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Posted

Hope to be out there on Saturday. I would think there is over 12" of ice by now. Want to take out the Dakota. Anyone got any ice reports for this lake? I sure appriciate it. thank you.

Posted

Since there is not really a public access point on east Clearwater this site gets very little chatter. I grew up there and would be very cautious driving out even with a likely 12" of ice.

Posted

14+ inches of ice everywheree i drilled. pretty cosistant. eyes were all under 14 last night. they all went back.

Posted

14 inches everywhere for me too. Saw someone blazing a trail in a half ton Chevy across most of the east basin. On Clearwater, I wouldn't even do it in a buddy's truck...

Posted

crazy drivers! going again on monday evning. you? green dodge dakota. come say hi. Adam.

Posted

Is there a way to get on the east side?

Posted

yes private access with permission or drive threw the narrows BUT !!! I WOULD STRONGLY NOT RECOMEND THE LATTER !!!!!!

Posted

Please, Please, DO NOT try driving through the Narrows, on either side. I do not want to hear of more people who have died trying that.

Posted

I have always gone by foot out on Clearwater but have a friend that wants to get on the east side with his wheeler and two place trailer. Without any first hand experience on the narrows, is it possible to make it through / around on a wheeler? Or is the pay access off 24 (east end) open? Thanks.

Posted

The pay access off of 24 is closed. He was gona stake up the snowtry fence after we pulled the boat out this fall. I sure would like to find a way on the east side myself. Dont get me wrong ive caught plenty of fish on the west end but i love trying new places. Plus from what i know there is alot less traffic on the east side. We sure caught alot of walleyes and some nice crappies this fall. So they cant be far.

Posted

I was out with my snowmobile on the east side yesterday afternoon, and came over from the west access. The south side of the narrows (the deep side) has a pass over the shore on the south side, so access with an ATV or snowmobile is possible there. There will be truck traffic over at that point as well, but use caution if you decide to try. Do not try to drive through the center!

The north side has ice heaves with open water underneath.

There is about 16” of ice in most areas.

Posted

Thanks for the report, did you do any good out there? From the narrows I might be able to walk.

Posted

There is an access to the east side where 24 comes to a T when coming around Pleasant Lake. It is marked with snowmobile markers but it does lead to the lake

Posted

PLEASE PEOPLE!! If you do find a LEGAL way to access this side of the lake, please be curtious to the land. Don't litter, or rip up the area in your quads or trucks, and don't go parking in a way as to block traffic or cause any problems. The access will surely be shut down by DNR or State if this happens, I've seen it before. One guy litters, then another, and then you show up and are denied access. That sucks. Take care of the situation, and we can all enjoy it. I have access elsewhere, but don't want to see trouble for anyone else.

Posted

PLEASE PEOPLE!! If you do find a LEGAL way to access this side of the lake, please be curtious to the land. Don't litter, or rip up the area in your quads or trucks, and don't go parking in a way as to block traffic or cause any problems. The access will surely be shut down by DNR or State if this happens, I've seen it before. One guy litters, then another, and then you show up and are denied access. That sucks. Take care of the situation, and we can all enjoy it. I have access elsewhere, but don't want to see trouble for anyone else.

I second that!

I take it that the trail is a legal access? I have never ventured on it, only driven past it

Posted

There is not a legal access on east clearwater. The road that goes to the lake people get kicked out of there all the time. The people around there have been keeping a good eye on that spot and making people turn around. The only way is threw the narrows and i my self would never try that even on a good winter. Later in the year the guy from bj's will plow a road over there but you wont catch me on it.

Posted

So...

Is it safe to go anywhere on the north end?

Just stay away from the narrows?

I've never fished Clearwater in the winter. So it will all be new to me. I had intended on going out of BJ's.

Any suggestions for the north side?

Posted

if it's your first winter fishing on clearwater, AVOID the narrows! I do believe that EVERY winter someone goes in the drink there. Even on a sled or quad, it isn't safe at all. There are some dangerous areas around the islands on the west, but if you go and talk to BJ's...they won't steer you wrong. Good place. Good walley action on both halves of clearwater, and crappies too (on the East atleast).

Posted

I've been out on the west side and yesterday I did see some open water in areas by the cat tails. Fishing was good after only getting 1 the previous 2 nights.

Posted

Areas by the cat tails? That doesn't really narrow it down much.

Posted

Lol a good plan would be to be careful no matter where you go and not trust any ice out there. Ask at the bait shop and they will help you but do not explore on clearwater.

Posted

After all the rain and warm temps the past few days, what is the ice like? Am I better off bringing my hockey skates than trying to walk out there?

Posted

Areas by the cat tails? That doesn't really narrow it down much.

Cat tails mid lake area. For me to narrow it down any more than that I would have to give gps coordinates which I don't have. If you have ever fished out there you know what I'm talking about.......there are cat tails everywhere and its over 3,000 acres. I was more or less just confirming what others have said, which is be careful.

Posted

Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the many cat tails on Clearwater. The main point I guess is stay away from the cat tails and reeds while out on the lake.

Posted

It never hurts to avoid driving by any vegitation sticking up through the ice. Some spots on East can be good breaks to fish, and they're so steep that you end up very close to some cattails, but you can park 30 yds away and walk up to that area to fish it. That sunlight really can warm up the brush and thin the ice in that area, and live vegitation under that ice creates oxygen, could thin the ice some.

Posted

fishermen should ask dnr to put in an access on the east side of the lake.

Posted

As much as we would like that to happen Jim there would be a ton of opposition from home owners on the lake and probably some others as well.

Posted

May be wrong but I don't think there is any land available for a public access.

Posted

Fished the East Basin yesterday afternoon. The ice was quite slippery with just a dusting of snow left on the top. Marked a lot of fish but only caught a handful of walleye. The fish that did eat were hitting aggressively. Size was generally small but managed a few keepers. They overwhelmingly preferred the set line to jigging. Gold was our best color. Shiners or fats didn't seem to make a difference.

Posted

Doubt an east side access ever happens unless the folks with the pay access decide to sell and that would still probably meet much resistance. I have had a key for the homeowner access on 24 for for years and still get interrogated almost every time I use it.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • monstermoose78
      Ok the ice was 15-16 inches and less than 2 inches of snow. It’s was -15 this morning and the weekend looks to be cold again. The fish were there but not biting with change in weather. 
    • Dash 1
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    • Dash 1
      I remember Jeno's boxed pizza years ago.  Mom made it every Saturday night while dad and I watched All Star Wrestling.  
    • smurfy
      Chef boyardee box pizza. Good stuff 
    • smurfy
    • leech~~
      Smurf, still trying to get his lure jigging down when using the camera!  🤭   https://www.facebook.com/reel/517510734635573
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore... Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters reporting thickening ice conditions with two feet of ice in some areas.  Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.      Some good fishing this past week.  As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 - 32 feet of water.  Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore.  Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.     It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW.  Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water.  In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught.  Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.      Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail in gold / pink, gold / glow red, glow white / pink, or Wonder Bread have worked well.     Especially in the deeper water, some anglers are finding success on rippin raps or using jigging spoons with a rattle as well.     On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.  One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.     Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.  Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.   On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings.  A jig and minnow working well.   Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them.  An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.     Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.    Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing continues to be very good up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud.  A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix.     Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon.  Mud is more of a slower bite but all day.   The ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles.  Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services.  Venmo is also available at all resorts.  Work through your resort for specifics.   Ice fishing is in full swing across Lake of the Woods and there are openings for lodging, fish house rentals, sleeper fish house rentals and meal plans across the area.  Ice fishing is extended on LOW with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye / sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.  
    • Brianf.
      From your fingertips to God's ears...  Finally got some snow!   Several inches of new snow fell before and during the weekend.  Sunday eve when we left, the high winds had already begun to create some drifting on the lake.  It was fun riding for sure.  Lots of folks on the lake this past weekend too.  We fueled up the sleds at Shamrock and saw as many people fishing in that area as I've ever seen in the Winter on Lake Vermilion.     Our weekend results were decent.  Jeff and I and a buddy caught probably 50 walleyes between the three of us, mostly fishing a jig/plastics with our three biggest being 24", 25", and 25.5".  We also got one large pike of unknown length.  During the midday on Sunday, we targeted whitefish and Jeff managed one big one.  We released all of our fish, except for three small walleyes that our buddy wanted to bring home for a meal.  Definitely a fun weekend on Lake V!   
    • leech~~
      The Vikings are the Vikings so it's nothing new.  It is kind of sad that Darnold's off season stock is now going to drop like a rock after these last two games. It kind of shows he's not a big game guy.  🤔
    • smurfy
      I'm blaming leech... his food selection has been lacking game days recently  🤣
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