Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hello everyone. Just moved back to MN (St Cloud) from CA and id love to take my kids ice fishing (theyve never been) before theres no more ice left. Looking for suggestions on a lake close to St Cloud, easy on, easy off for a few hours of fishing to get them out there.

Any help would be appreciated.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

Welcome to the site :).

Pearl, Grand, Pleasant, Briggs Chain, and the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes are all great options. Good Luck, and keep us posted on how you do.

I would suggest walking out after the temps we've had yesterday.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Welcome to FM JSenn.  have fun out there!

Posted

Goodners would be an easy walk out for the kids and close to St Cloud.   Decent panfish lake for the kids. 

 Lots of options on the chain, just be careful if you are not familiar with the area.  

 

Lastly, one of my favorites with less crowd is Sag at St John's. No gas augers and walk out only.  Good panfish Lake.  Bit of a walk, though.

 

I agree, leave the vehicle on dry land and use good old fashion legs!

If you want to just catch numbers for the kids and don't care what you catch, PM me and I'll send you a map with mark for a perch spot on the chain. 10 min walk out from public access.   Small fish but you can catch fish on every drop.  Fun for the kids.  

 

Welcome back to the area!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

Welcome to Fishing Mn JSenn:)

I will add the Julia,  Beaver and Carnilian to the list.  

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted (edited)
15 hours ago, JSenn said:

Hello everyone. Just moved back to MN (St Cloud) from CA and id love to take my kids ice fishing (theyve never been) before theres no more ice left. Looking for suggestions on a lake close to St Cloud, easy on, easy off for a few hours of fishing to get them out there.

Any help would be appreciated.

JSenn, what do you have for Ice fishing gear? Not sure how old the kids are but bring snacks, drinks and lots of warm stuff for them, chairs to sit on etc. Don't want them turned off on their first ever Ice trip if Dad is not prepared. Good Luck.

Edited by leech~~
Posted

Thank you all. I was reading reports of some decent crappie action on Pleasant. The panfish is mostly what im looking for since its the kids' first time and panfish are always fun.

Right now I have no gear but a trip to Fleet Farm will fix that. I grew up in MN and my Dad is a very avid fisherman. Last time I went ice fishing though was a few years ago my dad and I spent three nights in a shack in Zippel Bay. I definitely plan on bringing snacks etc...

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Beaver is a good option also.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted
14 hours ago, JSenn said:

Thank you all. I was reading reports of some decent crappie action on Pleasant. The panfish is mostly what im looking for since its the kids' first time and panfish are always fun.

Right now I have no gear but a trip to Fleet Farm will fix that. I grew up in MN and my Dad is a very avid fisherman. Last time I went ice fishing though was a few years ago my dad and I spent three nights in a shack in Zippel Bay. I definitely plan on bringing snacks etc...

I would head over to Fleet soon before all the Ice stuff is gone or the Ice is! :(

Posted

If it's gone or you just to much to buy all at once let us know.  Cannot speak for anyone else, but I'll be glad to help you get your kids out on the ice if it's still safe.  

 

I know how much my kids love going and am happy to share so other kids can go and learn to fish!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

Thank you all so much. I have to work a lot of overtime this weekend so this weekend is a bust, hoping the ice will hold for a couple more weeks, if not theres plenty of fishing in the summer.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

I would say we are in for some new record ice outs. Hard to believe last years ice out dates will be beat.

Unreal winter, or should I say lack there of.......

Bring out the planks, wadders, ladders, and canoes. I'm looking forward to open water around those west and north shorelines first. Ice fishing at it's BEST!

Then bring out the long rods :D

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

Yea, I think the ice will be in rough shape localy if the 10 day forcast holds true. The lake I was on yesterday only had about 12in of ice left. There are a few lakes to the west of town that have around 15-20 inches left....but that will go quick if there is rain and wind.  I'm not quite ready to give up on ice fishing.... but am looking forward to warmer days spent on the river:)

  • Thumbs Up 3
Posted

If you have vacation time, next week would be a good time to use it. ;)  The best part about this time of year....no bugs!

Nels

Posted
9 hours ago, Rick G said:

  I'm not quite ready to give up on ice fishing.... but am looking forward to warmer days spent on the river:)

Amen. I'm anxiously waiting for carp and suckers to start biting.

Posted

welcome, all good lakes mentioned, the 3 spunk lakes in Avon will put out fish, 

pm if you want any info

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • 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! 😊🤣😜
    • leech~~
      Sounds like a nice last day.  I like how you photoshop a different shirt on that same picture the last few years!  🤣
    • JerkinLips
      Beautiful day on Vermilion Sunday for the last day of walleye season.  Lots of people were fishing in portables, or out in the open.  Was entertaining watching many of the wheel and skid houses being pulled off of the lake.  Checked half a dozen spots where wheel houses were removed and didn't find any trash at all.  Sounds like people are getting the message.  I may go out on the lake when the snow is melted to do a further check and cleanup if needed.   Fishing was average for this time of the year.  Had a decent bite from 2pm to 4pm when I caught my biggest eye (pictured 22 inch).  Decent finish to a good season.  Now on to lake trout fishing.   Hope everyone had an enjoyable and successful ice fishing season.  Going to be a long time before this year's open water season.  
    • smurfy
      Thanks Kettle! I'll bring mine with but won't be until  mid march
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.