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Medicine Lake Fishing Reports


notsogoodfisherman

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All I know is it is about 14' near west beach, it does vary around the lake though, sun angle, snow cover, weeds, carp, etc.

Swing into the shop sometime if you are in the area.

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Thanks for the report Dave.Have not made it to Medicine yet,been fishing the Chisago area mainly for walleye.Did o.k on Rush last wknd,East and West.Hitting Medicine this wknd for some crappie. I seem to pull in the bigger ones deeper and suspended jigging large crappie minow heads,but I'll bring some larva sense thats what worked for you.Most of the crappie there average 7/8 inches but last year 1 out of about 10 were 11-13 in some spots and always at dusk suspended. I'll let ya all now how I did, GOOD FISHING !!! ( Thanks for the reports on the ice conditions Joe ....)

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Hey Joe where is your shop at? Plan on hitting medicine for the second time ever, still looking for that first fish. Maybe I could swing by and get some pointers for a metro lake nube like myself. Thanks.

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Was looking at the web cam earlier (11:15ish) the gates were open, saw a van and a guy talking to the person driving. After a few mins the van left and gates were closed. Joe was the van going to drive out? Crazy.....look like there's a wet spot in front of landing from the cam.

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May want to call him for up to date info.

Harty's Boat Works

1920 E Medicine Lake Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55441

(763) 546-6711

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Thank You again Ebass, beat me to it with ease. Anyway, found 11" over the banana bar and also northeast of the 40' hole located north of the west access. Found 12" elsewhere plus 13" in front of the baitshop. Snowcover and milder temps will slow down the rate we have been running at which was an inch a day. West Beach access is open, the Baitshop access opens Friday, French Park access is open plus there is a pressure ridge right at the water level which I alerted the parks director today about, and they will be addressing that directly. Be advised again with respect to deeper snow covered areas near shore on the southeast side and south shore, if you see ice in the middle of the snow it means there is or was a crack and quite possibly water lurking just below that ice/snow pack, get ready to put the hammer down and power through it, or if on foot, walk around it. Be safe and feel free to adopt your part of the lake and help keep it clean.

Please don't hesitate to call the baitshop for random questions, comments or other lake related stuff just like Dad did, or Grandpa did.

Thanks and be safe and smart, please.

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I started fishing Medicine on and off last year for the first time since the 70's/80's. At the end of the season last year, I found out that Joe has a donation box to help offset his cost of plowing/maintaining the landing and ice road. In addition to buying bait, etc. from him, can I suggest maybe throwing a couple dollars in his donation box too? I know I sure will.

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Hey there ice forum I've been on this one once before last year. I'm home from the marines and was wondering if anyone was going out today I was thinking about checking out the bite possibly off of Harty's. If anyone has any ideas or is going out let me know.

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Went out today for a few hours fish didn't cooperate to much but it was mid day south side of lake had 12" and around the 40' hole there was 11.5" did see a lot if vehicles even a crew cab Chevy might have been a heavy half ton but a lot of smaller cars and SUVs

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Just got back. Managed 3 walleye between 2 guys with one 17 incher for oil bath. Other 2 were small. All action was in a 15 minute period in 13 feet of water then not a fish marked for next 2.5 hours.

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Fished on Medicine today for about 4 hours, set up in a 40ft hole and crappies were stacked on the flasher managed to catch about 25-30 none of real size but did manage a few 9-10 inchers but released all, pretty typical crappies for Medicine. The bite shut off about 5:15-5:30 for me, fish were still there but couldn't get them to take it anymore. I was on about 10 inches of ice where I was. Quite a few trucks and SUVs out on the ice, I will be waiting for a little more ice for me. All in all it was a good day.

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I was out on the 40' hole this morning and had pretty poor luck, only 9 fish, including one decent size sunny. The rest were crappies. I had one line down with a minnow and the other with a waxie; didn't get a single bite on the minnow. I only moved once, should have kept moving, but I was way too relaxed and comfortable! I drove my Taurus out there and measured 14" of ice, including the top 1-1/2" or so of white ice. Plenty of ice for me to be comfortable driving on with my car.

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Hartys plowed some roads out to a few area ice was very good fishing stunk for me didnt help my vex died on me right away oh well had a good time still

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Fished from about 2:30 - 6:00, caught a couple of perch out farther, moved to the community hole and caught crappies suspended in 40' of water on euros. Didn't catch anything on minnow. Caught about 20 fish, nothing keeper sized. Bite slowed down after dark, but still caught a few more.

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I want to thank Joe Harty for helping me out with fishing on Medicine. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that I am having a good time fishing on the lake.

The Fatheads are big and live along time. Have been fishing the lake alot because we can cannot get the skid house on Milacs until the ice gets better.

I would buy Joe Harty a beer next time I see him out at the Bar!

That all, Jim L.

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How.s the ice for driving a large truck? Hope to get out tommarow before the cold blast comes. Thanks.

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When I was out a week ago I measured 14" with a tape measure out on the 40' hole. When I went out yesterday, I didn't have a tape with me, but I would guess there's at least another couple inches. I was driving an SUV that, loaded with my gear, probably weighs 8000# and I'm still here above water!!

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Any tips on depth for pike. Got my limit of Crappies and would like to get one or two. I have flags in 12 feet but wondering if I need to go deeper. P.s. 15.5 inches of good ice

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Fished there today @ 4pm on the westside of Medicine and caught 3 decent size crappies only. I didn't spotted them until 6 pm. There seems to be a lot them down there but man there picky. I used minnows and waxs but biting was extremely slow. Overall, it was a fun but freezing cold night ice fishing. Any future tips from this lakes such as baits??

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Fished there today @ 4pm on the westside of Medicine and caught 3 decent size crappies only. I didn't spotted them until 6 pm. There seems to be a lot them down there but man there picky. I used minnows and waxs but biting was extremely slow. Overall, it was a fun but freezing cold night ice fishing. Any future tips from this lakes such as baits??

Same thing i saw on friday night, picky eaters and three 10" crappies. Marked a bunch, christmas tree flasher but only got three to bite and commit on crappie minnows, didn't try anything else. I was going to try waxies but figured that they HAD to bite crappie minnows....

Maybe they're into plastic more than I thought.

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I have found that sometimes when the flasher is lit up like a Christmas tree in the deep holes it is definitely sometimes harder to get the crappies to bite. I usually do manage to get them to but have to switch up the presentation a lot to see what they like. Some things that have triggered them were down sizing jigs and use just a minnow head and keep jigging your pole. Also sometimes I use small plastics or just a small jig tipped with red euro larva or wax worms. On a dead stick I find that if you jig it every once and awhile it can trigger a strike as well. Sometimes they are just not hungry in the big schools and I move and find a smaller school and they seem a lot more hungry.

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I was out Saturday morning on the 40' hole and saw the flasher light up like a Christmas tree too. If I recall, it was around 9 a.m. or so. I was actually beginning to doubt my flasher. Glad someone else saw the same thing. I got my limit of crappies, but had to work for them. I had both a minnow and a waxie down and caught nothing on the waxie; a week ago I did equally as well on the waxie and minnow. I have had my best minnow luck with just a plain small hook.

BTW, can anyone tell me where I can get sunnies on Medicine? Is that what people are going after in the shallower water straight out in front of Harty's? Just for a change of pace. You can PM me if you prefer.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
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