BWCA ice conditions / trout opener

[fishwater]

Anyone have any opinions regarding the ice conditions getting into Partridge lake?  I've done the hike from Moss>Duncan into Partridge, but never from Birch.  Any ice reports for Birch? 

Anyone have plans?  I'm going somewhere with a buddy, hoping to fish trout up the Gunflint. 

many thanks.    

[certified jumbo]

we will be up there and fishing opener weekend.

cconditions arent great as a big snowfall before lakes had much ice.  most trails have hanging branches with snow on them making it difficult to pass. it could be interesting but there still are a couple weeks before opener.but hope for the best.

[certified jumbo]

Anybody fish bwca opener yesterday?   How was ice conditions? 

[nlayne882]

Went to topper and then to south this weekend. Caught one brookie on topper in the morning and two lakers on south in the afternoon. Missed quite a few small fish but overall fishing was very slow for me. Talked to a few other guys out there that said the same thing. About six inches of good ice on topper and around 2-4 on south. Quite the trek over the mountain for a day trip with hardly any fish.. Still better than any day at work! 

Edited January 4, 2016 by nlayne882

[reinhard1]

Nice picture!!  I caught my largest brookie out of Topper a few years ago.  A nice one over 3 pounds [I have it mounted]. Had a lot of ice that year.  I had just maybe 3 feet of water under the ice.  Caught it on a panfish tear drop with a waxie on 4 pound test.  We did well on Mayhew Lake also with eater lakers around 2 pounds.  Clearwater was always good to us for lakers as well.  good luck.