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Posted

Are any roads open for vehicals yet?

Where's jigglestick.?

Posted

The lake has about 11.5" to 12" of ice from the reports I have heard. I think Dennys has started a road but not sure the status as it has been so cold, very few reports this week. Hopefully by the end of the week for the resorts sake things get moving!

Posted

Are any roads open for vehicals yet?

Where's jigglestick.?

Jiggle took a job with the mines earlier last year. I don't think he is running any shacks this year.

Haven't been able to connect with him by phone and his web domain name is currently for sale too.

Posted

High Banks report from today on Facebook:

Quote:
No vehicle traffic yet. We will be shuttling folks out to shacks for the weekend. Snowmobile travel good. Perch and walleyes biting in 14' of water.
Posted

Jiggle only lives a few miles from my place. I don't know the guy real well, but I've visited with him a few times over the years. Last time I drove by his place he was pushing snow off the roof. I'll make it a point to stop next time I see him out and about.

Posted

I hope this did not catch up with him.

"an all chapters, charter member jigglestick I.B.O.T.#5

putz said, son, if you keep clamping you'll go blind i said, can i do it till i need glasses?"

gringrin

Posted

From Highbanks a few minutes ago..

Driving Out with Full Size vehicles!! Start of a road system!! Will continue to expand road system as conditions allow. Blustery today with mild temps. Out 3/4 mile.

Posted

Ahh that great to hear!

Posted

Out of Dennys right now, Roads out to the Shoreline break 3/4 mile maybe. Resort to the West looks to have a road out a couple miles. 5 perch we kept over 10", 1 walleye & lots of decent lines just looking. Off road travel with a vehicle is pretty much non-existent. 6-16" of snow with random slush pockets all over.

Posted

looks to be a challenging year to be on the ice. the first two weeks were always the hardest on my nerves. people itching (pushing) to get out and my instincts telling me not yet, then, the first of a half dozen houses slowly snapping and popping it's way onto the ice. once we hit 16 inches of ice, I would relax a little...just a little. I've seen it way to many times, where there's 16 inches most every where then to find a spot with 8. go ahead, laugh at an overly cautious old timer. all those years, I remained topside.

simply put, I'm glad I don't have to deal with the conditions mother nature threw at us this year.

That said, I think there will still be some good days fishing ahead. I'm counting on it. I haven't been out but for one hour on Lake of the Woods.

I plan to get out after this work week is done. since I no longer have a snowmobile, I will be sticking to somewhere with a good road system, or less snow.

These are exactly the kinds of conditions that make road access fees worth every penny. the ice being so inconsistent, the resorts are very careful to check ice thickness and conditions as they advance with the roads. random slush pockets that will make your butt pucker and heart skip a beat, it's nice to know someone's got your back.

I will make a fishing report when I get back. it will be before the weekend. I start my shift again on Saturday.

Good luck and travel safe.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  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.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   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 has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   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.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
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