Grand Rapids Fishing Reports MN

[JigNPlastic]

Great looking fish, getting me pumped up to get up there. I am heading up to the area the next two weekends (old scenic highway area) and was just wondering if I should be expected the crappies to be bedded up yet or am I still too early on that? Any little bit can help!

Thanks in advance,

Tim

[Greg Clusiau]

You might hit it right on the head, as they aren't on beds yet but getting pretty darn close. Old Scenic Highway area.....hmmmm....that's "my" turf!

[JigNPlastic]

I should have been more specific earlier on this thread, the area specifically is the taconite area (Shamrock/Reilly/Island chain). I hope we hit it right on the head, sure would be a blast to get the family on a nice crappie bite. A heck of a way to start cabin season!

Thanks for the reply Greg

[Greg Clusiau]

JigNPlastic ~ I used to fish the local bass club tournies on this water, a fun lake. Yes, things are warming up very nice and you should be able to get into some action. Good luck and have a great opener!

[JigNPlastic]

Finally got back up to God's country last weekend and found some very good multi species fishing. Didn't have any luck with the crappies in mid may but found them in some typical summer spots this weekend. Oddly enough most fish were deeper but the biggest (13 inches or so) were caught in 2 ft of water fishing for gills with my daughters. Bass and pike were going too. Be back up for 10 days in about a week to try it again!

I knew I became a teacher for three wonderful reasons: June, July, and August!!

Tim

[clemmy]

Hello,

Ill be back up in the Land of Sky Blue Waters starting Sunday for a trip to let my kids visit their grandparents. Any reccomendations on locateting some eyes? I was thinking maybe bottom bouncer/spinners in say, 18-20 fow, but what do I know, Ive been in Florida the last 15 years!

Also, crawler or minnow? And if I go at night?

Thanks so much!

Craig

[Jim Almquist]

So far your plan sounds pretty good. I prefer crawlers when pulling spinners with at least 2 hooks. At night I would try 12-16' along weed edges with either a shad rap or a husky jerk in a perch or silver pattern. As far as what lake that is a good question. With the strange spring we had the fish still are not in a good set pattern on lakes like Winni. Looks like you could be in for a nice stretch of weather. Good luck and have fun.

[clemmy]

Thanks Jim,

I've been frustrated in my other trips to their lake, lots of 15' then 2' then backtrack to 8' then 18'...I know one spot that goes from 5' to 55 in about 15'. None are marked on topo map, I finally got fed up enough that I ordered an aqua vu micro so I can at least see what i'm fishing. Sharp breaks sound like great cover, but if yoy don't really know them, you can't troll them well. Ive trolled jig/minnow, but end up with largemouth during the day. Trolling crankbaits at night i'm 10' deep at 20 then instantly at 3, only reversindg helps, but results in no control...

Craig

[Jim Almquist]

Some of the best spots are more tapered and will be close to deep water but need to have some sort of weed growth. When trolling at night I try to avoid the sharp drops and look for more longer flat areas. The sharp breaks can be good but it might take a few passes to get it down.

[ImaTeacher]

Hey Everyone-

I'm thinking about taking the family to a resort on Sand Lake. I'm a bit gun shy about the $$ without knowing how the fishing is on this body of water. Any thoughts would be awesome. Thanks!

[fishuhalik]

There's a few sand lakes up that way. If you're talking about the one on the bowstring river you'll have fun. Plenty of eyes, billions of little like and lots of nice perch. If the kids are coming with make sure to in the channel between big and little sand. There's always a ton of suckers in the chanel and I always loved watching em swim away from the boat

[Jason Boser]

Sand lake is a great kid lake . northen walleye perch all in one so you can usually keep the kids interested in that and if you just want to put a bobber on there is some great panfish action also and it is a beautiful lake on top of that

Jason

[OnAFly]

Any walleye reports? I'll be up this weekend. We'll probably hit Jessie and maybe Sand.

[bmc]

I haven't heard many reports lately on either of those 2 lakes.

Gonna be a beautiful weekend, definitely too nice to be at work, which is where I will be. LOL

Brian

[Greg Clusiau]

No, we don't have any yet, that I have walked on personally, but with this mini-blizzard we are receiving, it won't be long. I've heard reports of ice fishing on URL last week but I'm sure these strong NW winds have that east shoreline looking awful, and dangerous. Around the Grand Rapids area, many of the small lakes had a skim on them before these winds came along. I'm thinking by next weekend, there will be some smaller lakes that offer typical first ice fishing, meaning it's not good ice and you better be careful. Take a buddy and be safe! I'll keep all up-to-date on ice conditions.

[big pike dude]

Anybody have a report about how much ice is on the smaller(60-200 acre) lakes on the Range? Just curious if there is a decent base on those lakes before we get some snow here.

[trumy]

3-4 inches in the narrows on whiteface it was good clear hard ice fishing was on the slow side for first ice but the weather may have something to do with that but people were catching fish just happy to finally able to get on the ice can't say how the ice will be if this storm dumps a bunch of only time will tell

[big pike dude]

Thanks for the info trumy, I can't wait to get on the ice. I'm coming up next weekend, just hoping the lakes aren't a slush pile by then. Would've been nice to get a solid 8 inches before a big storm, but we'll see how it goes!

[fishuhalik]

My dad was on one of our little crappie holes (under 200 acres) and only found 3-4" in the deeper water. The lake is mostly shallow, with one hole that goes to 30'. I thought there'd be a lot more. He did really good though. Limited out on nice suspended crappies in 20 mins. Small jigging spoon & minner head

[Johnny_Magellan]

I was up on my little lake this last weekend. 120 acres. Had between 5 and 6 inches of good ice. Sure was popping Friday night after dark with no snow on it yet. Not too far from Bigfork...

[whitetail_freak]

I've been out checking ice around the grand rapids area, found 5-6" on split hand last night, ice is still in great shape even with the snow, but all other lakes I checked were less than 4". Even the very small ones, still use alot of caution out there! walked out on pokeg and the ice went from 4" to less than 2" in about 20 yds, be very careful!

[kenlaker]

I was hoping to see an update from you soon!

[lakevet]

Fished small lake by Rapids Saturday night 3-5" nice solid ice, same spot Sunday night had 2"-3" solid ice and 1-2" water on top. In addition several holes opened up with water obviously flowing up onto the ice. Be careful!

lakevet

[Bass Whacker]

I will be heading up to the area xmas night for a few days. I was wondering how the ice is, can we ride wheelers? Do any of you guys have any panfish reports from the spider lake area? We will be staying at my buddies cabin on Spider lake, but we would like to try a few new lakes if you guys have any recommendations.

[Scott M]

Any truck travel starting on small lakes? Hoping to drive out Friday night for the sake of my dad, he's getting too old for much walking.

[Bass Whacker]

I would sure keep the trucks off the ice right now. I just got back from a up there and we only found 7-9" of ice on all 4 lakes we made it to with one only being about 40 acres. The fishing was very good though with strong crappie bites going on all the lakes we tried. We even managed 6 fish over 14 inches and I put my friends dad on a wall hanger at 16 3/4" while teaching him how to use a flasher. The depths varied lake to lake but all fish were found on the edges of the basins. Moving around was key and we never even fished a hole unless the flasher showed fish.

[LunkerCity]

16 3/4"?????!!!!! DANG!!!! What a pig, where are the pics? I was on splithand the other day and we had a good 8" of ice. A few eaters over 10" nothing over 12".

[Bass Whacker]

My friends dad has the pics so i'm waiting for them to show up in an email. you know you did your work when you put a gallon and a half of gas through your auger in 3 days plus what ever else the other guys did with thiers. We drilled out huge areas ( well over a hundred holes a day for me)and checked hole after hole after hole till you found fish off the bottom on the vex.

[JakeJ_Mn]

Stingy has 8 1/2" to 10" but fishing was slooow

[ovation62]

Went to Pug Hole Lake we were in 23 ft. Lots of fish on the vex. But not one bit 4 of us grubs and fat heads. Slow going. Would not drive on it yet just walk or 4 wheeler.