Medicine Lake Fishing Reports

[masoct3]

I wonder when Harty will open a road around the lake. Missing that about now....

[nels2444]

Ice was 10+ clear and 4 inches of cloudy. Very good considering all of the snow we have.

[Matt S.]

From what's being said it sounds like the ice is still kinda sketchy for cars/trucks yet.

[brentar]

Anyone going fishing on Medicine tonight? I am probably going to leave the portable at home and just go out and drill some holes and fish off the west side by the park. If you see someone out there say hi. Anyone having luck with the eyes out there?

[Dusty]

Saw a car on the lake on the west side this afternoon. As for me I went out at the north park with the ATV No slush just 5" of snow, kept a dozen sunnies. 12" of ice.

[masoct3]

Thanks, good to know.

[brentar]

went out on Medicine tonight on the west side by the park. There were a few smaller vehicles out at least 100-200 yards. Saw an F-150 out there. Too soon for me but the ice was in good condition. Not many fish but a guy not too far from me lost a big walleye near sundown and got about 20 crappies.

[AJS1980]

Anyone know if Harty's plowed a road out on the SE end yet? Was thinking of going today...

Thanks for any help,

Adam

[Matt S.]

http://www.hartysboatworks.com/webcam.htm

Dosen't look like it.

But I don't know if I'd drive out there yet.

[DuckBlind]

No snow left on the lake, it was a slippery walk and nothing to bank your house with... there is about 5-7 inches of white ice and about 5-8 inches of clear ice. Guys had trucks near shore on the west side, I wouldnt drive out there.

Missed one flag, had one break my line off and missed one at the hole, slimers.

[AJS1980]

Nice. Thanks for the link! Yea I am not sure I want to risk it yet but we'll see I guess. Good luck out there.

[broman]

http://www.hartysboatworks.com/webcam.htm

Dosen't look like it.

But I don't know if I'd drive out there yet.

Just stopped by Hartys. His access is open. I suggest taking a truck as the access looks pretty bumpy.

[nels2444]

I went out on Medicine last week on the west side. Caught about 20 crappies with no size. Am I better off heading out of the east side at Hartys?

[Noel Schmieg]

we fish Medicine lake on the west side of the lake by the park & drove out in the finger with a full size truck, a jeep, & my malibu,

[nels2444]

Leon you drove a full size truck on Medicine? How thick was the ice you were fishing on?

[Noel Schmieg]

full size lifted truck..... the ice was 12+ over there... you know the pont that is on the right side there the two fingers are? we were on the left side of the finger... you will see a snow moud out there didnt go pass that

[waadate]

Been out on medicine a few times the last few days. I've read about springs keeping ice thin in some areas, which areas would these be found? Ive only seen the "west side," but half of the lake is the west side. It's one thing if I put myself in danger, another if it's more than mine.

[Tripleplay]

My rule on Medicine is if Joe Harty is plowing roads and tells me it's a go then my truck can go on the ice. I talked to Joe last week when it was raining and he said there was one spot (one of the spring areas) that was bare of snow and maybe 4" of ice at best. If I'm not comfortable and Joe's not giving me the go then I'm walking and like everybody else I'd much rather drive.

No idea how it is now but I feel a trip this weekend whether it is driving or walking out.

[lazyhounedaleth]

driveing by and saw some cars and a light pick up out there on the east side , how was the ice out there if anyone was out there today?

[WalleyeManic]

anyone catching any walleyes out here?

[lazyhounedaleth]

was out there on monday and talked to a couple of guys and they were looking for walleye also but didnt catch any . but the crappies were biting tho

[Joe Harty]

Hey Triple and others.

Good talking to you last week triple. I'm happy you heeded my warning at that time. Alot of Mother Nature at work here has created some pretty darn good ice. Been hearing as little as 12 and as much as 18". The 12" was near the East shore of the City of Medicine Lake with 14-16" elsewhere in that area. 14-18" has been common on the south half of the main lake, including the 40' hole near the Baitshop. As stated in an earlier post, my access at Harty's Baitshop is open with a parking lot on the ice if you prefer to walk or are unloading the 4 wheelers,sleds, or portables. With another arctic blast this weekend it looks like game on. No need for plowing roads as there is only an inch or two of snow with no drifts.

[Matt S.]

Thanks for the update Joe!

Do you shut your webcam off at night now?

I like to peek at it from time to time over the course of the day and evening.

[deadeye]

Ya I was in Harty's on Monday and Joe said to wait a while (at least till next weekend).

I ended up hiking out and there was around 14" of mixed ice. Maybe 10" of solid black ice and another 4-5" of white cloudy ice.

The spring areas are really tough to gauge, I feel that they tend to move around a little each year since I have never been able to mark it and keep on them for very long. One of the big ones near the S side of the reed point up by the French Park access sometimes freezes up level with the rest of the ice too. You should use a lot of caution in that area.

With the cold we are having it will probably be full tilt out there next weekend. I will be out there Sunday with bells on

[Matt S.]

That's where the ice skater fell through and died last year or the year before.

[James2317]

I went out today at the Crappie hole (40') off of Hartys. Had tons of Crappies, couldnt keep the line in the water. Nothing worth keeping though. The ice was about 10-12 with about 2-4 cloudy on top. There were tons of vehicles out there, big and small. The landing was very smooth. I took my car out there and had no problem. I will be out there tomorrow afternoon again with my portable.

[Josh22]

Thinking bout going out this weekend but don't know where to get the wallys. Can anyone give me some helpfull tips. Thanks

[fishin4fun85]

I'd be interested in knowing where that would be too....good luck gettin anyone to tell ya....I keep comin back to this lake to figure it out cuz when you go into harty's you see all the pics of people catchin these giant fish but I can never seem to find em...anyway...I'll keep tryin I guess

[svonasek]

All we've been catching is crappies. I'm going to setup some tipups this weekend and see if I can find a few northern.

I'd also like to see where the walleyes are. Everyone keeps telling me I should have them where I'm fishing at, but I'm yet to see one come up the hole.

Lots of crappies 7-10 inches. You could limit out in a half hour if you get there around 4-4:30.

[jakemcarroll]

Was out from 3:45-5:30 today, bite was real hot at 4 and taper to almost nothing by 5, pretty typical day at Medicine lots of 7-8 inch crappies! Always nice to get out and catch some fish :-)