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Grindstone Lake Fishing Reports


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I might take advantage of the longer trout season this year and make a late march treck up there if ice conditions allow for it. Hmmmm, monster perch/crappies out of mille lacs or 14 inch lakers from grindstone? Keep your fingers crossed that I can make time for both.

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I was up there last friday and saw over 2 dozen streamers on the camera but none would bight!!! No luck on the lakers, but did talk to an old timer that caught 8 in the morning ten feet under the ice, he had two nice 3 to 4 pounders in his pail. I measured 19" of clear ice in bothe places we where. There was about 3 to 6 inches of snow on the lake when we got there but when we left it was a big slosh hole!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Anyone been on Grindstone this week or planning for the weekend? Still got the Laker itch. Boarder water action was good last weekend but I think the dog team is dry docked now. I'd like a shot at one more but need some of the weekend to prepare for the gobbler opener! Any update on ice would be great. Thanks

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Im heading up there in the morning. Im sure the ice will be fine for walking out. the slush froze back up on Mille Lacs so it sould be fine out there.

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  • 2 months later...

Yes Jason, small ones. Was hard to get a pattern that works hour after hour. Mixed trout bag last time. Caught about 7 trout, kept 3 last year after a sunrise to 6pm day. Tried ultralight longlining with metal baits, planers and dipseys. Adjusted depths often enough too. Hope you like the sound of your motor!

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  • 6 months later...

I'm looking at trying the lake for the first time probably within the next week or so. Any suggestions for some serious laker action? I'm bringing the kids and hoping they get hooked on fishing!

Thanks.

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My biggest suggestions would be -

wait until jan 15 ( trout opens )

start at the mid-lake humps

check ice conditions

this lake is deep and does not freeze like others

airplane jigs

tube jigs

spoons

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Thanks Will for the info. When I do go I'll have a 2 of my kids with me in hopes of getting them hooked on other types of fish instead of just panfish and walleyes.

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Just prepare your kids for a slow day of fishing. Trout will not fly out of the whole like crappies so maybe bring something for the kidos to do. I have spent many hours on that lake last year with not much sucsess, but then again maybe that is me! I caught browns all winter long with no rainbows or lakers in sight!

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As already said, trout season is closed, so you can't fish for them. So panfish will be about the only thing you can target. So my advice to you is either wait until the 15th, or pick a nearby lake that has better fishing for panfish.

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Its looking like we'll be going on the 16th. As far as getting ready for a slow day goes, its been super slow already for the walleyes anyways so I think the kids have the patience for no fish thing down already. lol

The local lakes (Metro) are really low on water making things a little different than they used to be, and with me spending a lot of time over the last 7 years in Iraq everything seems to be a bit different everywhere I used to fish. frown

I hope I figure out the fish pattern soon for the kids.

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Buckslayer, if you have a chance try West Rush for some crappies as I always have great luck out there. My only advice is go out during the week and fish the edge of the crowds. Would be a fun trip for the kids, I know because I took my 4 year old out there last year and she is hooked now!

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Well, given that will be opening weekend the best advice I can give is stay away from everyone! It will be very busy out there.

Try shallow for rainbows. Go anywhere from 20 to 80 ft for lakers, and jig the entire water column. I like blue and white bucktail or airplane jigs. I've caught smaller ones on orange or red swedish pimples tipped with euros in shallower water.

There's also the possibility a school of smelt will come through...could catch a bunch, but they're very small. Something different anyway.

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Sweet! Thanks a LOT for all of the advice KG243 and JBMasterAngler. Maybe I'll try west Rush this week. I have nothing but time during the week as I am on school break till the 11th. Maybe I'll head out there tomorrow?!

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I'm thinking the browns will be in shallow water...if you can find perch or smelt, you'll probably find some browns (and lakers).

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I caught my browns in any where from 30 fow to 60 fow all though most were in 30 fow right on the bottom. I must note that I did not have any electronics but a camera at the time.

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lakers usually will relate to structure, so humps or steep drops in depth are good. like said, work the whole water colomn, top to bottom. good baits are spoons or tube baits. and hang on to your rod, when they hit, they will hit very hard. lakers are more agressive in winter.

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You would be crazy to drive on it, I have not been up there since the middle of December and it was still open then. A very deep lake with deep thermal pockets. I doubt we will be able to drive out on opener.

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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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