Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

411 To Ice Fish The Namakan


Recommended Posts

Holla and Hey There eh-

I've been cruisin the web looking for information on ice fishing the Namakan.

If anyone has information for me it would be appreciated.

Some questions would include:

What is the current mode of transportation on the lake. Sled or ATV work? Looking to get out to Cemetery and Williams islands. The ATV has some advantages in carrying/pulling the always brought to much gear.

How close can I get to that location in the winter by road/trail?

Is there bait, groceries etc. near by?

How about cell phone coverage in that area?

Any fish being caught? Eyes'? On what, where and when?

Hows the night bite?

Anyone have any experience with towing a heavy trailer behind a sled? Any advice? Looking to pull my sleeper and voyager and a half ton truck load of stuff with me.

Basically I need the whole 411 as I've never iced fished up there. I have summer fished Namakan a few years ago from a boat but never hard water fished it.

Its on the bucket list and something I want to do yet this year.

Gracias los comentarios!

Jose Pez

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to FM!

There will be more experts in the area of Nam, but I can tell you that you are probably going to be traveling by sled since there are no ATV's allowed on Park land and you shouldn't be going through any narrows on the ice.

If there is a night bite, it would be a secret to me. I've never had what you'd call a great night bite on any of those lakes...Rainy, Nam, Kab, Crane, Sand Point...except for the occasional eelpout. Good luck though. It sounds like fun. I hope you do well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You most likely will have to put in at the Ash River visitors center. If you have a whole Truck load of stuff plus a sleeper and a voyager you might need more than a snowmobile to pull it all with. How big is this sleeper and this voyager? Are they on wheels? I usually pull all my stuff in my little igloo popup/sled. But I don't stay overnight on the ice...ever. No night bite on these lakes as far as I know. If it was me I would travel light and stay at one of the local resorts. nearest supplies will be all the way out to the Highway. Jim's is a convienience store and the Gateway store has pretty much everything. Cell phone coverage is sporatic at best depending on who your carrier is. I have CellOne/ATT and I am lucky to get coverage on the highway while sprint verizon folks have service right on the lake. Pressure ridges and drifts can be an issue on these lakes Perhaps Dockboy or Guts can weigh in as I know they both live up that way. I think that you might have more sucess on Kab but I have not been on the ice up there yet this year either. Good Luck! ODL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
    • monstermoose78
      Guys slim creek on burntside is the place to load up on smelt
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.