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Posted

Since is feels like winter. Might as well watch the ice form.

Blue Lake started to skim over. I will send out some reports as it forms on Blue.

I will wait until 4 inches before I venture out.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Thank you for keeping an eye on Blue Lake's ice for us all. I was planning on checking the ice on Friday, because I like to have a 5 to 6 inches before I start fishing.

The lakes I was thinking of checking are Ann Lake near Zimmerman, Little Elk, Blue, Long, South Stanchfield, and Baxter. I know South Stanchfield had a winter kill and so did Baxter, but those were my favorite first ice lakes.

Be Safe out there people. Good Luck to those who will fish on less ice than me.

Posted

Today very little has changed. Some ice around outside. It will take a while even with cold weather. There are about 40 swans on the lake and that usually means we are within 1 week of lock up.

It takes another week to get to walking thickness.

Be patient. I've seen several times when we have 2 or 3 nights below 0 and still no ice.

Going to predict Friday night gets us to 90% covered. Saturday night it will freeze completely.

Posted

Just drove by Lake Francis and its locked up.

Posted

Baxter has about 2.25 inches of ice out about 20 feet from shore in 3 Fow.

Posted

East twin was skimmed over 20 ft off shore yesterday,will b watching it this weekend.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Woohoo getting pumped for the next week

Posted

I heard a rumor that Goose lake has 3 inches.

Posted

Coon lake has less than 2 and is not fully covered. You be the judge.

Posted

Looks like Blue skimmed over last night. Could not see the whole lake but looks good.

Fairly sure the swans will keep some spots open today. I will get a better look early this afternoon and report back this evening.

With reports of low winds the next couple of days that should be really good for locking it up completely by Saturday.

Posted

Blue lake update: Now that I see it in daylight it is breaking up in spots. Maybe 75% covered.

I'm sticking with my original prediction. Sat night 100%.

At least it is progress.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Well I did not make it out because of school work. I will see if my wife lets me sneak out in the morning to check ice

Posted

You have to quit letting that school work get in the way of the real important stuff.

Posted

Blue Update: 100% this morning as far as I can see. Even the swans are on top of the ice.

If the snows stays away for a while we should be fishing soon.

Guess its the weekend to get my stuff ready!!!

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

full-12169-51206-ice15.jpg

I did not go out to far but cut a couple hole found close to 6 inches in the rough ice and just over 4 beyond that. Would have checked more but the wife does not like watching me walk on water.

Posted

Headed to the deer stand and saw a portable out in the middle of Lake Francis.

Posted

I was spearing today on 4 inches in the Cambridge area..

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

MJ I know that guy on that Lake

Posted

Saw a couple of guys out on Orono but did not check the thickness myself

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Ice was around 4 inches on Baxter on Sunday and that was out in middle of the lake.

Posted

Anybody check lake Francis ....

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

4 inches on Sunday from friend who lives on the lake

Posted

Thank you for the report. I was thinking about hitting there or cove bay on Saturday......should be 6"-8" out there by then....

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

A person would think so, but please check on the way out. I watched many guys come out after me and river rat and they did not check even when they went away from us. Good Luck and glad I had the info for ya

Posted

I always check every 50' or so.I'm always nervous the first time out till I get my ice legs back....

Posted

for early ice I will check every step with the pick until I am more confident on the ice depth then I will strike the ice every other step. Just too many variables to mess with on first ice and I don't want to get wet and ruin a good day or life

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Agreed Ozzie!!

Posted

4 inches around Elk River

Posted

How is lake Francis for ice fishing? New to the area and want to find some new lakes. Looking at DNR survey, its small but the fish nets are impressive! I assume the numbers are right?

Posted

I'm 50%-50% on heading to one of the southern bays on mille lacs this Saturday or going to lake Francis. On way or the other I'm fishing this weekend. If I decide on lake Francis I have a clam Denail TC if anybody is interested......

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  • 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  🤣
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