Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

[gim]

On 12/17/2022 at 5:31 PM, monstermoose78 said:

anyone been out ? I am hoping next weekend when things firm up.

I got some more roosters yesterday in the fresh snow.  Really long tail feathers on these birds.

 

The previous layer of snow melted into slush and never re-froze.  The new snow on top is insulating it.  Every step I went through snow and then into slush.  With a new storm coming in tomorrow and another 5-8 inches expected, that slush will be there all winter.

Edited December 20, 2022 by gimruis

[smurfy]

well i hope they were roosters and not hens!!!!!!!!!!!! just giving ya a bad time G!!!!!!!!!!!

 

are you seeing alot or any hens????????????

[gim]

13 minutes ago, smurfy said:

are you seeing alot or any hens

Yes.  The second spot had about 40 hens and 4 roosters (I got 2 of them).  The majority of birds I am seeing now are hens.

Edited December 20, 2022 by gimruis

[monstermoose78]

Got out fishing and found about 10 inches of ice that includes the frozen slush. Fished for about 3 hours and kept 9 gills and a crappie for my grandma she having them tomorrow. The pike was released for all cyber game wardens!! 

[gim]

One final outing on Sat, 12/31/22 for a couple hours.  The snow is very deep in many locations.  The only habitat worth hunting was pines and standing corn, and that's exactly where I found the birds.  Had enough energy to hit three spots.  Raised 22 hens, 1 rooster, and 3 wild turkeys.  I got the rooster.

 

There is quite a bit of standing corn that was never harvested in this area, so there will be a food source for deer, turkeys, and pheasants all winter.  Plus there's a lot more trees than there is out west for cover/wind blocks.  This is the most snow we've had by New Years since 2011.  And there's more coming this week too.

Edited January 3, 2023 by gimruis

[monstermoose78]

Details regarding my earlier post. Depth was between 14-17 feet best jig was 4 mm wonder bread with a white with red flake maki mino the 1” one with the tip pinched off to shorten the presentation. I did get fish on the 3 mm gold with mayflies nymphs in pink, purple, natural and white. PS I did get a warning for parking in a parking spot at the public access and some did not get warnings. How do I know the isanti deputy was putting them on trucks as I was walking off the lake. I asked to talk to him and he told me no he did not have to talk to me. My warning was for parking In between the signs, but was in a parking spot. Now if this was a ticket I would fight it as it said all my information correct except my gender was wrong  

[monstermoose78]

How is everyone doing fishing?

[smurfy]

11 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

How is everyone doing fishing?

other than my trip up to the cabin around new years, i havent been out around here yet........i dont trust driving on the ice yet!!!!!!!!!

[monstermoose78]

3 hours ago, smurfy said:

other than my trip up to the cabin around new years, i havent been out around here yet........i dont trust driving on the ice yet!!!!!!!!!

Same here 

[gim]

6 hours ago, smurfy said:

i dont trust driving on the ice yet!!!!!!!!!

Its quite possible that driving on certain lakes with a full size truck may not be attainable all winter.  The amount of ice varies greatly, plus slush, and now 2 feet of snow on top adding insulation.  Unless you have access to plowed roads on a lake, getting around in a vehicle is not realistic.  I know certain ice anglers that prefer it this way, because as soon as everyone starts driving out there, the bite shuts down with all the noise.

 

Looking ahead, I don't see any arctic cold fronts either and January is typically the coldest time of year.  There is a thaw on tap this weekend.

[Wanderer]

We’ll be heading up to smurfy’s neck of the woods again this weekend for an event.  I worked last weekend.

 

Friends have been out but most reports were a slow bite with the exception of the border (west).  
 

Plowed roads around Brainerd are becoming more commonplace with some plow for hire guys on some lakes.

[monstermoose78]

I agree driving on lakes around here is going to rough going. The one it does is keep the pressure lower on the lakes.  I do worry about the old timers that can’t get out do physical conditions, but I will be going out to try to get them some fish if they want. 

[smurfy]

3 hours ago, Wanderer said:

We’ll be heading up to smurfy’s neck of the woods again this weekend for an event.  I worked last weekend.

 

Friends have been out but most reports were a slow bite with the exception of the border (west).  
 

Plowed roads around Brainerd are becoming more commonplace with some plow for hire guys on some lakes.

You just miss your chair

 

Good luck sir!!

[smurfy]

On 1/11/2023 at 5:08 PM, Wanderer said:

We’ll be heading up to smurfy’s neck of the woods again this weekend for an event.  I worked last weekend.

 

Friends have been out but most reports were a slow bite with the exception of the border (west).  
 

Plowed roads around Brainerd are becoming more commonplace with some plow for hire guys on some lakes.

You headed out of highbanks or on the south end??

How are the new owners of highbanks??

Edited January 13, 2023 by smurfy

[Wanderer]

1 hour ago, smurfy said:

You headed out of highbanks or on the south end??

How are the new owners of highbanks??

Highbanks again.  Hardwater Kampers 4th annual gathering there.  This will be our second time attending.  More my wife’s thing but it should be interesting enough for me too.  They have vendors row for selling wheelhouse type things, food truck, raffles, poker run, etc.

 

220 confirmed registrations.  Kind of a big deal.  
 

I’ll try to get us back on good fish but might have to just be happy with what we get.

[smurfy]

11 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Highbanks again.  Hardwater Kampers 4th annual gathering there.  This will be our second time attending.  More my wife’s thing but it should be interesting enough for me too.  They have vendors row for selling wheelhouse type things, food truck, raffles, poker run, etc.

 

220 confirmed registrations.  Kind of a big deal.  
 

I’ll try to get us back on good fish but might have to just be happy with what we get.

so your wife gets to go shopping!!!!!!! to trick out your castle!!!!!!

[Kettle]

12 hours ago, Wanderer said:

 

 

220 confirmed registrations.  Kind of a big deal.  

Note to self: stay away from Winnie this weekend

[Wanderer]

1 hour ago, smurfy said:

so your wife gets to go shopping!!!!!!! to trick out your castle!!!!!!

She want an entirely new one!  Glad they aren’t selling those there!

 

25 minutes ago, Kettle said:

Note to self: stay away from Winnie this weekend

 

If I lived there, I would too.

 

I know we’re part of the problem but this wheelhouse explosion and ever expanding resort road systems are taking over too much ice IMO.

 

But happy wife/happy life, right?

[smurfy]

1 hour ago, Wanderer said:

She want an entirely new one!  Glad they aren’t selling those there!

 

 

If I lived there, I would too.

 

I know we’re part of the problem but this wheelhouse explosion and ever expanding resort road systems are taking over too much ice IMO.

 

But happy wife/happy life, right?

got that right!!!!!!!!!

[Kettle]

2 hours ago, Wanderer said:

She want an entirely new one!  Glad they aren’t selling those there!

 

 

If I lived there, I would too.

 

I know we’re part of the problem but this wheelhouse explosion and ever expanding resort road systems are taking over too much ice IMO.

 

But happy wife/happy life, right?

Part of a problem? Not at all. Tourism helps a lot of local businesses. If I had a family I'd have a wheelhouse, great way to bond and get out of the house. 

My only worry is live forward facing sonar. Yes, I have one but have only kept 10 crappies this winter. When live sonar becomes more affordable and more widespread we'll definitely have to push responsibilities with our resources and not over harvest.

Enjoy your time in the Northland! We're happy to have you!

[smurfy]

3 hours ago, Kettle said:

Part of a problem? Not at all. Tourism helps a lot of local businesses. If I had a family I'd have a wheelhouse, great way to bond and get out of the house. 

My only worry is live forward facing sonar. Yes, I have one but have only kept 10 crappies this winter. When live sonar becomes more affordable and more widespread we'll definitely have to push responsibilities with our resources and not over harvest.

Enjoy your time in the Northland! We're happy to have you!

hay bubba....who you calling a tourist???????

Edited January 13, 2023 by smurfy

[Kettle]

@smurfy

Wander is BLA isn't he?

You're a metro area guy, correct?

[Mike89]

yea he lives in the big city of Cold Springs Mn..    he can get lost there!!!   

[smurfy]

Not sure what BLA Means kettle?? Wanderer is from the little falls area. Me like Mikey said I live in Cold Spring. 15 miles west of st cloud. 

 

And I've probably been catching fish up there before you where a twinkle in your dad's eyes!!

[smurfy]

34 minutes ago, Mike89 said:

yea he lives in the big city of Cold Springs Mn..    he can get lost there!!!   

Haha,. I know where the bakery, grocery store, liquor store and gas station is . Where else do I need to go!!

 

[Wanderer]

38 minutes ago, smurfy said:

Haha,. I know where the bakery, grocery store, liquor store and gas station is . Where else do I need to go!!

 

Bait shop???

 

BLA is Brainerd Lakes Area.  Kinda on the edge of it it the grand scheme of things.

 

Hahaha… he called you a metro guy….

Edited January 14, 2023 by Wanderer

[smurfy]

11 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Bait shop???

 

BLA is Brainerd Lakes Area.  Kinda on the edge of it it the grand scheme of things.

 

Hahaha… he called you a metro guy….

Bait shop is in the gas station!!

 

I know kinda hurt my feelings!!

[Wanderer]

6 hours ago, Kettle said:

 

My only worry is live forward facing sonar. Yes, I have one but have only kept 10 crappies this winter. When live sonar becomes more affordable and more widespread we'll definitely have to push responsibilities with our resources and not over harvest.

Enjoy your time in the Northland! We're happy to have you!

Thanks!

 

And yeah, I’ve worried about the tech too.  Every advantage matters but I’m living the argument of you can see em but can’t always make them bite.

 

2 weeks ago I credited the Mega Live specifically for some catches including the big one.  I’ve seen a dozen so far this evening and got one 14.5 incher.  Some big marks too.  That 14.5 took a solid couple minutes to eat, then just sat there.  After a few minutes it finally moved so my wife set the hook.  Perfect lip hook.  Crappie minnow on a crappie jig.  Smallest offering down there.

[Kettle]

1 hour ago, smurfy said:

Not sure what BLA Means kettle?? Wanderer is from the little falls area. Me like Mikey said I live in Cold Spring. 15 miles west of st cloud. 

 

And I've probably been catching fish up there before you where a twinkle in your dad's eyes!!

Probably, my first time fishing in the area was likely at age two so 34 years ago

[fishingstar]

o man you don't know how old this guy really is.