Lake Minnewaska Fishing Reports - Ice Conditions

[WiskerBiskit]

Bringing kids out this weekend around bottle bay for some sunnies is it worth sleeping over for some walleyes or crappies in that same area or should we move the house to new location after dark? Any suggestions on a chance to catch some eyes after dark would b great. Spot close to bottle bay would b great

[LandDr]

Firefish...Excellent! Kids should have a lot of fun. Make sure to put some shiners down for some pike excitement...the kids will like to see the BIG fish. You can go to the left or further out from all the houses. It is a big area and lots of room...16 to 18 fow or even deeper. I have heard some guys going out to 20 ft. and finding good sunnies. A lot of pike in the area and a few crappie and walleye as well.

Wisker...there are some eyes and crappies in Bottle Bay. Might be a better crappie bite in Crappie Town. Better walleyes out on School Bars. School Bars are just south and west of Bottle Bay. Might even go a little shallower on School Bar to find sunnies and then deeper for walleyes. We did that last year and worked out really well. You should drill some holes from 13 to 17 fow along School Bar before you set up to make sure there are some fish there before you set up however. You might have the whole area to yourself!

Fish On!

[GoingFishin]

Yesterday on the South shore access point just West of Baycrest, a Ford F350 truck got stuck on that previously reported ice upheaval. One of it's running boards was torn off and it need to be towed over the upheaval. It's fairly steep going off the lake and easy to "bottom out" for most vehicles. Probably should avoid using this lake access point at this time.

[goose89]

Thanks GoingFishin. I was planning using that access this afternoon. Can a guy make it across the lake (to the south side) from the north side accesses? IE - If you can get on the lake, can you go whereever you need to ? Thanks in advance.

[Wallsniffer]

I drove from the north side to the south side 2 weeks ago without a problem

[GoingFishin]

It seems that most of the snow is hardpacked in the middle and quite drivable. One needs to get out away from shore where drifting has caused problems. Someone drove across the lake yesterday to fish in front of Peter's. I would suggest to stay on the roads until you're out far enough to miss those shore drifts.

[WiskerBiskit]

Not a good day today had a hard time gettin them to bite. Out in 16 fow on the outskirts of the city on bottle bay, the worst thing is there is tons of fish on the camera nosing the bait, tried everything from shrimp euro larva and waxies to crappie minnows to fatheads only takers were slimers and some small perch during the day, did catch 3 nice crappies at dark, hope a stray walleye or something comes through tonight, kids had a lot of fun watchin the camera though

[sunniewally]

had the same result on friday,caught 5 bigger sunfish and about a dozen smaller ones and 2 crappies and 2 slimers in 17 ft water.

[LandDr]

Similar reports from people i have spoke to...very tough bite! Barometric pressure was going up all day still rising today...not good for fishing. I would expect same reports from other lakes too. Pressure shoild be going down later today but probably to late for the weekend.

fish on!

[Chad Peterson]

And you would be correct on the high pressure. It will tough today! But, it you are moving around, I think you will get some active fish. FishOn is right on tough bite.

Good to talk to you and we should exchange ideas on the project.

Sniffer

[Chad Peterson]

I was just watching the barometer and it is high, but I would say by 5:00pm it will start moving down. The bite should be good for this evening. Looks like a good bite tomorrow has the weather system is here. Only bad thing is more snow.

Sniffer

[carpshooterdeluxe]

saturday afternoon was good for me...went out off sheriff's and drove until i found a spot with nobody within 200 yards...started drilling holes, found the depth i wanted, dropped a line, and proceeded to pick up some of the biggest bluegills i've caught in the last 12 or so years. I kept 5 and threw back at least that many. all were 8" or better, with 1 going 10 inches. Funny part was the bigger gills i caught were right at sunset on a forage minnow tipped with a minnow head. never had gills hit a bait that big before in the winter. Never did have any perch or walleye come through which i found strange for the area i was fishing.

[Crappie25]

The question of the day is: Landdr did you make it back in one piece? I am sure Rochester will never be the same!

[eyesrit]

Are the walleyes going at all on waska? I need to get out this weekend.

[Chad Peterson]

They are getting a few. I am sure FishOn will chime in on the bite.

Sniffer

[firefish_12]

Saturday afternoon was slow for me and the lil boy we caught probably 30 small sunfish and 10 small crappies with lots of misses. Euros,shrimp and waxies all worked equally fished our from the DNR landing around 16 Dow from 1-6pm. Had friends fishing bottle bay with the same results not sure If the cold front slowed the bite

the gal at fish-on was very helpful

I'm sure the bigger ones will start going again maybe next time I'll be there

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Saturday afternoon was slow for me and the lil boy we caught probably 30 small sunfish and 10 small crappies with lots of misses. Euros,shrimp and waxies all worked equally fished our from the DNR landing around 16 Dow from 1-6pm. Had friends fishing bottle bay with the same results not sure If the cold front slowed the bite

the gal at fish-on was very helpful

I'm sure the bigger ones will start going again maybe next time I'll be there

farther away from town...better the bite..

[Chad Peterson]

I hate being around the crowds. Get away from them in the same depth and you will get fish.

Sniffer

[swmndeerhunter]

How is the lake up there after this last bit of snow? Thinking about making the journey up there this weekend.

[Chad Peterson]

We had 4-5 inches and drifting. I have not the damage, but I am sure that the roads and getting around will be fine. I plan on getting out this weekend to see what the lakes look like.

Sniffer

[LandDr]

Access and lake conditions are fine...no changes really from what it has been. There should be no concerns of driving out with vehicles or houses.

Last weekend was a really tough bite for most. The barometer started going up on Friday and didn't stop going up until Sunday afternoon...horrible. Fish were down there...just had a headache.

Barometer was pretty steady yesterday and is now going down sharply. Should be a good day for fishing and probably will hold thru Saturday. Weather is looking really nice with the warmer temps as well. I think I might have to go fishing!

I was gone for the weekend at a sport show and then gone most of the week to a convention...sorry I missed some of the questions.

Fish On!

[pulsar_nx]

Tater chip sunnies today with a few large fish missed, possibly notherns. Can't complain about the weather though.

[Chad Peterson]

Tater chip..................they call me Tater Salad. LOL. Glad you were out getting on some fish.

Sniffer

[basssmasher*]

Strange day today on waska.. I started out in the early am on the western edge of houses in bottle bay. About 20 ft of water, and marked plenty of fish but could not get ONE to bite. After hole hopping a bit and only one 3 inch perch to show for it, I decided to go drastically the other direction and was fishing, well, I don't know where exactly, but anywhere from 10-12 ft of water where there were a few spear houses. No sooner dropped a waxie down and bam a nice crappie. Thinking I made the right move EVERY fish I caught after that was a perch, but there were some NICE ones in the 11-12 inch range! I kept 11 and threw back a bunch more but had a blast! Still mystified why I never saw a sunfish though .

[slurpie]

3 of us were up there yesterday got on ice around 9. Fishing was slow for most of the day a few perch only one keeper and some scarce sunnies. Tried 3 different spots and third was the charm, or maybe it was time to bite dont really know but it was around 2:30. Sunnies started to come through a little faster and more aggressive with a few crappies only kept one of them also. From around 4 till dark the action was fairly constant with fish on the vexilar all the time. Only third time up there and impressed with the fishing there.

[LandDr]

It was another one of those high pressure weekends and the fish were slow...a lot of them down there...but tight lipped. Still manage some nice fishing. Crappies in the evening in Crappie Town were also numerous but tight lipped. Managed some fish but turned to the cribbage board since I had classmates up a night on the ice. With the cards I got, I shoulda stuck to fishing!

Still a lot of pike during the day and the guys had fun with that...a little better size this time as well. Heard of a few walleyes caught as well ranging from 2 or 3 up to 7 with the best bite being around 3 to 5.

I think I gonna do some searching this week. Most reports are to get out and away from the groups to find fish...might take drilling a few holes but you should find yourself a good spot with a little searching.

All ice and accesses appear to be in good condition and I didn't hear of any issues getting around on the lake.

Fish On!

[Stcloudangler]

Was up there Saturday from daybreak until 2pm. Buddy had to go for a wedding. We didn't catch much in the first two spots by crappie town, then made the move to bottle bay with the masses. Bunch of really dinky sunfish in 15 fow, then moved to 19. There I found a hot hole and pulled 7 keepers, with plenty of throwbacks mixed in. Wish we would have came later and been able to stay.

Was suprised with the lack of size for the most part though... I am used to 3 to a pound being the norm there, instead of tater chips.

[LandDr]

Had to move one of the houses yesterday to find some fresh water. Stayed on the Glenwood end...just picked a contour and start drilling holes and putting the camera down. Did not see much from 12 to 16 fow or so...few small perch. Just kept moving out and looking. Went to a spot I was at late season last year...a little bend in the contour with a small drop. There were crappies and sunfish everywhere on the camera...looked like Cabela's aquarium! Got the house moved over with a little daylight yet...it was one after another of crappies and sunnies mixed. Most crappies were around 9 inches but a few 10s+ mixed in. A few 6-7in sunnies but plenty of 8-9in as well with one at 9.5. The barometer was high but steady and these fish were pretty aggressive...especially the crappies.

There have been many reports of getting away from crowds and also going deeper...even 18-20 fow. I think this was in 18 or 19 fow and there is not a house within 200 yds. it really pays to spend a little time drilling some holes and looking around off on your own away from "the masses". Minnewaska is a big lake and there is A LOT of unfished water out there. Late season ice is some of the best fishing on Waska.

There was about 32 inches of ice and the snow was pretty hard packed. I used my little Ford Escape to pull the fish house...even thru areas that were not traveled. With a 4wd pickup you shouldn't have any issues driving out into new areas to explore. Again, I would recommend unhooking the fish house, go out and drill some holes, put the camera down, find the fish and then move the house to that spot. Should not take you more than an hour to get this done and it will be well worth your time.

Fish On!

[terrible_fisherman]

Has water cleared up at all or still need to spear in pretty shallow? Thanks.

[LandDr]

I don't spear so I am not exactly what you are looking for...but...I stuck my head in the hole the other day to look at a northern down by my shinner in 16.5 fow and I seen the pike. I don't know if it was clear enough to fork it or not but I could see it.

How's the spearing been? Sure a lot of little pike around!

Fish On!