Ice condition on Big Stone Lake Please.

[lispeej]

Hi. Just wondering if anyone has been out to Big Stone Lake yet and what ice conditions are like? Just trying to figure out where in the state can I get out to this weekend.

Thanks.

[ortonville]

Ice is good I would say 8 or 9 inches.perch are biting walleyes are hit and miss.some nights good and the next nothing

[R. Miller]

Yup I heard a good 8" as of a few days ago.

[lispeej]

I heard on kfan outdoors today that it's around 14" and cars and trucks are driving on Big Stone now. May have to make the trip after all.

[ortonville]

Cars and trucks are driving every where 14" I ha e yet to see don't believe everything you hear

[lispeej]

any new word?

[ortonville]

ice is great 16 to 18 inches.what would you like to know?

[Selmer]

Fishing was great - last week! Ice is good, but what happened to the perch bite!?!!?

[pikerliker]

ice is great 16 to 18 inches.what would you like to know?

What is biting and where?!

[vexi]

Perch and a few walleyes. Were? On Big Stone lake just get away from everybody else.

[motownmasher]

spent yesterday on big stone in the rain. we fished just east of the islands and the perch seemed to be almost everywhere we drilled. about every 15min. a school would come through with a few keepers. fish seemed much more active up north, near twin silos. ended up keeping 36 between two of us. nothing that looked like a real JUMBO. bigger fish were just under 11 with most being right at 10". good luck!

[lispeej]

ice is great 16 to 18 inches.what would you like to know?

Just general ice conditions and what areas to watch out for (thin ice...etc.) Are full size trucks/suv's driving out yet?

[waterfowl74]

There are 3/4 ton trucks pulling big shacks all over the lake. Trucks have been out there for weeks. This last week I drove my truck all over the south end, the Mallard point area, and way up on the north end. I didn't come across any bad areas. If you check out a map of the lake there are a lot of little creeks that run into the lake, so be cautious in those areas. I have not heard of anyone putting their truck in this year. It is supposed to get down to -13 in the Ortonville area tonight so we should be adding even more to the already great ice.

[bk_MN_iceman]

How clear is the water on Big Stone? I've never been but am coming up this weekend. Trying to figure out my gear (tackle) and color combos.

Thanks,

Bryon

[fishadb]

My neighbor has been fishing out there and he says it's to dirty to use his camera.

[bk_MN_iceman]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like rattles and gold lures will be used!

[motownmasher]

i would say it is very clear. you can see your minnow on bottom when it swims in the areas i've been fishing. i always use my camera. maybe some areas are murky, but i havnt seen it yet.

[waterfowl74]

I agree with shouldntlie, its pretty clear. I can sight fish in twelve feet of water.

[waligators]

With all the houses on the lake, and how long the perch have been biting, how many do you think have been taken out of there? I know big stone is a good sized lake but jeez... Also, what is the limit? The South Dakota fishing regs say for MN-SD border waters the perch limit is 15 daily and in possession. Some people i've talked to say 20 is the limit, others say it's 25, so what is it?

http://gfp.sd.gov/ePubs/wildlife/2013-fishing-handbook/index.html

[lispeej]

mn reg book says sd/mn border is 25, so being i'm from mn. i say 25 is my limit.

[waterfowl74]

With a Minnesota licenses you can keep 25. South Dakota residents can keep 15. Minnesota needs to lower to 15. There is no reason for a single person to keep that many fish.

[lispeej]

i agree. but knowing me, i'd be lucky if i can get enough for a meal.

With a Minnesota licenses you can keep 25. South Dakota residents can keep 15. Minnesota needs to lower to 15. There is no reason for a single person to keep that many fish.

[motownmasher]

i was also wondering how many have been taken, just in one day. if even half the people are keeping a meal. it is getting hurt.

spent friday on the ice with at least 100 other people, and that's a week day. they are still biting, probably better than my last time out, but to find one over 10" is getting to be a challenge. we moved around alot, but didn't set up closer than 100yds from anyone else, and the action seems good almost anywhere you set up. i can't imagine what it would be like on a sat. afternoon. MADHOUSE

[lispeej]

on a side note, anyone catch any whitebass?

[bk_MN_iceman]

I'll let you know how it looks this weekend if it truly is a MADHOUSE! Last weekend's plans fell through so we didn't make it.

Anyone targeting Walleye's on the lake or is it mostly a perch/northern lake?

[fishadb]

There are some dandy walleyes in Big Stone.

[BigTen]

The effects of this winter will be felt for several years on Big Stone as it relates to perch. If some of the stories I've been told are true, you can bet there are more fish leaving that lake on a daily basis than you would think if you simply took the number of people and multiplied it by their limit......if you get my drift.

Really none of my concern, I don't fish Big Stone often, but that doesn't change the fact that it's pretty sad to see what the human race will do to a lake (or any other resource). It's always "the next guy's" job to throw fish back.

[bk_MN_iceman]

What would you look for to target walleyes instead of the perch on the lake? I have a goal to catch a 23" plus this season and haven't come across the big guys yet.

We're going to the south side of the lake, MN side. I see a ton of structure so it seems like finding a good turn in, or a hump and setup shop.

Night bite for walleyes or "prime time"?

any tips?

[bk_MN_iceman]

Got back from Big Stone on Monday. Had an excellent time! Nailed the perch, nabbed a couple northerns. Overall excellent time!

[lispeej]

bk_MN_iceman,

How thick is the ice and where do most folks launch from?