Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Im going predict I will be on open water (smaller lakes) with my boat by the weekend of the 10th and bigger lakes will be opening up by following weekend.

Whats your thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hope you are right. I hate to say it but I think we will need some more heat or a lot of rain to make this ice break up quicker.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Might be a little soon, with snow flying today and forcast around 40 might be tough to eat through 3+ feet of ice!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was on a little lake Sunday afternoon. Edge had refrozen and was crystal clear ice, little freaky to walk out on but was solid. When we got out there we still had 2-2.5 feet of ice for the most part. Top had refrozen and was slick to walk on so I don't think it's going to happen too soon. Did the rain and snow today help ice out?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Starting to feel my prediction was pretty far off lol. I just want to get back in the boat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

You are probably right Chill. Looking like an average ice out year. I am fine with that. My guess is the 17th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I drove by Silver this morning and it was a little dark out, but it looked to be ice free. Small spring fed lake, so it might be one of the first to open up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tamarac on St. Hwy 34 west of Dunvilla had a good portion of the bay open but main lake looked frozen over still. Shocked no one was out since the access was open.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Chill,

Do you know anything about Tamarac on #34? I drive by there every week and the last year have seen no one fishing there. I noticed one spearing house this winter. Did they get winter kill in the last couple of years?

About 3 years ago i was driving by the landing and some shore fisherman had about a 9 pound walleye by the gills as he walked to his truck. Now about 5 miles west there is a road side lake with a bunch of flooded timber that I see gets a lot of ice fishing action, many people park on the highway. Must be some pan fish action going on there. Do you know what that lake is named?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're thinking of a different Tamarac. I was told the Tamarac on 34 had a bad winterkill a couple years ago... There is an aeration system in place, but it wasn't used that year.

The lakes bnelson is asking about are Rankle, Businger, and Helgeson... They are flooded and all connected now. They're pretty shallow and hold bluegill, crappie, perch, lmb, walleye... Nothing special though and I've never done very well there. I know there was some winterkill there a couple years ago as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not familiar with Tamarac and as stated there are multiple ones and that is why I pointed out Hwy 34 one. My dad moved down to that area and I want to double check to make sure the boat is working right so I've been keeping an eye on ice conditions there. If everything goes good I may drop the lower unit into it this weekend but only if everything goes good. The lake was open on the west side of the lake for the most part. Hopefully more lakes keep opening up. Has anyone been down to Dunton Locks by chance? I want to show the girlfriend that when they start coming through.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was told that the ice went off Franklin today. Not sure if that's true or not but with this temp and wind its very possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The wind Saturday night wiped out the ice on Franklin. When it got dark, about 75% of the lake was still covered with ice, woke up Sunday morning and it was gone.

Visited Lida and it was gone too, saw two boats out on Mud lake northwest of Lida.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any recent updates?

Pictures and report from the lake place show Big C and DL ice free as of yesterday. I was on N & S Lida Tuesday and both were ice free. Main lake temps mid 40s, back bays upper 50s - almost 60 in one bay. Panfish not in the shallows in big numbers yet... Checked out Mud and it was loaded with rough fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.