Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Heading to faribault this weekend. Gonna try Fox and french lake again. Anyone been out there having any luck? Is the ice still drivable? Any information is much appreciated! Thanks again, tight lines all!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

The ice is still drivable and they've been catching panfish. Shields has really been on fire. Lot's of houses on it though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does anyone by chance know of any resorts that rent cabins this time of year on any lakes in the faribault area. I love white Russians while sitting in my ice tent. But not so much the drive back through town to a hotel. Oh and of course there's the Busch lattes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi @Rick, I'm also looking to take my family out this weekend. I  have a 3/4 ton with a 8x24 ice castle. Was looking at Shields or German. Is it pretty safe with my rig? I know some of these smaller lakes are aerated and can have some soft spots. Just want to be extra safe with the family. Also, the fishing been ok down there?

Thanks in advance!

Justin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

I never guarantee safety.

Others in similar position are out on Shields.

I would assume German is the same.

I would do it just not telling you to do it. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Justin, if you see a 2004 burgundy 1500 Silverado with Iowa plates on shields, Yukon tent. That's the girlfriend and I. Stop by for a Busch latte, or a white Russian. I can't wait to get out of Iowa for the weekend. 4 am on the road!!!!!!!! yeah baby!!!!!! Good luck!!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished shields lake yesterday from 900 am to 6. 12 fow caught 25 real nice gills 10 perch ,all dinks. And 2 crappie about 9 inches. Pretty steady fishing all day. We were about 50 yds from all the sleepers. Lots of traffic. At least 2 ft of ice. Used a little ant , orange and bright green with some white dressing tied to it. Got em from Nagel's. He said they were good, and he was right. Tipped with wax worm. Crappie came in at 530 caught the biggest on a glow blue angel eye with a minnow head. Snowing really hard so we packed up. Tent is froze. But we're going back out here in a bit. Gonna try roberds lake. I'll post later on that. Good luck all!

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a late start this morning so we didn't hit the ice until about 9:30ish. Roberds Lake. In 21 feet of water marked fish and had a few bites but only caught a few 4-5" white bass. We had some trouble with our auger and we were stuck in the same spot until I plugged the fuel line back into the primer and then it worked. Local guy came over and offered to drill some holes for me before i got it working. minn nice..and told me there was deeper water past a string of houses so we went there and found 32 feet. Marked fish and caught a few crappies that were suspended at about 15 feet on a pink and white glow demon, small demon with a minnow head. We had a better day at Shields Lake yesterday (thank you Rick!) but we wanted to try different lakes in the area. It was still a blast. Snow storm sucked but we had a great time. Minnesota is awesome. Good luck all.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Spent some time on Jefferson (east) and Francis. Ice is holding up well. Accesses are a bit beat up but manageable. still a bit of crusty snow on top and the ice is thick, didn't measure. Still trucks driving out. Fishing was very tough, was trying for sunnies  caught one small bass. Lots of lookers. Drove by Madison yesterday and saw trucks with wheel houses out.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the update. I live in Mankato and it's nice to get info without having to drive all the way out and back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent some time on on Francis today. Ice on the main part of the lake looks to be in great shape but the west access is pretty bad. Got the ATV out, Probably not getting a vehicle out though. Saw one car out, don’t know where they got on the ice. Shore isn’t pulling away yet (other than the access).

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm so jealous of you guys, I put my ice fishing gear away couple nights ago. It took 3 Busch lights and and one Keystone light tall boy to muster up the courage to pack it away till next winter. Sad day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Been a long wait! Elysian last Saturday. No fishing report, just a boat drive but dang it felt good!

B64CBB08-793D-4EDF-9392-4228F0E69116.jpeg

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

9F88D1C2-2E12-448B-8D99-8B3208ED4B72.thumb.jpeg.b871691865d9eb38b3b33a782535f57b.jpegSpent a couple hours on German. Slow fishing, just a couple small sunnies, the boy and I where happy to be out though.  Water temperature ranged from mid 60s to mid 70s. No fresh vegetation and dirty water. Must still be running a bit behind despite the warm weather.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The water in Cannon lake is the clearest I've ever seen it. You can see the bottom in 5ft easily. Caught a few perch and a striped bass. Also saw some big bass around the fishing pier by the beach.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

It clears like that every spring.

Nice catch. Any size to the striper?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent a couple hours on Elysian this afternoon.  Drove around some shallow areas on the south east end of the lake with the trolling motor and only saw carp. Water is still unusually clear for this lake, at any time of the year, and 79 degrees near shore. May be a great opportunity for a bow fisherman, even in the daylight. Tried soaking minnows in a hole on the north end with no luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Went out fishing all over today and caught nothing but sunburn ?

Started off heading to the German lake pier only to find it unusable (see pic).

Headed over to Elysian lake pier and almost caught a bullhead. That lake was pretty green and murky already.

Then Tetonka pier where i saw lots of nice bass and a pike swimming around but they wouldn't bite. It looked like a nice spot for now with a gap in the weeds running right up to the end of the dock and very clear water.

Then back to Faribault where i tried the Fox lake pier, the Cannon lake bridge, and the dams in town.

 

20180604_082034.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hello to all I’m looking to get into a bass fishing ? club. I live in  Albert Lea Mn and I’m looking for something around Albert Lea-Austin-Faribault-Mankato-Northfield-Waseca,  surrounding areas. With in reasonable driving distance. any help would be very appreciated. Thanks and good luck on the waters. 

Edited by James Richardson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

A lot of great bass lakes in that region. Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
  • 2 months later...

lake travel is still possible even with all this snow. Definitely need four wheel drive.  Snow is scraping the bottom of the truck, hope we can avoid any more snow. 17 inches of ice in the Mankato area

05F2F22F-D868-4390-BA16-10064A86E252.jpeg

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • l Love It 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In north central MN there is no truck travel off road. I watched 3 trucks today get buried. Lakes have 12-18” of snow and 24-25” of ice. I use a long track snowmobile and haven’t had any issues. I was out riding the trails and lakes this afternoon and found slush to be VERY bad. I was cruising across the lake at about 40mph when I felt my back end sink and I went from about 40 to about 10 mph Instantly if I had my auger on the snowmobile and towing my otter sled I would have never made it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Didn’t run into any slush while driving. Blocked the wheel house up, after an hour or so, the area around the house flooded slightly.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.