Tonka up next

[AllenW]

One last try for glory...or at least add a few pounds to your total weight.

Tonka should be fun, but you know how that goes.

Just wondering, where are you guys launching from?
Spring Park now only has a few spots for parking.

Trying to find somewhere close with lots of parking.

Al

Start and weigh-in will be at the Spring Park Bay Launch using the public docks just east of the ramp. See post below. Steve W.

[rjruda]

did they close the overflow parking area?

[AllenW]

Not sure, but isn't that about 2 blocks away ??

Somebody mentioned a launch at Bald Eagle, but CRS strikes again and I can't remember which it was.

Al

[rjruda]

I remember that it is a bit of a walk back.

[Uncle Smash]

Greys Bay landing would probably be the closest to you Al and there is a ton of parking.

From your house you would want to go 494 west to Minnetonka BLVD. Go south on Minnetonka BLVD to 101. take a right on 101 and Greys Bay landing will be about a mile up on your right just just after the "S turn" in the road.

[Dan Wood]

I really do not like that Gray's bay launch myself. The parking is tough to get out of and I had my trailer hit the one and only time I used it. It also was extremely busy (not any different than all of the launches on Tonka I suppose but it seemed like more yuppies).. It also is a long ways from Goose Island.

Spring Park is good (if the overflow lot is still there). It is only about 2 blocks to that overflow lot. There also are 2 up in the North Arm that are right next to each other that are both pretty good and not too far away from Goose. Spring is the closest to Goose and the North Arm launches aren't too far off..

[AllenW]

North Arm was my first choice, just looking for closer, but it might still be the best bet.

Spring Park can get really jamed up too, and if the wind is strong and from the right direction loading slows way down..plus trying to get Tend to walk that far...

Al

[Steve Wood]

Al, just let Teng park the car and run down to pick it up. He's young so the 2 block walk won't take long. If you get there early there may even be a spot by the launch.

[AllenW]

Al, just let Teng park the car and run down to pick it up. He's young so the 2 block walk won't take long. If you get there early there may even be a spot by the launch.

I'll see what he says, it's not that I'm lazy...well, not totally anyway, but by the end of the day the arthritus in my right foot has kicked my butt and walking is not pleasant

Al

[Teng]

I don't mind walking two blocks. It doesn't bother me.

[Steve Wood]

We are changing the meeting spot for the Minnetonka event from Goose Island to the public docks to the east of the Spring Park Bay boat ramp. These are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th docks immediately east of the ramp. We probably will need 2 docks for everyone to tie up for the weigh-in so we'll take whichever 2 adjacent docks are not being used when we get back at 2 PM.

Dan and I were out pre-fishing last Sunday and came by Goose Island just after 2 PM. There wasn't room to park another CANOE there let alone our 10 fishing boats. I've verified that the docks by the Spring Park Bay boat ramp are public and can be used. This will be easier and quicker for everyone also.

It was mentioned earlier, but most people using this launch will need to park in the overflow lot about 1 block east of the landing. It is about your first chance to turn left. There is a small sign, but you might miss it. Allow yourself a few extra minutes in the morning to park the car. There is plenty of room in the overflow lot.

[MikeDebner]

Got out there yesterday. Warm water. 81-82 in some spots. Plenty of keeper bass but didn't find the big ones yet. Weed grow in Tonka is something else. Healthy weeds too. It should be a fun event.

[a10lbeye]

I got out this morning on Tonka and at 5:30 only 1 spot was taken at spring park bay launch. Fishing was good early plenty, of 12"-14" fish. I did catch my first decent tonka smallie, just over 18". I also got bit off early by what appeared to be about a 38"-40" ski on a topwater.... scared the crap out of me....

[Steve Wood]

Dan and I were out Sat AM also. I just got my boat back from repairing the damage from hitting floating logs while in Canada in June. I had a couple of electrical problems that I need to get sorted out before next weekend but otherwise things went OK. We concentrated on trying to find some northerns and we caught several decent bass in the process. I think catching 3 northern will be the challenge. Six bass shouldn't be too hard in that lake, but big ones are hard to come by.

We launched at Spring Park Bay and came off the water just before 2 PM. The four docks to the east where we are meeting for the weigh-in were wide open. There was a bass boat tethered to one and a sail boat to another, but no one was using any of them. I'm not sure where we'll set up the weigh-in table as the docks are pretty narrow to do it there, but we'll manage.

We did see the Sheriff patrol boat several times and they had one boat pulled over for something. I'm not certain what the regulations are, but no wake through the channel areas is one of the things they watch.

[c_rannow]

Watch your speed out there too.

[John Pearson]

yeah 40 or less or your chances of gettin a ticket go up!!

[AllenW]

yeah 40 or less or your chances of gettin a ticket go up!!

Ain't that the truth..

A ways back we got stopped because one of the guys was sitting on the gunwale, evidently that's against the law too..

Hoping to make it out Wednesday with a buddy if all goes well, partners out of town unfortunately.

Al

[Steve Wood]

Al, the pike are really hitting the scum frogs in 30 feet of water. You'll need a heavy steel leader also to keep from getting bit off. Good luck.

[AllenW]

Al, the pike are really hitting the scum frogs in 30 feet of water. You'll need a heavy steel leader also to keep from getting bit off. Good luck.

Thanks Steve, have you ever tried the tie-able steel leaders?
Got a few at Thorne Bro's and they work pretty well with the DT lures I threw at Bald Eagle.
Not real heavy poundage, but the 15# ones I have didn't break with the 12 or 17# test mono I was using.

Al...who's off to see what a Scum frog is...

[Scum Frog]

Looking forward to Tonka, but I'm sad that it will be the last event of the year. My partner Shannon is in Alaska (lucky stiff), so I will be fishing with my wife and hoping she can carry us!

Also, here is an early "thank you" to all the league officers for a well-planned, and well-run league.