Lake Minnewaska Fishing Reports - Ice Conditions

[Hammertime0802]

Anyone have a report on minnewaska? hows the bite, whats bitting, how much ice...

[TheBigHam]

Hammertime- There is plenty of ice in most places. There are a few fish bitting here and there. You better go check it out!

[LandDr]

Pretty consistent reports of 8 inche of ice. Could be more or less in spots of coarse...take it easy. We are not seeing any vehicle traffic as of yet...a lot of ATVs, etc and foot traffic. Most houses are of the 10 ft or less lenght but seeing more 14 and 16 ft now being pulled out with ATVs.

Not much for fish reports because not a lot of people out yet. Most walleyes are reporting 3 to 6 and depths vary from 9 ft to 18 ft...that's most of the lake. People after panfish but again not many out fishing yet. But it is hard not to catch a nice mess of gills on Waska and I expect the crappie bite to be even better this year.

Fish On!

[LandDr]

TJ...or anyone else...I have a customer that wants to sell his Strikemaster Strike Lite...8 inch. Looks new and it started on hardly a pull. Very good looking auger and runs smooth. New retail is $550...he is asking $375. Maybe that is the price Santa needs to get you an auger? I have photos that I can email...info at habitatnow dot com.

Fish On!

[LandDr]

Also...if anyone is coming up from or thru Montevideo, please let me know if you would be willing to grab a small item that I bought and drop it off at the store. Would be greatly appreciated.

Fish On!

[basssmasher*]

Thanks landr! I will keep it in mind, but I have to wait til after x-mas just in case santa got me a new one if he don't then I will be contacting you asap!

[Fish Tales]

Fished Minnewaska today. Started at 9am stopped at 4pm. 3 of us kept 30 sunfish and 7 crappies. Nothing special but lots of action all day long lots of throw backs, 10 inches of ice. 4 wheelers buzzing all over bringing big houses out or moving houses. We fished west side. Used euro larva multiple colored.

[Chad Peterson]

Nice going Fish Tales! What was the depth that fish were being caught?

Sniffer

[Fish Tales]

14 ft.

[cavy-on nlsd]

It was windy the other day and someone's Coleman lantern cover or portable heater cover, red in color, blew into my shoreline. I will drop it off at Hunt's Resort in Glenwood ....see Rob to claim it....

[sunniewally]

any snow on the lake or is it all glare smooth ice?

[LandDr]

Not much snow on Waska...might be a little to scrap up for around the house but not much. I think that is a good thing at this point as 6 to 8 inches of snow would not be a good thing. Still most reports are 8 inches of ice or so...a few reports of 9 and 10 but not consistent. Temp says 34F so we are not making ice again today. Rest of the week looks pretty mild as well. About 300 houses out now. Panfish bite is always good on Waska. People are catching some walleyes as well.

Fish On!

[crue86]

glare ice not much snow at all

[greenhead4u]

Are people driving trucks on the lake yet or mainly wheelers?

[LandDr]

I heard there was a vehicle on the south side of the lake this morning but can't confirm that. Otherwise it is all ATV and walking out.

Fish On!

[greenhead4u]

Question for you guys that are smart,

What are your thoughts on the lack of snow cover,and natural food source in regards to the fish bite on Minnewaska this year?

[goose89]

Question for you guys that are smart,

What are your thoughts on the lack of snow cover,and natural food source in regards to the fish bite on Minnewaska this year?

I'd give you my thoughts, but I don't meet your requirement.

[LandDr]

Well, I don't like to fit into requirements as well...but I will give you my thoughts.

Usually the more sunlight penetration, the better the plant life is going to do. The better the plant life, the more oxygen that is produced. The more plant life and oxygen, the more inverts and bait fish...and predatory fish will have more to eat. That is how the food chain is supposed to work anyway. But more food might mean a tougher bite...maybe. If you recall a couple years ago there was so much food in the lake due to the late algae bloom that thus created the late zooplankton population explosion...that made fish look like they just got done eating Thanksgiving dinner all the time.

Have to see. A good way to observe is to put a camera down and see what it jiggin around at the bottom. If you see a lot of zooplankton...especially copepods and water fleas, then that could mean an excess of food and fish will literally have too much too eat or chose to eat.

I have not been out fishing yet so I will take a look when I get out there...hopefully soon.

Fish On!

[Capt'nMorgan]

Confirmed, I saw 1 small car on the south side of the lake today

[cavy-on nlsd]

Saw 5 vehicles on the ice this afternoon,,a jeep a chevy pickup and 3 smaller suv/pickup types. They were between Torgy's and the Ballroom. There were about 15 vehicles parked on the ice near shore at Sacs..as close as they were together they might as well have driven out. The ice seemed to be holding however.

[goose89]

Well, I don't like to fit into requirements as well...but I will give you my thoughts.

Usually the more sunlight penetration, the better the plant life is going to do. The better the plant life, the more oxygen that is produced. The more plant life and oxygen, the more inverts and bait fish...and predatory fish will have more to eat. That is how the food chain is supposed to work anyway. But more food might mean a tougher bite...maybe. If you recall a couple years ago there was so much food in the lake due to the late algae bloom that thus created the late zooplankton population explosion...that made fish look like they just got done eating Thanksgiving dinner all the time.

Have to see. A good way to observe is to put a camera down and see what it jiggin around at the bottom. If you see a lot of zooplankton...especially copepods and water fleas, then that could mean an excess of food and fish will literally have too much too eat or chose to eat.

I have not been out fishing yet so I will take a look when I get out there...hopefully soon.

Fish On!

Amazing. Exactly what I was going to say

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Question for you guys that are smart,

What are your thoughts on the lack of snow cover,and natural food source in regards to the fish bite on Minnewaska this year?

Lots of bugs coming off the bottom in 7-16 foot of water on saturday. I didn't catch any keepers to determine what was in their bellies though.

And if anybody catches a >30" pike with a pink glow buckshot rattle spoon in her jaw, I would like it back. Couldn't get her turned up the hole and she broke me off. Saw one that easily went 36" on the camera too, but she wasn't interested in my bro bug with a waxie.

[efishsport]

How has the bite been in bottle bay??? Planning on chasing pannies on Waska tomorrow morning and throwing out a few tip ups. Any tips?

[whitetail_freak]

Drill Drill Drill efish!!

[Chad Peterson]

Drill Drill Drill efish!!

And bring a extra tank of gas!!!!

Sniffer

[wldmnkrt]

was out for a few hours yesterday, was very surprised to see a couple full sized trucks out there, with only about 9" of ice. the sunfish bite was slow, but dont think we were in the right place. but my 9 year old was happy with what we caught.. so guess that means was a successfull day..

[sunniewally]

two days fishing for 2 guys was a lot of northerns,7 walleys,19 sunfish, 3 crappies,4 bass, 12 perch.

[grey ghost]

Out yesterday and the sunfish were very finicky...took small tackle, spring bobber and patience. Ended up with a nice meal worth with a couple perch and crappie mixed in.

[EyeChsr]

Been last couple nights, a few keeper eyes. Been seeing alot of trash on the lake, I know its been windy lately but please try to pick up after yourselves!!!!!! (If you do see trash on the lake please take a minute and pick it up.)

[Cobber]

Any new ice updates, mainly interested in Priest Point area and west however very curious about the lake as a whole-

Thanks!