Late-ice fishing reports and ice conditions

[trebormorgan]

It's Thursday, March 23rd, and we're still running four wheelers on many of the lakes north of Brainerd. The panfish action was hot last weekend, especially up in the shallow spikes close to deep water. The small cold-snap that hit early in the week seemed to slow the bite and push some fish out on the breaks that lead to shallow spikes. It's a special time of year. I watched my brother release multiple slabs over 14", multiple walleyes over 20", and some nice bass, all while fishing in 5 ft of water. It doesn't happen to us often, but it last weekend it was hard to find the eater-size crappies. Almost every fish was over 13". Good times. 

 

How's everyone else doing out there?  Any new suggestions on panfish presentations, jigs, plastics..etc?

 

Good luck to all that get out on the last ice, and be safe!

[ozzie]

would love to get out before the ice season disappears but life has been so busy that I don't think it will happen but I am trying to get things in order for open water and the early crappie season!  Good Luck and keep the reports coming for those of us dreaming we were out fishing!!

[Wanderer]

Yes, good report!

 

I travelled 210 from Brainerd to Duluth and see the ice is getting dark but has only pulled away from shore in a few areas.  I didn't see anyone fishing but did see a few auger piles on the ice.  The piles suggested maybe 10-12 inches of ice.  It'll go soon.

 

One thing for sure is the stores are DONE with the ice season.  I picked up some custom rods from Northlander and want to put reels on em for this weekend but can't find any in lines anywhere!  Called around too.  Same story - all packed away to get the summer stuff out.

[smartguy]

White Sand had 12 inches last Monday when I fished it.  ice cracked and began shifting a few days ago.  Interesting year as ice is still tight to shoreline, but some of those cracks that developed a few days ago are up anywhere from a foot to 5 feet wide now.   

 

I'm done. was hoping to hit N.Long one last time but not worth the risk anymore.

 

 

[Wanderer]

There's still driveable ice in the Ely area.

[trebormorgan]

I'm hanging it up for the season as well. Yesterday we hit 371 bay of North Long. The walk in was a bit spooky. The ice is very rotten. It takes about 8 toe kicks to make a hole hole through the ice. 

 

With that being said, the 371 bay is the first of the area lakes to freeze and first to melt. So, I think it's reasonable to say that a guy can still get out on larger lakes, like Round, Gull, or Pelican. That's just my two cents. 

 

It was a great year with many memoirs made. Good luck to those that still make it out, and again, be safe!

[AlwaysFishing23]

Sounds like putting the gear away wasn't a bad idea. Didn't relize the ice has deteriorated that much. Guess I've been to caught up in thinking about summer. Sounding like maybe get the boat out next weekend hard to say yet would like to get it on the water first as possibly taking it to lake superior in a few weeks. Thanks all for the reports keep em coming. Ooh forgot drove past crow wing lake yesterday and the north side was melted a ways from shore and away from the reeds. Just in a few hours the ice turned from white-black to dark black. With the temps forcasted it shouldn't take long now.

Edited March 27, 2017 by AlwaysFishing23

[smartguy]

People falling through the ice on local lakes today: http://www.brainerddispatch.com/video/agfmkDlh

[trebormorgan]

That wasn't the size of lake I expected to be safe, but still. 

 

500 ft from shore and they got a ladder to him?  Well, I'm glad he made it out safe.  Either way, thanks to the man above looking after. 

 

I'm surprised the media didn't blow this one out of proportion.