Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports

[reinhard1]

both winter trout lakes and streams[southeast winter catch and release season] close March 31. should have good weather for the last two days!!!. good luck.

[svingla]

Nice Fish Mnfisher. How were the launch conditions and what size of boat were you in? I was thinking of bringing my 17' Lund up this weekend but am unsure whether or not I will be able to launch. Thanks for any info.

[Mnfisher]

Svingla: The water was low in the creek but didn't have much problem with my 14' deep hull starcraft and 25 hp merc tilted to shallow. A fellow was loading when I came and he had a bigger, 17' ? boat with a 90? motor. He said he had some trouble and hit the mud all the way to the lake but he made it ok.

Epiclce: I'm not anywhere near a Grindstone expert and have onlyfished it twice before this past winter, but there is very good information on this thread and other guys who know it well.

[reinhard1]

i'm assuming you are after rainbows. on open water season, once you leave the landing in May you can troll small spoons, rappalas, or spinners near the surface all over the lake. there are no secret spots for rainbows on this lake at this time. the water will be cold and you can cast the shorelines, troll the shorelines, or troll over deep water while keeping your lures near the surface [top 15 feet of water approx]. later as the water warms the rainbows and browns will be down around 25 feet or so suspended i have found.

if you need any other information just ask. myself or others will try to give you accurate information as possible. good luck.

[maxpower117]

Jeez, I didn't realize that they extended the winter season to the 31st. I may head to Cenaiko tomorrow.

[gortonsfish]

Do we have many Grinder's here that use downriggers? I have been researching, reading reviews, etc... between manual vs electric, and different brands as well... believe me, I am a bit frustrated with different options to look at. I initially thought I would want to go electric and maybe with the Cannon Magnum 10stx, but after seeing it out of the box, I thought 'man' that's a big unit. I have a Lund 1700 Angler SS, which has 4" of flat gunnel to mount to. Looks like I may need to have a track or plate placed if I want to get something to mount flat, and yet easily take off. Don't think I have found a good knowledge resource in any fishing store yet. But after all that, I am starting to think all I need is a manual (such as the Cannon Uni Troll 5), as I probably won't make it out more then 2 or 3 times a year using them. And being Grindstone isn't more then maybe 90 minute drive from my house... perhaps a good place to try them out and get use to them before hitting larger water, such as Lake Superior. I think I was informed a 12lb weight was probably a good weight to go with, as lighter weights in deeper water may not be adequate.

I have been wanting to do this for so long... but frustrations are getting the best of me.

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice?

Long time fisherman of large pike, walleye, and crappies.... looking for that new adventure.

[reinhard1]

i use a portable downrigger on the grind. i know there are others who use downriggers as well. PM me and i will give you my number since we are neighbors and i can answere questions better that way. good luck.

[RiverDewey]

SSMinner and I went up to Grindstone for a few hours this afternoon. The boat launch at the public access was fine for his 16' (17?) Alumacraft. No problems getting in the water. Just watch out for the sand bar that sticks out on the right hand side going out.

We trolled using planar boards and small spoons, we cast while drifting near the NW shoreline, we sat and bobber fished with worms just off the red barn, then we trolled again longlining small lures. Nothing would hit. He got a bite while bobber fishing but couldn't keep it on.

Once in a while you could see fish surface (not near the shore - closer to 30 FOW), but not often. The lake was like a mirror - no wind; no chop at all whatsoever on the lake. Still - it was great to be out trolling in March!

[SpecialK]

Streams close the sameday but reopen April 14th. Lake season reopens May 12th

[reinhard1]

like you said it was nice to be out there on open water in March. bobbers and minnows may be the ticket in shallower waters when trolling isn't paying off. it does help with a little chop on the water. i think Mnfisher got his browns on small minnows and a bobber the other day. but you guys certainly covered the bases with your presentations. good luck.

[RiverDewey]

Water temp was around 39 degrees. That might confirm the presentation Reinhard mentioned would have worked better in general. Next year we'll have to remember the minnows!

Now to that remodel I promised to do! LOL...

[reinhard1]

we will see you on the water after opener. should be a good year. good luck.

[lispeej]

Is anyone smelting with dip nets by any of the creeks?

[reinhard1]

i haven't heard of any. we need rain. good luck

[lakeshoremunster]

Is there even a good smelt run on this lake??

Ive never herd of anyone diping for smelts on this lake.

[reinhard1]

there is a smelt run on this lake. most people dip in the creek at the boat landing from below the culvert down to the landing. do not go on any private property. the land opposite of the landing is private as well as the land above the culvert on the road. the CO's monitor the landing area during this time period.

there is no run at this time having talked to the CO in the area. we need rain for water flow and to increase the water temps. good luck.

[jaay]

Was on grindstone on 4/6....met a few local smelters, weather was really nice given the full moon. Ultimately no smelt, waited untill midnight and decided to call quits...planning on trying my luck again this coming saturday the 14.... .hopefully the smelts will be on full swing by then.

[reinhard1]

supposed to have some rain this week so hopefully it brings at least an inch of rain. that will get things going there and on the northshore. thanks for the report. good luck.

[Moose-Hunter]

Y'all can keep them lil' fishes... I'm itchin' to get back to "The Grind" and chase the trout!! However, I've got a bad feeling the creek will not allow my big ol' Alumacraft to get to the lake.

Come on rain!!! Fill that creek for Moose-Hunter!!!

[reinhard1]

i think the landing will be fine for opener. never had a problem since i first started fishing that lake. but this has been a strange winter and who knows what spring will bring. snowing pretty good right now. good luck.

[Barbelboy]

Wow.

1070 posts about a single medium sized central minnesota lake.

Upper red lake has 1200 (one of the most dynamic walleye fisheries in the state)

Winnie has 1008 (a fantastic northern mn walleye and perch fishery)

Mille lacs has 2150 (one of MN iconic walleye lakes and virtually 100% developed)

Leech a paltry 427

Vermilion a pitiful 333

(gem of the north, a beautiful rugged canadian shield lake with cabins as far as the eye can see and a walleye and musky fishery that is second to none)

Even the mighty lake of the woods only tops grindstone by 400 at 1493 posts.

Grindstone is an incredible lake. Clear, deep, beautiful and gifted with a unique fishery not found for hundreds miles in any direction. But why so many posts for a single 530 acre lake with a difficult landing and a fishery that at times is a cruel mistress that leaves us scratching our collective heads?

I love this webisite. I spend far too much time here looking at what my wife has dubbed "fish porn". It has been an invaluable source of information to me for many adventures all across the state. But so many posts about this lake makes me wary.

Please don't take this as a "don't come to my lake post!" Because it is not. I simply urge everyone who wants to enjoy this beautiful lake to be respectful while on the lake, don't litter, be very vigilant about invasive species, be patient and efficient at the landing and be careful not to ding your prop on the log about 2/3 of the way out of the landing by the little sandbar.

[reinhard1]

yes as incredible as it sounds with the amount of hits this lake gets and replies, i can still go out and fish it during open water and still not much pressure on the lake. yes on opener the landing gets some use but after the walley opener you can have the lake almost to yourself at times during the weekdays.

the most people i saw on the lake would be during hard water at times. i'm sure if it had walleys in there things would be different. it is a tough lake to fish and people give up on the lake i believe. the lake has a tremendous amount of forage for the predators. along with it's deep waters, that is part of the reason fishing can be tough at times. even after fishing this lake for over 40 years i'm still learning.

fortunatly we dont have any invasive species in there yet. so like you have said, it would be great for everyone comming to this lake and to any lake for that matter to take great care to keep the waters clean and the boat landing free of garbage. for the most part the landing is kept clean. i always bring some garbage bags along just in case i see any.

the CO's keep a close eye on the lake also which is good. saw him twice last year. very nice person. there is more interests in walleys than trout so the lake doesnt get the pressure other lakes do. good luck.

[MidCoast]

How do we get to this lake? I am not interested in Trout fishing, but I just want to try Smelting. You can PM me directions if dont want to post it publicly.

[Barbelboy]

The MN DNR lake finder and google maps will be an invaluable aid to you.

Actually angling for smelt is OK on grindstone, there are some very limited places to smelt using the traditional methods. But i'd keep driving another hour north and smelt on superior if you want more access and a greater probability of success.

[reinhard1]

this year i'm going to try to do more of what i used to do over the years but got lazy and got pretty used to trolling for trout. one of the things that has worked for larger trout but few in numbers is verticle jigging when possible [cant stand to do it on windy days, even with a sock]. something that i haven't used is blade baits for jigging much. i'll give it a shot. kind of stuck on a heavy jig head with a stinger and a shiner minnow. i have personaly seen three browns cought over the period of years i fished this lake around 8 pounds on open water. one by my brother, one by his buddy,[cought verticle drifting with jig and shinner over deep water] and one by a lady who was trolling a floating rappala over deep water in late May.

i'm going to spend one full day just targeting bigger fish. another thing i will do that day is to troll but with a larger presentation. that will be a F-18 floating rappala, silver body with a black top. not going to change it. hit or miss. that thing looks like a smelt and i'm going with it. depending on what i see on the electronics will depend on the depth i will run with it. got a portable downrigger just in case. could be a day with few fish or maby hit a nice laker or the big brown i'm looking for. or it could be just a nice day out on the lake. good luck.

[sulnn]

So happy for this year fishing. reinhard1 do you know if anywhere besides camp that family can fish on shore? The policeman told us camp is private prperty so we don't go back there. Thank you

[reinhard1]

yes the area by the camp is private property. but you can fish on the south end east of the camp. the locals swim there and some people fish there also, parking along the road by the fence. not the best place to fish off shore for it's shallow there for away's out. would need waders. the north end by the boat landing off the point on the left side. you would also have to walk out aways till it drops off quickly. the DNR only owns part of that point so dont go past the point on the left side of the landing. do not go on the right side of the creek by the landing for it's all private. best if you can get a small boat or canoe, there is realy limited shore fishing. good luck.

[sulnn]

Thank you many times. Family will be there I wish soon.

[nwhunter]

Anyone planning on Grindstone for opener, instead of hitting the walleyes? I've been wavering back and forth on hitting the usual big lakes for walleye or coming down and tackling Grindstone for opener. I know the trout don't get really good until June, but what are the northern like this early?

[reinhard1]

i dont think i'll be there on opener weekend but i will be there during the week. the bigger pike will be relativly shallow and i'm trying a live bait rig i used to make years ago for pike. i like using a sucker under a bobber also. i cought a 3 pound brown one time this way going for pike. i usualy try to avoid opening weekend anywhere. not into crowds. good luck.