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Ice and bite conditions?


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I am thinking about heading to Lake Pepin this coming weekend I would like to drive on at Maiden Rock and go across to the Minnesota side of the lake just wondering what the ice thickness is if it is safe to drive all the way across? I haven't been out there yet this season just want to make sure it's safe enough. Also curious as to how the bite has been for eyes and sauger?

Any help would sure be appriciated.

Thanks,

Derek Borchardt

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I am thinking about heading to Lake Pepin this coming weekend I would like to drive on at Maiden Rock and go across to the Minnesota side of the lake just wondering what the ice thickness is if it is safe to drive all the way across? I haven't been out there yet this season just want to make sure it's safe enough. Also curious as to how the bite has been for eyes and sauger?

Any help would sure be appriciated.

Thanks,

Derek Borchardt

Derek,

Ice thickness varies from 16 - 21" all the way across. Vehicles are driving everywhere. The fishing comes in spurts. I've seen schools of 8", 12" and 16"+ fish come through but the action is steady, nonetheless.

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Where is a good place to start out there to find the fish?

You said you were going out of Maiden Rock. Did you change your mind?

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No, still planning on Maiden Rock but just wondering a more specific area out there. Not looking for secrect spots just some general guidelines, like what dephts should I be shooting for things like that.

Thanks

Derek

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thinking about heading out by point no point today just wondering if the ice is ok there to drive on? Heading out about 300 or 330 would that be a good time to get into some eye and sauger action?

Thanks for the help.

Derek Borchardt

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Thinkin bout headin down this weekend......Wonderin if any luck out at Old Frontenac Beach (Mud Flats),Lake City point, or Maple Springs area...Thx in advance...

Chucker

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I was at Frontenac Beach on 1/31/9 from 3:00 to 6:00pm. I caught 4 sauger 14-18 inches, nice eaten fish.I was in 23 fow, using a whole minnow on a sweadish pimple.I saw alot of fish on the vexilar. The fish I caught came rocketing up of the bottom. They acted alot different, than the other fish I saw that afternoon.

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Going out to Point No Point on Thursday afternoon and just wondering if it is worth my time to set any tip-ups out or just jig?

Thanks

Derek

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Derek~

I am also coming down there for Thursday afternoon with my brother. He doesn't get to fish much, but now that he has been laid off, he has some free time. I will have a Jeep and a Fish Trap Guide, Jeep might be on shore, we'll see...

Any ideas on what is working down there right now? It will be my first time on the ice in that area this season...

Stop by and say Hi Derek!

Thanks,

Phil

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Phil,

It sounds like Swedish Pimples with a minnow in 16-20 feet of water have been the ticket the last couple weeks from what I have heard from a few other guys. I haven't been out there in awhile, but I plan on using a few different lures to see what will work (jigging rapala, chubby darter), I have heard that jigging a jig head with a minnow hooked on works well. Going to start in and around 20 feet of water. Hopefully we can find the fish. I will be out on a snowmobile just fishing off that try to stay mobile plus I don't feel comfortable taking my truck out there.

Maybe see you out there I plan on getting out around 330 or so.

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Derek, sounds like a funtime to me! I'm new to this wsite, but have fished pool4 for about 5 years now and love the ups and downs of hunting the sacred "eye", I have learned tons from all of you fellow fmr's and will return the info if I can ever figure them out. I fished frontenac beach on monday in 21- 24feet of water using a buckshot and fathead, and a jig/fathead combo and the buckshot outfished it, but it was slow at best

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I,ll be at Frontenac Beach on 2/6/9 about 7:00am. I'm a new poster boy, but i've fished the river for fourty years. Stop by and say hi. I'll be sitting by a brown f-150 and a clam scout.

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Hi Phil,

Not to hijack the tread, but where are you a pro at. Are you at Woodhill? My brother-in-law is a PGA pro in the cities too.

Mark

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Skitter~

I was at Edina. I am no longer in the golf business, I quit there last February. Little did I know that it was not the best time for a career change!!!

Phil

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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