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Posted

Has anyone been on the lakes up the trail this week? Wondering what the snow/slush conditions are, and if the warmer weather has gotten rid of some snow?  This weekend doesn't look like it's going to work for lake of the woods, so I'm hoping maybe I can still catch some trout instead.

Posted

I just got home from a winter camping / fishing trip into Ima Lake east of Ely, and the conditions are deteriorating rapidly. We came out a day early due to predictions of rain on Tuesday and it's a good thing we did...lake travel could have gotten really interesting (read almost impossible) by day's end on Tuesday. Snow was baked / melted down to the frozen slush layer from the week's previous cold snap, pools of water were accumulating in places, and the slush layer was starting to break down in some spots.

Based on conditions I found on Gunflint lakes in early January, I doubt they are any better, and likely worse. It's going to be an early ice out!

Posted

Conditions are probably still really variable from lake to lake. I was out on Gunflint on Sat and conditions were great, 18" of ice with little to no slush around the west end of the lake. I hit up Clearwater a few weeks back and it was a slush pool, while W Bearskin was fine. Seagull was decent in Feb, pockets of slush here and there. The larger lakes froze late and while they don't have nearly the ice cover as a normal year, they seem to be in better shape for travel, while the smaller ones had varying levels of slush in areas.  It looked like they got quite a bit of rain in the seagull/sag/gunflint area yesterday, so not sure on the immediate conditions.

Posted

Things were in great shape when we set out from the Snowbank access on Thursday, and as of Saturday on Ima conditions were still ideal, probably similiar to what you were seeing on Gunflint...great skiable crust and a locked up slush layer that was well frozen on top of the original 6-7" of solid ice. Easy to move around the lake and relatively easy hole drilling. Sunday was when the warm front moved in and things started to change. By late Monday afternoon when we finished the last bit of skiing back to the access on Snowbank, there was water everywhere on top and the frozen slush layer was getting a little soft. We stayed overnight in Ely, and on the drive home Tuesday morning, all the lakes we drove past looked like a complete mess. Judging by the forecast, you probably won't fall in anywhere this weekend, but bring your waders!

Posted

Yeah, looks like I'll be calling it a season :cry: I'd have my kids with, so I don't want to mess with any slush.  What a season (or lack thereof), I purposely took my vacation a week early this year to avoid this. Oh well. 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Ice conditions have drastically improved over the past week with colder temperatures at night stiffening things up. I was out on Sag yesterday and any slushy areas had frozen solid and travel was perfect. If a person wanted to get out one last time for trout, Cook County's probably the spot.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted

Matt,   thanks for the report from the Trail.

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  • 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
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