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Self satisfaction and the unending admiration of anonymous internet friends

Took another trip into the BWCAW last Friday to fish for lakers. I waited until daylight to drive the snowmobile to the portage so I could safely cross the large pressure ridge in the middle of the lake. There were 4 other parties already parked at the portage when I got there, plus 2 other parties came later in the day (one even after sunset). Walking/towing on the lake was quite easy and I found a spot to fish with nobody close by. Fished for over 10 hours until sunset and didn't catch a fish. I did have 4 hits on jigs, including one I got up to the bottom of the hole before the snap swivel caught on the bottom of the hole and the fish shook off. Enjoyed the sunset in the BWCAW before starting the trek out in dusk. While leaving I saw 3 other people towing sleds just coming onto the lake, I assume to spend the night. While snowmobiling in the dark back to the landing I got slightly lost but was able to correct my rout and make it out before running out of gas (was on empty). Was very nice day in the BWCAW, but it is a tough trip when you don't even catch a fish. May go back to Burntside this week for a much easier trip.

This may end up be a quiet topic, but I thought I would share my results (and lack there of) because of my love for late winter lake trout fishing. Went to Burntside Lake on Thursday, February 27th for my first time there this winter, and like my last 3 trips there last year I was skunked. It was a very windy day so I fished in a spot next to a cliff to avoid the wind. I found 4" of hard pack snow on top of 3" of water over 20+" of ice. I was able to avoid the water (most of the time) by sitting in my sled portable and walking around very carefully. I had no bites in 10+ hours fishing and only 3 "follows" of my pike suckers and jig. Was still a very enjoyable day on the ice. I saw a few other people out fishing, and was surprised to see that somebody had plowed a huge road out from Van Vac landing and plowed spots for wheelhouses. Currently there were 8 of them on the ice. My success on Burntside has definitely diminished in the last few years. Guess I need to get to "10,000 jigs" to catch another. Or maybe I will take the tough trip into the BWCA to enjoy the wilderness.

It’s been all of 7 years since I’ve fished Burntside. The last time I also brought my wheelhouse up and headed out of Van Vac. That was a scary ride down the hill at 11pm when I showed up. The switchback access road was iced up and the weight got me sliding like I was on a luge. I intentionally put my rig into the snowbank before I got to the 2nd turn. It was enough to slow me down that I could make that corner. I left the lake out of Camp Van Vac and that wasn’t easy either with the double layer of ice. The lake ice conditions you described are too familiar to me for this time of year. I’ve had a wheelhouse out there twice in my years of fishing it, otherwise it’s been sled or wheeler travel only - which is a way better idea! Reports have been so quiet from there, I’ve wondered if the fishing got tougher or if it’s just the shift in social media that’s the reason. March trips for me have always had that great expectation but honestly, most March trips for lakers have been a bust. I’ve been in Canada the past 3 years at this time and only 1/3 were good laker trips. No trip this year and I’m OK with that. All this to say, I still miss ice fishing that lake! I was looking over some of my old spots on my mapping app and thought how nice it would’ve been to have that back in the glory days! Good luck and thanks for posting! *6 years, 11 mos, based on a phone pic. *

Skunked-no-more. Or does it count if the fish is out of season (note - quickly and safely released). Made another "walking" trip on Burntside and again didn't catch any lake trout. When I saw the tip-up start to spin I thought for sure I might get one, but just ended up being a 26" northern. At least I did mark a few fish this time, and did get to use my 5th fish house this winter. May try one more trip. Beautiful day on the lake at least.

I think it all helps to create motion and confusion to keep their attention away from the blinds. The hurricanes seemed pretty important though. 6 of them per spread and moved around dependent on wind direction. Some tall silo socks mixed in with them too. Kill hole in the middle with a few decoys clustered over the e call. That was about 25 yards from the blinds. 7-8 batteries to run everything. 2000 decoys per spread. I wasn’t the shot caller. We were taking them at about 40 yards on average but I believe we could’ve gotten a lot of them feet down. We all remember the single Ross’ that broke off from a group of snows hovering at 100+ yards and took the elevator all the way down to its demise. The shot was called just before it lit but we were all sure if it was left alone, the audience above would’ve joined. It was mesmerizing to watch to watch how much they work a spread without flapping their wings much. These pics were waiting for them to come down closer. They did.

Jeff and I fished Saturday and half day Sunday, targeting whitefish, ciscos, crappies, and perch. The bite was tough for us. We ecked out a few, but nothing special. Highlight of the weekend was the sled ride into Wolf Lake and having an eagle swoop in and eat a rock bass we had on the ice. All in all, not a bad way to waste time.

Van Vac can be a tough hill to travel on. I parked in the upper parking lot in 2014 and went out fishing in a snow storm. I think we got about 10 inches of snow that day and they didn't plow at all. There was no way my front wheel drive caravan was going to make it up the upper hill so I spent the night in my van. I had prepared for that possibility so I was quite comfortable in the 0ºF night (just started the van up once during the night to heat it up. I went out fishing again the next day and when I came back they still hadn't plowed the road to the parking lot (late March). So I towed my snowmobile trailer to the top of the hill with my snowmobile. Then I made a circular path in the parking lot so I could build up my van speed to go up the hill. I think it was about 15 attempts to go up the hill before I finally made it to the top. What an experience.

41F and calm. First fire of 2025!!

Barely had time and data to post a few random daily pics! Iffen you’re self banned, how’d ya know? Sunday - Tuesday hunt near Yankton, SD. We found ourselves there between two of the big pushes north. Adults first, pushing the ice line north, slipped through a couple days before we got there and the second juvie push held up by the storm that went through the night we traveled. Our best day was Monday. Sunny and warm with a nice south wind. Day 3 was cool with a stiff northeast wind bringing in another storm. A select few groups did well with birds coming off Lewis and Clark lake but we weren’t in their path. We packed up early and hit the road. We headed north and found them between Brookings and Watertown. Saw 100’s of thousands at the ice line.

I hauled a dresser out from my place on Friday. I had it nice and wrapped to keep all of the melt water off of it as it towed behind my snowmobile. When I got to the truck, the entire sled was full of water - so I kept the top dry but the bottom got drenched. I also spilled water into one of my boots as I emptied the sled. At least it was nice outside!

It's kind of sad. The two lakes I loved the most in this state are Mille Lacs and Burntside. And I think we broke them both!

Went back to Burntside on Tuesday and I got "skunked again" (LOL). Looked like the lake was a mess over the weekend, but it was all frozen solid by sunrise Tuesday when I arrived. The new ice cleats I got worked very well on the glare ice. Was a beautiful sunny day but cool and quite windy. I had a nice view of my tip-up from my warm fishhouse but the flag never went up, and I didn't mark a fish while jigging. May have to try North Arm next, or go back into the BWCAW if the ice conditions improve.

Those are some nice lakers. Admittedly, I just hit BWCA lakes in the spring when they come up shallow - so I cheat! I fished LOW two weeks ago and caught a good sized pike on an airplane jig. It swam around and collected one of my buddy's lines and then slipped the hook on the hole's edge as well. The fish that get away are always the ones to remember.

Quite a bit a matter of convenience but it was pretty good in the late 2000’s; early 2010’s for me. It’s fully outside of the B-dub, and expansive, so plenty of places to try. But never go out there with expectations beyond spending time on one of the most beautiful lakes the state has to offer. You should count yourself blessed to get 1 trout iced but 5 trout days can happen. Biggest I’ve gotten out of there is 32 inches. Average had been 24-27.

Lot's of people still out on lakes with side by sides and trucks. Looks to be cold the next few days that'll help. Even with the warm weather I didn't see any dark ice or any water on the shorelines. I have not been out as walleye is closed, been working a lot, and working on the boat. Repowering with a different motor this year. I won't disclose the color as I don't need a boat parade following me to the walleye They also came out with a transom trolling motor with spot lock. This will ne a game changer goal for open water walleye this year is 500+ fish

It's tough to find the etymology of numb nuts. Lots of guesses that it came from the military and/or cycling communities, but nothing definitive. It's meaning has no doubt though...

Because I temporarily changed the rules, and smurfy was the 2nd person to wager a guess, I changed his prediction to April 25th. Also, since SkunkedAgain was the originator of this competition and was the 1st person to guess, I will give him until Friday to change his prediction if he wants to (although he may regret if the ice goes out on April 18th). After him, no more "changes" will be allowed on my board. Lots of "good" open dates available for those that have not predicted yet. Updated board below:

My 35th is March 30th. That could be a bit early.

Winner will get a free ticket to the Makinen Volunteer Fire Department cash raffle. Chance to win $2,500 among the 15 cash prizes.

There now looks like a great hunt, hope posting didn't bruise as much as your shoulder was after that weekend! I can still peek, without signing in next door!

Nope, I can see. Self banned. Don't need to argue political and religion all day on a Outdoor forum.

Are you banned from crossing said fence,,

Ya know I typically don't cruise through Inger too often. Still looking for a plastic, orthopedic or cardiothoracic surgeon so I can be a stay at home husband and catch walleye every day. Not a whole lot of those in this neck of the woods

ran into an old famous feller today at the grocery store.......spent about 20 minutes BS'ing with the world famous icehawk. yea he still hunts and fishes more then he works!!!!!!!

I love fileting out a good pike, or pickling it. Good eating.

You got to do, what you got todo!

Smurfy there's a lot of pike in Mille Lacs tho...

Running on empty at dark on a sled is definitely stress-inducing. Been there, done that. Glad that you made it out.

just below the ice???? i was pulling crappies from 30 ft over 43 ft and 23 inches of ice this past weekend. nice going!!!!!!

Hot out today to enjoy the weather and fish. The bite was crazy good. I kept 10 crappies and 8 gills. Gills were 7 3/16 to 8 1/8 inches crappies were from 9.5. 10.5 inches. Shallow water just below the ice. 3 mm pink and white with a white spug.

Burntside Lake is a beautiful lake and very convenient to get to. I started fishing it in 2010 when it got to difficult for me to travel into the BWCA while I lived in the twin cities. I averaged 1 laker/day up to 2018 when my success started to decline. That was also when I quit going out on snowmobile and just walked to fishing spots. That probably also contributed to my decline. My average the last 3 years has been 0.4 lakers/day. Now that I live in northern Minnesota I think I will travel into the BWCA more for lakers. My longest Burntside laker was the skinny 33 incher shown in the 1st picture (2020). This fish weighed only 7#-15oz, and I think it was at the end of its life. My biggest BWCA laker was 34 inches and weighed 13#-3oz (2nd picture from 2008). I also caught an 11 pounder in the BWCA in 1999 (3rd picture). My goal is to someday catch a 20 pounder. I had one up to the bottom of the hole once that I think was over 20 pounds. I was jigging a large airplane jig near the bottom when I thought I snagged the rocks. When I was able to finally move the fish I knew I had a huge one. I saw its head at the bottom of my 7-inch hole and had a hard time getting it started into the hole. I reached for the gaff hook but the jig caught on the bottom of the hole and the fish was gone. Ever since then, I chisel the bottom of my holes to guide the laker's head into the hole.

Amen, brother!

It's from tiny boat nation, the auto boat smart head. Essentially you remove the head of a minnkota transom trolling motor, and use the shaft/lower unit and bracket, there's a motor that attaches to the bracket and a different head unit that's operated via remote or phone app

Smurf, the good Lord created species like pike for those who cannot catch walleye...

Future weiners over da fire! 187 venison hot dogs from plantenbergs in Richmond

Up until April 24th?

Nah, I'm not changing my guess. It's more fun to make early predictions and see how far off I am. I'll turn on the hair dryer and see if it helps.

Agreed, but I had a bit of a technicality and had to change. You!

As long as we haven't reached the date you originally chose, you can change your guess to any open date. At least those are the rules for my "big dollar" raffle board. Always fun to keep guessing the ice-out date on Vermilion as the melting season progresses. This is our first year living on a lake (150 acre shallow lake between Duluth and Ely) so I am enjoying watching the melting process on our lake. Board is updated below. Dates are slowly disappearing but many middle dates are still available.

May 5th please. 35th anniversary

I seem to remember some of us changing our predictions last year as the weather changed. Are all guesses final, or is there a cut-off date for making a change?

Just don't take it on Vermilion. You can join me if you want......We can share the honors!

Leech is getting things ready to go turkey hunting

Yep just below the ice

Smoked polish sausage with some beans!

think I'll pass.. have fun!!!!

i prefer fish that has flavor......... but thats a pretty funny one right there!!!!!!!!

That WILL be game changer for small tiller boats! I clamp a transom mount on the front of my little river boat amd would love to have spot lock!

Um, that's why I listen to the forecast and had it tonight, silly!