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Posted

My family just moved into the new Woodland Cove development off King's Point...  Love It!! 

I have been out on Tonka in the Winter plenty, but never on Halstead.  With the warm up I was thinking about getting out tomorrow.  Has anyone been out there do report ice conditions at all, or give some historical information on the overall ice safety/places to stay away from.  I have to believe there is 6 inches out there by now after this cold snap.  

I will report my findings and how the overall fishing bite goes if I get out there.  

AC

Posted

There is current coming in from the creek so be weary of the ice near that, and be very weary near the channel leading into the rest of Tonka.  There might also be a couple of springs out in the middle of the bay.  People usually don't winter fish Halsteads.   Not sure if it is because of the unsafe ice, or the nasty green water in that bay.

Posted

AnglerAndy - Sent you a PM.

Posted

I did not end up going out on Halsteads for my latest-first outing of the season.  Instead I gave Cooks a try.  I was disappointed. There are more 5-6 inch Perch down there than you can imagine.  I tried two areas and several depths.  I fished a long under water point and a sunken island.  I stayed mainly to the bottom of the break, but also moved up the drop and on top of it.  Once I moved off the bottom of the break the Perch went away, however I did not come up with much.  I did lose something very large that took a small shiner like a freight train.  I assume it was a Big Ol' Pike.  I really thought I would get some late afternoon/dusk Walleye action, but it never came.  I mainly fished in 24-28 feet of water, but also tried 14,16, 22,and 24 feet. This seems to be a format with me and Tonka.  I either do really well, or it is quite bad.   

7-8 inches of good solid clear ice and another 2-3 of slushy stuff on top of that.  

I hope to find them next time.  We should be able to drive soon.      

Posted

Those Perch sound like the ones I've encountered over the years, in Wayzata Bay.  Somewhere, there has to be 9" plus Perch!

Posted

You need to go much shallower than that if you want to catch Walleyes out there...it may be a little late now for the bite to be strong.  But you'd want to target 10' - 15'

I've never caught a walleye on tonka in anything over 20'.  

Posted

Early ice, I'd agree.  This time of year, the few Walleyes I've caught on tip ups, have been in 23-27'.  Med Sucker, about a foot off the bottom.

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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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