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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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Was the 1st one on the lake this morning. Was treated to a nice calm, foggy morning...for about 20 minutes crazy then the wind picked up! I was on the lake all day...I trolled deep and shallow, fast and slow...tried casting...used every spoon, spinner, and rapala. NOTHING! Marked a ton of smelt, and a few fish deep (assuming they were lakers), saw a couple rainbows jump.

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Don't know, didn't take the temp. Didn't seem all that cold though, considering it was only 25 degrees when I showed up to the launch.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Any ice reports at all up there on the Grind? I'm sure Mother Nature is making it fast right now. Thanks.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Headed up in the morning. Wondering if there are certain spots to stay away from. I've fished it in the summer but not winter.

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Snow cover was minimal with bare spots. Lots of people on the lake but wouldn't expect anything less with it being opener. We had 18" of solid ice under our feet. Fished 40ft to 70ft no luck for Lakers and smelt were not that hungry.

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Thanks for the update. Morning run may happen tomorrow. Some Laker jigging and may sit for some rainbows. Wind should be a little less tomorrow. I have limited amounts of time spent out there, so I'm searching them out still. Sounds like a good day for a walk and some hole drilling.

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Anybody been off the beaten path? 18 inches all over? Wondering about the hump on the west side? Red barn access still ok to use? Thanks any info would be great

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Friend and I out there yesterday in front of red barn. 17 - 18" of ice. Most activity not too far out. We caught only 2 rainbows plus a few small sunnies. Fished 7-12' of water. Didn't seem like others were having much luck either. A couple brave souls drove across and down the center of the lake. Guess I'll wait a bit yet.

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People at the smelt hole have been driving for a few weeks now. Had a good foot of ice about two weeks ago. Yes I know there are weak spots, but stay on the main paths and you should be good.

Watch out for spear holes, I almost stepped into one that wasn't marked. I'd hate to see a vehicle drive into one. I went to shore and grab a branch and marked it promptly.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

This thread is way to quiet this year. Either they're slaying them or its a dead sea. Anybody have any updates on lake conditions or the bite?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

This thread is way to quiet this year. Either they're slaying them or its a dead sea. Anybody have any updates on lake conditions or the bite?

Well, if Reinhard was still around it would be a little more livelier! wink

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I agree with you Leech! I'm heading out there tomorrow. Rainbows seemed to be biting better 3 or 4 weeks ago. They are shallow, like in 5 - 7' of water. I know some guys have been lucky with smelt but haven't heard of any lakers being caught. Access by Red Barn should be good. Water on top of the ice at the public landing. People driving all over the lake a couple of weeks ago. Some people say it is never safe in the deeper spots.

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Anyone going out tomorrow? A friend and I are gonna hit the lake for the first time ever. Have a couple questions for anyone willing to answer. 1. Is the red barn access for everyone to use? Do you pay somewhere?

2. Are there spots to avoid? (Springs, cracks, spots that don't have fish?)

3. Any other tips for fishing the lake.

I read to start shallow early for rainbows and move out deeper for Lakers later. Is this still "the thing to do"? We will be mobile with 2 portables in a truck. Open to any areas or ideas for 2 rookies to grindstone and to trout fishing. Thank you for any info and I can post our success or failure after. smile

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Hey fish,

1. Red barn access is open to anyone and there isn't a charge.

2. Look at a lake map or Google maps and make note of the multiple small streams entering and leaving the lake. You want to avoid driving too close to these areas. If you check the ice some of these areas are good rainbow trout spots but use caution.

3.Start shallow and move deeper if you're not seeing fish. If you do move deeper it can still be productive to fish at least one line 3 to 6 ft. below the.ice for wandering Rainbows. I've caught my biggest 'bows doing this. If all else fails you can fish for smelt out among the crowd that will be gathered in the NE corner of the lake.

Good luck.

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Ditto. By shallow, I interpret that to mean 3 FOW. You don't have to go far from the Red Barn entrance either. By the way, the entrance is very obvious driving north on West Grindstone Road.

MNfisher and I hit the Grind today. Rainbows were hitting on waxies. So were perch LOL. Guess we didn't feel like getting up and moving around or hole hopping. That might have been more my fault. Haha.

FYI - Rainbows I saw were right on the bottom or a little off of it.

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Thank you for the report gentlemen but unfortunately we were not able to go today. Some things came up but we do still have intentions of going up. If and when we do I will let you know what we find. Thanks again.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I will be visiting the area near Grindstone Lake this weekend (March 21) for work. I will have a little free time and I was thinking that it might be fun to ice fish a little. It'll be in the middle of the day. I honestly don't care if I catch anything or not (so I don't need any advice on techniques or spots).

However, I would like to not drown. Is the ice safe? I was driving around Mille Lacs this weekend and guys were still driving out there, so I was thinking that it would be safe, though messy

FYI: I'll be on foot...

Thanks!

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Hopefully someone will chime in here with a more recent report, but when I was last up there 3/1, the ice just off shore from the red barn had to be at least 18" thick. That is a guestimate. I sure went a long ways down on the auger. The area near shore of course might be more problematic.

I would bring a spud with and walk out from the red barn. Test the ice in the first 20 or 40'. You do not have to go too far out to hit 3-5 fow. No need to go deeper IMHO.

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  • 3 months later...

Anyone been up by the Grind recently?  Haven't been there since June and the landing was too shallow for my boat.  Took the 12 footer out after that.  With the recent rains I was wondering if the level went up at the landing. Thanks.  good luck.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The last time I was out on the lake, the access was fine but the channel was very bad. I have a 14' aluminum 'row' boat and had to keep the motors up and use an oar to push through to the main lake. The spillway that extends out into the lake is also very shallow.

I talked to the DNR officer in the area who pointed me to the waterways and trails person out of Moose Lake. I talked to him and it has been scheduled for the last 4 years to be dredged but the funds were diverted. This year they had it quoted and it came in way higher than they had funding for so again it was decided to hold off.  I did explain to him that it's hard to get my little boat through there and he seemed to become very interested so maybe that will put a fire under them to at least go and take a look.  If it's determined that it's dangerous, they will probably move faster on it.

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  • 2 months later...

Anyone been out there lately? I wasn't planning on fishing the grind this fall, but my dad wants to go hunting next week, so I'm thinking about tagging along and getting dropped off at the lake.

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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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