2020 Detroit Lakes-Pelican Rapids Fishing Reports - Lake Conditions

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Drove out.

[dairyman]

wow------I'm impressed ---I've been hoofing it and its getting OLD!!

[Guest]

wow------I'm impressed ---I've been hoofing it and its getting OLD!!

John:

Take a jaunt a ways up North in the next few days..their houses don't have to be off till the 15th so access is better with roads and a few folks driving out to their houses. Hopefully with warmer weather coming the snow will settle around here closer to DL...I suspect we will be ice fishing in April....heck 3 years ago I drove my rig out on Many Point first weekend in April and caught crappies.

[fisherdog19]

Three more days and I'll be Ice fishing in MN!!!!!!!! Jim and BB are you ready for some fishing.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

No, I think I'm taking a week off from ice fishing, I'm getting sick of it

[Guest]

Three more days and I'll be Ice fishing in MN!!!!!!!! Jim and BB are you ready for some fishing.

Jim: Are you going to re-train him or do I have to? I am not looking forward to this hand holding, putting on his baits, taking off his fish....oh wait... he won't catch anything...we're good.

In all seriousness....with the quality of crappie fishermen we have coming this week my guess is that at least one 16" crappie will be pulled through the ice by next Tuesday with 100's of C & R fish.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

I think he will spend most of the time hugging the little buddy heater. but ill set the hook and let him reel a few up!

[Ray1]

Come on guys an old dog never forgets.

[fisherdog19]

That's right Ray, jealousy will get them nowhere, bb has abut 10 years of fishing to go before he catches up to me!!!

Ray, sorry about not getting together when you were down, I got your voicemail about 5 days after you left it but I wouldn't have been able to get out. Maybe this weekend you can meet up with us, give me a shout via text or email.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Peter, they are waiting for you!!! You better get it while the getting is good.

Oh, and these too!!

[DrJuice1980]

Heading up to the area next weekend Jim, east of DL about 10 miles. Where you finding them? Deep basin, outside spawning bays/areas, weeds/weed lines? Just a general direction would be nice, its going to be a pain to get around the lake (which isnt large) with no sled. Ill be hoofing it but right out front I have all of the above to choose from, just want to limit the search the best I can.

Thanks man

[Jim Panfish Uran]

The best areas to start a search are at the edge of shallow flats, next to deeper water. Whether they are close to shore or out in the midlake it doesnt matter. Those panfish are relating to transition areas now.

[panniesCPR]

I was up for a few days this week and did fantastic on the big gills. Consider using cross country skis to pull a small scout type fish house with your gear. Worked great for me. Also tried snow shoes one day which really helped moving around and drilling holes.

[DrJuice1980]

no snow shoes or ski's, I only got about 60yrds to walk out to a flat like that. Not an ideal true "flat" but an underwater point that stays around 14-9' with 25' wrapping around it and a weed line inside it. The 25' is a sharp break and the weeds start around 11'. Am I too shallow?

[Jim Panfish Uran]

I wouldt think so, but maybe check for a more gradual drop along that area, in case they arent up that shallow against or in the weeds, something you can check down the gradual drop a little deeper if they arent shallow. Also drill out over the steep break and see if anything is suspended! Good luck

[DrJuice1980]

Thanks Jim, PM coming your way...

Wait, you can't accept any

[Jim Panfish Uran]

email me! Email is in my signature now. I'll see why I can't accept a PM now.

[DrJuice1980]

Email sent

[auggie78]

Is anyone concerned about ice still being around for opener or am I just being paranoid ha

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Its always a concern when we have ice this thick, this late in the year!

[paceman]

We still have 6 weeks til the opener. I think it will be gone by then, but the water will still be pretty cold. Could be really good idea to chose a shallow dark lake for the opener.....

[paceman]

With just over a month left till opener and no significant warm weather forcasted until late April, I now think there will be ice on area lakes an May 11. I really hope I am wrong.

[huntnfish]

I'm thinking the same thing. The lake I normally fish for opener is always one of the last to open up.

[Musky Buck]

Less than a month to go and my buddy tried augering on Star Lake out by the galaxy and he barely, barely got through last night, after chiseling away at it some so he could gain that extra 6" of auger, then he went home lol. That was 4/11/13. He wanted an update, 1 month till opener, he didn't like his update lol. What's the spawning update ?

[Jim Panfish Uran]

What an amazing year. I honestly hope to ice fishing on opener lol!!

Every lake I've fished in the area has resulted in the same, almost barely getting through with the auger. Right down to the motor, it gets tiring after drilling a series of holes. But good thing I've got them pegged down on a few lakes and don't have to worry about drilling too many. They really haven't moved into their late ice shallow patterns yet. They are up on the shelf from deeper water, just on the edges of the shallows in the evening, but during the day, the lakes that I have fished the fish are still out roaming the basins... Craziness.

[bak2MN]

Maybe I will get out ice fishing after all!

That is if the ice stays till opener. I might get home again then.

[Ice camper]

What an amazing year. I honestly hope to ice fishing on opener lol!!

I couldn't agree with you more Jim. I never fish opener anyways. I don't like traffic on the roads, much less on the water. Now, if there's ice to hop on, I'll be there bobbing around fishing on my cube! I'm guessing we are a minority on this one though. LOL!

[auggie78]

I've given up on opener...now worried about memorial weekend, only half kidding!

[Paul]

I think it would be fun to cut some long channels in the ice with a chain saw, and drive back and forth on a wheeler or sled trolling cranks through the ice. It is however making it difficult to plan for opener. I for one, am a midnight opener guy, have been since I was aoubt 10 years old. Have not missed a midnight opener since my senior Prom (same day, boy that was dumb of me) and I don't plan on missing anymore. I may just have to head south, and fish my old stopping grounds, Lac Qui Parle Lake and the LQP Dam on the MN river if ol Mother Nature Does not get off this mid-life crisis of her's.

[i'majigger]

I like the idea of fishing through the ice on opener, TWO LINES!!!!