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2 Inches In Steamboat


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I had a phone call from the marina manager at Craguns last night and he mentioned I should post and let people know things aren't great on the south end of Gull, particularly Steamboat Bay.

Walleyedan

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I know things are not looking good out there. One of our customers was down on that end a few days ago. He said that the area he walked out to had about the same. One punch from the spud bar went right through.

Jason Erlandson

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(Contact Us Please)!

Haven't you had any cold weather up there the past few weeks...whats going on?

What's the rest of the lake look like?

What are your predictions on the contest?

Always seems like that is a big debate, but it always seems to work out.

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It's been very cold up here for the past couple of weeks, but the snow (12 inches in areas) has insulated the ice big time. And then when you have 6 inches of ice the snow weighs it down causing water to come up (slush). So, it has been a very interesting early season (it's only the 15th of December). I have faith that things will shape up, infact there were many people out tonight on many different spots including the rock pile, grassy, holmans, a-frame and the list goes on. Today was the day that it all started on Gull. I'm not sure what the deal is with the south end, but bottom line....be careful. The Extravaganza will be a go (unless we get another foot of snow in the next two weeks). Not too many years ago, I remember open water fishing on the 13th of December. We are in good shape!

Walleyedan

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I heard there's about 3 inches of ice on that side of the lake, but apparently other parts of the lake are good enough to get out on already.

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It seems to be getting a little better on the north end of the lake. The bite has been pretty good out there too. If you can get out the the spots the fish are hungry.

Jason Erlandson

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I saw two guys this morning on a snowmobile pulling a portable from squaw point over into wilson bay. I plan on going on the ice this afternoon (VanSickle bay) and will post a report on the ice condition tonight.

Also a few fish houses are now on the lake North of squaw point..

The wind a few days ago blew alot of the snow off the ice and that should help conditions.

Joel

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Dan! this is Sam, just found this site, to see the ice reports and fishing reports, i see that you are here! Well i just wanted to add this in this thread, last nite, me, matt and 3 other guys gunned it from craguns to ernies south launch, and turned out to the river bed to get to the trail. It was slushy big time, plus a lot of dry ice ontop sending me sliding all over the place (no studs) After seeing this report, i felt stupid and lucky haha Well there were several tracks crossing that area. I was reported that ernies area was 6 inches. I usually thought that steamboat bay was the first part of Gull to freeze and be stable before the other parts were. I guess its all different this year! But i never planned to stop on any parts of the lake yet!

By the way Dan, thanks for the mix snacks, i think i ate half of it already! yum! smile.gif See you around!!

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Update on Ice conditions - VanSickle Bay...

I pulled my portable out to the middle of the bay this afternoon... Still need care on the ice... Where the snow has been blown away from the wind there is a good 8 inches of solid ice with no slush. Snow drifts are where you need care... I found one spot in a drift where my ice spud went through about 3 inches of ice with slush on top... We just need to be careful especially where the snow has drifted.

Jason the larger pink jigging spoon with the head of a fat head was the trick this evening... Nice limit of 17 - 19 inch eyes plus a bonus 25 inch female that I released... Thanks for the jigging spoon recommendations...

Another week of cold weather and we should be in pretty good shape.. I am still not quite ready to take my 4 wheeler out..

Any updates on the government landing near the dam..ice conditions?

Joel

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Great report Joel, sounds like the bite is really starting to shape up along with the ice. That spoon has been red hot for us the last couple of years. I think that it has one of the better glow paint jobs on the market. We have caught a ton of fish on it almost everywhere we have been, Gull, Mille Lacs, Red, LOW. It seems to be the hot one. Nice job!

Jason Erlandson

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Thanks for the report. We were out last night in Pike Bay and managed one small walleye. I have been thinking about going over to VanSickle Bay but having to cross all that ice from the access makes me nervous.

Any reports on that crossing?

I did see a guy in a portable to the right of Clumps Point and there are many houses around Squaw Point.

I would be running across with a snowmobile and a 10 year old. This is where I become a little nervous........

Thanks!

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Just be careful, check the depth as u go along. It was very slushy when i was crossing steamboat bay to ernies. But i wouldnt travel on it yet this week due to that its going to be high 20s this week even some low 30s. ice is gonna shift this week. I got to start looking out for ice heaves on lakes now.

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