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Big/ Mitchell lakes


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I drilled a couple of holes on saturday night to check ice thickness. The ice was around 7" in the holes I drilled. I didnt venture too far from shore. Lots of slush on top. Just curious who was fishing out towards the channel in the black portable on sunday afternoon. And how much ice was out there. This was mitchell I was on.

Bus

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Hey busdriver, Good to hear theres enough ice out there. I live right in that nieghborhood and I seen the same house out there. Just a heads up for you. I'm not sure if you plan on going out on Big Lake, but if you do be extreemly carefull by the deep hole out there. There wasn't any ice out there at all before the snow. It looks to be froze over, but its probally crappy ice.

Have you had anyluck out on Mitchell for crappies. I'm looking forward to going out there again this yr. to catch some Northerns, just for fun. I've never really had any luck catching crappies out there. How about you?????

and good luck

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Drove by Mitchell and Big Lake an hour ago. Noticed a couple of lanterns, one way out in the middle, must have hoofed it! One portable 100 yards from the access. O'yea one of those two had thier black Olds Bravodo parked in the middle of the one lane access, please dont park there. You have to consider other fisher people may want to unload and get on the ice also.

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Anyone fished the Little Hole contest? Anxious to see what comes out of the water this year as compared to last. Weather was nasty last year, but it was the best fishing board I've ever seen at the contest.

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Hey Happy,

Yea I know what your talking about on big lake, it seems every year that the middle stays open alot longer. I rarely have fished big lake. I usually fish the contest though. About 3 years ago I did pull a 25" walleye through the ice on Big Lake. Pure luck. I havent made it out to mitchell fishing yet, but I have had some success with the crappies out there. Thier not huge but if you find them you usually can pick a handful of keepers out. I don't fish these lakes alot though, with all the other lakes around. And we usually do snag a northern or 2 on the crappie minnows.

Bus

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Tomcat,

I have fished the contest the last 3 years. And boy your are right about the weather last year, cold and very windy and some freezing rain mixed in from what I remember. Your right about the board also, better catch a nice northern or bass to have any chance. My hole last year had plenty of small perch in it.

Bus

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Has anyone fished Big or Mitchell this weekend? I'm heading out in the AM and wondering if its worth starting there.

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We were out almost all day Saturday and it was pretty slow. Crappie bite was really slow, but we picked one up every once in a while all day.

I noticed someone won the first truck on the ice race. Congratulations to whoever you are. The ice was 12" in places and 6" in others with slush on top.

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Quote:

I noticed someone won the first truck on the ice race. Congratulations to whoever you are. The ice was 12" in places and 6" in others with slush on top.


Are you talking out the white SUV that drove out about noon? Im just glad he parked it eventually.

Im glad that someone caught some fish. I was out for a couple of hours on saturday and I dont even think I saw a fish on the vex. Maybe its because i wasnt anywhere near the "spearhouse city"

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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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