Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

With the forecast of at least a week of temps below freezing ice fishing should not be far away and may be early this year.

Please warn anyone that goes out on early ice to be careful. There seems to be one person every year that fishes on like 1" of ice. No fish is worth you life.

A public service announcement from Horseshoe Don

  • Replies 87
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Horseshoe_Don

    18

  • pushbutton

    11

  • aanderud

    9

  • Stick in Mud

    7

Posted

and to those new to the Chain, stay off the main lake river channels with current as the ice is always thin...

Posted

Not much really cold coming up for locking down the big deep lakes, but bays, and smaller protected lakes should be up and running soon....turkey day weekend might be really fun if the wind holds off!?!?

full-27018-50800-screenshot2014_11_07at2

Posted

Yep ice fishing on my birthday this year. 4 inches?

Posted

Would sure think. Hopefully the wind with no big snow dumps hold off for a little while after the initial set up. Might even get to eat a turkey lunchmeat sammie in the portable on turkey day wink

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Sounds like St Cloud is in the bulls eye for Snow on Monday, but with no ice yet it will be okay. I hope with a snow coating it drops the temps some more.

Posted

I hope with a snow coating it drops the temps some more.

Looks like your wish may come true. The new lows forecasted the next week have dropped considerably. We could have some serious bonus ice this year.........

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Looks like your wish may come true. The new lows forecasted the next week have dropped considerably. We could have some serious bonus ice this year.........

Life is good!!

Posted

Life is NOT good...the walleyes and crappies are still biting!! smile

Posted

I say by thanksgiving we will be ice fishing! December 1st by the latest! Probably driving on lakes again by Christmas.. Two cold years in a row, feel bad for the deer.

Posted

I think we might be on horseshoe by the weekend possibly with cold weather. We have 15-16 inches here right now and slush floating so the water temps have to be plunging. All we need is a clam night and it will freeze. Could be 3-4" by saturday with the right conditions. We will see.

Posted

I think we might be on horseshoe by the weekend possibly with cold weather. We have 15-16 inches here right now and slush floating so the water temps have to be plunging. All we need is a clam night and it will freeze. Could be 3-4" by saturday with the right conditions. We will see.

Don you forgot to figure in all the body heat givin off by people shoveling their driveways:)

Posted

Yeah, ice fishing is very close indeed. Thank goodness there wasn't any ice on the lakes when this storm hit.

Posted

Finally got plowed out and drove around a little....sheesh, you can stick a fork in fall.....we just got dumped on!!!! For good or bad, it is going to be a long winter....this snow is not going anywhere till next april. Don, might be right that we will have some walkable ice by the weekend....would almost bet for sure early next week. Also, as he alluded, you don't win much to be the first one out, but you could lose a lot. To the skinny guys.....have fun and be safe! Planning on seeing you out there the weekend after next.

Posted

yep I was thankful all day yesterday we didn't have any ice yet.

Posted

Becker and East lake are frozen over on the chain. Also small areas on shoe are freezing. Shoe could freeze over tonight with temps hovering around zero.

Don

Posted

Won't be long!!

Posted

Just curious, I have never been ice fishing before and would really like to go. If anyone is willing to let me tag along on one of their fishing trips and show me what to do I would really appreciate it!

Posted

At 7:00 this morning the two lakes on the way into the campus at St John's were complete frozen--and someone appeared to have been out there to drill a hole. Stump Lake was about 80% covered. Sagatagan is still wide open. Won't be long now!

Posted

Good to hear the reports of ice.... I come back to Mn Thanksgiving week.... plan to hit 5he ice first day home smile

Posted

Just drove by Lake Campbell .....and she is locked up! After Jeremy's honey hole goes.....the rest follow in short order smile

Posted

Lake Campbell. smile

Posted

Good to hear the reports of ice.... I come back to Mn Thanksgiving week.... plan to hit 5he ice first day home smile

Pro tip -- For your health, you might want to hang with the lady-friend for at least the second half of the day you get back, and hold off on the ice fishing til the next day.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Pro tip -- For your health, you might want to hang with the lady-friend for at least the second half of the day you get back, and hold off on the ice fishing til the next day.

Posted

Pro tip -- For your health, you might want to hang with the lady-friend for at least the second half of the day you get back, and hold off on the ice fishing til the next day.

My one track mind gets me in trouble from time to time grin

It's advise I should take though winksmile

Posted

Horseshoe is now frozen over.

Don

Posted

full-39463-51157-20141114_071209.jpg

Horseshoe frozen. Picture looking at meth hole in the distance around point(above bench).

Don

Posted

Don are you over in that little bay where crazy Rick always hammers everything from pig 'eyes to buckets of slab craps to 32 inch slob channel cats?

Posted

LoL.....big portions of the river even froze last night. The extended backed off on the upcoming warmup...its looking good!

Posted
Don are you over in that little bay where crazy Rick always hammers everything from pig 'eyes to buckets of slab craps to 32 inch slob channel cats?
It must be all the sunken "structure" in that bay...I've seen full sized trailers, tires, monster logs and god knows what else on the bottom in that bay when the water is gin clear in the spring...I've snagged some 40+ lb carp in that bay while fishing with rattle traps...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • 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
      I guess the vikings are a lot like fishing.  Very entertaining but frustrating at times. I've probably been cheering the vikings for 50 plus years  that i can remember and once again it's all about (there's always next year).  
    • 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  🤣
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.