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

Thanks for the warning! It was shallow last year, and with the lake down another foot if not 2.. its not good.. I went down and watched boats try and put in at the access this weekend some.. very frustrating to some. if you have bunk trailers, its not easy!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 236
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Deitz Dittrich

    42

  • JBMasterAngler

    15

  • LwnmwnMan2

    14

  • NCLaker

    13

Thanks for the update NC. My guess is that it would be the sheriff's perrogative to post a sign in the channel. The DNR really has nothing to do with the existence of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ripped a prop up going through there last year. No way in heck I'm trying it again this year with as low as the water is. I keep wondering why they just didn't make it DEEP when they put it in in the first place?!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ripped a prop up going through there last year. No way in heck I'm trying it again this year with as low as the water is. I keep wondering why they just didn't make it DEEP when they put it in in the first place?!

Couldn't agree with you more on your point Jayber .... you would think it would have been a heck of a lot cheaper if they would have designed & implemented a deeper channel when they rebuilt it a couple years ago. I would be suprised if they would be willing to put any money into it any time soon ... I guess we gotta keep hopping for more rain, and lots of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the warning! It was shallow last year, and with the lake down another foot if not 2.. its not good.. I went down and watched boats try and put in at the access this weekend some.. very frustrating to some. if you have bunk trailers, its not easy!

Dietz, did you try putting your boat in? My neighbor has a 20' Ranger Walleye boat on a tandem trailer, he tried putting in on North Center and couldn't get it done. There is a big washout hole at the bottom of the ramp then a big gravel mound from the washout. His trailer is so long it road up the mound and actually started coming out of the water instead of deeper. He eventually had to stop cause his truck was getting too deep in the washout hole.

I'm guessing the bass boat traffic this year on N/S Center will be pretty light if we don't get more rain for the boat launches on N/S Center.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

NC- I have not. I hope to try some night this week.. but do not hold high hopes.. I did put it in about 3 weeks ago, but as you know we have not had any rain since then. and its quite a bit lower. Even then I had to get a good speed going nd slam on the breaks.. but then again, I too have a 20' boat with tandem trailer..

we need rain bad.. very bad.. i even had my kids to rain dances in class today.. 8-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

we need rain bad.. very bad.. i even had my kids to rain dances in class today.. 8-)

lol hey it worked a little bit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried opening weekend to launch on S. center and did not work. I went to N. Center and got in but had to venture throught the channel. I made it but just barely. My 1850 Sportfish is on a bunk trailer and it is a tough go everywhere. I am a little dissapointed as my family spends a lot of time on S. Center both fishing and water skiing! BRING ON THE RAIN!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

So since the access is in such bad shape because of water levels, I'm guessing the lake isn't seeing as many boats? Sounds ideal for my 14' cruiser cool

I just patched up a few leaky spots so I want to take it out and make sure it stays dry. How are the bass biting? I haven't been on south center in about 15 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saw a number of bass boats on N/C last weekend (I assume from one of the bass clubs). Saw some going back & forth thru the channel to S/C. Not sure whick lake they put in, but would have been a bit tricky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

JB, the bass have been on the chow on Forest for the past couple weeks. Had a thirty five fish night out there the other night in a 2.5 hour span. Lots of smaller fish but there are plenty of big ones willing to bite as well if you can get past the little guys.

Tunrevir~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't catch a fish to save my life on forest lake. I must be cursed, seriously! The chisago chain however, it welcomes me with open arms every time blush

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

How is the pike fishing on north/south center lakes? I'll be targeting bass, but would like to grab a couple pike for the grill this weekend. My dad wants to go somewhere else, but I'm deadset on the center lakes because I haven't fished them in awhile.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

be careful, the s.center landing is closed till the 23rd.. they are fixing it. I went down last night to look at what they have done. Looks pretty good and am excited to see how it will end up. The n.center landing is almost un usable, you can try it though.

Pike fishing is fair on the lake, there are some good ones in there. Because of the poor landings I have only fished the Centers 3 times this year. And have yet to battle a pike. If you wanted a pike, Big Marine or Forest would be better options.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The rain we are getting might help a little in being able to get on the lakes.The water level is so low right now. North may be your best bet but get there early because of the small lot. Earlier in the year, fishing for bass with a spinnerbait got me a few pike. Nothing of real size but probably 3-4 lbs.

Fish the slop and you should get both bass and pike.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just read the sat or sunday star tribune paper and there was a article on the low water conditions in the area. i thought it was cool that frankie stated that if the dnr was going to do anything about the access conditions, he would use his own $ to backhoe out the berms if the dnr would allow him. i thought that was cool if he was serious.

i think that was a good suggestion and that the dnr can't be called out to maintain all the accesses in the area with so many lakes and plenty that are still fine to launch. it isn't there fault that the water is low.

just a heads up if something might change at n/s center.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, big marine is where my dad wants to go. I like the lake, but I've already fished it this year, and my fishing A.D.D. is preventing me from wanting to go there again crazy

So how are they fixing the access? Putting in new/extra slabs and/or dredging perhaps? The whole reason I wanted to fish there is because of the access being almost unusable. I have a 14 footer that is barely heavier than a canoe, so bad/shallow accesses are easy pickin's for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey just an FYI if you didn't know that there is slot on Northerns with nothing kept 24-36" don't start the grill yet?

HARP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the heads up, that slipped my mind. The 22 and 23 inchers will work just fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out on N Center last night. We bottomed out in a little 14ft boat. Its really bad. Lots of small bass too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The South Center access is now fixed, they finished the work yesterday. They dredged and added all new cement slabs. Looks very nice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you put in and test it out? How about that big concrete slab by the bridge?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have not put mine in yet.. but I know the slab is still by the bridge. Proceed with much caution! Or do not proceed at all. Until we get some more rain I will not be using the channel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm, new and improved access that everyone and their uncle can now launch on? I've suddenly lost my interest in fishing south center now. frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ya the shallow landing was an advantage to some of us i am going to try to get out there a few more times before the pressure takes affect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, the lake looks like slit pea soup. I think this will keep some of the pleasure boaters off. I know I dont want to swim in it! I would be willing to bet the Secchi disk reading is about 1/4 inch.. LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

deitz i think you meant to say you dont want to swim in it again. sorry just had to point that one out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm, well I may give it a gander on sunday. Pea soup huh? Looks like they'll be after the flashy stuff.

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.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • 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.