Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports

[reinhard1]

if i understand you right you drove straight accross from the red barn and fished shallow on that shoreline. there is always a slight runoff from that shoreline from melting snow and springs. i'm surprised it's murky this early. you wont find that anywhere else that i know of. i have fished there in january and it was clear. grindstone is a clear lake. you just hit the spot where this run off is. that's what i call it. so rest assured grindstone is clear. good luck.

[BRULEWADER]

I was out on sunday and the water is stained across the entire lake with 6ft clarity at best. Last year at this time it was much clearer. im seeing the same thing on some WI trout lakes as well.

[reinhard1]

i was on there saturday and did not find this and nobody in our group said anything like this to me. i'm not sayin you are wrong as far as grindstone but i have never seen this and not on saturday for sure. it was clear as ever. i cant see where this is even possible. good luck.

[KG243]

I have always had that rust colored water over across from the red barn, but like reinhard said, I cant find it any where else on the lake.

[mille lacs muskie bum]

i have found that the dark water is mostly on the east side of the lake. the deep water is mostly clear all around but in closer the water is like coffee. a few spots i found u cant see your jig 8 inches down, the fish are still there tho.

[reinhard1]

one thing i always tell people is not to drive close to shore. the east side in one area has a few springs on shore,near the waters edge. apperently some of this "run off" is drifting out a little ways. this is what you are seeing. there is a iron coating so to speak, on the rocks and when disturbed by the "current" of the springs, the iron film goes into the water. that's the best way i can describe it unscientificly. i have seen these small springs and they have iron all around them. they are small. i remember a diver back in the 80's tell me he saw current comming out of the ground in deep water, small springs as well. there used to be a campground on the center west side and we camped there in the early 80's and the minnesota skin diving group had dive's there. good luck.

[Shank]

Found this bit of info. Looks like Leech was breaking the law:

Authorized Bait Dealers

To help prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Minnesota waters, anglers cannot use cisco or rainbow smelt as bait in any water body unless it has been preserved by a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit holder using accepted methods known to make the virus inactive.

The rule was enacted to protect Minnesota's inland waters from VHS, which is now present in Lake Superior. Cisco is known to carry VHS, and rainbow smelt are likely carriers. Both are popular baitfish used in Lake Superior and inland waters.

Smelt or cisco that were taken from designated infested waters cannot be preserved and used for bait. Anglers who harvested and froze cisco and smelt from non-infected waters for use this winter as bait can have it preserved and labeled by the authorized permit holders listed below.

When fishing using preserved cisco or rainbow smelt as bait, anglers must have in their possession the label from the batch of bait being used. The label must contain the bait processor's DNR permit number, the lot number, and the date of processing.

It remains legal to harvest cisco and rainbow smelt for personal consumption in Lake Superior and Minnesota's inland waters. VHS does not have any impact on humans through direct contact or via fish consumption.

[MichaelSwan]

KG, Leech, Reinhart1, sorry I was unable to make it and meet you guys. Great photos, thanks for posting! When I head up there, i will give you a heads up and see if we can meet.

[leech~~]

Found this bit of info. Looks like Leech was breaking the law:

Authorized Bait Dealers

To help prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Minnesota waters, anglers cannot use cisco or rainbow smelt as bait in any water body unless it has been preserved by a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit holder using accepted methods known to make the virus inactive.

The rule was enacted to protect Minnesota's inland waters from VHS, which is now present in Lake Superior. Cisco is known to carry VHS, and rainbow smelt are likely carriers. Both are popular baitfish used in Lake Superior and inland waters.

Smelt or cisco that were taken from designated infested waters cannot be preserved and used for bait. Anglers who harvested and froze cisco and smelt from non-infected waters for use this winter as bait can have it preserved and labeled by the authorized permit holders listed below.

When fishing using preserved cisco or rainbow smelt as bait, anglers must have in their possession the label from the batch of bait being used. The label must contain the bait processor's DNR permit number, the lot number, and the date of processing.

It remains legal to harvest cisco and rainbow smelt for personal consumption in Lake Superior and Minnesota's inland waters. VHS does not have any impact on humans through direct contact or via fish consumption.

Shank. It was a new law this year and I did make an error in not finding out which lakes or bait it applied too. It doesn't matter that the smelt was dead or that I did not catch a fish when using it, I just did not do the right thing. So, I thank you for taking the time to help me understand this new law better and I hope to not repeat my error in the future.

[reinhard1]

things come up all the time. right now i'm planning to go up there on the 12th again. shallow for rainbows and tip up for lakers. good luck.

[leech~~]

things come up all the time. right now i'm planning to go up there on the 12th again. shallow for rainbows and tip up for lakers. good luck.

Can't make it the 12th. Have the 2nd Northshore trail ride GTG going on then. Good luck!

[reinhard1]

well there will be other times. that GTG sounds like a great time in the greatest part of minnesota. i'm jealous big time. good luck.

[1DIRTBALL]

things come up all the time. right now i'm planning to go up there on the 12th again. shallow for rainbows and tip up for lakers. good luck.

I'm curious reinhard 1. What are you using for bait on the tip-up's you have out for laker's? Cisco? Smelt? Macaroni & cheese? It sound's to me like you guy's are having way too much fun down there! I'm terribly jealous! Wish I could join you but I live in Warroad now. Good luck! 1DIRTBALL

[leech~~]

I'm curious reinhard 1. What are you using for bait on the tip-up's you have out for laker's? Cisco? Smelt? Macaroni & cheese? It sound's to me like you guy's are having way too much fun down there! I'm terribly jealous! Wish I could join you but I live in Warroad now. Good luck! 1DIRTBALL

Not Smelt or Cisco's unless they are from a bait dealer and perserved!

[reinhard1]

a nice big rainbow chub. it will be in 20 ft of water so i could get a nice brown or one of those chunky pike that swims. i am always hoping for a laker but you never know in this lake. my portable wont be far away in 6 ft of water trying to fool a rainbow and i wont move from this spot all day. stuborn german. good luck.

[thatoneguy]

Found this bit of info. Looks like Leech was breaking the law:

Authorized Bait Dealers

To help prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Minnesota waters, anglers cannot use cisco or rainbow smelt as bait in any water body unless it has been preserved by a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit holder using accepted methods known to make the virus inactive.

The rule was enacted to protect Minnesota's inland waters from VHS, which is now present in Lake Superior. Cisco is known to carry VHS, and rainbow smelt are likely carriers. Both are popular baitfish used in Lake Superior and inland waters.

Smelt or cisco that were taken from designated infested waters cannot be preserved and used for bait. Anglers who harvested and froze cisco and smelt from non-infected waters for use this winter as bait can have it preserved and labeled by the authorized permit holders listed below.

When fishing using preserved cisco or rainbow smelt as bait, anglers must have in their possession the label from the batch of bait being used. The label must contain the bait processor's DNR permit number, the lot number, and the date of processing.

It remains legal to harvest cisco and rainbow smelt for personal consumption in Lake Superior and Minnesota's inland waters. VHS does not have any impact on humans through direct contact or via fish consumption.

So if he caught a smelt out of grindstone, he couldn't use it as bait in Grindstone? That seems a little...how you say...silly?

[reinhard1]

i agree. but it is a new regulation and it is not in the 2010 new regulation page so i can see how some anglers would not notice this change. my brother also did not know of this. but it is what it is. maby a notice at the boat landing would help people who are unaware of this change. good luck.

[1DIRTBALL]

a nice big rainbow chub. it will be in 20 ft of water so i could get a nice brown or one of those chunky pike that swims. i am always hoping for a laker but you never know in this lake. my portable wont be far away in 6 ft of water trying to fool a rainbow and i wont move from this spot all day. stuborn german. good luck.

Rainbow chub's are my favorite bait to use up here on LOW! When I can get them, that is. Which fall's into the category of "almost never" and "darned infrequently!" How far do you fish them off the bottom? Would frozen cisco's be allright to use or do they have to be salted or otherwise preserved? Thanks for your help and good luck! 1DIRTBALL

[reinhard1]

i think frozen cisco's have to be preserved. but i stoped using smelt years ago dead on the bottom because of the mud puppy's taking them on the bottom on this lake. i just use live bait a couple feet off the bottom or spoons or jigs and tube jigs tiped with minnow heads. nothing fancy. good luck.

[reinhard1]

any reports on the old grind from this weekend? i will be up there next sunday all day. good luck.

[jigginjim]

Has anybody fished smelt with hook and line? Could be a good time.

[reinhard1]

we do it all the time. if you look back in this thread you will see some info on it. in general smelt are all over except i seldom see any in depth less than 20 ft. i usualy fish them in the deeper areas of the lake which is most of lake in 60 ft or more usualy suspended 25 to 30 ft down. you can see them much like a school of crappies on the flasher. a small jiggin spoon like a pimple with a minnow head on it or some eurolarva or a waxie. you can also catch a bonus crappie or lake trout doing this for they follow the smelt. good luck.

[4buckisland]

First of all I want to thanks everyone that posts info on this forum. I took my 11 year old boy out on Sat. We started out in 5'-7' for Rainbows. I caught two about 12", and he missed one nice one at the top of the hole. We had several lookers inlcuding two of three real nice ones. Tried for Lakers around noon, no luck. Ate some brats and tried again shallow until about 2 p.m. After that we went to the Smelt hole, on the north end. We left at dark with 54 Smelt and vexilar screens still lit up with more. Thanks again

Kyle

[reinhard1]

anytime i or anyone can help its great. yea that smelt hole. gets popular for those tasty fish. i have cought crappie, a few small lake trout [eaters] and even a 12 pound pike there suspended. great you and your son had a great time. that's what it's all about. good luck.

[trappingaddiction]

Anyone willing to share were the smelt hole is? I was thinking of coming up sometime before ice out for some trout/smelt fishing. Anyone know if the bite is good towards the end of the month into March? If you don't want to share it here, you can send me an email at [email protected].

[reinhard1]

the smelt hole is on the north east side of the lake. there is usualy a road going right to it from the red barn or an immediate left from the boat landing. you will see plenty of holes there. i would not drive out there or on the lake in march in general unless it stays cold. at the end of march is a time to be very carefull on any lake. you can also walk out strait from the boat landing depending on conditions in march and you will be in deep water in short order. get deeper than 60 feet and you will see smelt just like you see crappies suspended. t he schools do move but sometimes they will stay put. good luck.

[leech~~]

the smelt hole is on the north east side of the lake. there is usualy a road going right to it from the red barn or an immediate left from the boat landing. you will see plenty of holes there. i would not drive out there or on the lake in march in general unless it stays cold. at the end of march is a time to be very carefull on any lake. you can also walk out strait from the boat landing depending on conditions in march and you will be in deep water in short order. get deeper than 60 feet and you will see smelt just like you see crappies suspended. t he schools do move but sometimes they will stay put. good luck.

Rein, SShhhh! There are only so many millon smelt in the lake!

[reinhard1]

i couln't help myself. if you have a chance stop at grind on your way back from your snowmobile trip. i will be there sunday all day. good luck.

[duckhunter1]

hows the ice depth and snow want 2 bring wheel house to spend night out there possibly on south side if its safe

[reinhard1]

i haven't been on the south side yet. there are some driving out from the south by the bible camp but it is steep there and has open water on the left side were the river runs out. you would be better driving out from the north end by the public access. the ice as of last week was 16 inches of clear ice and about 5 inches of snow with some small drifts but no slush anywhere i was. while trucks were driving all over the lake does have springs near shore and i always recomend to not drive near the shorelines. truck and wheelhouse is something i cant comment on for i have not seen that combination out there. i'm looking forward to be out there this sunday for the day and looks like the temps will be good. good luck.