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.

Nichols Lake near Hwy 53


Recommended Posts

I haven't seen real good reports from the local Duluth area so I'm planning on driving a little farther North up Hwy53. Has anyone fished for crappies recently out of Nichols Lake? Is there a road plowed from the landing to the 30 foot hole? Any info would be helpful...I'll post after I hopefully catch my limit, thanks!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't seen real good reports from the local Duluth area so I'm planning on driving a little farther North up Hwy53. Has anyone fished for crappies recently out of Nichols Lake? Is there a road plowed from the landing to the 30 foot hole? Any info would be helpful...I'll post after I hopefully catch my limit, thanks!!
I have a place over on the South Shore. I havent fished it this year, but there is a road over and lake looked good with lots of trucks driving around.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fished Nichols last year 2x. After the first time I told myself I would never fish it again...but I still did. Caught small, small crappies pretty much everywhere. I don't recall one crappie being bigger that 6". Couldn't find the bluegills in the lake either...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fished Nichols last year 2x. After the first time I told myself I would never fish it again...but I still did. Caught small, small crappies pretty much everywhere. I don't recall one crappie being bigger that 6". Couldn't find the bluegills in the lake either...

With stunted pannies, first thing I thought of is that it sounds like a pike fishery could be going strong, and a quick look at the DNR Lake Finder survey data backs that up. Hmmmmm, tip-ups for early ice pike next year? I think so! Here it is with still nearly a month to go for laker season and already I'm thinking about first-ice pike next Thanksgiving. Always looking over the next horizon. gringrin

But where there are small panfish, there have to be some decent ones, too. smilesmile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I would drive a little bit up 53 and hit Murphy (Horse shoe) or one the local lakes in the area. Done good after season end never seem to do any good prior to that.>>>later the load

Link to comment
Share on other sites

can't be any worse than leoria was lips, and did someone say big pike........I think I'm gonna have to beat you to that spot Mr. Foss :), or you could always come down and join

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kaslow-

I caught 3 perch (very small) and 3 crappies (two were keepers), but I threw back since I didn't have enough to eat. Caught everything in 15-18FOW with orange color lure and minnows...nothing on grubs. You might want to try the deeper whole during the day? Road conditions were great too and I was able to drive all around with my blazer...with the warmer weather it might get a little sketchy! Keep me posted, I might try again this weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

evin- instead of heading out there last night. i went out to caribou and finally got on the crappies. i was kinda shocked on how shallow i was to finally catch them at this time of season. but i did. did pretty good caught a few keepers as well small ones. but lost a some hogs that made my drag roar once they hit the bottom of the hole. i was catching them pretty shallow as well, thought that being in 10 fow at this time was weird fishing 5 to 6 feet under ice in the weeds just about. but ended up paying off for 2 nights of being skunked out there in deeper water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

ok first off i know this is a little late seeing as the ice is pretty much all gone by now, but i seen one of my favorite lakes mentioned and i knew i had to say something about it. This lake has an amazing early season crappie hole (the thirty foot hole). A friend of mine who has a place on the lake invites me to fish it with him often and on the last time we went we both limited out on 10-14 inche crappies all day. Not to mention a few nice pike to keep our lures fresh. So long story short, its an amazing crappie and pike lake... plus dont forget to try some great summer bass fishing.

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 :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • 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.