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Posted

I went scouting hard today. Drilled around 100 holes, and struck out.

Posted

I went scouting hard today. Drilled around 100 holes, and struck out.

Time for an audit. Fish density is obviously way too low. grin

Posted

I didn't drill that many but you are making me feel better!

Posted

Lol! Well played PF.

Yesterday was new lake scouting. I had low expectations. I'm looking for the next great secret spot. I've learned over the years that loose lips can destroy a small lake.

Posted

80 holes, felt good to get out. Fished a small metro lake that had 4 inches of good ice. full-34858-51444-image.jpg

Posted

One & done. Plenty of walleyes down the first hole smile

Posted

Went all the way across the lake and then some:)

Felt like 100's. Actually more like 70-80.

Better scouting now with 5 inches than later with 15 inches of ice.

Posted

Ive drilled plenty in 3 outings already with nothing more than handful of 4 inchers to show for it.

Posted

Yesterday really drove home the point to me that's I've got get a secondary setup for running and gunning on open ice. I was dragging around my clam Yukon with almost nothing in it, and I was about dead after a couple miles of dragging, drilling, and countless up and downs while jigging. Took all I had to get that darn thing loaded up the last time before I went home.

On a plus note, I had zero drilling fatigue using my Ion with the 6" bit. I checked the battery indicator at the end of the day and it was still showing all three LED's lit up indicating it was above 60% charge when I was done. That thing has be to under 20lbs with that smaller bit on it.

Posted

Congrats, Crappyfisherman. Nice picture of a great catch!

Posted

Everyone stop and think for a second at how crazy it is that you can be out ice fishing BEFORE Thanksgiving in Minnesota. These past couple of years have been a real treat. For so much of the 2000s, you were lucky to have safe ice by New Year's. We all need to enjoy it while the getting is good.

Posted

Drilled 3 today, 3 yesterday, and 3 the day before that. One for each line and one for my transducer. Pounded eyes each day. Would rather fish than run around and work like that.

Posted

For all these posts, you would think there is award for who drills more holes in the lake. I do my scouting before the ice covers the water. I drilled about 10 and decided the ice was not consistently safe enough for me to fish. Next weekend I'll be out.

-Tom

Posted

Drilled 25-35 with my Nils 6" on Satuday. No need for the power drill, as hand augering takes about 15 seconds to punch through. 2 fish to show for it, so not real good. But really fun to be out the week before Thanksgiving.

Posted

Friday I popped around 15 with my hand auger. Saturday, we scouted some new area on a big lake and popped over 100 and covered a ton of ground but all we could find were dink perch.

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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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