shiners and fatheads have been the bait of choice this week-end.
We are open till 10:00 tonight, Sunday our hours are 5:00 - 9:00.
The Minnewaska Lakers Fishing Team will be serving pulled pork sandwiches and chips from 10:00-2:00 on Saturday!
Lake Minnewaska ice report 04/22/2019
The lake is officially ice free!!! A few people have been in the bay by Hunts Resort, but we have not heard any
reports of the crappies being in there yet.
We are gearing up for fishing opener now, all our summer rods, tackle, terminal tackle is out. We have a few
things to order yet, but for the most part, we are ready.
May 10, 2019 - Marks our 20th year of Business! Crazy, how fast that went. We are going to have lots of fun
things going on during the week-end. Great Sales and Free Food! More info to follow.
