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On the south end... The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free. Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well. Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike. Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River. Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently. Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn. Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options. Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River... Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing. Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues. A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River. Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise. Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale. The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st. Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing. One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker. Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle... A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water. In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener. Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.

Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here?

Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years. Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads. Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water. Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad. Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher

As I typed that here came a hen. IMG_7032.mov IMG_7032.mov

So far this morning nothing but non turkeys.

Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!

good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that. waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!

How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.

Guys slim creek on burntside is the place to load up on smelt

My 3rd guess was finally correct. Definitely a moving target this year. Guess Date Ice Out 2/28 3/27 3/12 4/7 4/9 4/13

I have a few days off so hopefully fish 4 days in a row from sunrise to sunset. Likely two or three lakes a day depending on the bite. I won't fish any well known opener lakes until the weekday.

i'm into them slimers.........dem make good picklin and smoker material......i'll chase some crappies too!!!!!!

I usually only catch small slimers on opener until first part of June before the eyes really start, on my lake there.

yes sir!!!!!!!!! by then most the riff raff is at home!!!!!!

Going, up at the lake there!

is 3 weeks away............who's going and where???? i skip the first week and i'll head up to the cabin the 2nd week. ussually fish smaller lakes.

Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.

what do they look like this spring?

I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted: JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.

MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion

^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening

. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....

No, that wasn't me. I drive a 621 Ranger.

So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!