North Shore Conditions and Travel

[Benjy]

I have some spots along the north shore that have been good for me in prior years.  I fished the south side last weekend and did poorly.  Does anyone have information on ice thickness up there and whether its possible to move around with a truck and wheel house off the plowed roads?  Flooding a problem up there?  Hillmans and West Wind only go out about 3 miles right now – I’m looking to get more like 5 miles out.  I’m a little nervous about heading into uncharted territory, but maybe its ok if you travel slow and watch closely.  I'm not going to take any chances, but any information would be appreciated.  Fishing reports from up there would be good too.........

 

Edited January 13, 2016 by Benjy

[kelly-p]

 

11 minutes ago, Benjy said:

 Hillmans and West Wind only go out about 3 miles right now –

That might be a clue.

Looking across the lake yesterday I did see that Hillman's had gained  some more road but I do not how far out he is letting people drive.  Be sure and talk to the people working on the road where you go out of. Every road along this side of the lake has areas vehicles should avoid.

 I don't go down to the south shore at all so I only know what is happening along the east and north shore. Saturday some people I know were drilling tip up holes around their house and found 7 inches of ice one place. Monday was the first day all winter that I drove my 10 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee cross country where a road had not been plowed. I was walking ahead drilling and checking the ice and I quit when I found 9 1/2 inches of ice one place. The best that I found in that area was 11 1/2 inches. Monday a 1/2 ton truck with an 8 foot straight blade on it broke out a chunk of ice behind it and when they went back to look they found 9 inches of ice there. Sunday a friend found 9 inches when setting up his portable. Yesterday I saw a pickup pulling a tandem axel fish house across the lake drive right over that spot. I was fearing a splash but he made it across that spot and kept roaring across the lake without a care in the world.  Yesterday a 20 old 2WD little Mazda pickup with chains got stuck in a drift and spun his chains right through the ice.

Due to concerns about the ice I have not fished anyplace that I would like to which is a bummer but on the bright side as far as Hillman's and Beacon's roads go I feel that the best fishing is still ahead of us.

 

[Benjy]

Very helpful information and advice, Kelly.  Thank you.  

[fishing tech]

Thanks for the info Kelly. I fished by the north river cribs on Jan1 and found a spot that had 5 inches of ice. As I was sitting in my portable I looked out and there was a guy on an atv pulling a wheelhouse coming right towards me. I had water coming up my holes and I was on 9 inches of ice. I will be up Friday going out of Hillmans with my wheelhouse but I will not be the brave one, I will stay close to the road. Thanks again.

 

[kelly-p]

I drove out Hillman's road today and talked to Buddy. Right now he has the road closed with traffic cones at about 3 miles where there are a lot of bad cracks.  He is not sure when he will be letting the fishermen loose beyond that. Right now he feels uncomfortable about the ice out there. He does have the main road smoothed down all the way out to and through the rough ice from where it piled after opening up so once we get some ice everything should be good to go right on across the lake. I've been on a lot of Buddy's roads through the years and this one looks to be one of best ever. Smooth and wide.

Right now both Hillman's and Beacon's roads are ending before we get into good crappie country but there are still a lot of crappies coming in. Just a little longer road both places and things could get interesting as far as crappies.

6 hours ago, kelly-p said:

Sunday a friend found 9 inches when setting up his portable. Yesterday I saw a pickup pulling a tandem axel fish house across the lake drive right over that spot. I was fearing a splash but he made it across that spot and kept roaring across the lake without a care in the world. 

This guy should have used up some of his luck buying Powerball tickets. Before I saw him Buddy watched him drive right through the cones blocking the area all cracked up then Buddy realized that this guy was heading right into an area that Buddy didn't feel there was enough ice for vehicles so Buddy had blocked that off with crossed orange stakes. Buddy is not as old as me but he still ran across the lake waving his arms trying to stop this guy. The guy ignored him and drove right through the crossed orange stakes and right across the area where Buddy was scared to drive a 1/2 ton truck.

[ALEX EYES]

Did i hear right that beacons is no longer letting people out their road other than those that already have a season pass.

[Weathertite]

Once again I say " Where has the Common Sense Gone " . People need to realize that cones and crosses are put there for their own safety!!!  All it takes is for someone to go through the ice in that spot to screw up the road for everyone else . If they don't care about their own safety they could at least show a little respect and care for the others that also use the lake and the roads.

Mike

[kelly-p]

8 minutes ago, ALEX EYES said:

Did i hear right that beacons is no longer letting people out their road other than those that already have a season pass.

Yes Beacon's has been a closed access after X-Mass Day for a couple years. Only their motel guests, people renting fish houses and 75 season passes. A friend of mine got a season pass in September and it was one of the last ones left. The fishermen seem to really like it this way, quite, peaceful and way less crowded. Also your season pass can be revoked for any bad behavior such as being rude to other fishermen, littering or poaching.

20 minutes ago, Weathertite said:

If they don't care about their own safety they could at least show a little respect and care for the others that also use the lake and the roads.

I would have liked to see Buddy running across the lake. It is hard to believe but once upon a time we were 2 of the out fielders for the Waskish softball team. We could run like the wind and we laughed at the "old people". Look at us now?

[Weathertite]

15 minutes ago, kelly-p said:

Also your season pass can be revoked for any bad behavior such as being rude to other fishermen, littering or poaching

I believe it should be that way for every outfitter up there. We are all there to have fun and enjoy a fabulous fishery , We owe it too our kids , grandkids and Great Grandkids to preserve this fishery for the future.

Mike

[Fishalittle]

That's some scary info Kelly! We stayed home last weekend to let the cold pass, ice thicken, and better fishing reports. Seems we have the same this weekend except maybe the fishing reports will be better! Looks like I better pull the wheelhouse with the 4 Wheeler again and do some ice scouting ahead of the move! Thanks for the report!

 

[Weathertite]

Probably a good idea , You can never be too safe when it comes to Ice Conditions. Not everyone enjoys a polar plunge. Stay safe and stay topside !!! And may your trip be a productive one.

Mike

[kelly-p]

It looks like we have reached the tipping point and are starting to make some ice now. Hillman's has opened up the main road for vehicles out to 4 miles. Beacon's was making the main road further west when I came off the lake a while ago. This puts both roads out into crappie country. 

[kelly-p]

Just came off the lake and the ice looks good. Hillman's main road is now out to 5.4 miles and Buddy says that the next 2 miles look real good for extending the road. Beacon's is now out 5 miles. I could see Westwinds plows extending their road further to the west south of Hillman's road. Beacon's and Hillman's main roads are running parallel straight west and staying 1 mile apart. It is working out good for the fishermen on both roads as there are not any ugly crowds.

  On a side note I took my Granddaughter fishing Saturday. For only her 2nd time ice fishing in her life she did OK. In 1/1/2 hours she hooked 7, lost 3 of those, put a 14 inch back and kept her 3 walleyes. We set up the shallowest of everyone on Beacon's road in 9 1/2 feet of water.  Not a single bite on a bare hook, only 1 bite on a deadstick. Everything on big rattling flyers or big spoons and jigging hard high and pounding the bottom.

[Red Lake Remote]

LISTEN TO YOU ROAD OPERATORS!  Yesterday I had a truckful of young men come pulling up to me on the remote north shore with a full-size pick-up pulling a wheelhouse that left the eastern shore. They drove through or around the cones at the end of the road and where the access told then the safe road ended. Then they wound and weaved around spots of rough ice  and drifts before driving about 30 feet past the ribbons marking the hole where we fished out the half sunk Mazda a few days ago. When I asked them why they thought not a single person was in that 4 miles area they scratched their heads and gave me the good old "we are looking for the crappie spot where the filmed that show last year" . The reason we even noticed them coming was my clients called concerned as the ice was cracking so badly it spooked them, it was that truck crossing the thin ice region over 1/2 mile away that caused the thunderstorm of ice cracking.

Yes the road operators on the North-east shore of the lake have pushed out 5 miles to crappie fishing grounds but there is a reason they have only gone so far, a reason they have put cones at the end of their roads and a reason those of us on the western end of the north shore are not pushing out further yet. The ice still has not formed under the drifted snow enough to safely support a fish house or full-size vehicle and we are not going to risk it with this year's very unpredictable ice conditions. Just last week it wouldn't support a 1/4 ton 2wd drive Mazda, we are not about to go blasting across it with  pick-ups and fish houses.

[bturck]

So did they turn around and head back east on their same track?  Some days you have to wonder how some people get out of bed with hurting themselves

[BringAnExtension]

Hmm, just 3 days ago you were telling me how iffy the ice was in that area.  It is amazing that they made it across.

[jerkbait]

should have told them that the ribbons marked the spot where they filmed the crappies last year.

[Red Lake Remote]

2 hours ago, BringAnExtension said:

Hmm, just 3 days ago you were telling me how iffy the ice was in that area.  It is amazing that they made it across.

I called the road operated and he relayed instructions how to get back safely. Nice guys, just took it for granted.

[shaky legs2]

Doc says Freddie must have marked that spot for Kelly.

[kelly-p]

Hello shaky, I miss you guys out there. With the warmer weather now I'm going to start scouting around in shallow. I can remember a few times that you guys didn't have much over 4 feet of water from the ice to the bottom and Doc did pretty good.  "put in the bucket for me shaky". 

The one very shallow place I have been to was all bog stained water due to the flow coming out of the bog but there are more places to look now that I'm a little more comfortable with the ice. Who knows maybe I'll even have a "flurfie".   So good times and memories.  Take care of yourself down there in all that miserable hot weather.

[Borch]

Hopefully the ice conditions continue to improve.  We would like to chase some crappies again in March.

[Weathertite]

1 hour ago, Borch said:

Hopefully the ice conditions continue to improve.  We would like to chase some crappies again in March.

Amen Brother , We all feel the same way !!!! Crappies would be awesome.

[shaky legs2]

We miss you guys also and Fred.  One of Doc,'S sons has the fish house so maybe you will see it up there.  I am laying in a hospital bed in Plano Texas.  Just had my other hip replaced. We had some great times and memories up there and who knows, maybe we will be up there again. Thank you for all you did for us over the years. You are a class act. I enjoy following Jon's adventures.  Say hello to Patsy, Jim, and of course, Fred from Shaky. 

 

[kelly-p]

8 hours ago, shaky legs2 said:

I am laying in a hospital bed in Plano Texas.  Just had my other hip replaced.

I remember when you had the first one done. You were supposes to stay on smooth floors for 3 weeks. After 1 week you two showed up on the lake to go fishing. The first morning I found you walking down the road with a drink in your hand heading over to the nearest house 1/4 mile away to see how they were doing and visit. I know your Doctor said smooth floors but I do not think he meant  on ice. 

I talked to Buddy Hillman this morning and for this weekend Hillman's main road will coned off at about 5.4 miles. Beyond that he found some ice conditions he was not comfortable with.  

[Fishalittle]

1 hour ago, kelly-p said:

I talked to Buddy Hillman this morning and for this weekend Hillman's main road will coned off at about 5.4 miles. Beyond that he found some ice conditions he was not comfortable with.  

Sounds like plenty of room to roam......spread out everyone so we all have a good time! Should be a great weekend on the ice, not -30 !!!!!!!

[kelly-p]

3 hours ago, Fishalittle said:

Sounds like plenty of room to roam

You're right. Plenty of area that has not been fished all winter for people to spread out over.

Looking at the Modis Sat view from 12-19 it looks like where Buddy coned the road off is about where it shows open water after the ice sheet moved west and then came back across the lake.

[Red Lake Remote]

1 hour ago, kelly-p said:

You're right. Plenty of area that has not been fished all winter for people to spread out over.

Looking at the Modis Sat view from 12-19 it looks like where Buddy coned the road off is about where it shows open water after the ice sheet moved west and then came back across the lake.

Probably the same line I am hitting just south of me. Checked again today and found spots of 8 inches, some 10 and did not venture very far into it. 

[Fishalittle]

Will have to check with Buddy in the morning also but do you think these thinner ice areas are beyond the coned off road or do we have to fear getting away from others in closer as well say the 3-4 mile range heading north off the hillman road? The ice variations this year make me nervous! Gonna be nice this weekend..... Sure hope the fish think they are hungry too!

[kelly-p]

18 minutes ago, Fishalittle said:

but do you think these thinner ice areas are beyond the coned off road

The way Buddy explained it the thinner ice was beyond the cones, beyond the 5.4 miles. Buddy has plowed out to about 6.3 for it to freeze down better.

[shaky legs2]

On 1/21/2016 at 2:22 PM, kelly-p said:

I remember when you had the first one done. You were supposes to stay on smooth floors for 3 weeks. After 1 week you two showed up on the lake to go fishing. The first morning I found you walking down the road with a drink in your hand heading over to the nearest house 1/4 mile away to see how they were doing and visit. I  your Doctor said smooth floors but I do not think he meant  on ice. 

I talked to Buddy Hillman this morning and for this weekend Hillman's main road will coned off at about 5.4 miles. Beyond that he found some ice conditions he was not comfortable with.  

Yeah, I sometimes don't listen to my Drs. or wife's advice.  Went ice fishing 9 days after surgery.  Not real smart.  I was hobbling around on the ice with my cane trying to get some exercise and Doc said, "why don't you go visit some of Kelly's customers". So off I went but nobody was real communicative.  I got back to our house and told Doc that Kelly sure had some boring clients in his houses.  Then I remembered Rule # 1:  Don't talk to Strangers.  LOL!