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Been out in the bay between Park Point and Wisconsin a good 2ft of ice there out by the airport, but you have to be careful I believe they just stopped chopping open the shipping lanes on Jan. 15. Lakeside is wide open and doesn't look like it will freeze at all this year. Don't know about Ashland WI if your interested it that, but you could check the Wisc forums.

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It wont be like last year. I doubt I doubt we will be hitting the Duluth side at all and its looking grim for the South Shore/Wi/ Point as well. Who knows though. March is usually the best time out that way anyhow.

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The big lake looked locked in this morning as I drove by. By no means would I go out on that ice, but a encouraging sight anyways. Hopefully it is still there when I drive home this evening. BBBRRRRR it's cold today!

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Ya 15 below on my way to work this morning. That ice looked pretty broken up to me from the Copper Top. Good wind and cold will be needed to make it work again this year. It surely wont last as long as last year if we do get enough to walk on.

Quick what year and type sled do you have for a Doggy Cab? LOL.

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It's a 98 XC 700. A little more sled than I wanted, but the price was right. Tikk didn't mind it.

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Yeah, its early yet...the lake is ready, just need the right conditions...give it time...might still happen. The wind just hasnt been right.

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I second that. We just need the wind to switch and a few more cold nights that aren't going to happen this week.

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hello every 1 im from the iron range area.and im looking for something new.i always wondered about fishing the big lake so i got a couple ?'s can you drive out there or do you needs a sled or 4 wheeler.i have never fished the big lake.im always fishing lake of the woods.so i want to give superior a try.any info would be great.

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There's fishable ice over in the WI waters by Ashland and the surrounding area. Been guys fishing out there for a few weeks. If you want more info on that fishery and the area direct your questions to Jim Hudson in the Wisconsin forum and the chequamegan bay thread. As far as around the Duluth area goes there is ice fishing action in the harbor/bay section of the mouth of the St. Louis river and sheltered water behind park point. The south shore seems to have the ice for now but I haven't heard of anyone bothering to try out there. The north shore is open water for now but a lot of us are crossing fingers hoping for ice soon. Two Harbors area might have a small amount of ice...so I've heard. Any ice on the "Big Lake" is even more unpredictable than your typical inland lake. Fish accordingly. IF we get fishable ice anywhere on the North Shore you'll hear about it here in the Duluth forum if you keep a watchful eye. Us northlanders might not be the most phosphorescent jigs in the box but we know not to drive trucks on the big lake. Pretty much foot travel last year when we had ice but a few quads and sleds were out there. Quite a few people on foot fell through as well. I hope that helps you out a bit!

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That's alright Matt.Too much phosphorescence is not a good thing anyway.

Thanks much for the info,the update and the humor.

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Most likely walking out. Very very seldom can you take a wheeler or sled out like last year.

Unless you hit Ashland area.

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We have ice now. Anyone have an idea what it looks like up close? Hopefully it stays, gets thicker, and we can get on it. I was gonna head up the shore tmrw but might just go to fish lake. If I don't go to fish I'll do some investigating and see what we're dealing with so far for ice on the gitchi gumee.

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a buddy of mine went out today and said it was still pretty sketchy right by shore, but everything appeared to be locked in up to sucker bay. i might go check it out tommorrow, but i won't be fishing any deeper than 3-4 feet.

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At 3:00 pm this afternoon there where 2 small shelters out in front of the Lester and a pair of guys out on the ice off 21st.

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Yes, I saw the houses out from the Lester too. I saw 5-6 people out on the ice one only 20 feet from open water on the French river. Don't know what the ice was like out there, but this seemed unsafe to me and I gotta question if fish are worth it.

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hey quickstrike i was wondering how you became a fly fishing guide as i would like to become one myself

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Those guys right by open water are only in about 2-3 ft of water, so basically if you do go through, you've only got wet feet. The ice out there is still pretty iffy, so I wouldn't recomend anyone venturing out into deeper water yet. There's 3 inches in some spots and an inch in others.

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went off the french today got 1 looper lost 4. ice was thin but fun to sight fish for the first time this year.cant wait to get back out.dont know where to start! loopers,herring,cohos,lakers. what a problem to have. i was the only guy with a boat.

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I saw you guys out there, pretty fun to watch you guys breaking through and poling along with the chisel.

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Hey, are you fishing in shallow water than as of yet off the french?

What does a guy use out there jigs tipped with waxie, set line....?

any info would be great

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yes shallow most people use small crappie type jigs or looper bugs. some tip some dont.dont be afraid to try different stuff you never know what will work. thats the good thing about sight fishing you can see what works and what doesnt.watch the fishes reaction to your bait to see whats good.they always look but they only hit what interests them

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Do you guys use dead sticked rods for those Loopers in that shallow of water? Say the same way we fish Steelhead here in the spring? Shallow water spawn bite... Am sure they probably would snap that or a small hook with some waxies, dead sticked on a trip device...

I know the AutoMatic Fisherman is "supposably" illegal in MN, but Arctic Warriors can be used in this instance as well.. Just curious to see if anyone has tried this.. The fish are relating to river areas, correct?

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With the only one rod within 100 yards of the mouth law, most people either sit in a shack or on a bucket and sight fish. Yes, most people are in very shallow water. Not me, I'm going to look for some lakers today.

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It looks like there is a channel of open water almost all the way back to town. I heard 4-6 inches off of 21st, but I would still be very careful, those conditions have been changing rapidly out there!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      is 3 weeks away............who's going and where???? i skip the first week and i'll head up to the cabin the 2nd week.  ussually fish smaller lakes. 
    • 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!  
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