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.

Fish Lake, Island Lake Boulder Lake Fishing Reports


Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Replies 393
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Northlander

    57

  • reinhard1

    23

  • Jarrid Houston

    22

  • fishinfey8

    21

I was out on Island on Tuesday (10/16)and enjoyed a great day of late fall fishing in some great weather. Lots of dink walleyes, but we did catch up to the crappies late in the day. The crappies were in 30 FOW off of a island point leading to big shallow bay. The dock is still in at Abbott landing. Be careful because the water is down about 5 to 6 feet and there are plenty of suprises just under the water. Be careful on the Abbott landing because the water level goes beyond the length of the concrete and there is a big hole at the end which can bottom out a trailer. It is better to use the other side of the dock to load. Hope to get out one more time on Sat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some very nice walleyes coming out of Island late afternoon into night. saw a 6 plus pounder the other night. Lit slip bobber with sucker minnows was the ticket.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Yesterday me and a couple buddies went out on Fish lake with little success. Caught a couple small northerns and missed a few light biting crappie, but not enough action to keep us interested. By 10:00, many groups were already packing it up, some venturing out to the dam public access. By noon, we went and chased walleyes. Caught a few during the day but was hoping for a good night bite and 20 min before 5, the fishing really picked up.All nice eyes around the 15-17" inch range.

With the heavy snow cover and the front that pushed through. I can see fishing slow down for a couple days (until Wednesday), then get better as the week progresses.Temps supposed to dip down tonight and tomorrow night but keep fairly consistent from the middle of the week on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where do people usually target eyes on Fish? Like depths/contours? I tried some normal eye habitat type looking areas last year and found nothing...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishing on the edges of weed beds near shore will work in your favor, especially during the early season when traffic is minimal . As more vehicles start to pound the ice and fishing pressure picks up, some of the better action I've had has been on subtle structures(plateaus, humps, basins ect.) further away from shore. There are a couple of deep holes in front of the public landing near the dam that can produce some nice eyes as well as crappies. Right now would be the time to get out there, as fishing pressure is not too crazy. Be careful around there though, especially with the amount of snow we just got. Yesterday I was ripping a lindy darter tipped with a minnow head aggressively. Although, I didn't get any bites, it attracted a few mid day fish to come check it and in turn bite my other line I had tipped with a minnow head. Hope this helps a bit!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where do people usually target eyes on Fish? Like depths/contours? I tried some normal eye habitat type looking areas last year and found nothing...

If you are referring to Shane's post I do not believe he was on Fish for the eyes but correct me if I am wrong.

Fish lk is pretty tough for eyes in the winter, more of a pannie lake. You are better off at island, bolder, or the riv if you are after eyes through the ice.

Fish was slow Sunday for me as well. Few crappies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've fished boulder and fish last year quite a bit. I did hit the harbor too. I agree completely that fish is a pan lake. The pans on the lake are great though. I know there is eyes in fish too, but very tough to come by but when you get them they're great eaters. Thanks Shane on the help. Unfortunately with finals approaching, doesn't look like I'll be out there for a few weeks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fish lake does have walleyes, just need to know how to target them and I like Shane's tip on the weed edges. I live and die by that for early ice Walters. Show me weeds and I bet we can fin some success. I've gotten a 26", 23", and a 19" before the storm hit, but I was not on fish lake. Good luck guys, keep a line wet and good things can happen. Not catching, if your not fishing. Be safe!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Feathers Rainin-

You're correct.Thanks for the clarification, and sorry to those who thought I was directly speaking about Fish Lake. I have caught nice walleyes through the ice one Fish Lake though. Many nice ones in fact. Yesterday was my first outing and I'll be back at it mid this week with new reports. I guess one other thing I'd mention especially on warmer evenings is stay mobile! If you can find walleyes slightly deeper during the day (20-30'), drill into ascending structure. I drill holes much deeper than I intend to fish just to see if I am graphing anything. Even if they don't bite, chances are they'll become more active as the evening progresses. I found a few lakes where I can find'em in the 30' about 1.5 hrs before sunset and follow them up as shallow as 7' by dark.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Found about 6 inches of ice on Rice Lake yesterday. One 11" walleye and a small perch resulted from about 4 hrs of fishing there in the afternoon. Not the greatest, but at least it was my kickoff to the hard water season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thinking about heading up to Fish Lake this afternoon or tomorrow and just wondering if anyone has updates of the ice after the snow we got last weekend. I was out in pontoon bay Saturday and Sunday and the ice was a solid 4 inches. I might try out the dam access to target some walleyes and was wondering if there is anything I need to watch out for since I have never been over there. Any information would be helpful, thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't want to be Mr. Obvious here but stay away from the house in the center of the dam where the water flow is. I have yet to get out since I'm incapable of fishing light so I wait until I can drag everything with the wheeler. Would love to hear from the guys that have been out the last couple of days as well. I work all weekend but am targeting mid next week to kick off my season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We fished fish lake with the wheeler and 2 Otters in tow. Found about 5-6" of ice in the narrows.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just got home from Fish Lake. Cut up 7 calicos and 1 gill for a meal. Ice was great. Can drive a wheeler, but I would stay to where tracks have been (don't want anyone to wonder all over the lake with confidence and get hurt). Plan on heading out tomorrow as well. . . Love fish lake!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The bite has been slow for myself the last couple of days on Fish lake. I've found the travel good in the narrows as well. I have not stuck my head out around the corner to see if anyone has been farther out on the main lake. Think I'm going to hold off for a few more days. I will say I've had more then enough practice tying on new jigs so early in the season. The Northerns have had a field day with my bobber rods.

Jarrid, It was nice to meet you and I look forward to getting out with you a bit more this winter.

Sherpa, It was great to see you again and look forward to spending more time out fishing with you as well. You've got me very interested in the new tip-up set-up that you were using. Think I'm going to have to invest in one or tow myself.

PM'd both of you my cell number. Give a call if you see this and our going to make it out today.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice fishing with you again Tom. Thanks again for letting us set up on your spot there with you. You didn't miss to much after you left. Mostly aggressive sniffers with just a few biters. Got your number now. I'll send mine to you too. Jarrid is out there now and I told him to shoot you a call. I didn't make it today but might be out that way this weekend. Yeah I'm loving that tip up. I will probably pick up another one this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit Fish again last night. Got a few calicoes, and a giant gill. Stop by gander this weekend and say hi talk some fishin...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like the bite shut off this evening possibly due to the front that pushed through today. Went and fished a lake around the Iron Range area (usually good for a couple nice eyes) and nothin :-\ . Trust the spots youve been fishing everyone! Once the weather flattens out a bit, fishing will pick up again. Last night my girfriend and I caught 4 nice 15 inchers. She had a nice 18-19 incher right up to hole, took one last run and popped the line.

Anyways...what a difference one day can make on the bite!

Very cliche' but please feel free to add me on facebook and twitter @shanezavodnik. At times I can be much more current, but my posts on here will stay as up to date as possible! Thanks everyone who has been following me already. The comments make me feel like im actually helping a few of you out there!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shane.

Request has been sent. I'm going to be pretty free this coming semester and will be looking for a fishing partner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Theres an inch or so of sloppy slush on top of the ice. Still a solid 4-5 inches in pontoon bay this morning. On the walk back around 10:30am it was starting to harden up.

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 :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
×
×
  • 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.