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First Ice!


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O.K. Ladies and Gentleman! First off we don't have ice yet, but how can you contain yourself? It's time to pull out your portables re-line your ice rods, sharpen your auger blades, and get ready for some hot ice action! Last year Rainy experienced absolutely awesome fishing! Something about listening to the humming of the vex, soaking up some propane fumes, and jigging those big early season eyes that gets my blood going! So the dilemna is do you chase those giant early season Pike, search for crappies, or jig for the pig walleyes! Hmnnnn! Sounds like a good problem to have! LETS HOPE FOR SOME SOLID CLEAR EARLY SEASON ICE!

RD

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Hey IfallsRon,

We had about a 1/32 of an inch here on Tilson this a.m. I thought I'd stay on shore still though. Ha! Put the hurt on the walleyes on the river again though. 40 eyes between the two of us in 2 hours! Smallest walleye was 14 inches with the vast majority 16-17 inch fish. Got to love it up here! Fish were hitting bare jigs. No kidding either!

RD

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Hey guys, I'm new to Rainy Lake and was just wondering some good starting points for fishing walleyes through the ice. Any bays, points, bars,etc. that are better producers than others. Oh yeah, I want to stay on the Minnesota side too. Thanks for any help.

GoggleEye

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Hey Goggle,

First off welcome to the Rainy Lake Forum! If you haven't ice fished Rainy your in for a good time. BIG WATER BIG FISH SMALL CROWDS! Should be on our billboard. Don't get me wrong fishing is still fishing. An early walleye bite will often times have these fish in shallow locations chasing tastey swimming snacks during low light periods. Note to self if catching small perch in the middle of the day return to that spot late or early. SHHHHHHH!, and there are countless bay mouths adjacent to deeper haunts that you'll be able to spy on your map. Water levels are much higher than last year thus the current will be a significant player, so don't just head out mindless as we already are blessed with ample structure already if you get my drift. I'd rather not take clients out to GOGGLE EYE SHOAL. Sand bay will be producing, and could be quite hot with the increased current at the very least you won't feel alone out there! As always Ice fishing 101 will be necessary to fine tune a spot for you. Lots of fisherman often times means not much action for you unless you like to play football and eat brats on the ice. A hole 10 feet away can produce tenfold from yours, and no matter what the fish count at the end of the day you've spent a day on the hardwater in "God's Country". Maybe your buddy doesn't always get the lucky hole? Minnow heads, glow spoons, swedish pimples, glow jigs, set lines, jigging raps... Bring it all Buddy you never can tell! Good Fishing!

RD

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Hey thanks Rainydaze! I wish I could get a welcoming informative response like that everytime! I appreciate all the great info. I am going to try and make it up for early ice walleyes and maybe a time or three after that.

GoggleEye

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Ha!

Well sometimes we have more time to respond than others I guess! We're rooting for a cold snap up here, and it will be game on!

Good Fishing!

RD

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HEY R.D.,

UFFDA & I JUST CHECKED OUT YOUR HONEY HOLE & ITS ALL FROZE UP. RUMOR HAS IT SOMEONE SAW 4 DEER WALKING ON THE ICE YESTERDAY., WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE COLD NIGHTS, I MAY WALK OUT & CHECK IT OUT.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

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Hey Buddy!

I was just thinking about that. Be careful Buddy! Couple more cold nights! I'll likely be easing my way out in a couple days also. Let me know if you want to hover out together.

RD

RD

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Anybody see the forecast for this week?? From the NWS:

Rest Of Tonight...Mostly cloudy. Scattered flurries. Lows 10 to 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs 18 to 23. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

Monday Night...Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows 4 below to 1 above zero. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday...Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs 8 to 13. Northwest winds around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night...Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows 2 below to 3 above zero. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs 10 to 15.

Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows 4 below to 9 below zero.

Thursday...Partly sunny. Occasional flurries. Highs 7 to 12.

Thursday Night Through Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 5 below to 10 below zero. Highs 8 to 13.

Sunday...Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of snow showers. Highs 3 to 8.

Better get that ice gear ready!!!!! cool.gif

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Hey Uffda,

The Fishing Queen is going to be working the Sport show in the cities, and will be leaving Thursday. If you'd like to get out and hit it let me know. We could meet at my place and head out if you'd like. Looks like winter out there this a.m.

RD

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Already been out slab chasing on a local lake down here boys! Can't wait to get out again tonight!! The time has come!!!!! Good luck if you get out and be safe.

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It appears that the North arm has experienced what may be the record for early ice-out! Many areas that were iced over have re-opened.

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Tundra,

It depends on how you are at swimming in these temps. I am fishing a bay that doesn't have any current at is a maximum of 10' deep down here, it only has 3" on it. Main lakes didn't have more than an inch on them down here.

Last year we fished on 8-10" of ice on the 23rd and 24th of december in that area. If you remember correctly we had colder temperatures much sooner last year. I don't advise it...not until we get more cold days, which is just what the doctor ordered apparently. It was 5 above this morning in duluth with a windchill that made it 5 below.

Stay safe and out of the water. Wait for a few days. Even then invest in a ice spud and be hitting the ice HARD when you are checking.

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Watched North Arm freeze over this afternoon, as soon a the wind died down the whole lake froze over ! Never seen it like that before! Nov 28 update. Looks like another record early ice out, 2 in one year! Wow! The snow last night was to much for the new ice and it disappeared as fast as it had formed the day before. We can resume summer fishing again just need to plow snow away from the boat launch . Our license fees should help pay for that!!

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we had some first ice here yesterday as well. saw a 12 car pileup on the river bridge right off the bat! Here first ice is more fun to watch as a spectator rather than a participant. Also what's the difference between an icehouse and a darkhouse?

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A dark house is usually used for spearing because it allows better vision of fish moving under the ice.

An ice house, fish house, or hut, which can be portable or permanent, is used by anglers to keep warm and out of the elements and has windows to allow more light in.

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Some day I gotta come up there and try hard water. The spearing would appear to be a real pot luck kind of thing. Is it really very productive? Certainly not for the impatient i presume.

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HI O.K.,

THATS WHY WE LOVE LIVING HERE. WINTER TIME SEES LOTS OF SNOWMOBILING TO OUR FAVORITE LAKE TROUT LAKE, AND ONCE YOU CROSS THE BORDER, THERE A 100,000 LAKES, MINNESOTA HAS 10,000...ONTARIO HAS ONE MORE ZERO...A 100,000.

YOU CAN ONLY SPEAR NORTHERNS...NOT WALLEYES. I PREFER FISHING(ANGLING) CRAPPIES, WALLEYES, AND LAKE TROUT IN THE WINTER.

ICE FISHING UP HERE IS A BLAST.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

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HEY R.D.,

DID YOU HEAD BACK OUT THERE, I'M GUESSING AFTER TONIGHT EVEN WITH THE SNOW, THERE SHOULD BE 4". I HAVE THE BATTERIES CHARGED NOW & LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, I KINDA GET THE SHAKES.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

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Hey FM,

Probably heading out to give it another shot tomorrow. I'll probably try sneak out a bit further. It's darn cold that's for sure. I'll likely be pulling out the one man fish trap to get serious! Plus keep my fingers from falling off! Ha! Maybe I'll see you out there? I'll likely be heading out around 2:30 to test it out.

RD

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Hey FM,

No more ice than when we were out. I managed to hover about 15 feet further out, but thats all I could get myself to try. Combo of snow and current is slowing the process a bit. Did manage a few fish and and some melted goretex! Ahh! The smell of ice fishing! Saw a Timberwolf out the front window yesterday! Had a bum front left leg! Watched him for about 10 minutes head up the creek. Maybe he was looking to snack on one of my other dogs!

RD

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Any reports on the ice in Black Bay?? I guess I'm coming home this weekend so I'm wondering if there's enough to get out and set some tip-ups and maybe get the spear house out if possible.

Uffda, FM you guys been out at all?

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HI G.K.,

A BUNCH OF US ARE GOING TO EITHER L.O.W. OR BL. STG ON SUNDAY, THERE IS UP TO 9" ON LOW. RAINY, BE CAREFUL AS SOMEPLACES HAS ABOUT 3" OF ICE, HOWEVER THERE IS ALOT OF SNOW ON THE TOP OF THAT 3" OF ICE., PLUS THERE IS CURRENT, AND THAT ADDS TO THE EXCITEMENT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO GO WITH US., SO IS YOUR DAD.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

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FM,

Thanks for the info and the invite. I think my dad might be working all weekend doing inventory, and I want to help Mr. Bauer get the spear house out if we can. If not, I will get ahold of you and maybe tag along on Sunday.

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Fished the North Arm today. Walked out from the Causeway about 100 yards. 17 feet of water, 6 inches of ice. I'm thinking ATV time! Walked another 50 feet out still 17 feet of water but only 2 inches of ice. Only stayed a couple hours - no fish. Needless to say I did not walk out any farther. crazy.gif

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HEY CAP. J.,

REMEMBER WE HAVE ALOT OF CURRENT GOING, LOTS OF SNOW, SO WE MAY SEE ALOT OF VARIANCES IN ICE., THERE ARE LAKES AROUND WITH ENOUGH ICE, BUT RAINY, I WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL. OH, DID I SAY I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE. WE GOT 4 MONTHS HERE OF ICE FISHING, LETS NOT START IT WITH A CASUALTY.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

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I only carried a spud on my first trip out. Chopping all the way. Didn't really note any current where I was so not sure why it froze funny that close to shore.

How went LOW trip?

I might try walking out again tomorrow. Anybody want to go along? With all that cold weather, should have least a couple more inches where I tried last time.

Hopefully going over to LOW with uffdapete on Tuesday.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      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. 
    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
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    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      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!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
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