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Posted

Any reports on big stone

Posted

Some guys are finding some Perch.. But overall it's slow. I'd wait till the bite picks up a bit. IMO.

Posted

What are the ice conditions on Big Stone?

Posted

Looking for somewhere to to take my son for an overnight fishing trip the week of Christmas. Perch bite better by then? Where is the best place to rent a sleeper house for one day during the week?

Thank You!

Posted

Artie's has fish houses to rent

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Are most of the perch fishing grounds within walking distance of a lake access? Is a wheeler necessary or waiting until you can drive vehicles on the ice? Looking to get out the day after Christmas and have never been. Stopping at Artie's for bait, map and advice is a must I know that but once I get there, it is too late to bring the wheeler.

Posted

I'm heading out tomorrow (12/20). I'll let you know how we do. Right now it sounds like first light and last light are the best times. Reports of both walleyes and perch but only for those that know what they are doing. If I figure it out, I'll share.

Posted

Was out all day Saturday. Stopped at Artie's and got great advice. That is a must. Set up just north of landing away from crowd. Drilled 4 holes and had first jumbo in 5 minutes. This was about 9:00. Lots of vehicles on the ice. Ice was 12" where we were. Used perch talkers, titanium jigs and Swedish pimples. Wax worms and crappie minnow heads. Consistent every 20 minutes we had fish come through and we might catch one or two. Any noise on ice they would scatte including people driving by. Shut down at 5. Overall good day of fishing.

Posted

We spent the weekend (Thursday-Saturday) on the lake. Moved around a ton. Could not find the fish. Drilled a LOT of holes but just couldn't locate them. Tried reefs and about every other type of structure possible. 3 perch were caught all weekend. Maybe we didn't wait long enough in each spot but we definitely put in the effort.

Posted

Are there full size trucks driving out? I have some relatives from Wisconsin that would like to try ice fishing for the 1st time. Hoping we could drive out versus dragging the portables. Unfortunately i don't have an ATV and there isn't enough snow for the sleds.

Posted

We were on the south end of the lake. There were more trucks starting to come out on Saturday when we left. Had a consistent 14 inches in most places we drilled. Just be careful as there are spots were houses fell through the past week with the warm up. I saw 2 houses in the lake while i was there and ran across another spot one had been in previously. They are all marked but just be aware those spots will be thin!

Posted

Thanks for the report. I just wish this weather would make up its mind. Wont be heading up until Friday so hopefully it will be a little colder by then.

Posted

I saw several trucks out on Saturday. We had a good 12" of ice where we were. However, we drove over a snow patch with the ATV and it was very slushy. Could have been just the snow had melted a bit but you always wonder how much insulating that snow was doing.

Too bad Iceman didn't have better luck. That's usually my story. The perch were very skittish and any vehicle driving by made them scatter so maybe getting away from everyone else is key. We were in 13' of water and felt like we were more on the west side of the lake than the east side. But still towards the middle. We did have good luck with small silver swedish pimples and minnow head in addition to the jig and wax worm and perch talker with head or wax worm. Good luck to everyone.

Posted

How big are the perch on average? Don't care to eat them just wanna find some biggins!:D

Posted

I would say most of them are in that 9-11 inch range. If I wanted true jumbos I would drive the extra hour to Waubay/bitter area

Posted

Thanks Jake I will be trying the Watertown area.

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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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