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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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Thanks for the report. glad to see you got some. how thick was the ice? comming up there next saturday for the day. good luck.

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Heading up Monday, going to hit my crappie lake first to get some fillets for my buddy coming with then plan on tooling around on Grind after that. Hopefully will have a successful report grin

Kettle

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was there yesterday at the smelt hole, it wasnt a very good night, only was able to get 5 smelt and my first ever crappie out of this place last night. The smelt seems to be running different from last year, and they were not feeding yet. Hopefully it picks up in a few weeks.

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ya, it's seems to get better in late Feb and early March when they bunch up more getting ready to spawn. i dont know if you fish them at night, but they do bite better during the day for me anyway. but i know guys that get them after dark also. good luck.

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We fish at night at this lake, seems like they shut down right after the sun comes up. Going to give it a few more weeks before I head on out there again.

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We didn't end up making it out. GF scheduled to many other things. Planning on trying again next saturday. Rein, if you see a tan Chevy Trailblazer and a 6 man Eskimo hub stop in and say hello.

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Thanks for the report. glad to see you got some. how thick was the ice? comming up there next saturday for the day. good luck.

We found 7 to 10 near shore and in places up to 14, but also found over deeper water 10+. We have had "some" cold nights and it seems to be catching up a bit. Having said that though - the ice is just not consistent enough to drive a truck out on it other than established roads near the west shore and on the north end of the lake.

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thank you very much. looks like some colder days ahead also. there are warnings all over the state in places. Grindstone, being a very deep lake is always one to take extra caution on. stop by at noon for a venison kielbasa if you get a chance on the 18th at noon for our get-together. good luck.

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No updates since last week? I was hoping to make it down tomorrow or Saturday. Any one else heading out? Hoping the warm weather didn't hurt the ice too much this week... I keep reading about roads closing on Mille Lacs.

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i'll be up there saturday. i'll be in a green eskimo two man. stop by and say hello. we have had cold nights, i would bet the ice is about the same as the last report if not a little thicker. good luck.

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I ended upnot making it out either. I really didn't feel like fighting the wind and cold. Today looks better but my fishing partner is not feeling well.

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well it looks like next saturday for the getogether. new tires for the truck i guess. cant get the tires till early this week. it looks like a moderate week with temps in the 30's all through next saturday. i'm excited to get out there and fish all day. good luck.

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Made it out on the Grind today. Fished from 20' to 100' of water and couldn't buy a bite. Saw smelt on the Marcum but couldn't even get them to cooperate. The one positive was that every where I drilled there was 16.5" to 18" of ice measured with a tape.

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thank you for the report. that's good news about the ice. what were you using for the smelt? i normaly use a small pimple with a minnow head. well i'll be out there saturday for the getogether and give her all day. good luck.

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Made it out on the Grind today. Fished from 20' to 100' of water and couldn't buy a bite. Saw smelt on the Marcum but couldn't even get them to cooperate. The one positive was that every where I drilled there was 16.5" to 18" of ice measured with a tape.

Wondering where you were drilling? I couldn't buy more than 14" of ice on Saturday. I was out over the smelt hole on the North Bay in 90' of water, and moved towards the East shoreline (I think the camp is over there?) I thought the ice was getting pretty bad, however the wind may have made me just believe it was worse? Fishing sucked for me too, saw a nice line about 30' down which I presumed to be the smelt/crappies. Threw everything at them for a couple of hours, and didn't get a bite. Depending on how the ice looks later this week, I may make it out next Saturday, however the lakes up this way are starting to look safer for my blood.

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i had a guy PM me about Boulder lake up there. he said they had 21 inches there and was driving all over the lake. well i hope you make it up to the grind on saturday. the guy's i talked to said fishing was slow on other lakes as well. the smelt are usualy alway 30 feet suspended over deep water and other fish following them. good luck.

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what were you using for the smelt?

I was using Hali Jigs with the dropper chains as well as some smaller Buckshot spoons with dropper lines with minnow heads. Interesting thing was that while some where coming through in the typical 25' to 30' depth range, some schools were moving through at 60' to 70'. Also had tons of 2" to 3" little smelt in 20' of water that came up right into my holes to check out my lures. Looks like those trout have an awfully lot of forage to choose from.

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Wondering where you were drilling? I couldn't buy more than 14" of ice on Saturday.

NWhunter, I was fishing the large sand point on the NW side of the lake. Started where it starts dropping at about 50' and slowly moved all the way out to 100'. It wouldn't shock me if the ice on the northern end of the lake by the smelt hole was thinner because of the entrance of the river and the small creek that flows through the cow pasture. That said there were a couple of trucks out yesterday on the north end; a half ton close to shore and a light duty in the area of the smelt hole. I would still recomend that people check for themselves.

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@Reinhard1 - I've been fishing Boulder and Island lakes quite regularly this winter. Found them a couple of years ago shortly after I moved up here. Boulder is becoming one of my favorite ice and open water lakes.

@svingla - Yea there were a couple of half-ton trucks parked close to shore by the red barn, and a single car driving across the lake that I noticed on Saturday. There is no chance I'd be driving anywhere on that lake with my truck. It was a horrible day to get out, but I don't have many chances to get down there so when I have a chance, I take it.

Threw every type of lure at them on Saturday, tipped with just about everything I could think of. I've had the best luck in the past with a chartreuse and pink Sweedish Pimple tipped with a minnow head, but things were so tough I was willing to try anything and everything.

I wounder if some of the flashes at the 60-70' depth were Lake Trout? Don't have a clue, just wondering?

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if you some info on boulder on spots just PM me. fished the lake since i was a kid. it could be smelt or it could be some lakers also out in the deeper areas down to 60 feet. however the great majority of the time that 30 foot suspended area has been the most consistant. i had smelt come up to the hole years ago like that was noted. haven't seen it since. who knows maby last year with all the early rain and snow we had it was a good crop of smelt this year on the spawn. well saturday will by my turn to go at it again. hopefully we have good conditions and the fish are active. good luck.

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Was up saturday myself limited out on bows. Guy in group caught one just shy of 7 lbs. In 40 ft of water. Drilled out from the red barn and couldnt find anything less than16 inches of ice myself

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i want to again thank you for the updates. yes the forage. over the years i have talked to the DNR at Hinkley. one of the things they always told me is about the abundance of forage. that is why this lake is always a challenge. there are plenty of game fish and they have a daily menue to chose from for sure grin. i cought a 5 pound brown trout one time that had 7 or 8 crappies in the stomach. they were only the size of a quarter with half being partialy digested. also cought a 6 pound northern with 3 rainbows in him. makes them fat for sure. good luck.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Was up saturday myself limited out on bows. Guy in group caught one just shy of 7 lbs. In 40 ft of water. Drilled out from the red barn and couldnt find anything less than16 inches of ice myself
Um a 7lbs Rainbow or Lake Trout? That would be one heck of a Rainbow out of that lake! whistle
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not according to last weekends report. it does get better as time goes on but if everything as far as conditions weatherwise fall into place there is no reason to not get them now. realy no different than any other fish. they are fun and sure are tasty. good luck.

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the DNR does stock adult rainbows from time to time after they are done using them for spawn perposes. i saw one like that about 3 years ago but wasn't interested at all but curious. good luck.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
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