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Posted

Some good memories from that side of the lake.  Miss stopping at Shakys though for a cocktail and John Cash.

we had your big 6 man house this past Thurs/Friday Kelly.  It was a good time.  Say hi to Patsy, hope she is feeling better.

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Posted

Thank you for the current update Kelly-p.

Mike

Posted
11 hours ago, kelly-p said:

 The ice looks real good now. Nobody has found any questionable ice for a while. The thinnest being found is 15 inches under deep drifts. Most places are 17 to 20 inches.

  Beacons is now out 6 miles. To give everyone more room Hillman's is 7 miles straight out until the road hits some rough ice coming from the south where the road turns to the NW for another 2 1/2 miles so it is 9 1/2 miles to the end of Hillman's road. Where I was scouting tonight about 7 miles out cross country travel was pretty easy if you watch out for the rough ice patches. This extension of Hillman's main road opens up over 6 square miles of lake that has not been fished.

 

You're killin me Kelly!!   Sounds like perfect conditions!

I may have to come up with some type of flu one of these days and run up for a couple days with the sled.  May have to sleep in the Otter or truck but I'm thinkin it'd be worth it.  I've only got 1 open weekend between now and the middle of April, and thats in March after eye's close.  I gotta get up and redeem myself after the last trip :) 

Posted

Kelly- How is the travel off road?  Able to get around if you pick and choose wisely?  Thanks.

Posted

Thanks for all of the good information.  I am heading up tonight and based on this info, am considering using Hillman's road to get to some of my north shore spots.  I have not seen many positive fishing reports from up there.  I'm guessing that's because access has been questionable to this point, so not a lot of information is coming in.  I did well out of JR's on the south side 10 days ago.  Fishing is fishing - no sure things anywhere you go.  But debating whether I go back to spots on the south side where I did well recently or take a chance on the north end for change of scenery. 

Posted
3 hours ago, aczr2k said:

Kelly- How is the travel off road?  Able to get around if you pick and choose wisely?  Thanks.

The only place I had trouble yesterday was by some rough ice where the drifts were deeper. Picking my way around the drifts most places had about 5 inches.

 

6 hours ago, Xplorer said:

 I gotta get up and redeem myself after the last trip 

Your last trip really ran into some bad ice. I had not even driven on the lake when you were up. Yesterday when I was heading out to scout I saw the house you usually have about 100 feet from where I had scouted and done well the night before. It was the point of the spear into unfished waters.

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Posted

I was out this weekend off of Hillman's road about 7 miles then ventured cross country about three quarters of a mile to the north. We had a constant bite from 8am til noon on Saturday, the evening bite was nothing to brag about and a few caught this morning before packing up and heading off. We did leave the lake with our 3 person limit of all 14" fish. Woke up and couldn't believe how foggy it was. The ice where we dropped the house was 17", it was nice just to venture away from the traffic finally.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • JerkinLips
      Currently just to my Facebook family and friends.  I could start a topic on this fishing forum but it could be quite boring.  Didn't catch a laker on 3 trips to Burntside last winter.  Did have good fishing on Vermilion-Trout in the BWCA in early January but that can be very difficult travel.
    • Hookmaster
      That is one chunky 22" walleye!!
    • smurfy
    • monstermoose78
      Went to Mille Lacs with my dad and ended up with 17 perch and one tullipee. That was on Sunday we fished hard and I burned through 3 9 amp batteries I would say about 25 holes per battery through 32-36 inches of ice. 
    • mbeyer
      i'd like to read about your lake trout trips....do you post them somewhere?
    • smurfy
      🤣 not fer some of us!!!!!!!!!!
    • smurfy
      i couldnt find it.....but maybe???
    • leech~~
      Looks great! Thought we started a smoker thread?  🤔
    • leech~~
      Well, that's not getting 10 years old now is it!  🥱🥱
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across Big Traverse Bay, with resorts and outfitters still in full swing offering both day houses and sleeper fish houses. The bite in February has been excellent, with lots of fish being caught and plenty of opportunities for fresh fish fries. Some ice roads are now extending over 20 miles out, keeping anglers on productive schools of walleyes and saugers. Ice conditions continue to build, making this one of the best late-season ice years in recent memory. If you’re fishing on your own, bring an auger extension, as ice thickness is significant. Most fish houses are positioned over deep mud, while some remain on or near structure. As always, expect to sort through some smaller fish, but that’s a good sign of a healthy fishery. With fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th, the extended season on Lake of the Woods offers plenty of time to plan your trip. Pike fishing never closes, and with the thick ice conditions, this year is shaping up to be fantastic for targeting trophy pike. March: The Go-To Month for Trophy Pike March is prime time for big northern pike, as these aggressive predators begin staging for the upcoming spawn. Lake of the Woods is loaded with pike over 40 inches, and tip-up fishing can be lights out this time of year. Anglers targeting pike should set baits under tip-ups in shallow water (6-15 feet) near pre-spawn areas, weedy areas, river mouths, or back bays. Current Fishing Depths & Patterns: Most fish are being caught in 26-32 feet of water. Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, eelpout, pike, tullibees, and even some crappies are in the mix. Suspended walleyes are showing up—watch electronics closely. Plenty of limits are being caught, with many anglers taking home bonus perch this season. Best Techniques: Jigging Line: Jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head continue to be the top producer. Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap-style lures are also working well for aggressive fish. Lures with built-in lights have been very effective in the stained water (Reminder: In Minnesota, lighted lures are legal as long as the battery is mercury-free and the hook is attached directly to the lure, not on a dropper line). Deadstick: A plain hook or small jig with a live minnow, set 6 inches to a foot off the bottom, continues to catch neutral or less aggressive fish. Time of Day: Bite windows vary daily. Some days, mornings are best; other days, the afternoon bite turns on. Walleyes can move through at any time, so staying patient and watching electronics is key. On the Rainy River...  Mornings and evenings continue to be the best times for targeting walleyes. A jig and minnow or jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head remains the go-to presentation. Sturgeon fishing has been solid, with some giants being iced (Reminder: The current sturgeon season is catch-and-release). Safety Note: Ice conditions on the Rainy River are good, but they can change rapidly due to current. Always check with resorts or outfitters before heading out. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing remains excellent throughout the islands region of Lake of the Woods. Resorts are moving fish houses regularly, keeping guests on active schools of walleyes. Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees. Big crappies continue to be caught just over the border in Canada. If you're interested in targeting crappies, check with a NW Angle resort for guide services and ice conditions. Plan Your Ice Fishing Adventure! Lake of the Woods offers an extended ice fishing season, with:  Fish houses allowed overnight through March 31st  Walleye & sauger season open through April 14th  Pike season never closes—March is prime time for trophies!  Perch and crappie seasons open year-round Whether you’re looking for a day house rental, a sleeper fish house, or comfortable lodging at a resort with or without a meal plan, there’s still time to plan your late-season ice fishing adventure.    
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