Garvais

[Mr. Pike1]

Has anyone ventured out on this body of water yet. I checked the ice a bit on the Kohlman side of the lake on Sunday. I only went out a little ways and it appeared in good shape on that side. Over by the beach area however it appeared much more iffy...I know this lake also has a few natural springs as well which I am not all that thrilled about.

[Zaraspooks]

Tried to get out Friday evening in the North West corner. Took two steps and broke through. I think I'll wait until after this weeks cold weather, if the snow doesn't slow the freeze.

Drove by Phalen this evening and the North side is pretty much all open.

The Spook

[Mr. Pike1]

Zaraspooks, This snow is going to make it tougher to tell the true condintion on the lake. When I do try Garvais I think I am going to focus on the Southside by the beach first. Last year in the bay in front of the beach by the weedline I caught several big large mouth bass and many many panfish.

[Mr. Pike1]

Any news yet on Garvais ice?

[addicted]

Mr Pike1
Went on it Wed night in front of the house. I broke through on the first two steps then was able to stand on it. Wasn't to keen on going out much further than knee deep, still seemed soft. Will try this evening and report back!

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Addicted

It's not only a name, but a state of mind!

[Mr. Pike1]

That is not good. Hopefully it has since stabalized. While driving by this morning it looked like a nice solid freeze all across the lade.

[addicted]

Got home and ended up having to run out right away. Did run into two guys coming off the north end. They told me they had about 6" of ice...though they did mention the cat tails were wet.

[Mr. Pike1]

Anyone get out on Garvais? I fished in St. Cloud all day but am anxious this backyard lake again.

[Mr. Pike1]

I noticed a colony of 10 houses on the North side of the lake near my fall hot spot. If these were FMers please post results. I spoke to one person who was coming of the water who stated there was 8" of ice.

[This message has been edited by Mr. Pike1 (edited 12-14-2003).]

[Mr. Pike1]

No reports?

[addicted]

Sat night all I got was a bunch of 6" perch out of 14' of water theaction was fast and furious, but it wasn't what i was looking for. Ice was 6-8" on the secret spot

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Addicted

It's not only a name, but a state of mind!

[Mr. Pike1]

Did you get reports from anyone else. I spoke to a guy last evening who stated he got a few eyes 14-18" and some and some crappie. He did not mention the perch bite but I am sure they were mixed in. I will get out for a few hours this weekend and am going to give my "one secret hole" a jig.

[addicted]

No one else out by me. I'll be out tommorrow night, I may sneak out tonite to find out whats happening on the north end.

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Addicted

It's not only a name, but a state of mind!

[Mr. Pike1]

.

[Mr. Pike1]

You must have been outside of the colony of the 10 plus houses I saw on the North/Northwest side of the lake. I may try to get out on Thursday night. I will for sure get out there at some point this weekend and I guarantee that walleye's and crappies will be caught !!!!

[Mr. Pike1]

Addicted if you do go out on Wednesday I would strongly encourage you to avoid the traffic on the North side and try the South side of the lake. I will share a spot with you that is on that side. There is now fishing pier on that side. Go strait out from the dock about 20-25 yards and vier just to the right, you will find a nice bar that gradually drops to 20 plus feet. fish the breaks during the light hours and at pre-dusk set up on the bar about 14 feet. I also would give some attention to the shallow water in that bay by the beach. Find the weedline and fish just outside of it in about 6 feet of water. Last year I found some very nice sunfish (many small ones as well) on the weedline along with some 3 lb plus largemouth and some pike. I know that you live on the lake and may already be aware of this spot. You shared many in an e-mail you sent me last summer.

[This message has been edited by Mr. Pike1 (edited 12-16-2003).]

[addicted]

That's some nice structure, even nicer with the weeds laid down. Saturday, I was out in front of my place working the inside corner. I'm probably gonna be around this weekend (unless ole puddleduck and the snake come up with firm plans for a northern lakes tour)shoot me an email on when you think you'll be out, and I'll try to hook up.

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Addicted

It's not only a name, but a state of mind!

[Mr. Pike1]

I could not go to FM get together today due to family commitments and also to get all the christmas shopping done. I am now off to the Vikings game. Anyway I plan on going out on Garvais on the North side tomorrow morning.

[WillTravelToFish]

How was the bite?

Just got back from Lake Failin and it was the dead sea. Nothing, tried everything - first time ever skunked on one of my lures.

Someone proudly displayed a 1-1/2 - 2 lb pike next to their hole. It was a sad scene.

That lake is a sad scene.

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Will work for trophies,
Have gear will travel.

[Mr. Pike1]

G-man and I did not have success on Garvais. We did see some Walleyes caught and a few flags but overall slow...very slow.

[G_man]

Weeds in the south end of the lake across from the beach are gone. Probably drilled at least 50 holes in the south end and covered alot of area. Didn't even find a fish in any of them.

[Mr. Pike1]

G-man- If you are checking the board. Please e-mail me as I have some news on Garvais to share. [email protected]

[G_man]

Mr. Pike,

I was just giving your cell phone a call ...

Try mine, 612-868-1078

[G_man]

Mr. Pike,

Haven't heard from you, so I'm going to head out to Gervais. I still got my snowmobile hooked up from yesterday's outing, so I'll bring it too. Going to park at the south beach and be out there with a red snowmobile. Stop by if you get this info. I'll also have my cell phone with me and on. I'll be out there til at least an hour after dark.

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Life is too short to not go fishing today!

[Mr. Pike1]

r1318, I am sorry to hear of the bad outing. I do not know what happened to the weed line on Garvais on the South side. Last year you could go back on the South side and catch perch, sunnies, crappies, bass, and pike all day long back in that bay. Many were small but there were some very nice fish mixed in as well. It certainly was fun to have non stop action during the day and then fish the sand bar there at dusk for a few walleyes. I am perplexed by where the weeds went. I see many houses off the point so maybe there are weeds over there by the deeper water. Addicted from the site lives on the lake and can perhaps can add some insight to the absence of the weeds. Very strange...I am concerned that my local honey hole may now be an unfishable black hole...

[jr1318]

Ran into gman sun afternoon, id been there since 9:30 am punch 30 -40 holes on south end, all I caught was 1 small perch. 3:30 set up on point 18' water saw lots of fish could'nt buy a bite, left at 6:00 all those hour and just one 4" perch.

[G_man]

It could possibly be for the construction/renovation of the building down by the beach ...

I see there is a Contractor's sign by the beach access and the building itself has the look of something being worked on ...

Or they just don't want anyone driving out???

[Mr. Pike1]

G-man is correct they closed the beach this summer to remodel. My recommendation is to move the no parking baracades up a bit to ensure your vehicle is a good fit.

[Mr. Pike1]

G-man, it you check the board e-mail me at [email protected]. I drove by Garvais this morning and there was a guy coming off the South side who is a veteran of fishing Garvais for the last 8-10 years. He shared some very interesting information with me.

[weedcatcher]

Why is the beach access closed on the south side? It makes parking a problem.