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Posted

Got back from LOW (River Bend) yesterday evening after a good few days. Sunday, as many of you know, there was a good bit of water on top of the ice that made for some apprehension on the part of this transplanted Southern boy (ice is what we'd mix drinks with and it comes from the freezer)! My only other trip up to LOW was this year (2003) in early March when it turned unusually cold. Minus 27.... don't leave a 12 pack of pop in your truck - looked like someone threw a slurpee big gulp all over it the next morning... Being up there for a record high seemed par for the course.. LOL!<P>Our group of three didn't knock them for a loop, but we had good activity and caught 30 fish or so a day, keeping 10-15 each day (last day was a half day with only 6 in the creel). Vexilar didn't do much good since they were all on the bottom , or w/in 3 feet of it. Really no activity on the flasher above that - they'd follow it from the bottom 2-3 ft., but couldn't entice them to bite. Used the normal assortment of lures ya'll have suggested, each in our party had a favorite but no clear winners.<P>Did get the chance to meet Bill Turck, his son and friend after reading his advice over the past year. He gave me another good tip about using shiners as a alternative to fatheads as a change up on them - thanks Bill, enjoyed speaking with you!<P>Got nearly back home in Sioux Falls when I remembered I left my camcorder under a bed. Had a hundred miles to go imagining the heck I was going to catch at home.... Called this morning and Pam found it just where I left it! Need to run out and send them a prepaid package to send it back (my suggestion not theirs), but the folks there at River Bend are so nice, suspect if I asked they'd driven it down!<P>It was a great time and I can't wait to go again. Thanks to all the help gleaned from this Forum, I'm BEGINING to 'figger this out - and am getting hooked!<P>Have a Happy New Year!

Posted

Yankee<BR>For all of us who have 3 weeks to wait...WE highly appreciate the Reports. Keep em coming...

Posted

yes,glenn and Pam are great hosts,they keep on the fish and treat you very well, been going there 3 years now, this will be the 4th in feb. Glad you had a good time

Posted

New Yankee: Glad to hear you had a good trip back to Sioux Falls, SD. Also glad you are getting the Cam Corder back, could be some evidence on that thing ya know!!!!<P>Let me know if you're heaeded back up this year for any further trips. Good to talk to you and your friends as well, glad to hear ya all are startin' to like this north country. Bill

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
    • smurfy
      🤣 did your nose just grow a bit!😏🤭
    • Wanderer
      I hope to be fishing….  It’s so rare that I get to go, I hate passing up the opportunity. 😉   
    • leech~~
      Since the Vikings are never in it. We use it for an excuse to make some fun stuff!  Last year was a bit light. Hot cheese bean dip, hot wings and pepperoni cheese bread! 😋
    • Hookmaster
      That snow and the 15-25 mph winds on Thursday with higher gusts will be nasty drifting. I didn't go to LOW (can I say that in the this thread?🤫) this week because of it.
    • smurfy
      Who's watching the big game Sunday? More importantly what's ya'all cooking!   I like good football si I'm tuning in. Food... yea no clue yet 
    • Wanderer
      Hard to see em well enough to tell.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing is strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of.  There are fish in both areas.     Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits. As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers.  Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh fish frys and bring fish home.   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.   On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    You never know when the fish will move through.  Anglers fishing the entire day normally have success.  Electronics are a big help as well. On the Rainy River...  The morning and evening hours are the best for fishing walleyes. A jig and minnow combination has been a good presentation.  A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still producing some big fish through the ice.  There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year.    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd.    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 remains good at the Northwest Angle.  Resorts continue to move their fish houses staying on fish.  Some fish houses are set up on structure while others are targeting deeper mud flats.    Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees.  Good numbers of big crappies are still being caught in select areas and hard sided fish houses are available to target them.  Check with a NW Angle resort for info.   Jigging one line, deadsticking the second is effective.  Some days the jigging line is hot, other days the deadstick.  Some good colors have been gold, glow red, glow white, wonder bread, pink, chartreuse and orange. 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.  
    • JerkinLips
      Same story, different day (Monday).  Caught several small walleyes (biggest were 14 and 15 inches) with the best bite from 2-5pm.  Caught my record walleye this winter at 6½ (inches, not pounds).  Was wondering why the bobber kept going down a couple inches for several minutes until I finally reeled it up.  Fortunately it was just hooked in the lips.  Having a lively minnow definitely improved the action.  I put down a pike sucker for the first time this winter and got an immediate hard bite.  When I went to set the hook, the line broke just above the hook.  Don't know if it was a northern bite-off or just weak line by the hook.  May try some pike suckers next trip.   Ice conditions were very good except for heavy drifting (even with very little fresh snow).  Didn't see any vehicles traveling off road except for snowmobiles and a tracked SxS, although there weren't many people out on the lake.  Water came up around my house about 1½ inches but froze very quickly with the cold weather and no snow on top.  Will probably have to block it up again next time up.   Good luck fishing and be careful of severe drifting of snow, especially with the 3-5 inches they are predicting for Wednesday night.  
    • leech~~
      Why, do they all only wear Sitka camo over there? 😏
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