Spring Valley Ponds

[ClasheMan]

Does anyone ice fish the ponds south east of Spring Valley?

[JIvers]

This topic comes up on here from time to time--I am guessing you are referring to the old iron ore pits down around Cherry Grove, or the one along Hwy 63.

Most, if not all of them, are on private ground, so it is up to the landowner as to whether you can fish them.

There are three old pits close together a mile or so west of Cherry Grove whose owner let the public fish them; these are the ones just east across the road from the private golf course (which also has an old pit that was always off-limits to the public). I ice-fished those three a few times in the '90s, and caught pretty much what I caught in the summer: a few nice bass, an occasional crappie, and a lot of very small bluegills.

Whether those ponds are still open to the public, and what other ones may be, I do not know. I have fallen out of the loop on those pits.

[*CRAPPIEKING*]

there is one that is in state land, i belive its a habbitat pond for ducks but there were crappies in there a couple years back. you could only get them at night.

[ClasheMan]

I think CrappieKing has it right. I'm talking the ponds East a couple miles and a little south of the golf course. They are a mile or two east of 63. There's at least 3 or 4 on the state land that I've fished w/ fly rod in the spring, never summer (I hate ticks and they don't spray). While deer hunting out there WAY in the back end of the state land there's a rather large pond, more like a swamp area, but a pond in the middle of it that I could get out to, that I could see some rather large sunnies in the water. I know on the fly rod, I couldn't keep the warmouths off the hook. I was just wondering if anyone ever sets tip ups out for northerns out there. I know there are some large ones in these ponds.

The ponds I'm talking about are maybe a mile south of the pits that are private owned, they are all on the state land so I know they are public.

[HooknHorns]

I have a friend that has three ponds south of the state land. Two of them are close to the gravel and the other is hidden. They are private. The sportsman club has a pond but they are catch and release. If you have a membership or accompanied by a member you can fish there if your not looking for dinner. I live in Grand Meadow but grew up in a couple miles from there. I believe that state ponds still have fish just not sure of current size. Try it out then give us a report.

[ClasheMan]

He must have the ones that are seperated by a small strip of land and I think I saw a john boat in one last year w/ a cabin above them? I think there was a cabin there, I didn't pay much attention. I too grew up in that area, more by Dexter, but when I was younger we would go anywhere from Sp. Valley to Spring Grove. I haven't been trout fishing over there in years though. I may have to check out one of the ponds on a weekend or something when I'm in the area again, and let you guys know how it goes. There used to be 2 good gravel pits just off the freeway west of dexter and just east of the Beaver trails campground(Not Beaver trails anymore), but they have been private and in the last 10 years or so they've been posted, but there used to be 10" - 12" crappies in there, I'm sure that's changed now.

[HooknHorns]

The property with the cabin and gate is next to the sportsmans club, not sure who owns that. My friends is on the south side of cnty 14.

[fishgutz]

Clasheman - I'd be interested in trying out these ponds on stateland. I have relatives from Riceville and it'd be a good place to meet in between to fish.

If you don't mind would you shoot me a mail and give me directions coming from Rochester on 63? How long of a walk to these ponds, would you suggest packing light?

My email is [email protected]

Thanks,

Fishgutz

[embearmeoffs]

riceville? There is a fish contest that elma is puting on feb 5th i believe on lake hendricks. thought i read in cresco times? just thought id mention i might go be fun to see the size of fish in there.