GULL LAKE vs. PIGEON LAKE vs. BATTLE LAKE

[swampy45]

Hey everyone. Lets share some experiences from both lakes and see which comes out on top for Whitefish, Walleye, Pike, and Perch.  Why not Burbot as well.

Here goes.

Pigeon Lake in the past for me has been really hot, but Whitefish fishing has really slowed down. Fishing the North End would usually produce a fair amount of fish, but lately, i have not had the same luck.  For Walleye, sometimes they are almost a nuicance on the lake because they are so readily catchable and its gets annoying when you are fishing for another species.  Pike... i have caught many large Pike in previous years at Pigeon, but have yet to do so this year.  Perch... none left.

Gull Lake on the other hand, i have never caught any Whites from, but have seen several HUGE fish swimming around.  Perch, i have caught about 10, and all over 12 inches!  As for Pike, catching them is no problem, but catching one over 5 pounds can be a pain. And you are always more likely to catch a Burbot. Walleye... i have only seen one at Gull, and it was absolutely MASSIVE. swam around for about 10 minutes before swimming away.

Battle Lake is interesting as well when it comes to Whitefish... I have seen 50 fish in one day, not had one touch my lures, but other days i can see 5 fish and catch all five no problems. Pike at Battle have been easy to catch and i have no problems catching fish up to twenty pounds. Walleye are still a mystery to me at this lake, ive hooked into several, but they always get off right under the hole. With Perch its really hit and miss but if you can set yourself up on them, its non stop action with decent sized fish.

Alright people, share away.

[Gob87]

You hit Pigeon dead on with your description. I have not had the luck you have had at Gull however. I find it very hit and miss for all fish when I am there. Maybe it is because I do not know the lake very well, I know one spot that my buddy takes me to. I would love more info on Battle though from you if you wouldn't mind. I have driven past it over 100 times and have never fished it. I heard it is a very unsafe lake due to all the springs and creeks. I have heard that it holds big fish however

[beergut]

i got skunked at pigeon. what do you do differnt?

[TravIce]

I've never caught anything at Pigeon either, although I have seen some big fish the couple of times I have gone out there.  I've been doing alright at Gull this year, a couple of jacks that were close to 10 lbs, but it hasn't been real hot fishing either.  Can't wait for the ling to start spawning there.  I was only at Battle once this year for a couple hours, had a few flags but nothing on the ice.  Last year I fished Battle a fair bit, but I never caught anything but Jacks, and none were very big either. 

[swampy45]

You hit Pigeon dead on with your description. I have not had the luck you have had at Gull however. I find it very hit and miss for all fish when I am there. Maybe it is because I do not know the lake very well, I know one spot that my buddy takes me to. I would love more info on Battle though from you if you wouldn't mind. I have driven past it over 100 times and have never fished it. I heard it is a very unsafe lake due to all the springs and creeks. I have heard that it holds big fish however

it can be really hit and miss at Gull from what i have heard, but apparently, i get hit, haha.  As for Battle, it can be a difficult lake to fish. PM me for more details.

[swampy45]

i got skunked at pigeon. what do you do differnt?

Because the lake is so shallow on the north end and there is not a ton of structure, i have found that on slow days you need a really slow and subtle presentation. I will often use a single maggot and mealworm to catch walleye, and it will work. if the fishing is slow, dont even think of catching a white... they wont hit anything. as for the pike... it really seems the bigger the better with bait... the fish may be far and few between, but when fishing a structureless area, they are more likely to be drawn towards a large potential meal than anything else.

[swampy45]

I've never caught anything at Pigeon either, although I have seen some big fish the couple of times I have gone out there.  I've been doing alright at Gull this year, a couple of jacks that were close to 10 lbs, but it hasn't been real hot fishing either.  Can't wait for the ling to start spawning there.  I was only at Battle once this year for a couple hours, had a few flags but nothing on the ice.  Last year I fished Battle a fair bit, but I never caught anything but Jacks, and none were very big either. 

when do the burbot start to spawn down at Gull? I havent ever had the chance to fish that lake in the late ice season yet.

[topgun]

anytime between mid to late feb till the end of the season    we will see how it is this year last year was earlier than 2 yrs ago  but its a blast! when they are on it can be non stop action!

[TravIce]

when do the burbot start to spawn down at Gull? I havent ever had the chance to fish that lake in the late ice season yet.

Yup, should be firing up in the next couple of weeks (I hope), last year I went out one day, drilled a hole, fished for about 20 min and had a limit (which is only 3).  LOTS of fish swimming by the hole, and some nice ones too.  My biggest that day was about 5-6 lbs, smallest was around 4lb.

[Perch man]

wheres a starting point for some one whos never fished the lake, Im not asking for a honey hole but a startiong point, I dont fish for whites but I always end up catching them at pigeon.

[kingfisher]

i'll tell u were to catch walleye and pike if u tell me were you catch those whites

[Perch man]

PM sent

[ryanlookingforperch]

ho hum

:-(

oh, whiteies......oh whities.....

where are you...

Good Luck!