Metro Beach

[Major Hamhocks]

Fished Metro Beach today from about 3:30pm til about 5:45pm. Only caught two perch, nice ones though. Gave them to somebody else on the way off the ice who had a few more than me. Heard they were biting much better yesterday than today

[phoggcutter]

Isn't that the way it usually is ! :)
FOG:cool:

[Major Hamhocks]

Sure does always seem to be that way. Always missing them by a day or so or a couple of feet away. Oh well, better luck next time...may be there tomorrow too. We will see how I do. :confused:

[craig]

Where is the nearest bait shop to metro beach? I am planning to go to metro beach and stoney creek this weekend. I have never fished metro though. How far from shore have you been fishing? thanks -craig-

[Major Hamhocks]

I stopped at Lakeside bait I think it is called. It is at 10 mile and Jefferson. There are others just south of 16 mile though. I was probably out 1/3 to 1/2 mile

[Banditto]

Craig, most of the time people tend to stay in close to shore within maybe 3/4 mile at the most. Most people tend to stay within 1/4 mile out.

When you go to Metro Beach follow the road in toward the main beach area, but park and walk out from the jet ski launch. It is just to the south of the main beach area.

I have had the best luck hugging the southern most area in front of the jet ski launch, out at least a 1/2 mile. There is a big pressure crack there so watch your step.

edit: the bait shop is on Jefferson just south before you enter the park--within 100 yards of the park entrance. It is the side entrance of the party store.

[Woolybugger]

My father went out this morning, limit of perch and threw some back, and some very niced sized. He said things really slowed down by noon. I have to see if I can sneak out the next couple mornings. Hopefully good reports to follow.

[Fried Fillets]

Woolybugger, do you know if your father was fishing out from the day sail or down towards the rocks? I was out there twice over the weekend and the water clarity was poor, good to hear somebody got into them.

[Strawberri]

There is another bait shop pretty much on the southeast corner of Metro Parkway and Jefferson. I forgot the name of it but it's in the same building as the party store there. If anybody knows the name of it, let us know. It's real close to entrance of Metro Beach.
And yes, I also relish those words "shoulda been here yesterday".

[Major Hamhocks]

Fished metro beach this morning by the jet ski launch. Caught about 15 perch, about 6-11 inches, most of them running a bit on the smaller side. Left around noon...action slowed way down

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Major Hamhocks, how far out were you and what depth. How was the water clarity. Was the ice thick enough for a three wheeler? Thanks for the info.

[Major Hamhocks]

W.M.

I figure I was about 1/3 to 1/2 mile out. Water seemed more clear than it was yesterday. I would say I was fishing 7 ft of water. There is alot of ice out there. About 6-7 inches right now.

Major Hamhocks

[Woolybugger]

Fried Fillets,

It was in the lagoon with the island. I think you are describing the lake side. I haven't been out there in a while so I can't describe it well.

Tommorrow for sure, the gear is in the car. Wasted today trying to find steelhead. Beautiful day though.

[Banditto]

Don't forget, if the bait shop in the party store that is just south of the park entrance runs out you can always try Jimmy's bait shop. It is just a little further south on Jefferson.

That has saved me more than once.

[Fried Fillets]

Strawberri, I believe the party store is the "Metro Beach Party Store" and the bait shop is part of it. I've been in there a thousand times and I'm laughing at myself for not knowing for sure. Banditto mentioned Jimmy's, there is also another bait shop(The Sportsman or something like that) on the west side of Jefferson across from the new DNR ramp just south of Crocker. Although, I've been to this bait shop once and they count the minnows to make sure you don't get 13 for a dozen. The Metro Party Store Bait Shop gives you the most bait for the money, plus they are open earlier then Jimmy's and the one south of Crocker.

[Banditto]

We have had our best luck parking at Gino's Surf and fishing on top of the pressure crack and straight out in front of the spillway.

My wife caught a huge 15" jumbo 3 years ago which I kick myself for not getting mounted. She caught a 14.5" 2 years ago, but she wasn't able to get out much after that or even last year with the lousy ice.

My advice is if the wind is blowing out you need to be extra careful in this area. The bay at Metro beach is much safer, and a far less walk.

[Strawberri]

Anybody fishing in the marina areas at Metro Beach and any reports? Thinking about doing some fishing out that way, but with the weather forecasts indicating some stronger winds I think I'm gonna stay off the big lake for now. Not in the mood to "troll" or "drift" right now.:D

[Woolybugger]

Fished this morning and early afternoon in the lagoon, I guess that would be marina. Steve will not let me use the vocabulary necessary to describe the wind today. A shanty is strongly advised. Early morning was hot per my father and other guys out before 8 or 9. The bead hooks worked well (I think they are the russian hooks) in the morning. Nothing taken on them after late morning. Best action with minnows just off the bottom. Water has been clearing but still low visibility. Picked up at least a dozen each average size, I did catch a nice jumbo-sized. Ice is safe with about a 70 guys out at any time.

[Dead Bird]

The wind was HARSH... Fishing good to average.... I fished the back boat boat basin from 4 to 5:30 ... Keep 13 fish, tossed another 8 back... Caught them jigging on chartouse and glow with speckles on the back side.. I had a lot more hits when I used two wax worms instead of one... Also had a dead stick with a minnow that I caught notta with.. Hope wind dies down to a small tornado by the morning..

[craig]

Were you fishing the north or south marina? I am heading out there tomarrow. Not sure wether to go off in front of the beach or just stick to the marinas. Any suggestions are appreicated.

[Woolybugger]

I fished on the left side of the parking lot, toward the houses. Most of the guys were in the marina area, I'm not sure how many were on the open water or how safe it is on the lake. When you pull into the parking lot you will see where everyone is fishing.

We had a lot of guys stop by and talk that had fished in other areas and it seems that everyone was getting about the same action no matter where they were in the marina.

[FischInMich]

Fried Fillets.....it is called Professional Fishing and Archery center.

Did they really count 'em? I've bought in there several times (mainly spottails in the summer tho), and never had them count 'em on me! Maybe they are starting to get a little tight!? :confused:

[Fried Fillets]

Fischman, No I was exaggerating......... a little. We asked for a dozen and got about 1 1/2. The nice old guy at the Metro Beach Bait Shop scoops about 12 - 15 dozen if you ask for 3. Needless to say I have never run out of bait. Some people might call that being a "bait hog", I'm only interested in getting the biggest bang for my buck.

[FischInMich]

Understand that!

Only reason I asked is because Lakeside WASliterally counting their spots the past few summers. COUNTED DOZENS on less than desirable bait, that dyes on your 1 mile drive to the boat launch, despite being on air. That place has become pitiful in regard to bait quality. Rumor I heard from Pro Fishing, and Jimmy's is that management ticked off the good supplier, so now they are stuck with some nobody as a supplier. Who really knows. I just know that shop wasn't like that when I was a kid.

[Banditto]

fischman, did you use Jimmy's bait shop as a kid too?

Funny story is we used to rent boats/motors from Jimmy's on weekend days. We were only 14-15 years old and he would rent to us no problem. So on a Saturday we would all ride our bikes down to Jimmy's and rent a boat for a few bucks and fish all day.

Now-a-days nobody would take the responsibility to rent boats to minors, but back then it was the place to be.

[FischInMich]

Banditto,

No I didnt. Grew up in SCS, so most of our fishing was in canals behind buddy's homes, or behind the Coast Guard station.