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Posted

anyone else finding the fish are being non hungry or not wanting to bite. I have been out five times now and the fish come in but do not bite.

Posted

I'm from the St. Cloud area and yes the fish are a bit more finicky than usual for early ice. Not sure why, but the solution for me is one of these things usually (or more):

1. Move move and move until you find active or semi active fish.

2. Down size and finesse the sluggish fish such as how you'd fish midwinter, i.e. light line, small jigs etc

3. Upsize to bigger stuff and pick off the active fish. You be surprised what a jigging rap, chubby darter, or large drop jig with a plastic can do to sluggish fish when its ripped in their face over and over again.

Not trying to sound like an expert, but thats what has worked for me so far this year and in years past, hope that helps.

Posted

I've only been out once, but they sure came in nice, just didn't want to bite. I tried bigger and smaller, ripping and subtle nothing really helped. But it was a nice day and I was fishing.

Posted

PanMan, I've only been out twice this year (Friday and Saturday) and i'm on a small lake so I'm not stating where for the protection of the lake but it's around DL area. We graphed a lot of fish both nights and the bite was LIGHT!!! Saturday we had a camera down and the fish were interested in our baits but just didn't want to bite them. We tried spoons, jigs, minnows, wax worms, gulp wax worms, and minnow heads. Also tried vertical and horizontal jigs to see if that mattered and we struck out. We caught about 25-30 blue gills on Friday and about 50-60 on Saturday. Saturday there were three of us and Friday there was only two. Fishing was very slow but what we did get was very impressive. Tailgate picture was Friday hand one was from Saturday.

full-48917-51718-img_14821.jpg

full-48917-51719-img_14851.jpg

Posted

50-60 fish is a slow day?

Posted

I thought it was. In years past we would catch a lot more and it would only be for a 2-3 hour time frame. 60 fish for 3 guys for the five hours we went is only 4 fish per person per hour. To me that isn't too fast and furious. I've been out there at times when you can't keep one line in the water so I think it was pretty slow at times.

Posted

was out monday same thing but had a big big northern keep comming through but not a bite

Posted

Has been very slow for us as well.

Posted

Why would it be so slow? Pressure? Weather? We saw a few snakes come through didn't hit tip ups but would nudge (not bite) our panfish jigs. Our water was majorly cloudy, we were blaming it on that but maybe it wasn't the issue. Our lake was covered with snow.

Posted

I wish I knew. High pressure never helps me?

Posted

I went out thursday and got seven big gills after dark that was weird but the walleyes still would not bite

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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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