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2020 Detroit Lakes-Pelican Rapids Fishing Reports - Lake Conditions


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Went to Lida again yesterday. Walleyes were deep again, 27-30 feet. Only caught twoin the morning, but had a bunch of bites. Short hits and lost a few near the boat. I've never lost so many hooked fish as I did yesterday. Decided to chase a big crappie rumor on South Lida. Well, crappies this time of year gets me out of my element. Scenery was very nice though. Maplewood State Park must be near peak for colors. Finished the afternoon back on my walleye spot and caught four more, but again, lost a several more boatside. All fish on nightcrawlers and plain hook, but only in 24-27 feet of water.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Fished Lida yesterday. Caught eight walleyes and four smallmouth. Only one walleye small enough to keep and that one was too small to want to keep. Walleyes were in 29-32 feet of water and again the crawlers outfished the minnows. Smallies were caught on cranks pulled over the humps. What an awesome day to be out.

23", 4.5lb

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WTH!

I don't know what happened, but this was all I got of the biggest smallmouth I've caught in a couple of years. 19+", 3.8lbs.

006-1.jpg

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I got back out to Lida today and it was very slow. ONly one walleye and two smallmouth. I did hook into a big one though. Had to have my cousin help identify it. It ran about 15 lbs.

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Today's big one. Yes, it was an anchor...and, yes it had panty hose tied to the end of the anchor rope. Don't think I want to know the story behind that one.

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I was out camping over the weekend with some relatives that came up.. Fished Saturday evening looking for walleyes but I just couldn't help but run into crappies everywhere I went lol..

Ended the night catching dozens of them. The next morning I woke up and hit the lake abou 7:00am and found the motherload of crappes and bluegills again. Nothing huge but fun nonetheless.

Most of the fish were in 16 feet, about half way down during the evening. The next morning they were tucked in close to the bottom but still hungry as ever.

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Very good pic, Jim. Nothing beats fall fishing. I'm hoping to get out one last time before everything freezes.

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Notice my transducer cable from my Humminbird hanging over the side? What a great way to vertical fish in the fall.

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I saw that and was thinking maybe a basket or stringer. Its a great time of year to find some early ice spots.

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Paul, were you fishing with a younger fella with long, like 22 foot long rods? Ok, maybe like 10-12 foot rods?

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  • 2 weeks later...

The panfish are in their late fall early ice haunts, and they are more than willing to eat right now!

Most fish are being caught in the 14-28 foot range, basically all I'm doing is using my electronics to locate them and vertical jigging them or using a light action slip bobber.

I find that my Humminbird Ice-45 makes it a lot funner to vertical jig those fish smile

full-11084-25532-humminbirdice_45.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

Quite a few lakes up this way that are froze over, the ones back in the woods away from the wind survived the hot temps last week and should be making some serious ice now that the wind died down, I just looked at my thermometer and the temp was 11.7 degrees! Plan to be out Sunday

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Looks like I am the lone reporter ...

Silver near Hawleywood -- Frozen except for a small area near the culvert.

Hit

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Tried to get on a small lake N of DL today that is froze over, in fact never thawed in the recent warmup. Had to walk through some woods and when I got to the Cattails surrounding this small lake the Swamp muck was very soft.....and I got stuck up to my thighs in that nasty stuff, had to twist some cattails together to pull myself out. There is a lot more snow up N of DL and it seems to have insulated it and kept the heat in that mud along with the added moisture is was very soupy to say the least. I felt like if I could have made it to the ice I would have been OK.....but I felt something telling me; Ok, enough now....go home.....so I did.

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I've been having trouble getting on this site lately. Can't stay logged in. Anyway, drove through the refuge today. Cotton, Tamarac, and HOL all had lids on them. Noone fishing them when I was out yet.

Looks like I will have to put the boat away and get ready with the short poles. Good luck and above all, stay safe.

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Went out to eat last night at the Pub with some friends and it looked like Middle C was all covered as well ...

Big C? -- Not so much wink

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Drove to my brother's restaurant this afternooon and took the scenic route. on the way down, Sauer, Franklin, Crystal and 21 were frozen. Lida was about half covered. On the way back, Spirit and most of Loon were frozen. Star, Long (by Vergas), both Silents and Rose were completely open.

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We made some ice last night... I looked at three lakes, and tried to get out on them this past saturday and no luck. The shorelines were to iffy, One of them I made it out a ways but ran into an inch and a half of ice out there so I turned around and went home!! This week, I'll be fishing I bet smile

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Made it out to a very popular Cormorant area early ice fishing spot. There was three inches of solid ice, fish at your own risk. Caught a little bit of everything on a simple red hook with a crappie minnow. Nothing special but sure beats being in Williston!

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I think I know what spot you are talking about ... LOL.

So -- with the temps rising to the low 40s next week we might need to cool our jets a little bit.

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I don't see a mid-40's report on weather.com. Even if it hits 40, by then there will be plenty of ice to sustain through a warm day or two. I'm not saying lets not be careful as we always should, but I doubt it will inhibit ice conditions.

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