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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

What was the ice thickness now? I think that we should be able to drive out and park on the ice for the GTG Sat Feb 9th by then, hopefully. smile

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So it begins

Quote:
Yea I was surprise by how much trash left out there already. How hard is it to pick your trash back wit you.

I look forward to all the invasive species to come.

I too am sorry to not see Reinhart on the forum anymore. He was a font of knowledge and was always so willing to share intimate details about the grind.

I see the lake is almost up to 600,000 views. Excellent.

And now we even have a crazy lady "haunting" the lake.

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you should be able to drive on the ice by the g2g. I was out there on the north west end of the lake and drove around the whole north end, didnt venture out south of the barn so I cant say how much ice is out there. The north end of the lake had 15+ inches.

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The northeast side where we were at had 19 inches of good ice drove the 1/2 ton out , but I walked it first though. With the fresh snow I wanted to make sure I knew where the spear shack holes were.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Sounds good, thanks for the update. Any of you guys going to show up on the 9th for lunch at the GTG? smile

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Does any ever use tip-downs/Arctic warriors for the Lakers on Grindstone? Any tips on what to rig up on one of these if I tried it?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I would just use a Swed pimple or any jigging spoon and a Rainbow chub or small sucker on it. You could use a plan hook with some weight to get it down there as well wink Welcome to HSO!

full-27051-29648-articlepics006.jpg

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Sounds good. thanks for the tip. I hope to get up there within the next couple of weeks to try it out for the first time.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Sounds good. thanks for the tip. I hope to get up there within the next couple of weeks to try it out for the first time.

We are having a HSO Get-to-gether next weekend on the 9th at Grindstone if you want to stop by for lunch and meet some guys. We will be meeting out on the ice a little lift of the Red Barn landing. Just smell for the brats cooking! wink
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Here is my report for my first Time on The lake. We were out by the smelt hole saturday 12-9:30 pm. Caught big smelt as we got there and fished in 72 fow. They were at 24-40 fow. Very light bites and managed a few big ones. Once night time hit our flashers were lit up like christmas lights below the hole to 24 fow and spread out from there to 50 fow. Four times throughout the whole time we were there our flashers looked scary but COOL at the same because it was all red, which lasted for less than 2 mins. It was going nuts and very entertaining. The Flashers Would go Back To a few fish only. It must've been a school of smelt. Awesome experience.storm came so ended the night. Had some for the fryer. Heading back this weekend.

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A strong 2nd here to the Grindstone get together. I hope to be there. Good food, good company and maybe a fish or two? Jim

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

klee, thanks for the report. What was the ice thickness you found and how much snow cover was there? Were people driving trucks all over the lake? If your there this coming Sat the 9th we are getting some people together for a lunch GTG at around noon if you want to stop by. We will be setup on the ice out from the Red Barn. Look for a white truck parked next to a green Saturn Vue with a snowmobile trail behind it and some guys eating brats with a fire going in a fire ring! That's us! Bring something to share chips or anything. Hope to see you and anyone else that wants to stop by! smile

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I didn't measure the ice but it sure was thick and safe to drive on, I'm guessing a foot or more. People in big trucks driving all over. Although, someone must've did something wrong because there was a CO driving back and forth by the smelt hole for an hour. He had stopped some people as we were getting to the red barn and as we were setting up, he kept coming back and leaving. It was our first time there so it made me uncomfortable, but I didn't let it bother me. Anyways, if we come out we'll stop by.

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Can you use minnows on this lake? I thought they were not allowed on trout lakes. I couldn't find any info on dnr about this lake. There was some minnows in the spot we Setup on, so I Was scared that the CO driving around would drive over, see it frozen on the ice and blame us for them.

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I'm unsure of the rule with regards to trout lakes but Grind is *not* a designated trout lake so if such a rule exists, it wouldn't apply anyway.

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I'm unsure of the rule with regards to trout lakes but Grind is *not* a designated trout lake so if such a rule exists, it wouldn't apply anyway.

You're right. It is not a designated trout lake, therefore you can use minnows.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Can you use minnows on this lake? I thought they were not allowed on trout lakes. I couldn't find any info on dnr about this lake. There was some minnows in the spot we Setup on, so I Was scared that the CO driving around would drive over, see it frozen on the ice and blame us for them.

Unlike a designated Trout like you can use live minnows and two fishing lines on Grindstone, Big Watab, Big Trout and others.
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  • 2 weeks later...

There is more snow this weekend compared to last weekend....duh!

Travel off road is recommended with 4x4 only. You can probably get to some spots on the lake without 4x4 but may be pushing it. I measured about 20 inches of good ice where I was at today.

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Any luck yesterday Lipseej? You seem to know where they are!!! Or how to catch them anyway!!!!

Lol. Yesterday I was not able to get to the spots I wanted. So I didn't catch any trout. Only caught enough smelt for a meal then headed to another lake for some crappie action. That's how the grind is. Sometimes you catch some, sometimes you don't.....and I am fine with that. This lake is harder to fish than what most think.

Happy fishing!

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Lol. Yesterday I was not able to get to the spots I wanted. So I didn't catch any trout. Only caught enough smelt for a meal then headed to another lake for some crappie action. That's how the grind is. Sometimes you catch some, sometimes you don't.....and I am fine with that. This lake is harder to fish than what most think.

Happy fishing!

I guess you have to pick up a snowmobile next year so you can hit the spot! Ha. grin
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Lipseej- I asked how much snow was there, not if there was more than last week - DUH

Littlefish,

I didn't measure the snow, but would say there's about 10 inches of snow. If you don't have a 4x4, you're gonna probably be able go to spots that has had a lot of travel. But to roam around the lake, you'd want a 4x4. If you're looking for just smelt, you'll be fine going to the smelt hole without a 4x4. That area is heavily traveled. Bring a shovel in case.

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Im headed to grindestone as a 1st timer this wknd, looking for some tips for smelt and trout, i here there are other fish as well, northerns, crappies? anything would be helpful, hopefully this site is as good as the recomendation i got for it

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Welcome tripod! I hope you can get better up to date info from someone who fishes it more than me, but there's 132 pages of tips and advice here that's worth looking at.

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Welcome tripod! I hope you can get better up to date info from someone who fishes it more than me, but there's 132 pages of tips and advice here that's worth looking at.

x2 cool

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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