McGregor-Aitkin-Crosby-Deerwood Area fishing reports

[jvm1]

Never been to rock lake but maybe I'll try a new lake, I'm more familiar with Ripple and Dam

[knoppers]

fleming opened thursday, I would think gun and wilkins will open up sunday, they are that close.

rat was open, and big sandy might open sunday late in the day, if not it will open next week for sure.

[GuidoSarduchi]

Minnewawa is open

[Cheif Catchemall]

Planing on putting the dock and boats in this weekend. I am assuming that the ice is off of Round by Wauk. Can anyone confirm?

[UncleKes]

Anyone know if Crappie Kieth is still around. Is he still grounded because of the little problem he had over the winter with the DNR? I know! I know! Old Kieth is sort of an aquired taste, but I always liked the guy. He was always a wealth of information and generous with sharing anything you might ask him. I hope he is doing OK!

If any of you see him give him my warmest best wishes!

[Born2Fish]

I know some of the relatives were up on BSL putting docks in this weekend. Most were off of Long Point.

[palisade1kid]

I'm ok Unk...working on T.H.E Jig business. I took on a partner and we have registered the LLC along with procurring product liability insurance,Fed. exize tax# plus the state EIN#.Mass production is under way which when done will be available here at FM.My partner which I sorely needed is a CFO for his businesses and having someone grounded in the details can only help the cause.

Thanks for the kind words...this recovering ex-drunk / drug abuser is learning alot.Been hitting several different meetings in the area too. So I've been busy ....learnig alot about humility.

Once the initial 10,000 jigs are done I'll be hitting the road to build a base at bait shops throught the midwest.

So really the year wait from fishing will be filled with building the business and practicing a better quality of life.

Take care Unk!

[Crappie2760]

Is it easy to get to aitkin lake from big sandy through the flowage? I'm going to be fishing aitkin lake for largemouth and maybe some gills and perch with the lady next weekend!

[Born2Fish]

Well I know that we got through to Aitkin Lake from BSL last year with no problems at all. Its pretty curvy in there, but a lot of people do it.

[Crappie2760]

Good to hear...it looks pretty narrow on google earth and other maps but as long as there is 3+ feet of water it won't be a problem! Anyone fish aitkin lake a lot? I saw results from the 2008 fish survey and hopefully aitkin still has a healthy population of big bluegills. Im glad the limit is 5 now and hope it keeps a large number of fish in aitkin lake. Bobbers and crawlers!!

[palisade1kid]

Water temps are in the high 50's or low 60's and with that pannies are making themselves available if you search. They can be in or out depending on the water temperature.In a week they should go higher holding them in shallower.

There's been a ton of poking around searching. The guys have been doing a good job of reading areas that might hold them.

[Crappie2760]

Everything was biting this weekend. I can't wait to get back to the Big Sandy later this summer. We caught perch and pike wherever we went and random crappies mixed in as well. I caught a huge 5+ pound largemouth on Aitkin Lake but never found any walleyes....

[Born2Fish]

We are catching walleye right off the dock right now. Basically using either a leach or a minnow about 3.5 to 5 feet off a slip bobber. We usually catch them off the dock right up till the weeds starts growing. We will be up at the cabin again this weekend to see if we can get a few.

[BrandonJ]

Anybody been fishing the aitkin area lately any bass reports?

[Chad Peterson]

Nice crappies guys. The colors on those slabs are awesome.

Sniffer

[Rick]

1st Ice fishing is picking up. A lot of nice fish are going and a number of folks are out popping crappies.

Watch as Chris Barlage, Adam and the HotSpotOutdoors crew tackle some first ice crappies. See where and listen how they do it....

More videos at HSOshow.com

[UncleKes]

Anyone know how they are doing on HILL LAKE at HILL CITY! I used to fish it years ago with my Grandfather during the summer and have always wondered if it was any good during the ice season. Any information would be great! Also, are there any resorts open on that lake or motels near the lake. I probably would spend a night or two in Hill City and a resort that was open would be great!

Uncle Kes

[baitnswitch]

I too would like to know how the fishing is on Hill Lake. Trying it for the first time this weekend.

[S.S. Fiasco]

What's the skinny on round lake? Anyone got info? What depths? What baits? Headin there saturday

[onthelakeBlake]

I love how everyone always wants to know how fishing is doing, but will never just post how there fishing was.

I was out on Rabbit on the East bowl Saturday afternoon but was obviously in the wrong spot. Sitting on a weed bed and only managed to pull out one nasty rock bass.

Sunday drilled a million holes and found some sunfish sitting in submerged trees. I think I was in about 14-16 FOW fishing with JB Lures "Big Max" with the neon-yellow color. I have always had good luck with that lure in any color but especially like the glow red. Fishing using those Northland Impulse Mayflys in black and orange. Color didn't seem to affect the bite, they took either one.

[onthelakeBlake]

Rabbit Lake - Well I was out again this weekend, but could not catch anything with any size for the life of me. Sitting in about 16 FOW overtop of sunken trees where I had previously spotted fish on the camera, but no big ones seemed to be out to eat.

Anyone else had any luck lately out that direction or in the Crosby area? I'm ready to head back out to Menomin and try my luck again.

[walleyewalby]

whats going on out on blackhoof? Ive seen more houses than usual... im heading up this week sometime to try and break the sled out and do some crappie fishing.

[onthelakeBlake]

It was published in Outdoor News from Oars N Mine that they were biting out there. I made the trip out early Saturday morning with limited success. Drilled a mess of holes, and only was able to come up with a few 6-8" crappies. I was fishing on the outside of the crowd of houses on the NE corner of the lake is about 20 FOW.

[onthelakeBlake]

How much ice has anyone seen on area lakes? By the time I get off work its dark and walking on early ice in the dark is never a good idea.

[Crappie2760]

My fiance's parent's cabin is on the north shore of Big Sandy up by the Aitkin Flowage, and the entire lake was open water when we were up there on 11/25. Her dad was actually out ice skating this past weekend on 12/9, but I haven't actually seen the lake since 11/25. I would never have gone out on that ice yet as it definitely is not safe yet (on the north shore). I won't be back up there until 12/28 so the ice fishing should be in full force by then depending on temperatures.

This is also my first year ever ice fishing on Big Sandy as her family moved to a year round house instead of a seasonal cabin on the lake. I look forward to doing a lot of coyote hunting and ice fishing this winter up there. I can't wait to see all the little ice villages out there! Hopefully I don't need a vexlar or fish finder because I don't own one! Good luck!

[walleyewalby]

here fishy fishy! T-5 days and ill be out! im hearing some 6" reading hear and there but have seen some open water finally close up last night. Lets hope the precip stays away until theres good ice for sledding.

[walleyewalby]

here fishy fishy! T-5 days and ill be out! im hearing some 6" reading hear and there but have seen some open water finally close up last night. Lets hope the precip stays away until theres good ice for sledding.

[onthelakeBlake]

Where are all the reports guy? I'll share what I've had in the last few weeks.

Big Rabbit East Bowl - I fished straight East of the main island, and S/SW of the cattail island in about 20 fow. Was fishing late morning/early afternoon. Lots of perch and pike action. Not what I was looking for, but at least now I know where to find some pike action again.

Clinker - Fished West of the northern most point of the island in about 18 fow. Caught my fair share of 10" crappies like usual. There are good sized crappies in here, and a good number too, so keeping yourself interested shouldn't be a hard time in this lake ever. As long as you're marking fish anyways. There's been days where I'm not marking fish, move 200 ft and hit a gold mine.

Peterson (south of deerwood on CR 8 about 4 miles) - Not a bad lake. Pretty predictable structure, so anywhere you go on the lake should be decent fishing. I know people catch fish in this lake, and I'll attest to it as well. Not going to tell you exactly where to fish, just because I think that by telling you about the lake, you already have a fair chance at catching fish.

Hope this didn't steal anyones hot lakes. But lets face it, one year to the next, the hot lake and spot seems to disappear and move. Good luck fishing everyone. Keep an eye on that bobber

[Doctor J]

Wow, those poor lakes got advertised more than most do. Some of them aren't very big, so much for next year's crappie population.

[CrewJones]

we were out on Big Pine this weekend, thought with all this cold the lake would be great......

12-17 inches of snow the bottom 5 inches are slush water with about 7-8 of ice. every hole we drilled shot water conditions for traveling by foot were deadly we made it about 60 yards with the clam and called it a day. Fished around a bit but it was just too cold. Managed a walleye at dark. Some of the worst conditions I have had as far as travel. there was NO one on the lake, that we could see at least. I was amazed that with the -16 over 3 nights that the slush did not freeze.

be safe and dont get anything stuck out there, you probably wont be getting it back