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Posted

This will be only my second season fishing LOW. Last year we missed the early ice fishing since I had no ATV. I hear the early ice fishing can be fantastic. I would like to try it this year. I am not too familiar with the lake yet.<P>I have an ATV this year and wonder how everyone accesses the lake. I have searched the old posts but still have a few question.<P>Do you go out of the resort roads or just head out on your own path?<P>What areas should I try to avoid during this period?<P>I am thinking that I can just follow everyone's tracks out but being my first year fishing on my own I am very nervous.<P>Thanks for the help.<BR>Bring on the ice.<P><BR>

Posted

Fishing: Most of the access to LOTW is via the marked roads. I use Adrians road at Wheelers Point, for $5 per day. They mark it well and check for weak spots. If there is a pressure ridge, they will either fix it or provide a route around it. Even on first ice, the trail is well marked. Always use good common sense, but you shouldn't have any problems....Kaz

Posted

thanks guys. I can't wait to give it a go this year on my own.<BR>

Posted

Addict,If you're fishing the west end of Pine Island during early ice, watch the area between Pine and Morris Point.This area is known as the Morris Gap (washout) and usually claims a few victims every year.(By victims I mean atv's or sleds breaking through)This area is shallow with current which can cause problems during early ice!Just a heads up.Good fishin' Jigster

Posted

I am heading up there the day after Christmas. Plan on fishing the pine island/washout area. Does anyone have a feel for how the ice was in the past (basically looking for info on Adrians road, do they allow sleds and atv's only that time of year or do they start allowing trucks, i know it depends, just looking to see if I should haul up everyones sled or just bring the the 2 up)<P>I appreciate any info you can give me...<P>thanks<P>stump

Posted

Bloody Stump,<BR> Last year we were driving full size pick-ups and Tahoes out on Adrian's road the first weekend in December. The year before Cory from Adrian's led us out with his ATV and we followed with ours. He had put one of theirs through that morning in 5" of ice so he guided us across where there was 7". He stopped and drilled every 50' to make sure. A couple guys had life jackets on, but we made it just fine. We have stayed at Adrian's for 20+ years and every year it has been great. There was only one year we had to push it back because of lack of ice, otherwise it is leave the first weekend of Dec and stay through the second. More times than not we are driving truck. Once there is enough ice you will be good to go, no magic date and I think with the extended forecast we will be driving trucks by 12/7.<BR>

Posted

Addict,<P>A couple of items to consider:<P>1. Put chains on your rear wheels, regardless of snow cover, otherwise you'll be spinning all over the place and have near zero traction.<P>2. If you have a hand-held GPS they are almost a necessity out there. Especially if you get onto some good spots and want to return again to the same spot in the morning when it's dark--everything out there looks the same in the dark and it will help you re-trace safe passage to and from shore.<P>Trail-blazing of any kind is quite dangerous.<P>------------------<BR>Chells

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      Naw, I just pushed up my glasses.         
    • leech~~
    • smurfy
      🤣 did your nose just grow a bit!😏🤭
    • Wanderer
      I hope to be fishing….  It’s so rare that I get to go, I hate passing up the opportunity. 😉   
    • leech~~
      Since the Vikings are never in it. We use it for an excuse to make some fun stuff!  Last year was a bit light. Hot cheese bean dip, hot wings and pepperoni cheese bread! 😋
    • Hookmaster
      That snow and the 15-25 mph winds on Thursday with higher gusts will be nasty drifting. I didn't go to LOW (can I say that in the this thread?🤫) this week because of it.
    • smurfy
      Who's watching the big game Sunday? More importantly what's ya'all cooking!   I like good football si I'm tuning in. Food... yea no clue yet 
    • Wanderer
      Hard to see em well enough to tell.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing is strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of.  There are fish in both areas.     Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits. As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers.  Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh fish frys and bring fish home.   On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.   On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    You never know when the fish will move through.  Anglers fishing the entire day normally have success.  Electronics are a big help as well. On the Rainy River...  The morning and evening hours are the best for fishing walleyes. A jig and minnow combination has been a good presentation.  A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still producing some big fish through the ice.  There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year.    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd.    Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing remains good at the Northwest Angle.  Resorts continue to move their fish houses staying on fish.  Some fish houses are set up on structure while others are targeting deeper mud flats.    Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees.  Good numbers of big crappies are still being caught in select areas and hard sided fish houses are available to target them.  Check with a NW Angle resort for info.   Jigging one line, deadsticking the second is effective.  Some days the jigging line is hot, other days the deadstick.  Some good colors have been gold, glow red, glow white, wonder bread, pink, chartreuse and orange. Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.  
    • JerkinLips
      Same story, different day (Monday).  Caught several small walleyes (biggest were 14 and 15 inches) with the best bite from 2-5pm.  Caught my record walleye this winter at 6½ (inches, not pounds).  Was wondering why the bobber kept going down a couple inches for several minutes until I finally reeled it up.  Fortunately it was just hooked in the lips.  Having a lively minnow definitely improved the action.  I put down a pike sucker for the first time this winter and got an immediate hard bite.  When I went to set the hook, the line broke just above the hook.  Don't know if it was a northern bite-off or just weak line by the hook.  May try some pike suckers next trip.   Ice conditions were very good except for heavy drifting (even with very little fresh snow).  Didn't see any vehicles traveling off road except for snowmobiles and a tracked SxS, although there weren't many people out on the lake.  Water came up around my house about 1½ inches but froze very quickly with the cold weather and no snow on top.  Will probably have to block it up again next time up.   Good luck fishing and be careful of severe drifting of snow, especially with the 3-5 inches they are predicting for Wednesday night.  
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