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Posted

Finally took a day off of work to do a little ice fishing. I would really like to hit Clearwater. First question is there enough ice out there to bring a wheeler and my one man? Second question... I spent a lot of time on Clearwater last year, but never had a great day. I caught a few fish here and there, but nothing to write home to mom about. Just wondering if someone could maybe give me a direction into finding some decent pannies out there. I will drill 100 holes if I have to, but would really like to start the season drilling 98 or 99. Any info would be great. Either way... I am pumped to get back out there!!

Posted

I've been out there a few days this week. The ice is solid black around 8-10 inches when I was out there Tuesday. You will be definitely fine with a four wheeler. I drove my Nissan titan that day but I would considered driving out with my compact four door car. I've been targeting walleye and have done decent. I've caught some dandy pike in the summer in the west basin very close to the landing. I wish I could tell you where the Gills are hiding.

Posted

Glad to hear the Walleye are at least eating... Might have to switch the strategy up a bit. If you happen to be out tomorrow I will be in the one man clam with the red wheeler and Eskimo auger standing up in the ice. Stop by!!

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

Anyone been out to Clearwater lately how is the ice looking? How much snow did the lake get?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

fishing on East Clearwater later today. Anyone want to say the ice thickness on east or west basins?

Posted

plenty for a wheeler 8-10 inches last sunday...more than 10 inches by now!

Posted

First time at clearwater and maybe my last. Was hoping to do some pan fishing so drove on ice today in my 1 ton silverado. Checked all the basin all the deep spot west east but just can't manage to find any panfish. I somewhat lost hope when I realize the majority of people are here for walleye. Maybe it's just my luck on not finding them? Or is there no panfish to fish on this lake? Got there at 6am and left at 6pm. I wasn't marking any fish at all beside mini bottom dweller nibbling my line. I have a feeling one might tell me it's a walleye lake? Am I correct?

Posted

You drove a 1 ton silverado to the east and west basins? If you truely did consider yourself lucky,the narrows are known for having spots of thin ice.

Posted

yep, only walleye in that lake. no panfish. only walleye

Posted

You drove a 1 ton silverado to the east and west basins? If you truely did consider yourself lucky,the narrows are known for having spots of thin ice.

Sorry let me rephrase myself on that. I meant I drove my truck out on the ice following the iceroad and huge ice shack but only venture out 25 yard or so from the visible tracks of trucks and ice shack. Other then that I'll pull the sled by hand after. Sorry for the confusion but yeah I almost [PoorWordUsage] my self. I had navionic on if I do venture too far from the ice road. I realize this lake has a lot of shallow area. I always try to avoid those, but yeah started at the west side of lake following the deep basin then moved on to the east and still no luck, so I left at 6pm.

Posted

yep, only walleye in that lake. no panfish. only walleye

Yep I would definetly stay away if you like largemouth and bluegills. Nothing but walleyes and bullheads in Clearwater.......

Posted
Posted
Posted
Posted

Yep, those were the good ol days when there were crappies in Clearwater. grin

Posted

Wheres all the fish on clearwater, how do you eliminate areas to fish on a lake that has so much structure?...besides drilling a thousand holes ive already changed my blade once this year

Posted

How is the ice looking out there? I will get there this week sometime.

Posted

How is the ice looking out there? I will get there this week sometime.

The ice are 14-15" almost everywhere but don't take my word for it there might be weak spots.

Posted

Fished the east bay Saturday and Sunday and had 16 to 18 inches in several locations.

It is Clearwater though so use common sense!

Fishing was slow for me.

Posted

Fished on last Saturday on East. Found about 15" everywhere. Had a lot of walleyes come in, but no bites! UGGH! My bro and my neph came out and no luck for them either. We searched for some crappies but none to be had. We haven't seen those monster slabs in 2 yrs. My bro did see some marks 50 ft down in 60+ feet of water, but nope. So I decided to cross the street to Pleasant at about 8pm. Drilled a couple of spots and found nothing! Could have tried a little harder on the Plez but I lost my mojo and went home.

Posted

I have caught ROCK BASS on East basin before.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Good memories from Clearwater. smile 1993, 1680 bucks. Ya Baby!

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

hope to chase some gills down there this tuesday.

Posted

I take it the narrows are safe to get to the east side now?

Posted

I take it the narrows are safe to get to the east side now?

Never use the words "Narrows" and "Safe" in the same sentence.

Posted

my tourny crappie hot spots were on the east side in the bay out from the private pay access. The one tournamaent we pre fished on the friday and it was 70 dg then came that saturday and it snowed 6 inches heavy and wet stuff. The crappies were doing ok in 12 ft. lots of good fish back then.

Posted

Bart- you're correct. Reading that looks ridiculous.

Is there solid ice to access the east side by wheeler or sled through the narrows?

Posted

Crossing the narrows, sure you can. Just be careful that you cross where there is sand under whatever you are driving. DO NOT try and cross on the north (wider) side as it never really freezes. Cross the edges of south narrows but do not just drive through the middle.

Posted

Just saw on chan 5 news a truck broke through Clearwater. Good thing the temps are going to finally drop back down this weekend.

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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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