Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

On Tuesday, Dec. 25, we spent a few hours on Big Marine. It was covered with a lot of snow with big snowdrifts which made it hard to pull the sled. At the place where we stopped the ice was fairly thick - about 6" of solid ice and 3-4 inches of frozen slush on top of it. At 12 FOW we found a bunch of crappies with the camera. They were sticking close to the bottom between weeds. Fish started to bite somewhat actively at the sunset. Most of the fish we've got was somewhere between 6" and 11.5". We released the small ones but what we had left was still enough for a decent dinner later that night. Please note that the light scared the fish away so we had to use the light from the heater. All in all it was a nice season opening for us.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't fished big marine in a few years. Someone told me there is a new access on the west side by the vets camp. any truth to this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To the best of my knowledge they are going to reopen it in 2008. I saw some construction going on there when I drove by.

Good Luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Found a pretty decent crappie bite on Big Marine this evening, hooked into around 30 from 4-8pm. Got pre-dusk action on eurolarva with a glow pink diamond jig, it was all dorsal fin hooked minnows after sunset using a white genz bug. Got a few over 12", one a hair over 13". I was in 10'.

good luck, LB

13metrooy7.jpg12metrong4.jpg12metrorn5.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HEy Blueroof, I bet we were the ones discussing ATV towing elsewhere? \:\)

Glad to see you did well on Big M. I was out last weekend and did rotten. But I was pulling by hand, so we didn't go out too far from the east access.

Nice crappies! Very nice!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those are some nice crappies. I tried everywhere on the Big Marine and have yet to hit slabs like that yet. Good work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Box, yup, that was me for sure. Thanks for the ATV info, I put my 15 sq inches of reflective material on the back of my trap sled last night!

VXR, Big Marine has a wide range of crappie classes in it. I find that if you are on them and you fish higher in the column, and/or throw out a bigger minnow than you might think necessary you will get a few of them. I got the big one 5 feet off the bottom, with a medium sized fathead, I only brought one Nalgene of minnows out, was running low on bigger crappie minnows. Most of the fish caught were 9" or less though.

LB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out Sat & Sun and Drove out with the atv. Saw cars and full size trucks on the ice. Looks like 14-15 in of ice but where I was (3 different spots) the top 3-4 in is frozen slush.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out Sunday and drove out a ways. Parked and then blueroof hauled our butts around with his wheeler. Good ice where I parked, but was less when we went farther out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What's the best access that has "decent" fishing within walking distance? I'm taking my daughter out on Monday for her birthday, and I'll be pulling the portable out on foot. Any help is appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

jwhjr, the best access for a day bite would probably be on the west side off 185th street. Lots of folks setup over on that side in about 10' for gills. Good luck! LB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks blueroof, that's where I was leaning towards. Looks to be the "shortest" walk. \:\)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are there trucks driving everywhere out there or are there any "trouble" spots? Thanks for any help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

those are some great crappies. Nice work. Are you getting them that size on a regular basis out there or is it pretty spotty like everywhere else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hawk, pretty spotty like you'd expect. Rarely do I pickup over one 12" an outing. LB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How is the ice thickness.Would like to take the kids out this weekend and put out some tip-ups. Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't been on it since the cold snap. There should be lots of ice. People were driving all over before the cold hit. LB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are there springs or bad ice spots in this lake? My buddy and I were out today, looking for a crappie spot on this lake. We found a likely spot with the gps, but there wasn't a vehicle or even tracks leading to the area. There is a 12 foot weed flat that must have had the city of scandia and half of forest lake using tip ups, at least 50 vehicles in a pretty small area. Otherwise, the lake doesn't look like its too busy[ reletive to the area]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishpondc - big marine is fished like that, most folks fish the east arm in the large 12' bowl, or the west side of the main bay. A few brave folks drill elsewhere, but generally you have those two spots were people flock. To be honest, that is where panfish are regularly found. I've found crappie deeper, but not too often.

The only spot that I know to stay away from is the far south end of the main bay, lots of springs once you get off the break into 12' or so.

LB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Any update on Big Marine? Might be able to ice fish the lake for the first time on Sunday. We'd have access on the south side of the east arm.

From the comments above should I look for 10-12' of water in that area for crappies and set tip-ups for Northerns?

Thanks in advance.

DB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thinkin about headin out there this coming weekend. Was out a few weeks ago on some weed flats on the north side and had flag after flag but only got 3 northerns on the ice, they were ripping my suckers right off

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. 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. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   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...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.