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Posted

Horseshoe is frozen over but is only 1" thick.   I did see a gut up near Brainerd walking out on a small lake to fish.   Hopefully is will cool down to get out there.   Long range forcast does not look good.

 

Don

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Posted

was frozen.   its open again

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Based on the forecast, Horseshoe should be fishable in certain areas by the weekend, next week for sure.

 

Don

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Posted

Thanks for the update, Don:)

Posted

Ice is not as good as i expected this morning.   Went out 30 feet and only found 1 inch.   Was 1 inch a week ago in the same spot.   The wind is also keeping open areas that are main transportation areas.    

  Shoe is looking like it is setting up to be very dangerous ice if you do not know the lake or you are not familiar with how the ice is forming now.    I am warning everyone now you are going to have areas where you have 6 inches then a foot away it may only have 1 or 2.   The 3 pictures I have posted are:

one is open water by my shoreline which is always frozen. Next one is facing northwest looking to the meth hole which is open water.   And the last is to the south which is completely ice covered.

The ice access off 22 has open water.

 

Just wanted to warn everyone to keep them safe.

 

Don

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Posted

Thank you, Don!  You saved me a trip out there tomorrow

Posted

ice update.    2" on areas that were frozen.    Less than 1:" on ice that has recently formed.   Entire lake covered.

 

Don

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Posted

Thank you!

 

Posted

Thanks for the update. I was out there yesterday and saw a lot of whitecaps. Quite a few other lakes in the area were no different.

Posted

Thank you for the updates. 

Posted

Went out this morning to check the ice on both sides of my peninsula.    Found ice anywhere from 1-4".   The area  found 1" i did not expect it.   There are also small ice heave air pockets with only 1 or 2" of ice on them and open water underneath.   Now with the fresh snow is is very hard to distinguish these little heaves or thin ice.   I am going to wait a few more days here yet and I know the ice here well.   I heard a report of a 4 wheeler on shoe, this is more than stupid.

 

No fish is worth your life.  Be safe

 

Don

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Posted

Thanks again, Don. Really do appreciate the updates!

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Posted

Good share. I'm really itching to get out on some of those local lakes. I was thinking of trying today but I'm going to hold off now.

Posted
43 minutes ago, Horseshoe_Don said:

Went out this morning to check the ice on both sides of my peninsula.    Found ice anywhere from 1-4".   The area  found 1" i did not expect it.   There are also small ice heave air pockets with only 1 or 2" of ice on them and open water underneath.   Now with the fresh snow is is very hard to distinguish these little heaves or thin ice.   I am going to wait a few more days here yet and I know the ice here well.   I heard a report of a 4 wheeler on shoe, this is more than stupid.

 

No fish is worth your life.  Be safe

 

Don

With the snow that fell last night, that literally is glued to the ice from the warm temps and light rain; and now seeing more in the forecast, it's sure setting up to be a very dangerous early ice season out there. Even Mud didn't freeze well. Only about an 1.5" a hundred yds from the road on Saturday. YIKES!

Posted

Great current updates.  

 

Don-when the wife and I make a trip up for cats I'd be more than willing to drop off some bear sausage from Von Hanson's for your updates:grin:

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

I went out on Horseshoe on Sunday and where the ice remained from the first freeze it is a solid 6 in.  Where it recently froze over last week its was 3 inches at best.  Now that we have snow cover it will be hard to find that line.  I was out with the wheeler on sunday but stayed on the "old" ice that I knew was "safe".  I wouldn't use a wheeler from the access or go exploring quite yet. 

Plan on heading back out Thursday and will try and give an update

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Posted
6 hours ago, Reel_Magic said:

I went out on Horseshoe on Sunday and where the ice remained from the first freeze it is a solid 6 in.  Where it recently froze over last week its was 3 inches at best.  Now that we have snow cover it will be hard to find that line.  I was out with the wheeler on sunday but stayed on the "old" ice that I knew was "safe".  I wouldn't use a wheeler from the access or go exploring quite yet. 

Plan on heading back out Thursday and will try and give an update

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I found exactly the same thing today. It was a steady 5" walking to the fishing spot. 3" of ice on the spot, if that. Cracks everywhere. Water pushing out of holes I had drilled. Not good.

Posted

Drove out the wheeler on the thickest ice.  Fishing for the first time. Had a solid 7" here.  But 50 yards away only 3".

 

Don

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Posted

was able to drive a wheeler across cedar island tonight.   Found 5" on the south side.   That was the thinnest on that side of the lake.

 

Don

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Posted
10 hours ago, Horseshoe_Don said:

was able to drive a wheeler across cedar island tonight.   Found 5" on the south side.   That was the thinnest on that side of the lake.

 

Don

This cold snap we are having should help things out:)

Posted

Anybody know what ice is like getting up to the meth hole?  I'm hoping to get out Saturday... anybody else going to be out?

Posted

I have not been that way but all of the last areas to freeze have 5" of ice so I would assume there is that much.   I saw people in that basin several days ago that walked out there.

 

Thats all I know.

 

Don

Posted

Walleye action has been very active this week.  Caught 8 the last 2 times out.  The largest about 4 pounds.  The crappie was 12"

 

Don

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

nice job!

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN
Posted (edited)

Nice Job Don!  What technique and depths have  been working for you? Been finding quite a few myself on the other end from you and number 4 slab raps have been the ticket in 10-14 ft.  

Edited by IceHawk
Posted

16-20 fow.   Crappie minnows with small glow jigs such as mini sweedish pimple or ones like that.   tease them and they get pissed and bite.   Kinda like playing keep away.

 

Don

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted
3 hours ago, Horseshoe_Don said:

Walleye action has been very active this week.  Caught 8 the last 2 times out.  The largest about 4 pounds.  The crappie was 12"

 

Don

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Great looking fish Don! Targeted crappies today on an area lake, great time when you have a Christmas Tree on the Vexilar that continually wants to attack. This upcoming cold snap will probably throw a wrench at things for a while, from your report it has drove those eyes a bit deeper, but the trade off will be a much safer ice pack.

  • Thumbs Up 3
Posted

My take from last evening. Found mine shallow, 6-8ft and this goofy gill that thought it was a walleye...took the ripin rap

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • carlsonmn
      That was a better study compared to last winter when they setup the vertical tube nets and tried to release exhausted fish from being studied and expected them to be able to swim straight down a 3' hoop net.     That lake's crappie population from this latest video was pretty deep at 40-50', and no doubt from those depths that is barotrauma for most.  That is deeper than most crappie holes but certainly how some are. However from helping give fish a good release from the 35' and less range and tracking them with live sonar most of them swim at a shallow angle back to the depths and I watch them rejoin the school and be active.  Uncut Angling's video helped counter some of the initial narrow findings.  
    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
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    • JerkinLips
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    • leech~~
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