Lake Superior Fishing

[DLD24]

I see it has begun....On my way home from work I saw a couple portables out there...So me and the gf walked down with my spud bar...I found about 3" by shore (a lot of dangerous spots by shore and when I got out about 75yds or so it looked about 5"...All the farther I went...Hope it freezes like last year, but I'm not holding my breath...Be Safe

[certified jumbo]

I saw one house quite a ways out there........looks fun. I'll wait a little bit yet though.

I wonder if a guy could ice fish the pack ice at the french yet? ?

[Ross Pearson]

Ice at the French was rolling just yesterday and will likely have leads opening up with strong northwest winds the next couple of days. One angler at the Lester reported 3 inches out at the 50 foot depth which was the same as I found close to shore. Its not very safe out there yet.

[RiverDewey]

Thanks guys for the reports. A buddy of mine and I were going to fish the French tomorrow or Friday. Guess that won't be happening! What are the odds of long rod fishing off one of the breakwalls like in Two Harbors? It would be fun to get out on the big lake again like last winter. DLD, you had a pretty good time out there last winter!

[fishin4sum]

Your fricken nuts to be walking out there with ice that thin. I have seen that ice break up on a calm windless day when rollers show up that originated 300 miles to the east. Don't be stupid and end up on the nightly news! Wait till that ice is 5" or better. It will at least give you time to hop across the ice bergs and get back to shore.

[DLD24]

Ya I'll definately be waiting a while to venture out to fish...Ya I definately did Dewey that was a riot...I can't wait to get my fish back...

[Ross Pearson]

Your fricken nuts to be walking out there with ice that thin. I have seen that ice break up on a calm windless day when rollers show up that originated 300 miles to the east. Don't be stupid and end up on the nightly news! Wait till that ice is 5" or better. It will at least give you time to hop across the ice bergs and get back to shore.

I was very close to shore in only 4 feet of water and could have walked to shore if I went through. I would have gotten wet and cold but not on the news or in serious danger. Those going out over their heads may make the news and the obituaries. I agree ice is never safe and I am more cautious at this point in my life than in the past. Thanks for your concerns.

[RiverDewey]

Ice at the French was rolling just yesterday and will likely have leads opening up with strong northwest winds the next couple of days.

French was still pretty blocked in with ice last night. Not fishable anyways. Saw quite a few portables off 21st/Water in Duluth. MG says ice is 2-5". Not thick enough for me! I guess I thought 12" last year was iffy LOL. Last night there was 100 - 200' of open water by the TH breakwall. Today Superior was open as far as you could see at the TH breakwall.

[certified jumbo]

Any portables out there today with the big winds?

[Jarrid Houston]

This ice is taking a turn for the worst. It is very sketchy to begin with, and now with the wind she is sure to loose stability. I noticed that the pack ice off beacon point shifted at least 200 yards? Super crazy... I was out there for 20 minutes when we got word of 12 foot swells north of us by Devils? Beard 2 harbors? Anyway we high tailed it off. Not worth it for me.. Not testing my luck.

[maxpower117]

How much snow is on the ice?

[gardn184]

Any reports from today

[certified jumbo]

A fair amount of portables yesterday. Probably catching some. Not enough ice for me.

[biff]

I drove by Saturday "the 14th"...people fishing off 21st but the ice at the Lester/Brighton beach was history

[osok]

Lots of portables off of 21st this evening.

[gardn184]

We were out today not much ice found anywhere from 2" to 6" off 21st. Please be careful out there if you go out. Don't assume because someone else walked through an area it's ok. Check for yourself and watch the weather.

[Jarrid Houston]

Yep extremely dangerous, and I agree I think people think it is kosher, because of the amount of people that have been going out. Not worth the fish...

[expl]

You guys seem to make the ice out to be terrible while Marine Gen. posts there is up to 8inches along with a picture of a bunch ofnpeople out there.I know ice varies and is never safe especially on a lake like Superior.What is the real situation though??Is the General steering people towards an iminent death or are a few locals trying to keep more people off the ice to lessen the crowds??I am going to come up and fish regardless of what your replies are,im a liteweight and can safely navigate on 2inches of ice and if I take a cold bath so be it.For as bad as you guys on here make it out to be we should be hearing reports on guys swimming left and right but I have heard of none...

[Poacher's pariah]

You folks who aren't from around here need to recognize that this isn't your typical ice. It can be 12" thick and rock solid, but gone in an instant when rollers start coming in. If there's even the remotest chance of a north or northwest wind, any ice less than a foot could prove deadly because thinner ice may not provide the floatation or structural integrity necessary to keep you dry long enough to be rescued. Thinner ice will shred when the wind starts blowing. I've had times where I fished of the mouth of the French river on 8 solid inches of ice, and ended up scrambling to get my tent down and off the ice before it was totally destroyed. And I was only 50-80 yards from shore in 6 feet of water. What are you gonna do if you're 400 yards out in 70 feet? We're not trying to protect a "secret" fishery, we're trying to protect YOU!

[tacklejunkie]

I saw a lot of portables from my office window out of 21st yesterday. I assumed the ice must be safe but reading the reports from here, I guess they are crazy.

What are they catching out there, mainly? Long time ago, when I used to ice fish, I remember the eelpout carcasses strewn atop the ice.

[expl]

I understand the ice is a different sort of beast on the lake I am not questioning that one bit.It just seems odd to me that on here it sounds like stay away and live, while another report given is that theres 8 inches of ice and with the below zero temperatures more is expected.The General just gave out the number for the Houstons guide service to someone asking for a lk superior guide.By the way I dont need anyone to "protect" me,I can do that just fine on my own.I will however let the other people that are heading up that they may need protection.

[maxpower117]

Here we go...

[Pigmeat]

I understand the ice is a different sort of beast on the lake I am not questioning that one bit.It just seems odd to me that on here it sounds like stay away and live, while another report given is that theres 8 inches of ice and with the below zero temperatures more is expected.The General just gave out the number for the Houstons guide service to someone asking for a lk superior guide.By the way I dont need anyone to "protect" me,I can do that just fine on my own.I will however let the other people that are heading up that they may need protection.

Seems like a pretty harsh reaction to what looks to be pretty darn reasonable advice! Good luck . . .

[Poacher's pariah]

...just trying to spell it out. You can do with it what you want, but you aren't likely to see me out there. The risk simply outweighs the reward. At lot of what is being taken are cohos, which you can take in shallower waters closer to Fitgers, where the ice movement and condition isn't so linked to the wind conditions. Plus there are a ton of herring to be had fishing over some of the old cribs.

[DrJuice1980]

Your lack of judgement may put somebody elses life in danger or should we just let you drown?

I wouldnt gamble on Superior, she will win everytime.

[expl]

See ya on the ice or below it I guess.

[Jack Stasney]

Yep that ice near 21st broke up with 7 inches of it under my feet a few years ago. Hardly no wind and ice as far as you could see from the top of the hill. All of a sudden I was moving up and down about 10 inches as the waves came in. It only took that one time for me. The water was squeezing up through the cracks. Two days later the ice was completely gone; and I mean gone. I am glad people are able to get out, but honestly I get weak in the knees just thinking about it now. I think most people on this site just don't want to see anyone die. There are currents in that lake that will eat away at ice like nowhere else. Please don't use anger as motivation to go out there.

[Guest]

You'll notice most of the darwin award nominees out there are non-locals - the locals know better.

[maxpower117]

I'm headed up Friday with some friends. Anyone want to join us? I'm hoping the ice stick around long enough for us to get off. Fingers crossed.

[cocowheats]

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