Lake Winnibigoshish Fishing Reports

[Gary Crichton]

On certain spots this weekend I needed the extension on the Auger. No issues once your on the lake. Plenty of ice.

Thanks High Banks for another good winter season.

G.C.

[Ringneck]

We fished Thursday 19th-Sunday 22nd. We went out from High Banks everyday and landing was still ok for trucks when we left Sunday. We found that off road travel was best. We broke through on the far west end of the road past zoomers Friday afternoon and that almost didnt end well. We hit a spot where there was probably a foot of water under 4-5 inches of ice and I was first and broke through. I knew I wouldnt be able to back out so just put the pedal to the floor. About 75 yards into it I was down to about 3 MPH and thought I was done, but I kept churning through and picked up speed again. Couldnt bail off the road due to deep banks on both sides! Well, after about 150 yards and a near heart attack I got up and out when the road got solid again. No clue how they would have gotten me out of that road had I stopped in the middle!!

Anyways, fishing report: Thursday pretty slow, fished edges of zoomers to the north and a little on top. Friday morning we started on the west dropoff of zoomers in 22-29 feet of water and hammered them for a good 2 hours. Had to pick through but ended up with maybe 35 nice perch. Saturday same spot same time in the morning--dead. We caught a few small one with a couple decent fish mixed in. We then tried the west shore, Salami, and ended in deep water--29-30 feet south east of salami and caught a few, ended the day with 30 eaters and a few nice ones. Sunday Am really windy. Fished around zoomers and again slow. Tried stony point but only little ones. We fished alot with swedish pimples tipped with grubs or minnows. also whole minnows on a flat jig worked sometimes. We did best on the big ones with the mayfly larvae the perch were puking up. Hook em on and they didnt last long down there. One weird thing, we just hammered the stink fish. I bet we caught 50 of them over the whole trip.

All in all a great trip. Weather could have been warmer but at least the wind wasnt bad except Sunday.

Tony

[Wayne Sieber]

AugieAngler - Are you saying that you couldn't even drive a truck down the long winding road to even get to the lake access?

[AugieAngler1010]

On Friday we couldn't get through the long winding road on West Winnie - it was drifted shut about 2/3 of the way in. Someone had plowed the road during the winter but stopped there. Luckily we had 4-wheelers with and those were able to ride on top of the snowdrifts.

On Sunday when we hit Winnie on our way home from Blackduck we just went out of Trappers and took the wheelers across the river mouth to the area in front of West Winnie. We talked to some people that had been able to drive their truck all the way through to the West Winnie access and actually out onto the lake on Sunday. So things had melted down quite a bit over the weekend.

I just doubt that pickups will be an option come Friday-Saturday this weekend given how tough the ice looked along the shoreline.

[Wayne Sieber]

Thanks for the info AugieAngler! I was just hoping to drive to the lake access and then walk out from there so maybe I will be fine.

[winniewalleye777]

Are the perch in the shallows yet?

[mnvikings1]

Any reports from the South end of the lake? Can a guy still get on throught the Richards Townsite access? Are trucks still a possibility, or is it all wheeler traffic now? Any help is appreciated!

[AugieAngler1010]

Last weekend Richards was looking like it would have been 4-wheeler only. We decided to get on the lake elsewhere. Not sure if it has gotten worse or improved since Sunday though.

[bob39282]

Sat. Apr. 4, 2009 Fished in 6 to 8 ft. by Williams Narrows on Apr. 2nd. Informed that a week before they were doing good there. We did not drive out as we had a van with 2 wheel drive and did not want to take chance of being stuck in the fresh snow. Still have 30 inchs of good ice. Landing looked very good with some slush but I would check it before going out as the snow cover could hide possible bad spots. Wound up with about 15 perch, some rock bass from deeper water. Had several nice walleye and some northern. Had driving conditions been better I would have gone to other areas looking for more perch. Fished several years back in an area north of boomers in about 18 feet. Had our limits of 100 in less then 6 hr. 3 hr. first day and about the same the next morning. That time drove on from the west side and had good ice with no snow cover. the men from Hook & Horn Club near Rhinelander, Wi.

[pike2eye]

Does anyone know where a good spot to fish on little cut foot

[jigglestick]

right out in front of the summers homes landing, to the right. you'll see all the holes.

[Gary Crichton]

Hey Jigglestick, good day to you sir. Do you want to change your ice out prediction. I will stick with April 29th. maybe.

G.C.

[jigglestick]

HA!!

I am so off track with that it's not even funny!

the lack of sun and the extra snow cover has given the two weeks back I thought we lost with the lack of ice thickness this year.

my new guess would be back in the average date of ice out.

we sure don't need a repeat of last year though...

[pike2eye]

any good spots to fish during opener. some on told me first river is a good spot to go during opener on little cut foot

[Gary Crichton]

I agree with ya there Dave, last year was scary. It better warm up in a hurry. You all need a HOT 2-3 weeks. Maybe try boiling some water.

G.C.

[GoFish4]

There are several area's of transition on Cut Foot, target the one that doesn't have 4 to 5 boats working it

[pike2eye]

My mind is changing i may go out to Middle Pigeon or Round lake for opener. Had good luck out there

[pike2eye]

I think the best luck i had on the dead sea (winnie) was on a calm day in late summer. I was fishing out on the north shore on the humps. I was catching walleyes like crazy that was the best fishing on the lake in my life so far. i had 3 17 inch walleyes and 6 walleyes that were about 20-24 inches. The fastest i got one was like 5 sec after i got a walleye

[winniewalleye777]

dead sea? We talkin about the same lake?

[GoFish4]

Winnie is far from a dead sea!! You must not be using the right rigs and presentation to them. Come opener, a fireball jig and minnow (shiner) work best. It has gotten so easy my 3 and 5 year old enjoy the opener with us now. We are all set up to stay at Highbanks and can't wait. Hope the ice co-operates this year and goes out sooner then it did last year!!

[pike2eye]

That just my nickname that i call it if fishing is slow

[Gary Crichton]

Ya well pick another name. That one has already been used. Bad choice for WINNIE.

:mad

G.C.

[pike2eye]

i know its been used but that what i like to call it for fun. so there is nothing wrong with that

[pike2eye]

I just call it dead sea for fun and i use that kind of jig and it works really good

[Pro V's R Us]

How is the ice looking? I just happened to think about it. Like everyone is saying, we do not need a repeat of last year. We stay at McArdles. It was wild to come out of the gap and see that huge ice cube out there!

[Gary Crichton]

Pro V I have a feeling a repeat of last year is a comin. It has to warm and rain fast. Any set backs and OH OH. I will remain positive.

Pike2eye, what ever cranks your turn. Go ahead, but the Winnie Gods will hold it against you.

G.C.

[jigglestick]

I just heard, another major snowstorm is brewing in the rockies and expected to hit us by friday. twelve to 20 inches of new snow are expected across much of the northland.

this should put us back another week or two eh?

[Iambjm]

I just heard, another major snowstorm is brewing in the rockies and expected to hit us by friday. twelve to 20 inches of new snow are expected across much of the northland.

this should put us back another week or two eh?

Dave are you trying to give me a heart attack?

[pike2eye]

That ain't funny

[Pro V's R Us]

Gary and jiggle, I guess time will tell. I hear what lambjm is saying, I really enjoy opener. I come up for 11 days and really enjoy myself. I was just thinking about last year. Even with the ice cube floating around, we still did very well last year. This is of course just my two cents.

I will keep praying for rain and warm weather. Lets hang in there guys!