2020 Lake Osakis Fishing Reports

[Mike89]

yes

[sartellangler05]

Got out yesterday before sunrise. Managed 1 17" walleye and a fat 30" pike before 10am, both on a silver and blue chubby darter in 23 fow. Went to Mantheys bay for some panfish, and they are still very finicky. Was the same last week. Went back to other spot around 2:30 in 34 fow, and managed 3 more eyes until sundown. Biggest eye was 17", other 2 were 15 and 16. Nice to catch some over 15" for the pan.

[jake125]

Went out in front of the cabin yesterday. Was a fairly slow afternoon. Kept 2 eyes between 16-17 inches and a avg crappie. Marked quite a few and fished on the main lake. Ice was around 12". Pick ups and houses stacked up on the NW end. Not sure what they are targeting.

[FinnFisher9]

I also was out this weekend on Osakis, targeting crappies. I was on the main lake and marking many fish, they were quite picky all weekend but we managed to catch quite a few nice eaters. Again, plenty of ice, 10+ where I was. We ended up getting one small small walleye while crappie fishing.

[sartellangler05]

Stopped at Osakis yesterday mid after noon coming from Minnewaska. Gave north end a shot for 2 hrs, marked some sunfish, but they wouldn't take my 3 presentations. Went to Schultz for an hours jigging deep for walleye, nothing. Then tried Osakis bay by all the houses. There are crappies out there in 25 fow, didn't stay long to try and catch them.

[Trout26]

Just wondering if how the ice and the bite is I have never been out there before and was thinking about taking my 8 year son out in the morning. Thinking about going out of battle point taking my side by side with and just wondering if I have to worry about the ice anywhere. Thanks for the info.

[timjones]

Just wondering if how the ice and the bite is I have never been out there before and was thinking about taking my 8 year son out in the morning. Thinking about going out of battle point taking my side by side with and just wondering if I have to worry about the ice anywhere. Thanks for the info.

You'll be fine with the side by side. Just be careful if you decide to head south from the point. There is an ice heave that runs from the end of Battle Point west over into the rushes in Schultz's Bay. So far any one that has crossed it that I have noticed has gone all the way over to the west side and then south. Was gone most of today so don't know if anyone tried it today or not. It might be healed up pretty good because I haven't seen it cough up any water onto the ice lately.

[Trout26]

Thank you for the heads up. I was told they are catching some fish around there. So I'm thinking me and the boy might give it a try.

[mntim]

Anyone been on the ice the last couple days? I am heading up on Friday and wondering if I need to bring a lifejacket, or canoe?

[Mellonhead]

Can anyone tell me if they are driving on the lake between Caughren and Coon Point Area? How much ice. Looking to put my house on the lake.

[TheTuna]

Some houses and trucks on the T-Bar/Sunken Island area, but haven't seen anyone with truck go to Coon Point from Caughren.

[Mellonhead]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the part of the lake i want to fish should be ok.

[SunnyCrappieDay]

Wondering if anyone can help me with what depth ranges I should be looking for winter walleyes on Lake Osakis. I have been targeting walleyes on other lakes in the lower 20 foot range and just want to know if Osakis is similar in the winter or if I should be trying deeper. Thanks for any help I can get.

[chisago_fishman]

Have people been out driving full size trucks on the ice or do I need to bring other means to get out on he lake? If driving full size vehicles, let me know if its alll over or just particular areas.

Thanks for the insight.

[SunnyCrappieDay]

I am not sure about the north end but we were out last weekend drove full size trucks out to half mile bar and watched multiple trucks drive out as far as 2 mile bar. I know there is an ice heave south of battle point that you need to be careful for if you are going out from there.

[timjones]

There has been a good amount of truck traffic in the area from Moon Bar north and a little east of Coon Point. Also on Manthey's Bay and west from there a ways. Haven't seen any trucks venturing out to Four Mile yet. The pressure ridge on the south side of Battle Point has healed up good. Numerous trucks crossing it the last two days. Just make sure you check before you cross it. Lot of trucks with wheel houses coming on from Battle Point.

[osakis cabin]

Be carefull in Schultz bay a truck went through last night out there !!! I watched it in 30 feet of water he got lost in dark and drove into ridge. He lucked out when he fell through top layer there was a ice shelf below and only went down up to windshield.

[timjones]

The truck went through over toward the east end of the ridge out from Battle Point. Probably the worst part of the ridge. The guy got out and some other trucks came and managed to pull it out. There was some open water there today. It is now marked with a couple of white flags stuck in weighted down 5 gallon buckets. Cross over on the west side if you don't know where your going.

[invadersmn]

We are looking at going to Osakis this coming weekend. Wondering if there are any updates from this past weekend. Hoping to chase some Walleye. Looking for any pointers of Depth of water, color, any other insight you might have. We will be going out with 3 pickups, and 3 wheeled houses, so likely will not venture to far away from areas that we know are safe. Not looking for your secret spot just any insight to make our weekend successful would be helpful.

[MNMUSKIE50]

No Replies Invadermn haha. I think the bite is hot & I'll be up there this wknd as well.

[sartellangler05]

I'm heading out tomorrow. My experience in December, 3 times out, was a tough bite. Hopefully them sunnies are biters. Anyone ever have luck on the south end of the big body? I've been wanting to try it.

[ZachD]

I am heading out Friday to see if I can find some. I will let you know what happens If its not looking good I am hitting Miltona or Ida. Maybe a private lake I know I think this weekend the fish will be very active though!

Tight lines everyone

[sartellangler05]

Hit smith and Osakis yesterday. Marked a lot of fish, though they are tight lipped. Moved to 2 mile bar at night, and lost a chunky walleye in 12ft. I think the rods are being put away until mid March.

[ZachD]

Osakis fri night and sat all day.. Hit the main lake at a point fri night not one fish. Sat went further north 27 fow and caught one 14 inch walleye and some small perch marked more at night but no bites. Guy 20 yards away had 4 nice crappies.

Hit stowe and little Chippewa today marked on stowe no bites. Lil chip marked 1000s of little perch everywhere.

[invadersmn]

Well we fished Osakis Fri evening - Sunday morning. Sitting in 36 FOW and marked fish like crazy! All over from 26-36 down. With lots of work we iced 4 crappies, 2 in the evenings and 2 in the morning hours. The 2 evening crappies were 12.5" and 14", the other 2 were 11.5" & 12". All were very chunky and did not appear to be starving that is for sure. After saying that, the 14" took 3 lines with it when it struck! Saw the buffet line and hit it hard 3 of the 4 were caught jigging, if we were not jiggin, they would disappear off the flashers.

Tough bite, but from word of another house that was moving every hour or so on Saturday, he didn't do much better. Figured I would stay put and deal with what we had. Plenty of houses around us, coming and going, never really got to chat with them. But I would not believe with how short they were there, that any luck was being had.

Overall hard fished weekend. 4 crappies to show for it.

[MNMUSKIE50]

Fished all day Sat & marked tons of fish, but they had tight lips for us as well. Caught 10 total with a bonus 16" eye

[MN_RiverRat_22]

A buddy and I are heading up to the area on Saturday looking for panfish, just wondering what the bite is like? No specific spots just wondering if anything is going on??

[FinnFisher9]

I was up last weekend, we did quite well but we talked with other fisherman on the lake and they said it was hit or miss. Should be a good weekend to fish with the rising temps. I'll be fishing Osakis Sunday morning.

[sartellangler05]

Got to the lake after fishing Maple most of the day. Went out to two mile bar in 12 fow. Got set up around 3:45. I could see bottom, so I thought it might be fun to sight fish. Lure selection was a rattlin flyer with a minnow head. I immediately saw a walleye swimming under my jig, which was 6"-1' off the bottom. I dropped the lure on the sandy bottom, and pulled up just a couple inches repeatedly, and she inhaled it when it was laying on the floor. This tactic produced 2 more fish, 17" and 19 1/2". Thing is, I wasn't marking these fish on the Marcum being they were tight to the bottom. The last fish I caught, I wasn't even looking down the hole, and as I started to pull the lure off the bottom, it was dead weight. Anyways, just thought I would share this, because if I hadn't been able to sight fish, I would have kept jigging above these fish, not knowing they were below. A new technique I will try again.

[FinnFisher9]

Very cool! SartellAngler, just a few posts up it said you were putting the rods away till March! Can't resist! :-)