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Sauk Centre Area Fishing Reports


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Looking to hit the hard water this week with some time off of work. Rumor has it that travel has started on Sauk Lake but I have no idea how thick the ice is yet. Anybody got any ice reports for me?? I am looking to get a couple of wheel houses out on the lake but not sure if the lake is ready for the big truck yet!

Fishing reports are hard to come by in the Sauk Centre area unless Fletchers Bait has a week old report so I am hoping to get somthing started here!! The last time I was out was a week ago Friday and tried McCormick Lake for some evening Crappies but no luck with all small fish. I have also been out around the Alexandria area, Lake Miltona had been pretty steady with the Walleye bite but mostly small fish in the 10-12 inch range making it not worth the drive anymore. Both McCormick and Miltona roughly a week ago had anywhere from 4-6 inches of ice with four wheeler travel fairly steady.

If anyone has been fishing the Sauk Centre area and has Ice reports, Fishing reports, or just some grumbling to do about the area fishing post it here and lets get a feed going.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  • SunnyCrappieDay

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I was on the ice three times in the past week. As of Sunday, Little Birch had about 8" of solid ice. With the cold temps over Christmas, my guess is we're approaching a foot of good ice. No snow to stop ice making progress.

BTW... I said the ice was good, not the fishing smile

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was out on a small lake north of sauk sunday and there was 7 inches of ice. Fishing was fair, alot of small fish. Guessing by weekend people will be venturing out with small cars, and atvs with big houses.

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South end of big birch has about 10 inches of good solid ice

Walleye fishing was nit good but a cool full moon anyways

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Headed out on Sauk today with the big house. Solid 12 inches of ice where we drove on and throughout the west shore. Fished tonight and it was slow but productive. Kept 2 walleyes, a 16" and a 20", and one 11" crappie. Marked fish all night but just couldn't get them to go. We also had some smaller fish but had to go back to grow. I am still hearing McCormick is going but don't know if there are any size to the fish. Also big birch is giving up a few walleyes each night but overall pretty slow the last few days.

I like seeing the reports around the Sauk area, keep them coming.

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Hit Sauk lake last night one of the usual crappie spots

Lots of lil fish one that was a keeper most were 8 inches or less

Not real aggressive either used a lindy fatboy and waxie

all fish were released the kids had fun

Weird part was 5:30 came and they completely shut off

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Headed out on Sauk today with the big house. Solid 12 inches of ice where we drove on and throughout the west shore. Fished tonight and it was slow but productive. Kept 2 walleyes, a 16" and a 20", and one 11" crappie. Marked fish all night but just couldn't get them to go. We also had some smaller fish but had to go back to grow. I am still hearing McCormick is going but don't know if there are any size to the fish. Also big birch is giving up a few walleyes each night but overall pretty slow the last few days.

I like seeing the reports around the Sauk area, keep them coming.

How is the ice on McCormick?

Sifty

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I have been out on McCormick quite a few times this year already. I think i was the first to break ice actually. It has been consistent everytime i have gone out there and most times nuts how many you catch but the size just isn't there. Extremely aggressive thats for sure. Most ranging from 6"-8" but a few that could be kept if your hungry. If your lucky you might snag a walleye or 2 also. Ice was about 8-9 inches last weekend so i would imagine with the temps it should be around that 12" mark.

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As Jeron said there is a solid 6-8 inches on McCormick. I have not been out there since the real cold weather but there has to be 10" of ice by now. It is definatly safe for four wheeler travel but the fish just are not real big. Good spot to take some young kids to catch a bunch of small fish to put back.

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Was out on Sauk again last night and nothing. Marked a lot of fish but couldn't get them to go. Had a freindly visit with the local game warden who is in the area helping out!! Nice young man but wouldn't give up any reports of where the fish are biting! All checked out fine in my fish house and hope everyone else that night can say the same.

I was wondering if anyone has ever speared on Sauk Lake. I am looking to get my spear house out to harpoon some Pike for the pickeling pale. I have only speared a few times but know the jist of what to look for when setting up. Just wondering if the lake is clear enough to spear deep holes or if a guy is better off spearing the shallows? I know there are a few guys on the north end by Diamond Point as well as by the hwy 71 access but looking to get away from the crowd.

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As Jeron said there is a solid 6-8 inches on McCormick. I have not been out there since the real cold weather but there has to be 10" of ice by now. It is definatly safe for four wheeler travel but the fish just are not real big. Good spot to take some young kids to catch a bunch of small fish to put back.

Thanks for the update.

Sifty

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Most of the spearing action is along the 71 bridge alone the east side of the lake. i had a cabin up there yrs ago and it was the same way then too. however don't be afraid to venture into small bays and look also, as there are numerous places i can think of to try that way smile

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Any one know how the ice is on sauk by diamond point? thinking about heading up there this coming weekend with the wheeled house. Thanks for any info.

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Thanks for the info crappie, plan on heading out to diamond point friday night, fishing friday and saturday nite and coming home sunday. Plan on fishing sunken island between the hole and diamond point. Heard its been pretty slow but we try any way.

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Headed out on Sauk Lake last night and the bite was pretty good. Marked fish pretty much all night and they were pretty active. The down side was that most of the fish were pretty small. I ended up missing a lot of light biting fish as well. When it came time to leave I was still marking fish suspended but not as active as earlier in the evening. Itdaf seems to me the bite is best right before dark and when the sun sets the bite gets really tough. Many guys are talking good fish numbers just not much size yet.

Also there are some rumors out that there was a 35" walleye taken out of Sauk Lake over the weekend. Heading out again today and will try to get back on to post a report.

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What are they catching right in front of diamond point access with all the houses? crappies? access looks good going down to the lake but looks like coming back off with house could be little tricky being so slippery? Plan on heading out past the point tommorow with the house for the weekend. If you see a gold f150 with brown steeled and white trim fish house stop by.

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What are they catching right in front of diamond point access with all the houses? crappies? access looks good going down to the lake but looks like coming back off with house could be little tricky being so slippery? Plan on heading out past the point tommorow with the house for the weekend. If you see a gold f150 with brown steeled and white trim fish house stop by.

My guess would be crappies that is a deep hole right there.

Sifty

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They are catching walleyes and crappies there out from the diamond point access. It just depends on the depth. If you are traveling from the Sauk area up 71, get on at the hwy 71 access and travel the road to the north end of the lake. There is a solid 16 inches of ice and its real smooth. I myself do that cause I don't care to mess with the steep access.

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Headed out last night and this morning but same old story. Plenty of fish but small. There were some small walleyes mixed in. Hoping tonight will produce some bigger crappies with the warmer days ahead of us.

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Spent Sunday afternoon on Little Birch then Big Birch. Drilled a ton of holes on Little Birch looking for crappies and never marked a fish. About 4:00 headed to the north end of Big Birch to chase walleyes. One small walleye and one northern. Quit at dark. Been spending too much time fishing... not enough time catching!

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Yikes, how many people and houses out by diamond point on saturday and sunday? 5-600 wow were there alot of people out there.

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Was out last night again and very little to report. Caught some small crappies with only 1 keepable. Been on the northend of the lake for some time now but not much happening. It may be time to get out away from the crowd and do some structure searching. I know there are decent sized crappies to be had just a matter of finding them!!

On a side note... How about the NHL finally pulling their heads out and starting the hockey season!! Minnesota Wild soon to be Stanley Cup Champs

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I'm catching my nicest crappies from 8 pm til 12 pm at nite out by the point pulled in some nice 12" AND 13" last weekend. Crappies are bigger than the walleyes grin

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Thanks for the info. Have not stayed out that late yet but have been noticing that many of the people out are staying much later than I am, I am normally packed and driving off by 7p.

I was out again last night and did much better. I moved the house out to the 40' range and after dark the crappies were coming in pretty steady at the 30' mark. The fishing was not hot and heavy but I would say every 10-15 minutes we were pulling a pale bound fish through the hole. Kept 6 fish last night for the frying pan and 2 of them were pushing 12", which is pretty good for Sauk Lake!!

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Hard to beleive with all the people, but there are some nice fish to be caught. House is still out there and will be heading back out there for the weekend starting tommorow night.

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