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snow and ice is starting to deteriorate...


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we've got a couple good ice fishing weeks ahead of us yet. But dang, if these temps stick around much longer we may have to hang up the ice equipment before too long. I know on Saturday the perch were flying through the holes, some real nice jumbos, so the activity seems to have really picked up.

Good luck to all who hit it the next couple weeks, fun time of the season.

Buck

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How much ice do you guys have up there on your lakes? The ones I've been fishing around Alexandria here are averging 36-38 inches. One that I was on last Saturday had 41", but it frozeover after the big snow fall at the beging of Decenber. mad.gif

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I'm trying to come up this weekend. I like coming to Bemidji getting in some fishing, dinner and having a few frosty mug sensations. Where is a good place to go put a few lines in. I'm trying to get my non-fishing brothers to come out. Any info would be appreciated.

Big Cahuna

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Weve been doing good on the north end of Lake bemidji for the past couple of weeks and it keeps getting better. Try 20' or less.

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we've still got plenty of ice, I hope nobody took my first post wrong. We've still got 2-3ft on Bemidji, and Upper Red is spotty, anywhere between 18-36" from what I've witnessed. We had a good amount of snow on the lakes up here so that's probably why we don't have the ice depths you do in Alex.

And just to clarify, I don't think we've lost any ice at this point, just a lot of snow melting.

I hear Plantanganet is producing good perch, Bemidji has been pretty hot recently, and Upper Red is picking up some. The crappies are still hit and miss, we managed a couple last time up. I was going to go out tonight but my 4wd on the truck is giving me some hassles, hopefully it'll be fixed by tomorrow so I can get out.

Hey Woodman...if you see this, you want to go with?

Buck

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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