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

Will be opening on Splithand this year, I was just wondering if anyone has any accurate info. on this lake, as far as water level, and or fishing results in years past. Will be staying at Ruttgers, so if the fish aren't cooperating, at least the golf balls will be flying. Good Luck to all this year and thanks for any information supplied.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Splithand has been good to me in the years past, I've caught many nice fish on that lake. Be prepared to possibly land some crappies as that lake is loaded with pan fish. If Walleyes are your game I think you might be better off fishing the sunken islands on sugar lake right on rutgers. Good luck fishing, and let us know how you do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you put in at the public access on the southwest side, go to your left and find the bar that comes off the point. I'm sure someone else will be there "opening". Then head over to the northeast side of the lake and fish 8 to 10 feet deep. Filled out with walleyes last year (3 of us) but also caught a lot of "hammer handles". These never see the inside of my boat!! rolleyes.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fish fear me and pengy: Thanks for your two replies gentlemen. At least I have some place to start. I heard that the access can be somewhat of a zoo, that is during the opener. I spoke with someone who was there years ago, and he said it was to crowded for him, he did not offer to much info. on the fishing. I will have to be sure and get my partners out of the rack early enough and hopefully beat some of the rush. Thanks again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Splithand is loaded with a nice bunch of keeper fish. They did well this last year on the water and through the ice The water will be a little low but you should be able to get in and the fishing should be good.
check where the water goes into the creek and the water comes out from Little Splithand on the other side of the lake from the landing. Get some shiners and a 1/8oz fireball and you should do well
Good luck
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jason: I must have been posting a reply to the other two replies that I got on my original post. Thanks alot for the info. Is there another plan of attack that I should have in the event that SplitHand does not come off real well. Meaning is there another lake in the area that may be worth looking at. Not looking for any of your personal hot spots just a general answer would be good. I did fish Pokegema years ago, but the water level was way to high for any success. At times we were drifting by yard furniture under water. That was kind of weird.Thanks again, can't wait to get up to your area again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some other options that are within about a 20 mile radious would be Swan lake in pengilly,Shallow lake in Warba,the river between the dams, Hill lake in Hill city, Prairie lake North of G.R is a good opener lake by the river channel on the north end. Hopefully that gives you some ideas
Jason

------------------
fishing fever guide service
fishingminnesota.com/fishingfever/
phone 218-327-2191
e-mail [email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Just returned from our annual outing in the Grand Rapids area. Never did make it to Spit Hand. We met our other two friends on Friday afternoon, they drove down to the lake and after that drive they said once was enough. The rain made the roads somewhat sloppy, and they said the lake was low and the access was in not the best of condition. Their vehicle and boat trailer was packed with sand, after all of that we decided to open up on Sugar, afterall we were staying at Ruttgers. The final tally off of Sugar, we were after Walleye was, 2@18", 6 in the 20-22" range, and two large females in the 29+ that were of course returned to the lake. The walleyes were very aggressive, they slammed fireballs, with shiners on in the 17 to 20 foot range. Tried Pokegema did not do very well there and also went to Deer Lake north of Grand Rapids, thinking if we did well on the clear water of Sugar that this lake might also produce something, that was not a good assumption, lot of perch, partners did pick up a small muskie by accident. We always try different lakes, as we had fish already and nothing ventured nothing gained. Thanks for all the people that replied to my original question. All in all it was a very enjoyable weekend. The much needed rain for the area was appreciated by the locals I'm sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey SemperFi,
Was just wondering what time you were out on Sugar? thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have fished Splithand a few times and was wondering what times are best to fish walleyes and crappies and where. Also wondering if the lake still has some big sunfish in it. A few years back used to nail the hawg sunnies. Up to a pound. Caught them while they were up shallow. They were all males. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

for walleyes from sun up to sun down best just after sun up and right at sun down. the north and east shore are typically the best adnn you can prob get some off the sand bar on the west side. crappies are ussually the same ussually you catch them with the walleyes. and yes there are some big sunnies still in there i watched quite a few come through the ice this winter. stay in the 8-14 ft range and if the wind is up you'll have your best luck drifting so use the wind.
goodluck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mwktrapper: We were usually out early in the morning,then went golfing, and the best time for us that is, was toward the evening from around 6:00pm until 9:30pm or so. The "eyes" in that lake are really healthy, and with the cold water they did not give up the fight. The sunken island, just out from Ruttgers seemed to be as good as any. No boat traffic or recreation type yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • 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.