Prior Lake Weekend Report

[wastewaterguru]

I caught my limit of crappies and two decent eyes (15") in about 3 hours on Sunday. Wow what a difference a week makes for ice thickness. There were at least 50 shacks on Lower Prior as of Sunday afternoon and several of them were large permanents. Snowmobiles all over the lake. The ice is only 5.5 to 6" and 3 of that looks like frozen slush.

Got most of the crappies on a plain red hook and a bobber in 19 feet. Got a few crappies and the eyes on a pink glow angel eye.

Now that my permanents out, I'll be out there quite a bit.

Anyone else from FM out on Prior this weekend?? How did you do?

[Pherris]

I was out on Fish lake near prior today same type of ice 3 inches good ice and about 3 of frozen slush. Only got to be out for a couple of hours and only got some small sunnies but it was nice to be out.

[Versus]

Made it out to lower prior on saturday evening. There were probably 40+ shacks out. I fished in about 18' and pulled four perch up through the ice. Nothing of real size. A friend was in 15' not too far away and had luck with a few 'eyes. Going to be out a couple times this week and start trying different parts of the lake for some success. I've got a few spots in mind. I really only stayed on one part of the lake last year. Had some success, but not the size I'm looking for. Just nice to get out this weekend.

Versus

[Ranckenstuff]

Thanks for the Fish Lake Update,

Were you out in front of the Campground/sandy beach. Ive had luck there for crappies during winter.

Might be out next couple days on Fish.

[Lunker]

I have never ice fished there, but hope to make it down there once I get a portable. Figure a big lake like that would be mighty windy with no shack! Maybe after x-mas...

[korn_fish]

Just got back from lower Prior. One 12" walleye released, and missed at least three others. I was spending most of my time trying to figure out my lanterns and Auger.. Using a glowing genz worm jig with crappie minnow and plain hook and crappie minnow.

I was fishing in 20 feet of water and away from the crowd of shaks. I need to take my auger back, so if they replace it I will be out there again tomorrow.

I called out on my two way this afternoon but no one answered.

Bunch of lookers at the glow genz worm on the vex, but no takers. All the hits came on the plain hook.

[Guest]

Anybody been out by Lord's ST bridge, hopefully going tomorrow

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JIG JIG JIG

[This message has been edited by dabiggest shooter (edited 12-15-2003).]

[Clayburn]

Hey Korn Fish what kind of auger is it?

[WALTERCRAFT]

WASTEH20,
I HIT LOWER PRIOR ON SAT AM AND SUNDAY.
I ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 5 DECENT EYES AND A HANDFUL OF CRAPPIES. I WAS A BIT SHALLOW AT 13 FT AND WAS PLANNING TO GO DEEPER BUT THEY KEPT BITING SO I STAYED. WERE YOU THE PORTABLE ALL ALONE IN DEEPER H20 OUT FROM THE BEACH? I WAS IN A TRAP SCOUT ON SAT AND A 6800 ON SUNDAY.

[korn_fish]

Clayburn - It was the eskimo...but its not the auger manufacturers issue, its the motor builders issue (tecumseh) All the big three brands have the same motors (eskimo, strike masters etc.)

Took it back to GM this morning and they swapped the power head out. this one seems to run pretty good.

Got my lantern fixed too

Ill be heading out to prior again tonight to try my luck again.

Anyone else going to be out there tonight??? Ill give a shout on the two way when I get there. probably around 4:30 - 5

[This message has been edited by korn_fish (edited 12-15-2003).]

[wastewaterguru]

I have a semi-portable 4 x 8 with one end a piece of plywood with a door, and the other three sides are a green tarp.

I leave this thing out there all season and only have about $40 in materials invested.

I was out by myself Sunday and may be out again tonight. I do not have a two-way, but will have my cell on.

952-221-4087.

[korn_fish]

Wastewater - I will give you a call on your cell tonight to see if you there. I seen a shak similar to what you described but I didn't pay too much attention plus I was trying to pull my sled as far away from other shaks as I could, so I wasn't going in a straight line. And no,,,that wasn't because I had too many brewskies I just don't like disturbing someone elses area too much.

Im going east of sand point beach tonight somewhere in between the island and the north east cove. 612-306-5642

[Ya Hey Der]

Which launch do you guys go out of? I would like to ice-fish this lake but I don't know where to start. Not asking for exact locations just general locations, unless some of you guys are willing to share that.

Wastewaterguru, I don't know if I am going to be able to make it out today but would ya mind if I gave you a holler when I do?

Thanks!

[wastewaterguru]

Ya Hey Der,

The area I'm in is certainly not a secret. I was in the middle of 10 or 15 shacks. You are more than welcome to join me anytime, or call me for location info.

[korn_fish]

ya hey der....Im going to be heading out tonight and either joining wastewater or fishing near by. I gotta get out and drill some holes to make sure my auger is running good so if I see a school or mark some fish I will be setting up. Plus we just got a virus here and all of our systems are currently down, so I might be heading out pretty soon since I can't work and search for some schools.

both wastewater and I are going off of the sand point beach landing. I'll be northeast of the landing

[Ya Hey Der]

Thanks you guys. I can't make it out today, gotta do that Christmas shopping thing tonight. I'll see if I can make it out tomorrow. Do either of you guys have any plans for heading out tomorrow? Thanks and hope to hook up with you guys soon.

[wastewaterguru]

I have to travel tomorrow and probably won't be back in the area until late.

I haven't tried the night bite yet and I'm not sure if my shack is in the right spot for the late bite. I'll find out tonight.

I may not get out again after tonight until the weekend. I have volleyball league and a wife and kids and was amazed she let me off the hook for tonight.

Hey Korn_Fish,

Do you have enough bait for me (I'll give ya a couple bucks) so I don't have to run over to MK tonight??

From the looks of it, I won't be out till closer to 6.

[korn_fish]

Ya hey der....... I will be out there tomorrow (tuesday night). I will be fishing with an editor/writer from the North American Hunting Magazine and you are more than welcome to join us. I wont know what time we are heading out there until tomorow and depending on the weather (heard it is supposed to get really windy).

give me a ring on my cell phone tomorrow and I can give you more details

[Ya Hey Der]

Korn_fish,
Thanks for your offer. I was unable to get out and meet up with you today. I had some stuff to take care of at work and I couldn't get out of it. Starting tomorrow, I am house/dog sitting for a friend of mine until Sunday so ice time will be limited. I will definitely give you a call though when I do head out on Prior. I just hope you guys leave some fish for me. Talk to you soon!

[Lunker]

My bro was out last night and iced 10 eyes. Couldnt tell you where, what with or how big, just know it was a night bight on prior!

[korn_fish]

it was so-so last night. 8 crappies, and one eye and my fishing partner lost 6 or 7 (darn rookies )

Not sure if it was your brother that I talked to last night at the landing, but he had few eyes that were caught off by the island on lower prior south west of the landing. Does your brother have curly blonde hair?

There looks like a 6' hump out by the Island that was mentioned that I have been eying for a few weeks on the lake map. And I definitely want to try for some late night walley action.

Two guys were coming on the lake about 9:30-10 pm heading towards the sandpoint shanty town. But everyone else seemed to have left already and it didn't sound like others had too much luck.

[safe ice]

I just heard rumor that quite a few houses sank last night on Prior Lake due to the heavy snow sinking the ice. Does anybody know if this is true or is it just rumor.

[Guest]

For those who were out last night (or last few days), how was the ice?

[korn_fish]

6-7 inches of ice on Lower. however 2-3 of it is frozen slush.

don't know what heavy snow they were talking about. As of last night there was only maybe 1/2 inch of snow on the lake edges that were out of the wind. and plenty of bare ice once you got out in the wind swept areas.

no houses sinking when I left last night. the only way I can think a house would have sank is by there being too many large houses too close together causing the area to sag.

You could here it making ice really good last night.

[slenz]

A buddy and myself both have perms out on lower Prior and killed the eyes and northerns yesterday and last night. Be out there again tonight after work...

[mnrstrider]

I've never fished Prior in winter, is the Ice safe enough for an atv, is there areas I need to really watch out for thin ice. Anyone want to give a new ice fisherman a helping hand on the ice out there, I'm a nice guy, I have all my own supplies, with a FL-18, but I'm still a rookie. I watch and listen well. I can bring beer/pop, any flavor within reason and or bait. I just need to get a little ice legs before I'm real comfortable venturing out there by myself. My portable? your shelter?, no shelter. Anyone interested, holler.

-Nick

[mnrstrider]

Great! providing I'm not too hung over come Sunday (family Christmas part Sat night), I'll look you up.
-Nick
612-386-3337 <- always on

So the ice is good enough for an ATV, is there any spot to watch out for right now. ( I also know better to come ripping up to a shack on a wheeler makeing a ton of noise.) Of course I can always walk too.

This forum's format always messes with my head.... I think I've started a new thread 3 times now instead of replying...

[korn_fish]

Nick - I will be venturing out to lower on Saturday ( all day ) doing some running and gunning. This is my first year fishing this lake so I am still searching some areas out on. This will take me across most of the lake so I will know how most of the ice is after that.

However, feel free to join me out there if you want ( I drink any flavor ) I am not sure what time I will get there on Sat. though. But give me a call and we can go over the details of my madness and attempt at being a fisherman and see if you would be up for it. Otherwise, I have my cell phone with me on the lake as well as a two way set on 7/11 (freq. that most FM'rs use)

My plan is to move around most of the day,for crappies and eyes. even if I find a honey hole I will probably move to search new areas, and then doing a final set up by 5 PM for some walleye action and fish till 10 or 11.

there is a shanty of permanent shaks starting off of sand point already and plenty of ATV's and snowmobiles out there. Most of them are staying pretty close to shore though. Wastewater has his shak near there as well and is a great guy to fish with. I don't know what flavor he prefers though

[wastewaterguru]

To maintain a physique like mine, I obviously don't have a picky pallate.

There are a few areas to avoid on an ATV.

Shallow points tend to have bad ice...
Narrow channels tend to have bad ice...
Any structure that comes up out of deeper water(sandbars, rockpiles, etc.).

In particular, the area to the east of the Sand Point access is fairly safe, EXCEPT the point (rocks) coming off the east side of the island. There was still open water here last weekend.

My thought is that the weather is such that the ice is thickening every day.

Therefore if you are going along and see tracks you're probably OK.

If you don't see any tracks around you then worry.

If you are following some tracks and they seem to disappear.....then kiss your A55 good-bye.

[big_fish_guy]

wasteh2o or korn fish, are you going to be around this weekend(sat morning) or next monday fishing?

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