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Ice conditions out there


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How are the ice conditions out there? I think i am going out Sunday evening for some crappies and sunnies are the lakes still good enough for 4wheeler travel or should a person be walking out there right now.

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Fat ;ady is warming up.... Put both 4 wheelers through the ice today..... walking will be fine for another day or two but ice is pulling away from shore fast....... Good Luck to ya.....

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Wear a life jacket

or better yet dont go on this crappy ice

is drowning worth a few panfish?

I know I am finished!@

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I walked out on East Twin (Anoka Cty) yesterday AM - slush near the landing, good traction on the crust and still 16or more inches of solid ice. Shoreline was getting soft as I got of around 11:30. I'm sure last night's rain did nothing to improve the conditions.

Wear a set of picks, rubber boots and a life jacket, carry a spudbar, make sure a rope (and sunscreen) is part of your eqpt. Just be safe!

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zzap, I believe I seen you leaving twin lake yesterday just as I was arriving at 11:30. Do you drive a Ford Pickup?

Did you have any luck?

Somebody drilled six holes in a line that I fished at for awhile with no bites. I met up with some buddies at Baxter (near blue lake), they had 25 sunfish. Biting slowed after I arrived at 1:00. Ice condition was o.k.

Back out at Baxter today. Ice conditions very slippery as one would expect after the rain. Very few people out. When I left at 11:30 there was nobody.

Went to Elk Lake after that to survey the ice and see if anybody was fishing. Ice was as expected and nobody fishing.

Ice spikes/cleets a necessity.

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Was on clearwater the ice is very slippery and the acceces are going quick

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Those were my holes lined up - I had no better luck than you. I even went out to the 50' hole with the same results. Around 10:30 I chatted with another fisherman who was pulling SMALL sunnies out of 12' of water.

I drive a white van, so it wasn't me you saw pulling out.

Any luck on Little Elk?

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I didn't drop a line on Elk. It was too slippery (didn't have my ice cleets)and the wife and kids were getting impatient (and were afraid of falling in),I didn't see anyone else out there. We called it a day and went home. Caught 2 sunny's on Baxter earlier(also extreemly slippery) but the fish seemed to be pretty fussy and far between.

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The boats gassed up and the day Buffalo blows open I'll be on it. ( If its not raining, Crazy not dumb) Go looking for crappies out in the middle of the lake. About 2 week later they should be in shore.

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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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