Burntside Lake Fishing Reports---Lake Conditions

[Great Outdoors]

It may not be as late as last year, but this ice and snow aren't going to be leaving anytime soon.

Opening weekend of fishing could find quite a few lakes still frozen over.

[JerkinLips]

I fished at Blueberry Island Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, driving the sled from Van Vac. I didn't hit any slush, but I drove straight out to the snowmobile trail and followed the trail all the way. I did take a few runs off of the trail on Saturday afternoon and didn't hit slush, but I'm sure it is there, especially close to land. At Blueberry I had only 6" of snow over 6" of frozen slush, 2" of water, another 6" of white ice (frozen slush?), then 14" of clear ice (28" total ice/water thickness). With all of the snow cover and white ice, I think ice out will be very late this spring. Hope the ice conditions are decent when I come back in two weeks.

[buzbunni]

Hi gang. Thanks for all of the reports and updates. Very helpful for those of us who can only (hope) get up there (at best) once a year

Thinkin' of heading up there next weekend. No sleds in our group, and so we are limited to parking at Van Vac and walking out, or driving on any plowed roads that may be available (and not flooded), parking, and setting up off the road a ways. I suppose anglers will be pulling houses off the ice next weekend, and so we would be glad to shovel thru a berm to park off the road a bit...if that is advisable/possible.

Sounds like the slush (in regards to fishing in a portable) may be doable, just curious if you Burntside Pros think the entire plan is adviseable.

Back up plan you say? Lake of the Woods. SOOOOO Played. Sigh.

Thanks for any advice. Most likely be up there by Friday night.

[leech~~]

I fished at Blueberry Island Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, driving the sled from Van Vac. I didn't hit any slush, but I drove straight out to the snowmobile trail and followed the trail all the way. I did take a few runs off of the trail on Saturday afternoon and didn't hit slush, but I'm sure it is there, especially close to land. At Blueberry I had only 6" of snow over 6" of frozen slush, 2" of water, another 6" of white ice (frozen slush?), then 14" of clear ice (28" total ice/water thickness). With all of the snow cover and white ice, I think ice out will be very late this spring. Hope the ice conditions are decent when I come back in two weeks.

And fishing was.....?

[Great Outdoors]

What's left of the main plowed road is starting to get water on it in many places as of 3 this afternoon.

A lot of slush and water where the houses were off the Van Vac Landing, most houses off the lake already, only a few left.

It's going to get worse, before it gets better. Hope to get a few days fishing in before the 31st of March.

[Mike Stark]

Like G.O said the main road off Van Vac started to flood yesterday. Sunny and 47 today so it will continue to flood. And it is a mess off Van Vac where the house were. Lots of standing water with the top layer of slush ice getting soft. You might be able find a drier spot tho. Things are going to get real sloppy out there today.

[buzbunni]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the reports.

Looks like it's LOW for the final hardwater trip of the year.

May try to get up there this summer to make up for the hardwater "fail".

Good luck as you finish out the season!

[leech~~]

It's hard for GO to give a report like that. He sells minnow's!

So, you know he has people's safety in mind!

[buzbunni]

It's hard for GO to give a report like that. He sells minnow's!

So, you know he has people's safety in mind!

Indeed. Just one reason why it's so appreciated.

Have several of his jigs on my purchase list. Each time I visit Ely, I stop in a purchase a few items.

[JerkinLips]

And the fishing was... Very relaxing; better than work. Notice that I did reveal where I was fishing. Caught one 3½ pound eelpout in the 1+ day of fishing. Marked only a couple of very small fish (or minnows) following my spoon. Tried ciscoes (what caought the lawyer) and sucker minnows and all types of lures. Hopefully better luck in two weeks when I venture out further.

[leech~~]

Sounds like my last trip up. No Lakers and only a Pout.

[Mike Stark]

The lake has lost a lot of snow. Some areas have very little left where others still have quite a bit of snow. There is still slush out there as well. It never got below freezing last night so I don't think things firmed up much last night. It is supposed to get into the single digits tonight so the top layer should firm up nice for snowmobiling. Truck travel could be possible before the end of the season. The long range forecast after this weekend has temps above freezing. I haven't been out fishing on Burntside in a while so I don't have a fishing report.

I was able to get my house off the lake yesterday. Big thanks to Great Outdoors for using his tracked Ranger to pull it off. That thing is a beast! And thanks to the rest of the crew for all the help. Feels good to have the house parked on dry land!

[leech~~]

I was able to get my house off the lake yesterday. Big thanks to Great Outdoors for using his tracked Ranger to pull it off. That thing is a beast! And thanks to the rest of the crew for all the help. Feels good to have the house parked on dry land!

Ha, didn't I suggest "someone" with a "track" to help you out!

Great news Mike. Looks like you better buy a lot of minnons somewhere!

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Glad that you got your house off Mike! Good thing that GO has the right stuff!

Still about 10 houses out in front of McKinley yesterday and no road out in that direction!

Cliff

[leech~~]

Glad that you got your house off Mike! Good thing that GO has the right stuff!

Still about 10 houses out in front of McKinley yesterday and no road out in that direction!

Cliff

GO, I heard guys charging $150-200 a house to pull them off with a track. It maybe time to hang out on the lake by some houses this weekend!

[Cliff Wagenbach]

My Bro.-in-law and I were charging that to plow roads and pull houses off of Vermilion earlier this winter! To nasty out there to plow now so a tracked vehicle may be your only option now!

G.O., if you are interested in doing that contact me, as I was still getting calls for help in getting houses off last week

Cliff

[Great Outdoors]

Thanks Cliff, but the Ranger and I went into retirement after yesterday!!

[laker1]

Cold this morning should help?

[Great Outdoors]

Unfortunately, much of the lake is darn near beyond help until the snow melts!!

[Mike Stark]

The cold has made the snow pack solid. My snowmobile stayed on top of the snow today. There is still slush underneath some of the snow pack tho. So once it warms up the lake will get sloppy again. I found one area that had very little snow and a double layer of ice with water in-between. Would not have wanted to drive my truck over that.

Got one nice 29in trout today. 50fow.

[chaffmj]

Nice fish Mike!

I was hoping to get out today but when I saw the slush at the landing I decided it wasn't worth taking driving the truck out. I need to get a sled.

[Great Outdoors]

Good thinking Mike!

The Ranger was struggling towing the first house down the formerly plowed road on Thursday.

A truck wouldn't have made it!

[bigfish1010]

i just found this site and read back through the 19 pages. very informative. i have one question pertaining to walleye fishing on burntside. i've tried it a time or two, and have found smallmouth at every stop from 4-30ft. any tips on how to fish eyes would be much appreciated. thanks in advance.

[Great Outdoors]

Call me between 10-noon (most days) at my bait shop, and I can give you the crash course for fishing walleyes on Burntside Lake.

The explanation doesn't take long, but if I put it on the forum, many who have never fished the lake will jump in with some walleye tips that don't necessarily work for Burntside.

The shop's name is "The Great Outdoors" in Ely, Mn.

[bigfish1010]

thanks...will do. i've bought a few pounds of leeches from you over the years.

[Mike Stark]

i just found this site and read back through the 19 pages. very informative. i have one question pertaining to walleye fishing on burntside. i've tried it a time or two, and have found smallmouth at every stop from 4-30ft. any tips on how to fish eyes would be much appreciated. thanks in advance.

Catching walleye on Burntside is not an easy task. Part of the challenge is keeping your bait away from all the smallies and rock bass. G.O. has probably caught more big walleye on that lake than most.

[JerkinLips]

Have any snowmobiles been driving up to the North Arm?

[Mike Stark]

Have any snowmobiles been driving up to the North Arm?

I think so. Snowmobile travel has been easy lately. It's very rough out there but I have not been sinking down much at all. Looks like we might get some snow tonight/tomorrow. Some snow wouldn't be bad if the wind doesn't blow. It would level out the lake a bit. Still be careful out there tho. I would think there are some nasty slush pockets out there somewhere. Luckily I haven't found any yet tho!

[JerkinLips]

Mike - thanks for the update. Not sure how far I will go tomorrow morning, especially if it is in the dark.

[Gunflint Guy]

I think so. Snowmobile travel has been easy lately. It's very rough out there but I have not been sinking down much at all. Looks like we might get some snow tonight/tomorrow. Some snow wouldn't be bad if the wind doesn't blow. It would level out the lake a bit. Still be careful out there tho. I would think there are some nasty slush pockets out there somewhere. Luckily I haven't found any yet tho!