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2020 Lake of the Woods Fishing Reports & Info


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Just got back from and aerial survey of the lake with JP and Wiggles. There is a large crack the runs from lighthouse gap and follows pine island to Morris gap to Graceton beach Zipple Bay and up to Long Point then followed the shore to Arnesons and to swift ( basically the whole ice sheet separated and moved north)

When I first got up the west side of the lake was rather good condition with minor cracks and the further east the worse it got. I flew over the guy stranded on the ice flow off Graceton beach and noticed there was open water all around him, not a good situation. I then made my way to baudette to pick up my passengers and had told Emery at the airport that there may be a fisherman in need of help.

We took off and flew the river to pine and noticed that in the 30 min I was on the ground that the crack had taken off and wen t from a crack to a full blown separation. We headed west along shore and flowed the crack noting how much it had grew. We continued to Arnsesons and the solid Ice that was there an hour prior was now 100 ft or more wide.

We flew to Springsteel and turned back for Baudette following the same route. Again these small cracks we had seen just minutes before had grown to a large cracks. When we got back to Graceton Beach we noticed traffic on the Ice and found a airboat picking up the fisherman and grear, wheeler left behind,and heading towards shore. We continued to circle as they went over the open water and back to shore. I talked to a guy who was part of rescue crew and said all was well.

I then landed and dropped of Jp and Wiggles and headed back out for another look. Again noting of how large the crack had grown. From what I had witnessed and given the current weather forecast I would highly recommend staying off the lake... 4 mile bay Morris and zipple bay all looked well and there were houses out, but as far as the lake... It's a rough one

I got pic and video that I will try to post soon

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Thanks for the photos, good thing the forcast looks really cold the next 10 days, hope the wind stays down, we will be up on the 14th

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Hey just wondering is 4 mile bay or zipple bay good fishing and is that frozen or do I just need to hold my horses and wait for the the lake to freeze AGAIN to catch some walters... Thanks for the photos words cant explain that crack, was heading up friday but not sure now, thats why i ask if its worth fishing the bay. Thanks for any help...

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Could be wrong but just to the west of zippel didnt look to bad! If they mark the open spots now they might be able to get some houses out soon. Cross your fingers.

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crop duster thanks alot for the footage! thank for going above to help out and to look out for the safety of otherS im glad there are persons like you in this fourm! the videos help out more then just the text that we read!

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Did the ice come back? Looking at arnesen's webcam it looks like ice is piling up there and I can't see open water like yesterday.

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this is from jkbs post should help you out!

The wind now turned and is blowing out of the northwest. This will give many a false sense of security because they can't see any open water. What it will do is open up a crack on the north side of the lake and push the ice sheet and close up the crack that is all along the south end of the lake. I know everyone is anxious to get out there, me included but don't put others (fire dept, sheriffs deputies) in danger when you get out there and need to be rescued. This just shows that mother nature is still in charge and will do what she pleases. We need a few days of no wind and cold weather to lock this completely up.

I'm off my soap box and I am not trying to sound better than anyone, just don't want to read on here about someone going through the ice.

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Last year out of Morris Point on the ice there was a 21 foot Crestliner with wheels and a plywood house built on it, Now I see why

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Last year out of Morris Point on the ice there was a 21 foot Crestliner with wheels and a plywood house built on it, Now I see why

This would be it... full-26142-27258-img_20120223_00238.jpg

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I flew over the guy stranded on the ice flow off Graceton beach and noticed there was open water all around him, not a good situation.

Was that caught on one of your two videos posted here? Gotta be the worst feeling.

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