Lake Minnewaska Fishing Reports - Ice Conditions

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I understand fishing is fishing. I also heard people say that the crappies would never get fished out of Red Lake, but when the fisherman flocked in there, they did. Lots of fisherman are flocking onto Minnewaska.

Lots of fishermen, but less than winters past any of the days I was up there, and not very many guys consistently target or have the finesse to ice the bluegills. I'd venture to guess that there are more 10" gills plucked from the pencil reeds in june or the weedlines in july/august than taken in the winter. anybody can pitch a slip bobber off a pontoon in the summer, and the fish are more active. And there are vast chunks of the lake that never get fished for gills that hold fish during the winter. Not saying pressure hasn't affected the fishing, but personally, I think the summer fishing has much more of an impact on the "bull" gills than ice fishing does. But, hang a camera down from a boat along the weedlines in the summer and you'll see that there is good recruitment of recent year classes of gills. However, the pike seem to favor perch over gills lately which may or may not have an effect on the growth rates of the gills.

[wetaline1]

By 10 you mean 9 right..?

[goose89]

By 10 you mean 9 right..?

Like

[carpshooterdeluxe]

By 10 you mean 9 right..?

Oh yeah that's right, there are no 10" gills in waska.

[icefisker]

Here we go again!!!

[wetaline1]

Thank you! Thats what I've been saying all along.

[goose89]

Oh yeah that's right, there are no 10" gills in waska.

...that have a chance of being returned to waska if caught. WE could have oodles of them, if Selectively Harvested....take the 7.5" to 9.5"ers home...put the rest back..but hey, it's a big lake. She'll take anything we can dish out.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

That's my point. The top end of the blue gill fishery is usually the most vulnerable and gets the most pressure when they are up in the pencil reeds. You'll get pontoons full of people throwing slip bobbers at them. I fish the same methods, but I could care less about keeping anywhere near a limit of gills.

I measured and released 5 10" gills last summer, with 2 of them coming off the dock. probably had a few others I tossed back that were close to 10 as well. Heck I'm about 50/50 on keeping or tossing back 9" fish. It's just too bad that people will keep a 10" gill over a 12" bass or 20" northern, yet complain about how many bass and northerns there are. More meat and they taste the same after dunked in 425 degree oil. A buddy and I did a fish fry at waterama and we told every person there they were eating walleye, when in reality it was all bass and pike. Nobody knew the difference, and there were 5-6 people there that "only eat walleye."

[goose89]

Carp, i think we're on the same page...But it doesn't matter when they are caught...it's the same with the crappies....there's a lot of nice crappies now,and more on the way...yes, they are cyclical, and big ones don't last for ever, I get that. But, the advertising of and propagation of the "no worries" attitude that waska is a big lake and there's fish all over, and there's not as many icefisherman / ice houses as in the past doesn't allow waska a chance to meet it's potential. Even if we are less in numbers, the ease with which we can catch fish compared to 20 years ago is staggering....And believe me, I have nearly every gadget to make catching them easier (GPS,SI,DI,Spot Lock,insulated portables,LakeMaster / Navionics chips, internet reports, ect, ect)...But, I harvest as differently as we used to fish too. I'm far from preaching C&R 100%. CPR the big ones, and eat some of the mid-sized ones.

If we'd somehow get the majority to put back 12.5" crappies back the next couple years, we'd see some pretty impressive trophy crappies...but with current practices and attitudes, we'll settle for limits limits of 12-13"ers and rarely see trophies....goes for all species.....one I'd really like see protected the most is the pike...30" pike and above are the most important fish in waska.

We could harvest, as you agree, less vulnerable sized panfish and mix in a medium sized pike or bass and leave the very biggest (of all species) and have a real destination. As is, it's a big, moderately good fishery for average sized fish......which is better than some lakes, esp. in the metro I guess. But, it could be so much better. But, without self regulation (Selective Harvest)and ending the "it's a big lake" campaign, it's a pipe dream.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

[clayton08]

I eat bass quite often in the summer and people think Im crazy. I dont mind it at all and can fool people just like your saying carp. I agree that waska is very fragile the last couple years the lake has got pounded I dont even keep fish out of there anymore at least not gills or crappies as they are so fragile and everyone and there mother keeps everything they catch. If you think it doesnt add up your lying to yourself. I catch alot of fish out of waska but for every 12-13 inch crappie I throw back I cant help but smile as that fish will hopefully get to be 15 inches which I doubt will happen as people think the big ones are good eaters. I just dont get how people think they can always keep fish and it doesnt do anything. Waska is the worst Ive seen it right now its actually pretty miserable yeah you can catch fish but you have to do some serious seaching. It isnt like it used to be were you could drop your house anywere in bottle bay and catch fish. Those days are long gone. We need to do our part to keep this a good fishery which includes letting the fish over 9 inches go. If you wanna keep fish keep the 8s and 10 inch crappies. You can do whatever you want but it makes a guy feel better knowing hes making the lake a better place. With all this being said waska is really tough right now the fish are out there you just gotta find em.

[goose89]

Over fished...not at all. You put the camera down and they are all over down there...

Clayton, based on your observations, a whole lot has changed in just a few short weeks.

[clayton08]

I didnt say that read my posts buddy.

[clayton08]

The last time I went out I didnt catch much and when have I ever told anyone to go out there and keep all there fish???

[goose89]

I didnt say that read my posts buddy.

PM sent, clayton. You mistook my post. We're on the same page.

[Greenhornet84]

How does the lake look after this snow?

[EyeChsr]

White. Ha Ha j/k, saw some pickups out there this morning and afternoon. Some water near shore but must be better further out.

[clayton08]

I was out today theres barely any snow out there still alot of ice shore is holding up pretty decent so far fishing is tough tho.

[clayton08]

Havent been out since last week been busy moving. Just got a house by st cloud. The national championship for team extreme ice fishing tournaments was held on waska on march29th&30th yours truly won it with 23.79 lbs for the two day total. Was truly an awesome time. I found the fish friday camera fishing. Out on the bar then sunday they were in bottle bay in a spot were we been seeing a couple but that sunday it was crazy. I will either be out here on sunday or on osakis I got a blue clam suit with a burn hole on the buttock section dont be afraid to come say hi.

[Borch]

Congrats Clayton!

Now that we're practically neighbors we'll have to get out fishing so of the St Cloud area lakes.

[clayton08]

Thanks.I would be down for that Borch. Went out this afternoon on a lil lake around here and slammed some big gills. Always fun sight fishing in 3 feet of water.

[Tom Sawyer]

Wondering it anyone has a current lake ice, and lake accessibility report?

[EyeChsr]

lake has opened up pretty good around the edges, don't think a plank or ladder will reach in most places. not sayin there isn't some place u could do it.

[Greenhornet84]

Any early birds in the marina yet?

[carpshooterdeluxe]

There was a few guys fishing in there when I drove by on saturday morning on the way to the cabin. Took a break from projects to wader fish old bull rush patches around 2 on saturday...a few gills and one nice perch, but mostly smaller perch chasing the bait; didn't fish very long before some ice flowed in though.

[ducker]

View from south side of lake this afternoon. No ice in sight from here. Some on Glenwood end

[clayton08]

Great now I might have to come up on saturday to chase some crappies.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Entire lake ice free yet?

[EyeChsr]

Still some floating around Glenwood side as of this afternoon.

[Rookie13]

Any reports on the Opener? I was out Saturday for a few hours with no luck on Walleyes, bass and hammer handles were a different story.

[ducker]

Anybody have a water temp for Minnewaska?