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Posted

I'm heading up Friday and am just wondering if I will be able to bring out my wheel house (16ft ice castle). From what I have read is there between 8-10in. Any resort owners or outfitters that could way in on the possibilities that I could take it out with a wheeler that would be great. Just want to make sure we pack the right gear.

Posted

I would say you are really jumping the gun doing that. I am sure they won't let you on.

Posted

There were dozens of smaller wheel houses on the south end Saturday afternoon

Posted

We were out of Rogers Sat afternoon and didn't see anything but atv's and portables??

I wouldn't even think of taking a 16' ice castle out there yet.

Posted

I am hoping to get out with my 12' Yetti on Friday towing it with my wheeler, but that's probably not in the same league as your 16' Castle.

Posted

If it isn't too windy and the added water the ice should re-freeze fairly quickly. I wouldn't be shocked to see upwards of 14" by Friday with the cold expected this week. If the snow stays to a minimum hopefully the resorts will allow houses up. I hope to bring my house up, but won't until the resorts give the go ahead. Not interested in being a trail setter!

Posted

FYI.... They put a wheel house into the water at Rogers Friday, right close to shore. So I think they are going to wait. Someone else went on the north end on a wheeler. Play it safe and sleep on shore and use portables out there till every thing gets good.

Posted

Think Jr's are usually the first. Bet you could even pull it with the one ton by this weekend. Have fun, but keep the window rolled down and an extra set of cloths just in case.

Posted

We're also hoping to head up Friday morning with a couple wheel houses for the weekend. Given the overnight sub-zero temps up there, I'm optimistic we'll have 12"+ by today/tomorrow up there. Hoping the resorts are open Thanksgiving evening so I can call.

Posted

Anyone that is up there can you give an ice report

Posted

Rogers updated their FB that they are letting wheelhouses out with ATVs or cars. No trucks yet.

I'm headed up Friday. Not sure what resort we are going out of yet.

Posted

Of course I got anxious yesterday and called to reserve a non-refundable motel room planning on taking the wheelers/portables. smile Oh well, there will be a nice long wheel house season at this rate.

Posted

Anyone have an ice report from yesterday or this morning they can share?

Posted

We are seeing anywhere from 11 to 13 inches of very good looking ice. My coworker and I took a little drive out to center bar with the samurai's today. A few ridges here and there but seems like the further we got out the smoother the ice. Good luck fishing.

Posted

Went out of JR's Fri-Sun with two half tons, two castles and 6 guys. I was astounded to see the number of fishermen/trucks/wheelhouses on the lake. It's scary how easy the catching was and the number of folks up there definitely reflects that.

The folks at JR's were very friendly and the fish fry they cooked up for us at $5 a head on Saturday afternoon was terrific.

The limit we cleaned Sunday morning were all 18-20" fish and were great looking fish. Caught fish on everything from Lindy Darter's to plain hooks. We had the wheelhouses in 9.5 & 10.5 fow and popped hols out to 12.5 on Saturday just for fun. Caught fish at all depths. Our biggest was just over 23".

I can't believe some of the resorts (Westwinds) had their restaurants closed over the long weekend. The amount of revenue they missed out on will probably take 2 months to equal this past weekend.

Posted

Might be more important to them to let the employees spend the holiday weekend with family before they get rolling for 3-4 months straight with no time off.

Posted

Any updates on wheel houses being allowed out yet? I was thinking of going out next weekend.

Posted

Check out the URL Fishing Reports by Harvey Lee

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

How did the ice hold up over the weekend with the warm temps? Is everyone still allowing 3/4 tons and tandem axles? Heading up on Thursday. I would think it should freeze up good by then.

Posted

Parker,

I was up there this weekend, went out of JRs. We got up there early Saturday morning and left early Sunday morning. The ice got to be a mess with 3-4 inches of water on top, so we left early. We had a solid 16" of ice, probably lost 1-2" with the temperatures. There were a lot of 1 ton trucks pulling big houses. Wish I would have had water proof boots!

J Larson

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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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