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Osakis Ice Report (North Bay)


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I was out on the north bay of Osakis yesterday. There were 6" (measured with a ruler) of solid clear ice everywhere I fished. I believe I was the first to drill holes this year but by the time I left the lake around 5:00 there were 8 portables and 2 permanent (spear houses) houses out. All I managed were 7-8 smallish sunnies, but I was good to be out. I also fished a smaller (125 Acres) lake in the area and managed 12 crappies (8-10.5 in). I fished on 6 inches of ice there too but there was open water even on that small lake. Please be careful if you venture out, especially after this snow. There is good ice but I saw open pockets on almost every lake I checked out yesterday, the wind this week made things very sketchy.

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Did you go across the entire north bay or just a ways out? I was wondering if the middle of the bay has frozen enough to make it a go? Thanks for the report and do remember to stay safe!

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I was out there Sunday (Dec 2nd) on the North Bay. I would stay out of the middle for a couple of days still. I had 6" of ice on about 6-10 feet of water...but when we walked out to a 20 foot spot it quickly became about 4". It was still o.k. to fish, but I was not about to go out any further.

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We fished the north end on Friday and Sat. we saw 5-7" of good solid ice the spots we fished. There is still a big hole of open water out from coon point and there is a pressure ridge off battle point with about a 5 foot open area of water. There is quite a bit of snow out there now with some decent size drifts. We had a decent walleye bite on Friday night and then it kind of shut down on Sat.

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I was out Sunday morning (managed 1 rockbass!). There are a lot of drifts and water/slush on the ice. What a mess! Any tips on a good depth to target for eyes this time of the year on Osakis, I have mostly been a winter panfisherman but am trying to target walleyes this winter. Not looking for spots just trying to understand walleye movement this time of the year. Thanks.

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I was also wondering the same thing on osakis I was wondering if people go way up in the shallows or stay down in the depths? Once you find them though i think they will be hot!

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Well i am not an expert by any means but over the weekend we had our best luck in 20-24' right off of shorline. But right now there is really no pressure out there and no one driving on the lake. Once that happens it can be a different story. Magic time over the weekend was at 9:30pm

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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    • 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.
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