White Bear Lake Fishing Reports

[tip_upclyma]

Yes....cars and small SUVs were driving all over the Bellaire side this past weekend...not as much driving on the north side yet....but I saw 13-14"s everywhere I drilled on the North side. As long as you know the lake and stay off the deep part and channel, you should be fine IMO.

[USDA3]

Do they let you access the lake by using the Mahtomedi beach on the east side? Vehicle? Snowmobile (can't beleive we can actually use a sled:))? Anyone now what the ice is like over there? lst guy said stay away from the deep areas, I am guessing you mean if in a vehicle?

Sounds like eyes are easier to find in the shollow breaks 15-20 FOW? Weed edges rather than up on top of the humps?

Thanks

[mallardnwalleye]

Add White Bear Lake to the list as of yesterday.A truck broke through on the SE tip of Manitou island. The back end is buried with only the front end sticking up out of the water. Be careful out there! If you aren't absolutely sure that the ice is thick enough do not drive on it. A reminder that the thin areas on White Bear include but are not limited to the following. THE END OF MANITOU ISLAND, THE END OF THE PENINSULA,THE GAP BETWEEN THE ISLAND AND PENINSULA, MATOSKA MARSH AND THE AREA UNDER THE MANITOU ISLAND BRIDGE,THE EAST SHORE SPRINGS, THE DEEP AREA BETWEEN BELLAIRE BAR AND THE EAST SHORE. There are more but I think that covers the main ones.

That said there is 12-13+ inches in most areas.

[mallardnwalleye]

[hunter322]

I was out from bellaire the other night and i saw 15". i was shocked!

[Meldebear]

I was out last night about 100 yards west of the hoard of permanent shacks at Bellaire beach in about 17 FOW. I measured 15" of ice where I was at. Lottsa small perch.

[Meldebear]

That dude had a bad day for sure.

[Ishikawa]

Yes, my first post! Lols, but on a side note and heads up, had a 1/2 ton pickup fall through the ice about 200yds away from where we where fishing on the north side of the lake last night around 8pm. Fell in just east of the island across from the county park. GPS says it was 7ft of water but in reality probably only 3ft at the most because only his left side was in. Guy said he strayed off the driving paths somehow and ended up there and hit a heave and fell in, although he was headed straight towards that island and was only about 50 feet away from hitting shore. First time I've heard a sound like that on the ice because I've never been near a car falling through but I can say, if I hear that sound while driving I might just [PoorWordUsage] my pants! Sounded like explosions from submarine and naval games I've played before...scary.

[bavincent]

saw that someone drove under the brigde going out to the island. worst spot i can think of.

[croix walleye 6]

one guy drives out and everyone else thinks it's good to go!!! notice to all the vehicle's that have gone through most of them have been trying to cross a pressure ridge- ice heave!! stay clear and if you don't know the lake stay away!! these people that have dropped there vehicles in this year i am sorry but they have no reason to be out there in the first place!!! if you don't know the lake then walk!! it makes's bad news to all of us people who keep up on conditions and knowledge of these lake's!!

[icecrackheaven]

Went out straight east of Manitou Island this morning. Plenty of ice (14-15") and many tracks from people driving out. We fished in 28 feet and marked fish but only managed to catch one small crappie on small jig and waxie. Further East about 40 yards it comes up to 18 ft and another 10 yards, 12 feet. We caught 2 northern (15 and 20") in 13 FOW. We caught a few perch in our 18 ft spot but nothing great. I suppose we'll have to follow the masses to Bellaire next time.

[KrappieKilla]

No one is pulling there permys off of bellarie yet are they?

[mallardnwalleye]

Icecrack- The picture I posted of the truck half submerged above was on the east end of Manitou. Be careful around that area. Krappiekilla- I know some people that are pulling their permys as they don't want to risk not being able to get their truck out due to weak ice with next week remaining above freezing for part of it. What a weird year!

[nofishfisherman]

I was out off of Bellaire last night and it was pretty sloppy out there with a lot of water on the ice in spots. A few people were driving but most people either parked on the beach or just off shore.

With the water on the ice, warm temps, and a little wind I could see the ice failing apart rather quickly.

I didn't bother checking how thick the ice was since it didn't matter to me. I'm not driving out this year regardless. Really there is no reason. The temps have been warm so its easy enough to just sit out on a bucket and there's very little snow so walking pulling a sled is easy.

[Hagigun]

I saw some people pulling perms off last night, although there are still some out there. I have been driving on WB for about 2 weeks. Ice even last night was 14-15" where I was at. The top layer was breaking down, but still solid underneath. We had holes from Tuesday night, that we hardly had to kick back open last night. So not much ice forming at night, just holding on I suspect.

Bellaire area is usually pretty good ice and thicker than most areas on the lake. Again, thickness seems fine, but I can't speak to how weak it has gotten. I just know i had no issues last night. Heck I took my car out there with rear wheel drive. No problem at all.

Just make sure you know the lake and where not to go. Stay away from deep holes as that ice I would assume to be weaker and also what we call the "field goal posts". Do not drive between the Mahtomedi point and Manitou Island's point. I'm sure a few more areas, but stick to what you know is safe.

[KrappieKilla]

I moved my house last night that is off Bellaire with my 1/2 ton diesel. House had about 1-2" of sink hole water around it. There are still trucks and cars driving out and I measured 15-16" with about the top 2" being bad. Getting close to not driving the diesel, but hopefully this ice holds and we can hit one more cold stretch to end the way to short this year, permy season.

Everyone stay safe!

[SouperStar22]

Any report on this lake?

[mallardnwalleye]

15-16 inches of ice that is in good shape Off Bellaire and on the East Side. VFW on the far west side has areators going so be careful there, The heave on the SE tip of Manitou is a big danger as well as by Ordways bar on the north end. I would still be careful going to uncharted ice. Always follow the old North Country saying of always measure ahead - so you won't get in over your head. No danger but there is a large rut with some water just as you get on the lake at Mahtomedi beach so be careful there. Crappie and Walleye bite has slowed considerably, but it always does this time of year.

[SouperStar22]

Thanks Mallardnwalleye for the report I haven't been out there since December so just wanna go back out there one of these days.

[OnAFly]

When I used to fish that lake, this time of year was great. The 'slow bite' in the shanty towns was due to the fish moving away from them to the nearest structure. Move around and eventually you'll find fish. Look for sparse standing weeds. We used to get some nice crappie and sunnies out of there. This was about 3 years ago.

[mallardnwalleye]

Been slow in the weeds and out deep. I always have a run like this around now. I have actually been hitting Big Carnelian and Centerville for the Crappies lately. What is your set up-presentation and depth as maybe I can learn something even though I have fished White Bear for a long time. Please let me know.

[hunter322]

Hey mallard you been over on the bay on big carni? i was about 150 yards out from the island and saw a ton of crappies but they wouldnt bite.

[mallardnwalleye]

I would rather not say specifically where I am fishing on Big Carnelian. I will say that the closer to the weeds the larger the fish and more likely they are to bite. I have been using a camera at sunset and just pulling up on the jig 1 sec after the red line meets the jig line on the Vex once it gets too dark to see anything. The bite has been incredibly light. They have it in there mouth and you don't even know it. On White Bear they are/were just coming up to it and then leaving. On Centerville I have had moderate success with waxies on a small glow jig out just off some houses. Plan on drilling lots of holes as there is no ryhme or reason as to where specifically they are there.

[Yang]

Was out on whitebear today, lce was about 13in where I was at. Trucks and car are still being driven on the lake. Fishing was pretty slow, not much action. Hook perch all afternoon, then one crappie after sunset and that was it. There is a big ice ridge out there by the west island on the southeast side. It's marked off with sign. Mallardwalleye post a picture of a truck going through the ice on page two of this post, thats where it is at. Some [PoorWordUsage] speed his car by about 30yard from there heading north. Was hoping he went through the ice (not really but still want to kick him in the face) People these day are nuts. (sigh)

[Mistermojo]

If I am going to walk out tomorrow, and not walk a huge distance, where would be a good place to park and access? I've never been on WBL so good descriptions will be a big help.

Thanks!

[mallardnwalleye]

Bellaire -for crappies.

Mahtomedi Beach - perch, Walleyes

Ramsey county park - all species . northerns every where

Low light best.

Good luck

[Jughead]

Hi guys,

Walked out from bellaire Beach to the "basin-y" area off of Manitou (SE) on Sunday, about noon-4. Good ice but varied from 10"-15". Many small trucks and cars, I chose not to drive my sorry butt needs the exercise. Lots of bigger trucks chose to do the same.

I must have caught 60 perch...I popped about 10 holes and moved around from 12' to 20' holes and always the same thing....perch on before I could even get my line to the bottom. Did end up with 2 northern....but still 0 for winter on walleyes! It was a nice day though!

Jug

[Mistermojo]

You had better luck than I did - fished straight out from bellaire in about 11-13 feet and picked up a small northern, small sunny, and a few crappies right at dark. I was right in some weeds so maybe I needed to get a little deeper?

[Sandy99]

Has anyone tried the southeast side of WBL? I am new to WBL but it seems like a good possibility and there is some decent weed beds.

[mojoputter]

I know of the county park launch, is there another public launch on White Bear..? I have a tourney this weekend and I'm not using the county launch, was out there last Sunday, got off the lake around 1:00 and it was a nightmare. There was probably 12-15 vehicles waiting to launch boats, by the time we beached the boat and got it loaded was 45 minutes. Looking for a different launch option for this weekend.