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.

Ice Fishing Reports


Recommended Posts

Lets use this thread to report on our fishing endeavors through the early ice season. I will start.

As of this morning Big Detroit is almost entirely froze over. I will be out ice fishing tomorrow morning and I will report results. A buddy of mine fished the other day and got three walleyes in about 14 fow. Ice should be pushing 3 inches on where I will be going.

Everyone be safe and have fun, Ice fishing is not worth taking a dunk over.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 75
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Dahitman44

    12

  • eyehunter

    11

  • DEADhead

    11

  • fisherdog19

    6

Say -- Can you let us know the ice condition too. That would be great.

Some of us are part chicken, but I think I am 3/4 chicken. wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First hand report of 4 inches in Deadshot bay, should be ok but wear a life jacket and have hand spikes available just in case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out today for my trial run.

I went to a pond between twelve and fourteen and saw nothing, (fished in 11' of water)but had a great time.

The wind tried to blow me of the lake so I packed up about 6PM and headed for home.

I was on 5" of clear ice

Use extreame caution if venturing out over deeper water as the ice appeared to get thinner as the depth increased.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Planning on going to Swede Grove tomorrow afternoon - if the wife lets me out of the house. Drove by it this afternoon and walked out a ways, there is between 5"-6" of ice that I could tell. Also saw some guys fishing a small slough just to the west of Hitterdahl - I know there are tons of walleyes in there, but most are pretty small (8"-10"). I would think that there was more ice on that pond.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just an FYI for the 'heavier' angler who wants to fish little D. I was out on Little D this morning with 4" of ice and was experiencing some cracking of the ice when I was venturing out. With that and the freezing rain, I went back home; not worth going in... the bad spots were betweeen the marina and the public beach. I weigh 230 lbs.

Be safe out there, and careful driving today, it's slick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished the late afternoon bite on Deadshot with a friend of mine and DEADhead. I small pike, and nothing else. Not sure why the lack of fish, didn't mark anything large, could be just a fluke, it's usually real good early ice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't put the boat away yet!!

For about 2 hours I was walking all over the ice (5") northeast of Hitterdahl. Only set up a tip up for 15 minutes while I checked out the lake with my LX3. Nothing happening so I drove around and......

At 5:00 pm Sunday evening I saw a boat out on Big C. with a couple fishing just off the north landing! Not a sign of ice other then 50% of Leif starting.

Hmmmm....what's a guy to do??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shae - did you have any luck?? In the past we have done pretty good on Swede. Acutally broke the 10lb mark this summer on a few fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lenny,

I didn't even fish that night, me and a buddy are busy building a spear house but we went and talked to another of our friends out their and he said he hasn't marked a thing, but thats how i knew how much ice was out their. I was hoping to try thier on sunday but got busy doing some other things. Maybe this weekend, depends on the weather, might have to do some pheasant hunting instead. But good luck too all who venture out and be safe, especially after this rain.

Andrew

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i heard of a couple of guys goin on south twin and slottering the wallys i seen on tamarac sum guys were in a portable already i hope this weekend i will be on the lake be safe out there guys wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am starting to salivate -- I neeed to get out there.

I have been muzzleloading -- Need to get fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit Little D with DEADhead on Friday, caught tons of bluegills and 2 small crappie's. Fished 12.5 fow, and it was good to get out. It was good to get the kinks out and make sure all the equipment works.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Talked to my cousin this morning. He put his spear house out on Lida yesterday. He said he found four inches of good ice. I don't know the exact location (I'm sure one of his super duper secret, kill you if you tell, spots) He did get a couple of northerns and had a couple others stay outside the edge of the hole. He thought Lida blew pretty much completely open before it froze solid, but be very careful. I'd never take anyone's word for ice depth early in the season. Plus, I have seen what he calls a 15 inch walleye! I'm thinking of trying my favorite early season lake this afternoon. Good luck and stay topside.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hey cicada were he was at there probably was about that much ice in front of the cabin i founf 4-6 inches but when you got to the edge were it was open on wed there was maybe 2 stopped when i got that far shawn earley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit Little D with Deadhead today. Tried for gills and crappies in 11-13 fow. Gills were very finicky with most of the biters being small ones. Caught a couple bass which surprised me a bit. Deadhead had a nice fish on, thinking northern, that he must have fought with for a couple minutes before it broke off. Sure would have been nice to see what it was.

Good to get out for the first time, but boy was it cold out there! shocked.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did go to the little lake mentioned earlier. There was eight inches of ice away from shore. There was also an inch or two of snow on top of the ice. I usually walk about a half mile to my spot. With that little bit of snow, I didn't get all the way out there. Being a old fat guy and trying to pull a Clam Jr and a sled with equiptment and auger, just about killed me. Fished 15 feet of water. Marked a few fish, mostly small stuff. Got skunked. Decided to make two trips to shore after dark. Oh well, there's Wednesday.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

fished little detroit sat. we got 9 bass, 2 crappies (1 was about 5 inches long), 2 northerns that broke off in the hole, 2 sunfish, and a bullhead. Fun to get out but would have liked more crappies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Funny story here. My brother and I were out yesterday and I had to relieve myself and went outside the house and he said a second later my bobber was down. when I get back inside he's reeling in a pretty good size fish. After about 5 minutes of playing him out he shows himself sideways in the house. Its a monster Walleye. Boom hes gone for another run. comes up again still same way sideways. hes not coming up that hole for nothing - both of these times I dont have enough time to reach and grab him. the Third time I did just that and finally got him through the 8 inch hole. Took him outside and find that my tiny little jig hook was not hooked by any skin just hanging from his mouth. I remove it and it was bent pretty good. (27inch 8 lb Walleye.) It was a team effort. If I wasn't there to grab him he would of been gone and it would just be a story. Its his biggest walleye. Would of been mine too. Dang it!!!! Why did I have to Pee just then.

Just thought I would share. This was about 5 p.m. last night

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wanted to add my report, I was out on Sunday on Franklin back in Churchs Bay, ice was good / clear about 4". Was only able to fish for an hour, but got to work out a few things equipment wise. I used a spud bar infront of me at all times and there are places where one solid hit with the spud and you are throught the ice. I did see a few folks out on crystal, lida, prairie etc. One note on Franklin the water was very dirty. Maybe 3-4 feet visability which for that lake is uncommon. No-hook ups but marked a few on the LX-3, but no takers. All in all it felt really good to get out. Use common sense and stay safe.

Jay

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished Little Cormrant saturday. There were eight inches of ice. Fished in 17' and marked alot of fish but they were really finicky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 inches of ice on the smaller lakes I fished. Swede Grove lots of small perch. Most productive catching bass surprisingly in 11-17 FOW. Goergeous weekend!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Fished Little Cormrant saturday. There were eight inches of ice. Fished in 17' and marked alot of fish but they were really finicky.


did you get out with steve-o? i was hoping to get out with you guys this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I did get out with steve-o. I think we will be heading out either friday after classes or saturday. Not sure where yet. Drop me a line if you want to join.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone have any info on ice thickness of Little Detroit or Sallie? I have seen some houses out in front on J&K Marina, but wondering on thickness. I went to the access at Sallie and saw no houses. Hoping to put a 7 X 12 house w/ retarctable wheels out this weekend. Any info would be great.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Anyone have any info on ice thickness of Little Detroit or Sallie? I have seen some houses out in front on J&K Marina, but wondering on thickness.


As of this past Sunday, out around the Marina there was a good 8-9" of ice. The number of permanents doubled in the few hours I was out there. Don't know about Sallie. I thought Deadhead did an ice check on there, might be in one of the other threads on here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.



  • 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.