2020 Brainerd, Aitkin, McGregor Area ice fishing reports

[AlwaysFishing23]

Got out on Friday and Saturday and found 13”-13 1/2” on Friday and 13 1/2”- 14” on Saturday. Fishing was okay nothing great but ended up catching a few nice gills 8+ and a few crappies 9+. No slush all froze and little snow that’s all rock solid. Lots of half tons and vehicles driving around but choose to take the snowmobile for better mobility and the ice isn’t quite up to pare for “safely” driving yet. 

[Wanderer]

Drove out today with my truck with the plow on. Checked ice as I went.  12 inches of clear ice covered by 4-5 inches of frozen slush.  Never heard a crack but who could in the wind?!

 

Plenty of trucks pulling large wheel houses out so I went home and got my little hard side house to finally put out.  Drilled some holes, marked a few fish, pushed the snow off the spot for the house and set it down.  Very few fish marked after that and only one caught.  The skid house blues but at least it was warm and comfy in that gale.  We’ll try for a reset tomorrow.

[AlwaysFishing23]

Got out the last 2 afternoons and did ok, couple nice panfish iced with some good buds. Fun Times! Plenty of vehicles driving around but I'm still full on sledding everywhere for fun. We were able to fish through Saturdays gale with ease using the flip overs and using a good amount of snow for banking.

[Wanderer]

We had a finicky bite yesterday and didn’t see much moving around.  I figure it was the lingering effect of the storm that rolled through.

 

Still fun to be out but this “guide” is going to have to produce a little better if he expects his #1 client to continue enjoying time together! 

 

A guy takes off for duck hunting a while and loses track of the fish.... what was I thinking????

[AlwaysFishing23]

Darn! At least you didn’t get skunked! Looks like I might have to show/give “the guide” some pointers or guidance

[Wanderer]

I won’t hold you to that!   Thanks for the “offer”.   The hunt is fun too, I really don’t mind but a guy only has so much time.

[JBMasterAngler]

On Big Sandy, where do people typically access the lake to target tullibee? I had to cancel my trip to Grand Marais next week, so I’m looking at lakes I would usually never have the chance to fish, to help cope with the loss.

[knoppers]

anyone have some info, I never fish tully's so I can't help you with that.

[JBMasterAngler]

I was looking at old posts, and it sounds like the north end of the lake is the area to target. Is the federal dam access open in winter? What are ice conditions? 

[Wanderer]

4 hours ago, JBMasterAngler said:

I was looking at old posts, and it sounds like the north end of the lake is the area to target. Is the federal dam access open in winter? What are ice conditions? 

JB, the one time I ice fished BS I accessed from that spot and fished the north end.  It was years ago though and I have no idea if it’s still the same.  I would bet that it is though.

 

We were after crappies, and caught a few, but I did catch a GIANT tullibee up there.  Like I had to confirm it wasn’t a white fish size.  I posted it on FM back in the day.  Maybe you came across it?

Edited March 21, 2020 by Wanderer

[expl]

We used to fish tullies and crappies at the same time.It was quite a few years ago but we would use the public landing on the northeastern side of the lake (by Bellhorn Bay I believe)and fish pretty much straight out from the landing in 20-25ft.

Edited March 21, 2020 by expl
Misspelling

[JBMasterAngler]

Thanks for all the tips and info!

[DLD24]

If you guys fish Big sandy and use the access by the Big Sand Bar, be careful of this spot right off the access it looks like someone broke through, with the snow now I'm sure its hidden. Fishing was ok the other day got into got about 15 nice crappies, but it took a lot of holes and spots to get that many.

[JBMasterAngler]

Thanks for posting!

[JBMasterAngler]

Closed out the ice season by fishing Big Sandy for the first time! It’s going to take me awhile to figure this lake out, as I ended up doing a lot of walking around in no man’s land. I like it though! Couldn’t find any tullibees, but I did catch 3 really nice crappies.