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Posted

I'm driving up from IL this weekend to spend some time with family that still lives in Owatonna/Faribault.  My Uncle is hoping I can take him fishing on Saturday, but he doesn't get around very well.  Are people driving trucks out on the ice yet? We would likely be on French, Mazaska, or Roberds.

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Posted

Trucks are driving on Roberds Lake.

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Posted

Before I add this, I will state that I am not saying it is safe.  I have not been on any local ice in two weeks and I am merely stating what I saw when I drove around yesterday.

There are vehicles out on Roberds and French.

There are no vehicles out on Mazaska.

All three lakes have had a very unusual freeze up this year.

Stay safe.

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Posted

Fully understand what you mean there.  I appreciate the info guys.  He may have a friend that will give him a lift on a wheeler to get out there.  

Any suggestions on which lake to get him out on?  Probably just going for panfish, Crappies, Perch, etc. 

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Posted

Stop in at Lake Country and look at the white board.  They have more current information than I do right now.

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Posted

Saw a couple of trucks 100 yards off the access  pointed towards the island of cedar lake  yesterday.  I'm still seeing wet slush pockets on the ice on the lakes which doesn't make me to comfortable to be driving yet. 

This lack of driving has kept the pressure off the lakes a little bit and kept them quieter.

 

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Posted

Okay, so we know there are 1/2 tons and 16' permanents on Roberds & French as of Sunday.   It would really be nice to get a real ice measurement for anyone willing to do that for the rest of us.  I can tell you that there are 1/2 tons and 16' permanents on Clear in Waseca as well, but ice measures anywhere from 6"-13" all within a couple hundred yards.

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Posted

We're driving up late tomorrow night and will hit the ice on Friday morning.  I'll post whatever I find for ice thickness and bite after we get going.

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Posted

Any other members going to be out on Friday or Saturday?  We'll stop by and say hi if so.

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Posted

I am going to try and get out to French on Friday. With two young kids this is sadly going to be my first time out this season.  I have a vexilar suit if you want to stop by. 

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Posted

We started on Roberds, but the fishing was awful.  We did measure 14", and there were trucks all over the ice.  We walked out. 

Then we moved over to Cannon and limited out on some really nice Jumbo Perch.  We threw back everything under 10".

Going to hit French tomorrow for some Crappies. 

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Posted

Congrats on the catch and thanks for the report! With a new baby in the house, I haven't had a chance to make it out yet this winter, but hoping that I can snag a day off work toward the end of next week and spend a day on the ice. This is definitely giving me the itch to get out there now!

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Posted

Harpenter -

Thanks for the report.  Guess it means that I am busy when someone from IL has better reports than I do in my own neighborhood.  Hopefully I'll get out sometime this weekend.

 

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Posted

Just got done at French.  We drove my F150 out on that, lots of trucks out.  Got 7 nice Crappie and 2 nice Perch.  Heading back to Cannon now. 

 

Posted

I decided to go off the beaten path and try out Hunt's.  I was immediately marking a number of fish a few feet off the bottom.

Unfortunately, they were all 3 and 4 inch crappies!

 

Crappie.jpg

Posted

I've had plenty of those days.

We had a great trip up there.  Saturday at Cannon wasn't as good, but still managed to pull out another 15 Perch at Cannon.  I was shocked at how much ice there was on Cannon.  We measured one spot at 18"! 

Posted

Sounds like overall you had a pretty good time while you were here.

Posted

Cannon's ice varied greatly if you had 18inches, I measured anywhere from 7-12 inches of good ice on Saturday. 

Posted

Does any one have an ice report from French? Also, is Hoy's Resort letting trucks/fish houses out yet? Any help would be appreciated, trying to get the fam out this weekend

Posted

Was on French today. Drove my truck out. Was scary as hell. Lots of slush where snow drifts are or were. Hope there isn't a big rush to the Lake like last weekend or someone may go threw. Be darn careful if you go. Found 9-14 inches-o ice. Fished for 4hrs. A few sunnys and small perch.

Posted

I got out to a couple lakes this weekend, people are driving everywhere but I would still be careful. I drilled holes and checked as I went, and I always drilled in the deepest snow banks I could find. Most ice I found was 13", the least was 11". People I talked to called it 16 inches, but I don't count the white melted ice/snow layer, my guess is that actually decreases ice strength because of it's weight. My house took on about an inch and a half of water over one night. Again, be really careful in this area, especially with the blizzard coming up. 

Posted

I was on Cannon Sunday, straight out from the boat landing. Saw lots of vehicles out. However, where I set up, I had only 8"-10". 100 feet away I was well over 15". Still walking!

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Posted
2 hours ago, geliason said:

Still walking

Me too.

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Posted
22 hours ago, BringAnExtension said:

Me too.

Same here. A little exercise is a good thing

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Posted

Trouble with most of the lakes in the area you are discussing is there may be 14-18 inches in many spots, then you find spots with a little snow cover and slush and there is less than 10.

I know a few lakes around me like Waconia has 15 inches but there are 6-8 inch spots also under the snow that no one can see. Pretty risky to take a truck out unless you feel darn lucky, not for me. This batch of snow coming now will not help the ice at all.

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Posted

Saw the front end of a truck pulling an ice castle went through on French this weekend... Looked like just the motor compartment was under water and the ice castle was unhooked sitting behind it. Be careful out there

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Posted

I was just about to post this.  The ice is inconsistent on the area lakes, that is the best word I can think of to describe it.  And now there are 10 inches of snow out there.  Be careful.

Still walking ...

Posted

Sorry my days are mixed up with having 2 snows day... the truck went through Wednesday

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • 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.    
    • smurfy
      Off da smoker!😉
    • smurfy
      At least he's got a shirt on! 😊🤣😜
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