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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Good report. Very nice fish!! Join us on 2/8/14 for the day long Grindstone Getaway. Potluck at noon on the ice near the red barn.

Mnfisher, I wish I could. Grandsons 1st B-day party on Sat the 8th? I let Rine, know already. frown

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Thanks for the advice Muntz! I'll stop by when I get time. I'll be in an Eskimo 1 man. I'm getting excited. Do most people release big trout like your dandy laker? I'd like to hopefully keep a couple but I'm not sure what most do since it is kinda a limited resource.

Other then letting someone else get a crack at it I don't think the Trout in Grindstone are reproducers? But, I would send that size back for someone else to get a chance. But, that's just me. wink

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My son is on the ice now. Has no service but his buddy does. They caught one rainbow that was 12" so far . Saw 4 others. Said lots of ppl out there.

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We started in the 12inches of slush under 8 inches of snow on the South end on opener morning, but only got perch. Then we went out to about 70-80 feet, and then this thing hit my pink spoon and fathead like a freight train at about 1:30pm. Besides a bunch of smelt mid column, this was the only fish we got.

full-25745-41627-grindstone2014troutopen

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We were out today and caught nothing but smelt. The south end of the lake looks horrible with slush. The north end is much cleaner, probably 2 inches of frozen slush with maybe another 6 inches of snow. Out from the red barn we had about 18 inches of ice over 47 fow. The smelt hole only had 12 inches of ice over 90 fow. A lot of people driving on the north end but I think I'll stick with the atv for awhile yet since the ice is so inconsistent.

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Is anyone going out this week? I have off work till Wednesday and would like to try the lake out but have no clue on where to go. Let me know if you would be willing to meet up and point me in a few directions.

I will be driving from the cities so it would be nice to have some Info since it is a long drive.

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and would like to try the lake out but have no clue on where to go.

Sorry, don't expect anyone to take you to their secret spots, but there's 139 pages of great info here already. I'm sure you can gleen some pretty good info from there.

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Fished on the south end on opener. Got one bow about 7 am. The the drill fest went on about 20 feet away from me. Moved to 65 feet for awhile to get away from crowd. Had a big looker then a bunch of smelt. Moved back shallow before dark and got 3 more bows. Ended up with 4 nice fish though. full-37790-41691-20140119_082604.jpg

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From the metro, you can stop at Gander Mountain in Forest Lake or Fish Lake Bait in Harris on the way up there most easily. Otherwise Petry's Bait in Finlayson isn't too far from the Grind.

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You might be able to get euros or waxes at the holiday in Hinckley, but I wouldn't chance it. Fish Lake bait is a great place, and it's right on the off ramp from the hwy.

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For those asking about ice and snow report: was out this past weekend. Ice was 16" where I was (I was northwest-ish). Came in through the "Red Barn" access, it was manageable with in an 4WD vehicle with high clearance to drive over the high snow bank.

Fishing: smelt bite was moderate, they shutted off or at least slowed down considerable around 11PM.

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do I have this correct: is the public access just down the road from the "red barn" access? Is it any better in terms of less snow? The red barn is a steep slope plus anymore snow and it's going to be uglier getting in/out. How's the pubic access? Thanks.

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We caught 6 rainbows between my cousin and I on Tuesday. All between 10 and 13 inches. We were in shallow water and when they'd come by they would almost surely hit your line although it was a liter bite so you had to time it perfectly. It was bitter cold but well worth it. Some nice ones to stink up the pan!

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Also, does anybody have any tips on how to tip up fish this lake? We were trying shiners but only had one flag.

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Good to see you! i met you last year on the grind, we ened up with half a bucket of smelt and 2 lakers, was nice to talk with you , very informative, i plan on going back this year, pm me id like to fish with you or pick your brain on some other ideas i have, till then

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I cut a couple trout up tonight and there were like red balls in one of their stomachs, they were like a doughy texture when I squeezed them...Anybody know what this is??

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I cut a couple trout up tonight and there were like red balls in one of their stomachs, they were like a doughy texture when I squeezed them...Anybody know what this is??

Berkley Gulp Trout Dough I'm thinking. wink

full-27051-41976-gulpnuggetsx9_2103_thum

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

or the berkley eggs

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Ya I just looked up the Berkley eggs and I'm 99% sure that's what it was...Looks like I may have to pick some of them up next time I go smile

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Had a nice first day ever ice fishing on Grindstone today.

Got to the lake at around 1pm and started drilling out from the public access looking for the smelt. I marked a few in 70ft but found a larger school in 90 ft and set up there. Ended up catching and keeping 16 smelt (which tasted great fried, by the way) by about 4pm on a tiny hook with red euro larva. Probably missed 100 bites though, I think they were hitting my sinker. I also alternated jigging an airplane jig with a sucker for lakers all over the water column but didn't mark anything that looked like a trout. In addition, I had a dead stick down from time to time with a fat head at various depths that saw no action.

I then decided I'd had enough of the smelt and went in shallow to try for some evening rainbows. Sat in 6 ft of water from 4:15 to 5:30 without seeing a fish down the hole or on the vex. I was alone and was sure to be quiet to not spook them but they just weren't there.

I accessed the lake at the Red Barn and my Saturn Vue handled the incline with ease. There was approximately 2-4 inches of snow on top of the ice and no slush which made it very easy to travel. There were people all over with vehicles when I got there and every hole I drilled had a solid 16-18 inches of ice, which was nice to see.

I wonder if those rainbows bite better in the morning or if I was in the wrong spot? Oh well, only one way to find out.

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Never tried the lake in the winter. Will I be able to park my diesel on the lake along the shore at the red barn access or should I park at the public access and ride the sleds out form their.

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Had a nice first day ever ice fishing on Grindstone today.

Got to the lake at around 1pm and started drilling out from the public access looking for the smelt. I marked a few in 70ft but found a larger school in 90 ft and set up there. Ended up catching and keeping 16 smelt (which tasted great fried, by the way) by about 4pm on a tiny hook with red euro larva. Probably missed 100 bites though, I think they were hitting my sinker. I also alternated jigging an airplane jig with a sucker for lakers all over the water column but didn't mark anything that looked like a trout. In addition, I had a dead stick down from time to time with a fat head at various depths that saw no action.

I then decided I'd had enough of the smelt and went in shallow to try for some evening rainbows. Sat in 6 ft of water from 4:15 to 5:30 without seeing a fish down the hole or on the vex. I was alone and was sure to be quiet to not spook them but they just weren't there.

I accessed the lake at the Red Barn and my Saturn Vue handled the incline with ease. There was approximately 2-4 inches of snow on top of the ice and no slush which made it very easy to travel. There were people all over with vehicles when I got there and every hole I drilled had a solid 16-18 inches of ice, which was nice to see.

I wonder if those rainbows bite better in the morning or if I was in the wrong spot? Oh well, only one way to find out.

Very nice report. We need more posts like this. Well done sir.

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Tried the lake Sunday 1-2-14. Ice was 16 and snow was deep in spots. The ice sure did not like my heavy truck it was cracking loud. Got one lake trout 27" in 56ft of water and it was around 16ft in a ball of smelt. Lots of people fishing next to shore which we were guessing for rainbows. The smelt seemed to be all over the place and super hard to hook.

I got a crappie in 50ft at the bottom which was weird

Total was one laker and one rainbow in 56ft suspended Magic lure was forage minnow with a shiner minnow

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I thought that I had heard that some of the guys that got together last year are doing a GTG again this Sat the 8th on the Grind. I can't go because it's my Grandsons 1st B-day but thought that I would pass this along. Look for a white truck with some guys around it just out from the Red Barn and a lot of steam coming out of a Brat pot. Have fun if you go. wink

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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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