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South turtle was skimming when the sun came up. light breeze has it open though the east half is mostly frozen. West Battle and Clitherall were steaming like mad this morning. Tonight should lock up smaller and medium lakes if the breeze stays low.

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Hey Biso, Which bay are you talking about. The far east bay off of Hwy 14? Do you have any more information on that part of the lake or the rest of the lake. Thanks.

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Mav, the North end of Deaf locked up last weekend according to a resort owner. Don't know if the wind factored in yesterday.

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Thanks, McGurk. I am thinking about heading up in a day or two just to check things out. Keeping my fingers crossed for a good winter of ice fishing.

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I'm heading back to Ottertail tomorrow. Anyone know when OT locked up? Looking to do some ice fishing tomorrow night if I can get out there to the first break, otherwise will choose a shallower smaller lake around there.

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I'm heading back to Ottertail tomorrow. Anyone know when OT locked up? Looking to do some ice fishing tomorrow night if I can get out there to the first break, otherwise will choose a shallower smaller lake around there.

the middle was still open on the 19th.

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also some moron parked on the ice and broke through at the access on pelican by the narrows Friday didn't see how he got out.. but im guessing a wrecker

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Fished Pelican all weekend with great success, and didn't hear of anyone going through... We had 6-8" where we fished. Lots of houses being drug out with atv's.

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I made it out to Ottertail on Saturday. Very sketchy dangerous ice conditions. 80% of the lake has 2 inches of ice or less right now. I went out from the pelican bay access and to the first break, there was 6 inches, so that wasn't too bad, so if you wanted to be on the safe side, I think you would be ok to make it out there. The ice severely deteriorated beyond the break to less than 2 inches. I also tried the break out from the old Pier restaurant and the ice was much worse. Very variable with spots of open water and 2 inches of ice. Very scary. We were able to barely get out to the break through a series of zig zags around bad spots. Most of the lake over by zorbaz and everything only has 2 inches or less. Lots of broken ice, pressure ridges, open water spots, etc. The SE area of the lake had all the broken ice blow in and refreeze and that's why there's just enough to make it out there to about the break. If your not planning on going out from Pelican bay to the very first break,, you cant fish ottertail right now. Oh, and fishing was terrible to my suprise. Fished early morning, and evening on the breaks, drilled over 50 holes and hopped all over the place, and found 2 tullabee's and that was it. Nothing moved in at sundown like they usually do. Not even marks on the vexilar, just dead. Kind of strange.

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Was out this weekend on the west end out of Amor, 8-9 inches of ice. Saw only 2 perms out and wheelers and snowmobiles only.

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Ya I saw a few snowmobiles/ATVs and UTVs go out on OT this last weekend. I went out and plowed a ice rink for the kids. The gate to the Amor access was still locked up on Sunday.

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Ottertail has 13in out to the 1st break off of 78 access popped about 15 holes and stayed the same all the way out to break. Couple big ice castles at the break and medium size houses out there. Saw a few full size trucks out there already.

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Eagle has some good ice except for the NE part of the lake. The middle is also questionable. Its a scary lake for ice with the springs in it. Have seen it open up in the middle of winter.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      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.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      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
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      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!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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