metro area Metro Area Minnesota Fishing Reports & Ice Conditions

[jgrimmz]

Scouted a few lakes Friday hoping to get on some ice yesterday. All the lakes that could have held ice, were reopened. Very disappointed but not worth testing 30 yards worth of 2" ice just to catch some fish. Guess I'll be waiting a few more weeks looking at this forcast 

[popriveter]

This is just killing me, but I want to be alive a bit longer. I checked in on Valentine Lake this Saturday. It had clear ice that looked to be about 4 inches by the shoreline, but I was not going to walk out there. I know there have been spots kept open by fowl very recently and it just can't be consistent thickness with the weather we've had. There was no sign of anyone having ventured out (not even animal tracks) and I'm not about to be the first guy.

That said, I am all about fishing the small, shallow lakes early when the big, deep lakes are still getting ready. I'm hoping we'll get reports soon from anyone who is finding consistent, fishable ice around the metro. Just hearing that someone fished Beaver gives me hope that ice fishing season may actually happen this winter. Maybe not this "year," but this winter.

 

[M1dwestF1sh]

I plan on fishing this weekend and next week (took the week of off work in between holidays). Probably going to have to venture pretty far north tho..... Maybe even ND! Looking at the forecast it looks like first week of January should be good to go around here. 

[Weathertite]

Does anyone know if any of the ponds Between Stillwater and Big Marine along Manning Ave hold any panfish ?

[draleckson]

That was me over on beaver Saturday afternoon...there was 3" of ice about 10 yards straight off the dock...managed to catch 2 small pike but definitely would not recommend going out now...

[popriveter]

On Monday, I drove by Fish lake in Maple Grove and there were still open spots.

Somebody had a portable out on Valentine yesterday.  I felt uncomfortable just seeing him out there. 

We're close, but not "there" yet, IMO.

[popriveter]

Walked out on Long Lake (New Brighton) a little today. Someone had cut a few holes just out from the launch, maybe 20 feet from shore. I checked it and found about 2.5".

Not enough to go any further, but encouging considering it was open water a week ago.

[Weathertite]

My wish for this Christmas Season is that everyone uses Good judgement when it comes to ice thickness and safety. Everyone have a safe and Happy Holiday Season.   Mike

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

Looks like we'll start making more ice starting Sunday, so please

hold on, as I am impatiently waiting right along with you.

 

 

[mrklean]

Finally the forecast is looking good

[popriveter]

I opened my season on Saturday. I went to a small, shallow lake in Carver Cty (<90 acres).  Someone else had already been out, but was gone by the time I arrived, there was 3" of clear ice everywhere I checked. 

I was wearing my pfd and had my spikes. I wouldn't recommend going out without them anytime soon.

 I managed a limit of crappies and one decent pike. Great way to start the year and scratch the itch. Now, I should be good to wait another week like I probably should have done in the first place. It should make some nice progress this week on little lakes that have been locked up for awhile. I worry the coming snow could make for uneven ice on bigger bodies.

[papadarv]

Just got back off Coon lake, 4" ice in the dozen holes drilled out about 200 yards. Fished 12 - 18 FOW only one small crappie, out a bit early in the day, very sunny. Had about 3" snow cover. Wanted to test clam drill plate and a few other new items. All worked well.

[Weathertite]

Were the fish just inactive or didn't find much on the electronics ?  Thanks for any info Papa

[papadarv]

1 hour ago, Weathertite said:

Were the fish just inactive or didn't find much on the electronics ?  Thanks for any info Papa

We went out about 1:30, marked a few, seemed to come in but no bite. They usually start hitting about 3:30 or so on Coon, at least that was last winter. We came in about 3:00. Main purpose was to check ice thickness and test my new Calm auger plate and how well the SonarPhone works on ice. Were going to Green in Chisago Wed. very early morning and give that lake a shot.  I like early change of light better anyway.This cold snap should help with ice.

[mrklean]

Great reports guys I saw a couple lakes over the weekend still with some open water the spots were small but still keep that in everyone's mind when going out on this early ice just because one lake has 4-5 doesn't mean they all do.  Stay safe everyone

[LongLakeTrueValue]

Report of 3-4" inches in some areas on Long Lake prior to the snow fall.

[northcountry24]

Anyone been out since the snow? Thinking of checking the ice in a shallower bay of a lake in the west metro. 

[popriveter]

I checked a little lake in eagan yesterday and found only 2". There was water and a few inches of snow above the ice. Not too encouraging.

[thescottith]

Checked a local mpls lake, 2-3"of ice, water,slush and snow on top.

Also a Hennepin county thin ice saying stay off the lake at the launch.

Hopefully she buttons up nice with a day or two of colder weather. 

[wormdunker]

Just got off a small ramsey county lake....Dicey.  springs were eating through a few areas.  Had 4-5" in many areas then pop a hole and find 2.5".  Water and slush on the ice, wet spots near the springs that have eaten through the ice.  Conditions made me leave even though I found 4-5" of very nice ice in many places.

[Rancid Crabtree]

where were ya at wormdunker?

I walked around Johanna last night and it had about 3" in most places. a few people were fishing.

 

[wormdunker]

snail

[LongLakeTrueValue]

Lake Sarah as of yesterday there is about 5"-9"... Independence about 3" - maybe 4" in some areas...

[papadarv]

Checked  Coon Lake hour ago, 8 3/4" ice out at 50 yards 12FOW, 9" to 9 1/4" ice at 100 and 200 yards out 19 FOW in the north arm toward Viking. Going out before light with 4 wheeler in the morning target some Crappie and Gills.

Edited January 15, 2016 by papadarv

[mrklean]

Made it out yesterday with my dad first time we have fished together in probably 10 years ice was 10-12"  with probably 4" of snow on top.  Caught some dink perch and missed a couple flags my fault on those.  Great to get out with family.

[Fish-for-life]

Went out to peltier yesterday after some pan fish and pike. Pan fish bite was steady if you moved around a little bit, got some nice Sunny's and half dozen 9-11 inch crappies with one big perch. Pike bite was good all day, got a lot of 22 -28 inchers no big ones. The ice still measured 15-16 inches with the access by the dock getting a little chewed up.

[Avid Angler]

Fished Tonka yesterday morning. Pulled a decent limit of gills. Was nine inches of ice where I was at. Shorelines are getting iffy. Found my fish in 6ft and was sight fishing.  Fun last outing for the ice season.

Avid

Edited March 9, 2016 by Avid Angler

[Wakemup52]

Fished an East Metro lake for a few hours today looking for some crappies and sunnies. Caught a dozen in a couple hours along with a few hammer handle pike. Fish were up shallow (3 FOW) and water temps varied from 57-61.

[Fish-for-life]

Got out yesterday after work with a buddy in the north metro casting crawerlers and leeches. Got 3 carp he got the biggest of the day 10lbs. Also got a hand full of 2-5 lbs pike on a yellow  3 inch mister twister

[Fish-for-life]

Got out onto a north metro lake today after a family get together. Hit a couple nice 9 inch sunnies and some 9 1/2-10 inch perch, got a lot of 7-9 INCH crappies too.