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Another Snowstorm!! I thought it was supposed to get into the 40's this week. We dont want to fish through ice on the opener. Trout opener gonna be a pain too.

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  • shamrock7

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  • Cliff Wagenbach

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  • heartattack22

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  • Wellesy

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Hey Randy,

We have better ice in Pike bay than we had over 4 weeks ago. The river has re-frozen below the dam and with the temps they are forecasting for next week, it's going to be a slow melting process. I for one am depressed, there was a time that I had thought we would have open water in front of my place by this weekend. What an unbelievable change of fortune we have had in the last week.

I'm really bumming man! frown.gif

"Ace" cool.gif

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Adam actually had the 4 wheeler on ice that wasn't ice last week. This is crazy. I could still be using our ice road, well...... maybe not..

We used our de-icer to get the ice out of our lagoon. The intent was to start getting boats out. Well, the part that we got de-iced,.,.,.,.,REFROZE......We are going to get a boat in the water by Wednesday (no matter what). Have to get that new fireboat in to do some training. Weather forecasts are not talking about a possible storm now.

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Well, with the help of the backhoe, the first boat went into the water after lunch today. 6" of ice on the area that we had open last week. So for those that are getting restless, hope you feel better that the 1st boat is in the water. Won't be long now, unless it keeps getting down to 0 at night.

Keep your fingers crossed

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Its Back!!!!!!!!!!! The snow forecast, that is.

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Quote:

Its Back!!!!!!!!!!! The snow forecast, that is.


frown.giffrown.giffrown.giffrown.gif

Cliff

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Quote:

Its Back!!!!!!!!!!! The snow forecast, that is.


Maybe x2. Tuesday and Wednesday and if it pulls a little north...Friday-Sunday...YUCK!!! At this rate we'll be pulling through the ice on opener and there will be a foot of snow on the ground.

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I think we'll be using augers and ice rods on the opener frown.gif

I'm thinking that Pike Bay will be closed and my Dad and I are actually going to have to go and work for our fish crazy.gif

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Wellesy,

Is your cabin located on Wells' Point by the Glenmore Resort?

I can't even begin to count how many walleyes I have boated in that area over the years during the first few weeks of the season! laugh.gif

Good Fishing!

Cliff

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Shhhh...they'll all being doing it cool.gif

That's us on the point...and it's Welles by the way. I'm sure you've seen me and the family fishing off the dock over the years. It's gotten a little tougher with the fishing there but we still manage to scratch out a few...though I got skunked on last year's opener. frown.gif It's fun to see the various patterns of boat placements on the opener from year to year.

Jason

BTW: I'm told we have a mutual friend on Ely Island.

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I think Pike Bay was just to cold yet last year for a good walleye bite there. No baitfish.....No walleyes!

Heard that the bite did pick up later for a while though.

As a general rule, the dock fishermen at times will out fish us boat guys!

Who do we both know on Ely Is.?

Cliff

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Geez, I never even contemplated fishing opener anywhere but on vermilion. Maybe the ice will make it a reality this year.

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Cliff, that's the way it seemed last year...did a little better the second weekend though. My fishing was rather limited last summer so hope to make up for it this year...the mayfly hatch really screwed things up for me.

I guess you ice-fished with him this last winter a few times...initials C.W. help at all?

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Yup, That would be Carl !

Great bunch of guys!

Cliff

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Quote:

Geez, I never even contemplated fishing opener anywhere but on vermilion. Maybe the ice will make it a reality this year.


I have been fishing Vermilion opener since 1957 annd have never had to miss one yet.

We did come close to not having Big Bay ice free a couple of times though. A few years ago the last of the ice went off of Big Bay the Friday night of opener! shocked.gif

Cliff

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I hope Carl fishes better than he golfs...lol! I can't say much as I fish better than golf.

He's in the same line of work as my dad, they work together some and have become good friends. I saw him two weekends ago when he brought Dad's 4-wheeler back after spending the weekend on Ely. I think he owes me a brewskie after I summerized his sled...not fun with the spark plug setup tongue.gif

Does he post here at all?

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Geez, I never even contemplated fishing opener anywhere but on vermilion. Maybe the ice will make it a reality this year.


Who says you have to miss opener on the Big V...May just need the ice auger and short poles. LOL

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Wellesy,

I do not think that Karl post here, but think he does read many FM posts.

Cliff

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Ok, maybe we'll get him on here one of these days.

What is the current status on the ice? I'll be up for the day on Saturday and thinking about poking around on the 4 wheeler if decent ice prevails.

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I have not been out on the ice for a couple of weeks but suspect that the ice is still plenty safe in most open areas. It has been close to zero degrees all week at night!

Cliff

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For the most part, the ice is ok. Really keep an eye out for areas that are shallow as they are opening up some already. Remember that the lake is low so things are not the same out there. If you take it easy as stay away from points and reefs, you should be ok.

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I can't believe we're still taking about ice travel in mid April. confused.gif

I think I need to go and read the "positive attitude" thread some more...

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Some warm rain would really be nice now. Melt some ice and help raise the water level a little bit.

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From my measurement, (Which really isn't that good) I would guess that we have gained about 4" since last fall as far as water level is concerned. The fireboat is in and floating. Actually have 4 boats in now. Headed up to the Rainy for a day of fishin with Heartattack tomorrow. Will report back. Probably have room for 1 if someone wants to tag along.

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Shamrock7,

Good luck on the Rainy!

I am going up very early Friday and will be back Sat. night.

I have gotten reports that they are getting some big walleyes now! laugh.gif

Cliff

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yeah, thats what we are seeing but we wanted to get up there before the weekend rush got going. I'm sure that it will be busy enough the way it is. We will report back tommorrow evening.

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Seems pretty warm up there now. Any updates to the ice situation?

Thanks

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Just drilled a couple holes and found 3 ft where we had our ice road but out away from that there was 2 ft of ice. It will still be a while but this warm air sure helps.

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Just went out and drilled some holes in normal ice (not on a road or packed trail) and found about 28". It is pretty well honeycombed. If the forecast improves just a little bit to keep the night time temps above 32, it would help a lot. Looks like we are going to have a good week with highs in the 50's but no significant chance of rain until Thursday. And for those not aware, we could be seeing extreme fire conditions shortly. No burning permits after today. I should start another thread on fire danger but it is not really fishing based, moderator, your thoughts??

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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