Airport lake

[Tipup101]

Whats the real name of airport lake in Winnona! looking to heap that way.

[Ron Burgundy]

Bartlett. I haven't been there yet, maybe this weekend.

[sodajerk]

It's north of the airport on the west end of Winona, right?

[Ron Burgundy]

Actually, the runway runs righ along side the lake. Can anybody tell me how much ice is on the lake?

[Tipup101]

I talked to a guy there two weeks ago there was 8 inches at the least.

[Ron Burgundy]

Thanks for the info. I may try there this weekend. Gotta see how my new auger works. I've never used a power auger so I'm hoping not to cut a foot off!

[Tipup101]

Grab your tipups flags have been flying well so I'm told...

[Ron Burgundy]

There was 10 inces on Saturday. Somebody left their ice shelter box right on the bank leaning on a tree. I think it was an HT Ice bandit. Bait cups and beer cans are bad, but come on, a 3-4 foot wide box. Terrible!

[Tipup101]

That lake has been a zoo. I drove by and saw the crowd and kept going. To much noise on that ice for me. I know a few sneaky spots in the back waters. Hammered the 12 inch crappies in a honey hole. Get this 18-20 ftw and 8-9inchers where on the bottom and the 10-12 where swimming 3-5 ft below the ice. Never seen crappies do that before. It was fun thank god for Vexlar and all fish are still swimming.

[sodajerk]

One of my coworkers and his dad really like this lake and keep asking me to come out and try it with them, so I think I'm going to this Saturday. Sixty miles one way which is a lot farther than I usually drive to fish, but what the heck, you only live once.

He said they fish "straight out" from the parking area, whatever that means. I was through Rollingstone a couple weeks ago, but I haven't been to Winona in years and I don't know if I've ever seen Airport lake.

How much water is there? Good clarity? Any go-to tips or tricks?

[Ron Burgundy]

I've heard of the crappie bite over the weekend. I may try that spot soon. I went yesterday, but forgot my sonar and waxies. I've never fished there b4 so I went to Mc Nally and threw minnows and every piece of plastic I had at them. I didn't even get a nibble. I sure do love it when I can tell when theres a fish below me.

[prodriverunner]

Ron, I was out there yesterday the crappie bite was at first light we caught 8-10 then they stopped and the gills came in and started. This was all on waxies. I was fishing with 2 other guys and 1 flasher. I think the ratio was 5 fish to 1 flasher vs. none. I have also found that Mc Nally really shuts down after 1st ice, I think for some reason that area really loses the O2 quickly. I would get marks on the bottom but no bites and I too threw the box at them.

Buck