Ice reports

[Shoot2Kill]

Anyone on Beaver Lake today by chance and have an ice report?   Thx! 

[Rick G]

It's good to see some new members posting, as well as some of the guys we haven't heard from in a while  

Shoot2Kill, been seeing 3.5 -5 in of ice all over our area. Being Beaver is small, and somewhat shallow, I would bet there is decent ice out there. 

[mrklean]

Anyone been on Grand yet might be on my spearing radar for later in the week.

[Naturboy]

Yesterday I found 5 inches on the lake I was on just south of town, and there was a small 4 wheeler pulling a small house. I'm sure if they could hear how much the ice was talking to them they would have headed back to shore. Crazy!

Edited December 28, 2015 by Naturboy

[Genofish]

I haven't been out yet this year, and with the snow coming I squeezed in a short outing this morning, hit a lake west of town, 4-5" of ice. Had to work for the crappies, 22-26 feet, impulse plastics, brown was best. Wish I could have stayed for the afternoon bite, the incoming strom should fire em up. Lets hope we don't get too much snow!

 

[IceHawk]

Grand has 4-4 1/2 inches straight out from access

 

[Rick G]

Made it back out this afternoon, was flying solo this time. 

 Crappies were biting as soon as I hit the ice. A little effort was needed to get them to go at first, as the afternoon wore on, the bite became more consistant. I ended up using the same jig all afternoon, just had to put a new plastic on every 15-20 fish

I was working a soft muddy bottom area, 28-32 ft. Quite a bit of insect life around the bottom in this spot. Crappies were spitting up small white worms of some sort.

Hole hopping was most effective early, picking off 1-2 fish per hole. Fish were loosly schooled up at first. By prime time the wind had gotten pretty nasty. My last hr and a half was spent inside my Clam I had set up pretty close to a big school of fish, every once in a while my screen had 5-6 ft of solid crappies....and most were willing to bite. Toward the end of the evening it was taking longer to get my bait down and reel up a fish than it was to get one to bite. 

No real big ones today, witch is kinda odd with the numbers I saw. 

 

[Weathertite]

Thanks for the pictures , Keep working them as the bigger ones are there somewhere. Waiting for my chance to get out as well so that I can send some pics. Great Job Rick 

[IceHawk]

Nice Job Rick Ill get over that way with you one of these days.

[Rick G]

Made it out with a couple great guys today, IceHawk and eyeguy.  We drilled out a pretty good size area looking for crappies. Fish were in a somewhat negative mood today, they were roaming in small pods, moving very quickly. We figured they were using the breakline, crusing the edge of a deeper basin. Even though the fish were not in a biting mood, IceHawk made it look easy, pulling quite a few nice slabs. 

Fun times, guys  gonna have to do it again soon

 

 

 

[IceHawk]

What a blast fishing with Rick and Eyeguy today two topnotch anglers that share the same passion  and drive for the sport as I do. Don't let these guys fool you they iced a nice group of pies themselves.   We definitely had a tough time locking these fish down, place looked like swiss cheese when we were done.   Definitely was a tough bite for sure soft power noodle rods and small tungstens tipped with different plastics was the ticket. Wish I could of stayed later today but the eyes were calling and off I went. To say I took a butt whippin on the eyes would be a understatemnent. I tried a new spot that didn't pan out should of went to a previous spot that had a gd bite going. But my philosophy is that by takeing the hard route trying new spots tough bites etc make us better fisherman for sure.   Anytime you guys want to hit the ice again I'm in!!!

[Weathertite]

If we all fished are usual spots we would never learn anything to help us become better Anglers. If we all had the same philosophy that the 3 of you guys have these forums would be loaded with all sorts of new and exciting Information. Great job Gentlemen.  Stay safe and fish well !!!!!

[Borch]

Sounds like a fun day.  I'm tied up for another week and hope to hit it hard after then.  Living through your reports till then

 

[Weathertite]

I hope that you are able to get on the ice ASAP. Good things are worth waiting for !!!!   Best of luck to you Borch

[eyeguy 54]

Hit a favorite spot south of town today.  Gills bit good but lottsa small stuff till I switched to plastics. Ended up with a dozen nice eaters but no monsters. Beaut of a day! 

 

[Rick G]

Found myself back on the water again today, this time with Tom. 

We had panfish on the brain again. We tried a new area today in hopes of scoring some gills..... no luck, lots of crappies though....just nothing over 10 -10.5 in. I did get one impressive gill to the bottom of the ice in this first spot. Soon we were greeted by a half dozen orher anglers that were looking to fish the same area. We opted to move to a spot where there was little pressure and the fish are of a bit better size. 

The second spot we tried held good numbers of fish, but they weren't as willing to bite as spot no1.  We ended up hopping around in a rather small space picking off the willing biters. Best depth was 22-26ft down over 32-38 ft.  

 

 

 

[eyeguy 54]

panfish on the brain....    nice !

 

[trappingaddiction]

Has anyone been up to Horseshoe in the last day or so? How much ice are you finding out there? Looking to take the sled  out this weekend if possible.

[Rick G]

10 minutes ago, trappingaddiction said:

Has anyone been up to Horseshoe in the last day or so? How much ice are you finding out there? Looking to take the sled  out this weekend if possible.

Between 4.5 and 7in as of today. Found a few places that have a bit thinner ice than the rest of the lake.

[IceHawk]

Way to go Rick and Tom sounds like you guys had some good fishing and action.  Eyeguy nice gills sounds like that lake we talked about  worked out.

[Horseshoe_Don]

just did an ice check on shoe today and was surprised.   Very little ice growth in the last week.   I found 5" where I expected to find 6-8.    The snow has insulated it.    Did not find anything over 5" away from shore.    

  I am going to put out the 8x8 snap shack out tomorrow.   I designed it for thin ice so the weight will not be an issue but I may have to take it out there piece by piece from the thicker ice in the shallows  about 75 yards or so.

 

Don

[Tom Sawyer]

22 hours ago, eyeguy 54 said:

Hit a favorite spot south of town today.  Gills bit good but lottsa small stuff till I switched to plastics. Ended up with a dozen nice eaters but no monsters. Beaut of a day! 

 

 

Good ones Royce! Glad your finally putting the waxworms down.

[eyeguy 54]

not totally but gotta learn these plastics.     sometimes they like meat.  

[Rick G]

22 hours ago, eyeguy 54 said:

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, now that's high class

[eyeguy 54]

heehee

[Tom Sawyer]

 I figured the East River would produce.

 

[eyeguy 54]

monsters in there but I missed the hot bite.

 

[Mncountryboy]

So far been having alot of luck jigging for panfish with plastics definitely  worth the money. Found decent ice on pearl and grand about 5 to 6 inchs on both lakes. 

Edited January 1, 2016 by Mncountryboy

[IceHawk]

Don great report noticed a few guys working that breakline in your bay. Have you been out Don if so any luck? Hopefully you can get the snap shack out. Should be some pies and eyes roaming that inside turn if not the kitty's will keep you busy.

[eyeguy 54]

welcome to FM MNcountryboy!