Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports

[KG243]

Seeing as how this post about this very lake has been going on for almost three years I don't think this lake will get more pressure because of our GTG. For the most part most of us have been fishing this lake, also their will be some newbies that will be fishing this lake. I am happy to show people this so called secret lake, even though it has been discussed on this for for almost three years. Sorry if we have intruded onto your secret lake that no one knows about. Maybe the DNR should take it off the lake finder also.

[leech~~]

I'd hate to see this lake get to crowded cause of an internet posting... Good luck tomorrow guys and if you have success be responsible and do what you would want others to do and dont advertise it all over just want things to last even if it is put and take lake. They can only put so much in and eventually the pressure will catch up

minnwinni, none of us ever posted anything about a Hot bite going on at this lake. Actually, Grindstone, can be pretty tough fishing and I have gone home empty handed more then with fish most of the time. For me because it has some Trout and it is a challenge to catch them along with a chance at the odd Smelt is the reason I go. None of the guys that have posted as wanting to meet even know each other and we just thought since we all wanted the challenge of catching a trout we would meet up there and say hi. We did post that it was open to anyone that wanted to go so if anyone does, bring some dogs to grill and we will see you at noon by the red barn landing. I will say this, if you want numbers of fish to catch and eat then I would go to another lake because I have never felt this lake kicks out many fish in one day. I just like trying for Trout once or twice a year. Thanks for the good luck wish!

[monstermoose78]

Leech I agree with you! I think someone is looking to cause some trouble or just jealous they cant go that day! If they want to see alot of people fishing trout they should try cenaiko on opening morning that is a great show and I am part of it every year. I may have to hit grindstone one of these days for lakers. I got hooked on lakers in ely while I was in college and grindstone is the closest laker lake I know of. Good luck to all Saturday! Please post how ya did.

[thatoneguy]

Ya I appreciate the fact that you guys all want to get together and fish and help each other out but man maybe e-mail or something I se there are only a few of you going but this is the Internet and who knows how many people are looking at this... Thanks guys... Another one bites the dust

wow...way to get your panties in a twist over nothing. you can rest a little easier knowing i can't go, asi have sick kids at home. that will reduce the impact on the lake by...well, by nothing, since i wasn't going to keep any fish anyway.

[slipperybob]

The trout fishing on Grindstone is tough enough, that I've given up on it and made it the smelt fishing spot for me.

[JBMasterAngler]

Thanks for ruining the lake guys!!! I'm planning on hitting the lake next saturday, but am now changing my plans since I know it's going to be a circus tomorrow and you'll all catch all the trout out of the lake and ruin it forever!!! NOTE THE SARCASM

Have fun out there. I'll still be there next week. So I'm waiting for a good report...I'll also need to know what jigs, colors, presentations, bait, depth, location, and GPS coordinates worked out

[reinhard1]

we will let you know jb. too bad you cant make it today. reading the one post that worries about fishing the lake out is dissapointing. evidently he does not know this lake. i have spoken in front of the lake association there and even some of them didn't know some of the history of the lake or that there were even cribs in there nor do some fish it because of there being no walleys in there. here is the deal with put and take trout, if you dont take them the dnr dont put them in. i'm for a challenge and this lake is that challeng for me. that's why i fish it. good luck.

[reinhard1]

was looking forward to have you join us. sorry you cant make it, and take care of those kids, for they are more important than anything. i will be at the grind more this winter and hopefully i will see you out there then. good luck.

[thatoneguy]

thanks, reinhard. hope you guys have a blast out there today!

[minniwinni91]

How did the mob do today boys?

[reinhard1]

we had a great time but the fishing was slow. got enough smelt for a meal. i think leech will post later. met some great guys today and shared some venison kielbasa on the grill. my son in law's friend had never ice fished before and realy enjoyed himself. he cought a laker late in the day and released it [ 16 inches]. seen a couple of rainbows swim by the holes just under the ice, so did my brother and my son in law. i had two tip ups with small rainbow chubs 3 feet under the ice but no takers. we were in about 45 feet of water. i think leech released a laker also. great people and good eats with smelt to fry tommorow. good luck.

[leech~~]

Well the Grindstone fishery is still intact! The most damage done by us was the killing of about 8 lbs of exellent home made Kielbasa out of reinhard1 stash! Thanks again Reinhard that was some of the best I have ever had! Total for the day was 1 small Laker and 3 Smelt! So you can rest easy that the Grindstone Grinder gang didn't kill the lake! We did have a ton of lookers that would run up to the bait but just would not take it. I did put one of the smelt on a tip up down about 70' feet and some thing took if for a little ride but I just couldn't close the deal. Anyway I had a great time meeting everyone and maybe we can make it a annual GTG.

[reinhard1]

good pics there leech. yes an anual event. we had a great day. we stayed till 5:30 and my son in laws friend cought a 16 in laker but wanted to realease it so he did. talk about high fives and all that. i dont think i've seen anyone so excited. we were just talking about leaving and it hit just off bottom on a slender spoon and minnow head. i had just bought the slender spoon friday at vados. good luck.

[slipperybob]

No reports on 10-12 inches smelt...I wonder where they are?

[reinhard1]

bob, we were fishing in a area where i have cought rainbows, browns, lakers, and crappies. i was in 45 ft. and the smelt started mid depth and then later stayed right on the bottom the rest of the day. kg243 said he has cought smelt of that size but not lately. the best place to fish for smelt is the "smelt hole" where i seen about 8 trucks yesterday. we fish there in anywhere from 60 to 80 ft and they come through in schools that light up the vexilar usualy in a wide ban usualy 25 to 30 ft down and thats were you can get a chance for a bigger smelt because of the higher consentration of smelt there in my opinion. but the bigger ones are better for smoking and i like the ones leech proudly displays in his photo for frying. nothing better that a smelt fry with fresh cought smelt. that might be an idea also for a future grindstone grind on the ice. good luck.

[KG243]

I had a great time with all out there yesterday. It was good to meet everyone.

[leech~~]

I had a great time with all out there yesterday. It was good to meet everyone.

It was nice meeting you Kevin as well. To bad we couldn't snag a Laker for you! I think we were in the right spot there, just not the right day?

[reinhard1]

i'll be going up there again a few more times. maby we [you or kevin or both] will meet up there one of those times. next time i will start shallow. i need some rainbows for the pan. i have a spot picked out where i can do this and be close enough to put a tip up out for a laker. good luck.

[KG243]

My wife really wanted some rainbows, guess this means I will have to go up again!

[reinhard1]

all i can say for rainbows is stay shallow. i dont move around much when i choose my spot for i have got them before and they roam around all day long. anytime you want to call me email me at [email protected] and i will give you my number. i know you know yourself around there but sometimes we can share ideas and that may be helpfull. good luck.

[KG243]

Thanks Reinhard.

[slipperybob]

I tried catching some rainbows today. Two of them swam up my ice hole on separate occassions, stared at me briefly, then turn tail and went back down the hole. Okay, that just means I should stick to trying to catch smelt instead.

[reinhard1]

we seen some swim by our holes as well. bob dont give up. start early in the morning shallow, 6 ft. , and have a tip up with a small fat head just a foot or two under the ice. and jig with a pimple or small jigging spoon with a minnow head or waxie or a few eurolarva on it half way between the hole and the bottom. they move around all day. sometimes i have cought more on the tip up than the other way and sometimes the otherway around. if nothing by noon go for smelt and then go back again for bows. good luck.

[minniwinni91]

Last time i was out we had a dead stick minnow down and they wouldn't even give it a second look. The jiggin spoons with a waxie on the other had were money, but the thing is if they swim right by what your using just keep switchin till you find what they like.

[reinhard1]

that's pretty much what i do. there are days tip ups or dead sticks work best and then the other way around, like your example for instance. there is no one best thing per given day and you have to experiment. when they are aggresive the jiggin spoon and minnow head or waxie is the ticket. when it's slow just a minnow and hook can do it. good luck.

[Shank]

Whats the deal on using smelt for bait? I thought they had to be from a licensed bait dealer?

[leech~~]

Whats the deal on using smelt for bait? I thought they had to be from a licensed bait dealer?

I think that was only for some lakes like Burntside?

[minniwinni91]

I've never heard of that out there since it's not a designated trout lake i dont believe there are any restrictions. Smelt would be a good idea though with the high northern population

[TroutYammer]

What is with the lack of water clarity in Grindstone? First time on the lake ever yesterday. Drove over acorss from the red barn banged some holes ( 8tf - 60ft) and was bummed out to find the lure dissapeared from vision at about 6-ft. Is this lake always this skanky? Or did I just pick a bad year?

[Spearing Machine]

Whats the deal on using smelt for bait? I thought they had to be from a licensed bait dealer?

Pretty sure it is now ILLEGAL to catch smelt and put it back out on a line. Even if is from the same body of water. Everything used needs to be properly preserved and you need to have the packaging for identification. This has been discussed already in great detail on previous posts.