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Posted

Hey all, I'm hoping you guys up in this neck of the woods can give me a bit of advice.

I'm going to be up in this area (specifically right next to Lutsen) for my buddies bachelor party from the 23rd-26th (Thurs-Sun) for the first time ever. For them, it's a skiing/snowboarding trip, but honestly, I have basically zero interest in that. So a different friend and myself would prefer to possibly get out and fish a local lake if possible.

The problem is, I have zero clue where or what to fish. I'm experienced enough but by no means a pro, but my buddy has never ice fished before so it would be his first time. I mention this because really, I'd be happy catching anything and just getting him on a fish or two. Crappie, walleye, northerns, anything.

My question is though, if you only had one day to fish near Lutsen, where would you check out? Some of the lakes that appear to be close by are Caribou, Deer Yard, Agnes, Ward, Barker, Christine, White Pine, etc, though I'm not sure how accessible some of these lakes are.

Also, not sure if it matters, but we'll likely be in a car, so a lake near a plowed road is pretty much a must. No idea what the conditions are like up there this time of year. That said, we don't mind parking somewhere and hiking it for half a mile either if need be.

Don't plan on keeping anything, just really want to get out and experience a new lake! Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can give me.

Posted

Well, a lot of looks but no replies frown I'll take that to mean that everyone's a bit tight lipped on their secrets, which I can totally understand!

How about a bit more general information then if anyone wouldn't mind?

I'm totally clueless about the entire area up there, so my biggest concern is getting around safely. If I try to hit up a lake like Caribou or White Pine (which are 2 that I'm looking at trying right now), will there be any issue with traveling to those lakes? How about driving on them?

Also considering a couple lakes west of there such as Ninemile, Echo or other lakes in that general region. Is driving around that area pretty decent right now, and again, how about driving on the lakes?

Any general information that anyone from the area can provide would be incredibly useful, it doesn't even need to be lake specific or a fishing report. Thanks!

Posted

Sorry but there just isnt a lot of folks on here that get up that way a lot or live up there.

If you decide to fish around Duluth PM me and Ill help ya out.

Posted

I can just about guarantee driving on any of those lakes will not be an option. Lot's of snow and slush. Parking lots on most lakes are rarely, if ever, plowed. Unless lakes are right on the main road, snowmobiles are about your only option for travel on most lakes. Most of the people that fish up there are targeting trout. I've always heard that walleyes in that area literally disappear in the winter!

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

If you are willing to drive a little ways you could get to Grand Marais and I know you can drive up to a few trout lakes in that area. Mink Lake and Trout lake are easy to access trout lakes. Millions of perch in Mink Lake, but you can still catch some trout. Trout Lake offers a chance to catch a Laker and rainbows. They normally have plowed roads on Trout lake. Most of the lakes up there do not get plowed roads.

JB the walleyes are still there just most forget about them when Trout season opens.

Posted

My advice is to look for a lake (DNR lakefinder) that has a good northern population and set out tipups. Try calling any bar/restaurant/open place in that area for an idea. There are just not many folks up there fishing those lakes in winter.

It will be a walk in, no driving on those lakes in that area. Find a lake close to a road and give it a try.

Posted

I can just about guarantee driving on any of those lakes will not be an option. Lot's of snow and slush. Parking lots on most lakes are rarely, if ever, plowed. Unless lakes are right on the main road, snowmobiles are about your only option for travel on most lakes. Most of the people that fish up there are targeting trout. I've always heard that walleyes in that area literally disappear in the winter!

Hey man, thanks a ton for the response.

In a fortunate change of plans, I believe I'm going to have access to a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get around in.

Based on the responses I've received, it looks like I'm not going to be driving on the ice which I'm perfectly fine with, hoofing it isn't the end of the world smile

Any idea how much snow is currently up there in the parking lot areas of these local lakes? I know you said they are rarely if ever plowed, so I'm hoping that a capable vehicle can at least get me to the parking lot so we can walk out from there. I'm just sort of trying to narrow down my lake search and I'll eliminate the more remote lakes if getting around is going to be an issue!

Thanks again.

Posted

If you are willing to drive a little ways you could get to Grand Marais and I know you can drive up to a few trout lakes in that area. Mink Lake and Trout lake are easy to access trout lakes. Millions of perch in Mink Lake, but you can still catch some trout. Trout Lake offers a chance to catch a Laker and rainbows. They normally have plowed roads on Trout lake. Most of the lakes up there do not get plowed roads.

JB the walleyes are still there just most forget about them when Trout season opens.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it.

Grand Marais is a bit of a drive from where I'm staying, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out either if I thought I could get on a couple fish. I'd love to go trout fishing, but I've never done it before. I'm more of a local area lake crappie/walleye fisherman than anything else, so I really have no clue what it entails. I might have to study up in the next couple days though and strongly consider it since I have the opportunity to check it out while I'm up there. It sounds like it could be really fun!

Posted

Sorry but there just isnt a lot of folks on here that get up that way a lot or live up there.

If you decide to fish around Duluth PM me and Ill help ya out.

I completely understand. I knew it was a bit of a shot in the dark in the first place smile

I most definitely appreciate the response and the offer, but we're just not going to be that close to Duluth. I think Lutsen is somewhere around an hour and a half away, so I'm sort of set on trying to find something within about a half hour at most. But I'll certainly remember the offer if I ever happen to be in the Duluth area in the future! Thanks again.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Smaller walleye jigs tipped with waxies or salted minnows. Drop the jig about 1 to 2 feet below the ice and hang on.

Posted

I would bring a casting rod, and stop at the breakwater in two harbors for 1/2 hour or so on the way up and the way back. (at least) the walkway is icy and a pair of ice trax or similar foot traction device would be a plus. I would not miss the opportunity, just need a rod, and a few spoons. ice was blown out this weekend and there were a few smiles on the folks out there.

Posted

You should be able to park at the access on caribou lake, or at least have a decent spot to pull over, as that road also leads to lake cabins. I don't know anything about ice fishing the lake though. If you drive all the way up the caribou trail to where it ends, you can take a left on the "grade" and along the course of several miles there are a handful of lakes right on the road.

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