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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Rein's thanks for the report. It was nice seeing you again up on the Grind. I think with the Full Moon, Solar Flare up, Jupiter about to line up with Venus and that it was just to nice of a sunny day (got sun burned) the fish were just not biting!

It had to be one of those as I am just to good of a fisherman to end up with the results that I did! whistle

Thanks for meat! The Kielbasa will be on the grill tonight! wink

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this is a challenging lake for sure. we both seen fish all day. that smelt line was lit up constantly. i know you tried many different tactics and walked a good walk. i got burned some also by the way.

this lake has the fish and plenty of forage for them. seems it was slow for everyone out there. maby it picked up after dark for smelt, but the day bite didn't happen. cant wait for open water and trout opener on the grind. good luck.

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rinehart or anyone....Any gueses on what the ice will be like on Saturday (3/17) on Grindstone. I would like to get out there on that day but all this warm weather worries me some. Sure like to get a few smelt to smoke. I have no plans to drive or even use 4 wheeler but would walk. People fishing on Pokegama this early afternoon, walking and ATV. Thanks

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Jim, if i were to go out [i got the grandkids this weekend] i would park at the boat landing and walk out from there. if you walk out facing the lake and angle a little to the left strait out you will probably see a few holes near where the guy plowed the road to the smelt hole [and a big thank you from everyone who fished the lake there]. my holes should be there and they were at 50 feet deep. i maked smelt and other fish there all day long. there was at least 16 to 18 inches of ice at the time [last saturday]. i would think you could still walk out there saturday. walk out to the first holes [old ones] you see and drop your flasher in there and see how deep it is and drill a test hole. if you still have safe ice go from there. hopefully someone can chime in and update more than me. good luck.

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I was originally going to go down to red wing on the 31st to take my boat out, but I no reason to believe grindstone won't be 100% ice free then. How great would it be to close the winter season out trolling for trout in the boat shocked has that ever happened before?

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i was trolling on the grind in march once before when the lake was still in the experimental status. my brother got a laker that day on a silver loco spoon.it went over 10 pounds. also lost a big pike as well. it was at the end of march. good luck.

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In theory, the trout should be shallow, chasing after the smelt as they gear up for the spawn.

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ya, if the lake was open i would be trolling in front of the landing where it drops off and over on the east side where the creek comes in just north of the audobon point. the water at the landing i think is very shallow now and needs some rain to put a boat in. that's what i noticed the last time up there. as i was leaving the lake [walking back up the boat landing] i saw the dirt under the snow that melted. so we need some rain for sure and some is comming. if the lake opens up before the close of the season i may sneak up there with my 12 footer and electric motor. good luck.

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I may troll it as well. Anyone seen the ice there lately? I would think it could be off there by the weekend...a unique opportunity indeed.

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i talked to someone up there today that will check on the lake tommorow so i will give a report tommorow as soon as i find out. Sturgeon lake up the road is still 90 percent covered. the grind is [as you know] a deep lake which maintains a colder temp and usualy is the last one to freeze and the last one to thaw. so i will know tommorow on the ice conditions there unless someone gives a report sooner. if there is open water before the season ends i WILL be there. it is a unique opertunity as you said and worth trying out. good luck.

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well as of today the lake is still locked in. there may be a few inches here and there near shore and a small area by the boat landing that is open a little. there were some people still ice fishing as of last weekend also. so doesn't look like open water fishing will happen before the season closes. see you on the grind on opener week. good luck.

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Drove by it yesterday and it is ice free as far as I saw. I will be out there this upcoming weekend if the creek is deep enough.

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thanks for the update!!!!! i think i will bring my banged up 12 footer and work the north end. now to see if i can change some appointments. good luck.

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Hey everyone! Im a first timer on this site but I see there is some great info. I have been fishing Grindstone for a few years now and my family has a cabin on the south east side of the lake. I was wondering the status of the boat landing right now? I might head over this weekend from college to try and get some trout.

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the lake is open right now, but i dont know if there was enough rain in that area to bring the landing level up. when i was there last it was a warm day and i noticed sand and no water a 1/4 way toward the middle of the channel [i was ice fishing at the time]. a canoe or small 12 footer i would feel safe bringing up there. if anything you could walk them out on the side of the channel. hopefully someone has been there and give you a better report. Welcome to HSO!!!! good luck.

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Thanks for the update! Anybody know how the bite was last weekend? My parents were at the lake saturday and saw people out trolling.

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Friday I might be up for trolling around 3pm. I could hop in with someone with an open spot or could bring a 12 ft jon. Have trolling and ultralight gear, electronics and lake knowledge if you are interested let me know!

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The lake was open on Thursday. The landing is OK, about mid July water levels.

I trolled Saturday for 4 hours. Man what a beautiful day. It was glass calm and I saw MAYBE 2-3 fish surface the whole time. Which is unusual, on calm spring days the lake is usually alive. I threw everything I could at 'em. Downriggers, dipsey divers, planer boards, long lines, crank baits, small spoons, spinners, ect. I even jigged over bait balls and various structure that was covered with fish marks. I didn't catch a single fish. Not even a hit. So good luck out there if you do go.

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thanks for the report. appreciate it very much. i have had days like that also. it was a beautiful day on Saturday. glad you had a chance to get out and enjoy it. maby the wind we had the last two days stirred up the lake a little. i would think the fish are feeding on the smelt as they are bunched up more now getting ready to spawn also.

i have seen days when it was calm as glass and fish surfacing and it was hard to get a bite. thanks again for the report. good luck.

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Fished four hours on grindstone monday in the wind and sleet . My friend and I managed 2 browns and 1 bow all on small spoons casting in 5 to 10 ft. on the windy side.The surface water temp was 38 air temp 31.Not sure about smelt run no fish in creek.

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thanks for the report sage. in general smelt run when the temp reaches 40 or above. if anyone does try for smelt below the culvert, make sure you stay on the landing side of the creek and below the culvert. above the culvert and the opposite side of the creek is private property. please respect that so the little smelting that goes on there stays. thanks again sage, and i'm glad you got some results on a brisk day. good luck.

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Fished Grind for about 4 hours mid morning to 2 or so. I caught my 1st Brown...in fact, caught 4 of them in about 1 1/2 hours!! (12 - 15"). Trolled for Lake trout but no luck with them, but I was very, very pleased with my catch of Browns. I caught them looking for crappies with a plain hook and minnow just north of the red barn.

A lot of fishing is being in the right spot at the right time and I guess I hit it right this time....for a change!! Two guys leaving when I got there had no luck. I'll try and post a pic.full-241-19103-browntrout063.jpg

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realy nice fish Jim!!!glad you had a chance to get those tasty browns. more to come this year. good luck.

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New comer to trout when does the season end, and whats the best way to catch them on grindstone?

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The last day to fish trout on lakes is this Saturday. Im not quite sure about rivers and streams though.

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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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