St Cloud Area Get Together 2/24/18 - Fishing Reports? Updated 2/21/18

[Borch]

St Cloud Get Together 2/24/18, 8:00 am until you want to leave

The St Cloud Get Together will be on Cedar Island Lake near Richmond.    As of today the ice conditions appear to be excellent with 2 feet or more of good ice in all areas except necked down current areas.  The highlighted routes are being traveled frequently at this point.   The Cedar Island Lake is well known for a great place to catch channel catfish through the ice.  What you may not know is that it is also and excellent spot for catch crappies, walleyes and the infamous party crappie,(rock bass).  Channel cats can be caught on the same gear you use for crappies or walleyes.  Those targeting cats often use pieces of minnows, chicken liver or live minnows.  These baits can be fish under a sensitive bobber or jigged on a small jigging spoon.  Despite there size, channel cats can be very light biters so take that into account.  Crappies can be caught on the usual crappie techniques, including plastics.   So if cats aren't your thing there still the crappies or walleyes to target.    As the name implies, this event is mostly for fun.  It's a great way to meet others from the forum, tell stories, share techniques and maybe even a few fishing spots.  

There will be a potluck about noon with a raffle drawing following lunch.  The plan is to have a fish fry with any donated catfish, crappies or walleyes from the morning.  If folks could pack a fillet knife and a fish cleaning board that would be great.  Also storing fish so they don't freeze makes the cleaning process so much easier.  Bring a dish to pass.  This is a family friendly event so bring the whole family!  I will have some fishing goodies for the kids.

Cedar Island Lake is south of Richmond MN on CR 22 east of Horseshoe lake.  There is a public access about 3 miles south of Hwy 23 on CR 71 that is a good option for cars or wheelhouses as the CR 22 access is a bit steep.  For those who have used the winter access for Horseshoe Lake the Cedar Island winter access is directly across the road from this access.

I look forwards to seeing you all there!

 

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Sounds fun Jeff!, The way the ice has set up this year maybe it will happen after all. I would like to start getting a few prizes together for Biggest Cat, and also a kids division.

Hopefully someone can bring a few good ones to the scales...

[nytelyter]

i want to attend this year and will put it on the calendar been a couple of years since i have been up there

.

[Rick]

I will donate a few goodies. I will send it to @Tom Sawyer if he messages me his address.

[IceHawk]

Thanks Rick! Jeff hope to make it always a good time and laughs when you get a group of great people together. I usally do more jaw jacking  then fishing at these things but for me its just as much fun 

Edited January 16, 2018 by IceHawk

[eyeguy 54]

sounds like a hoot. hope to get there. 

[smurfy]

i might also try getting there. thats the weekend spear chucking closes so if i dont get a chance to get back north that will dictate!

[Rick]

I 'm going to see if I can make it.

[Rick G]

Pretty sure Andrea and myself will be there

[Borch]

Good to hear.  We caught alot of cats last time once we drilled enough holes to find them.

[Tom Sawyer]

On 1/16/2018 at 2:11 PM, Rick said:

I will donate a few goodies. I will send it to @Tom Sawyer if he messages me his address.

Thanks Rick! Would be great if you could make it... 

 Jeff your Nils powerplant really carpet bombed the area & we left no prisoners. The crappie bite that day was fantastic, to say the least.

[Rick]

1 hour ago, Tom Sawyer said:

Thanks Rick! Would be great if you could make it... 

 Jeff your Nils powerplant really carpet bombed the area & we left no prisoners. The crappie bite that day was fantastic, to say the least.

I love that Cool Cats honey hole...  

[mrpike1973]

I'm hoping it works out for me can I be a little late?

[Rick G]

11 hours ago, mrpike1973 said:

I'm hoping it works out for me can I be a little late?

Lol.... you can show up anytime that works for you

[Borch]

11 hours ago, mrpike1973 said:

I'm hoping it works out for me can I be a little late?

Whatever works for you.  Come when you can.

[Borch]

14 hours ago, Tom Sawyer said:

 

 Jeff your Nils powerplant really carpet bombed the area & we left no prisoners. The crappie bite that day was fantastic, to say the least.

Oh I usually drill a lot of holes before I even dig out the rods.  Two years ago I bet  there were well over 100 cats iced.  Willie and his group probably iced 30 themselves. Bite started on the edge of the hole and then the flat took over later.  That has been a pretty consistent pattern out there.

[Matt Johnson]

Ahh yes, the Cool Cats!  I remember the first one!  Glad to hear this is still going on. I spend a lot of time on the Horseshoe Chain, but unfortunately I won't be able to make this event.  However, I would like to donate some items on behalf of Clam Outdoors.  Shoot me an email on where I can send them and I'll get some items sent out... mjohnson at iceteam.com.

Thanks and have fun out there!!

[Tom Sawyer]

Thanks Matt! 

[eyeguy 54]

thanks Matt and thanks Clam! 

[eyeguy 54]

will be there with camera to get pics.  

[IceHawk]

Thanks Matt and Clam!

[Borch]

Thanks Matt and Clam!

[Rick G]

Wow, Thank you, Matt and Clam

[mrpike1973]

Thanks Matt and Clam!

[DTro]

Hey guys, long time no see. 

I’ve been up a few times this winter and had some good times!    Cats sure are fun especially when they are cooperative.    Borch would you mind if I cross promoted this to my Catfishing Facebook Group?   I get a lot of questions about the ice fishing thing and this event is always a great learning time for folks who have never done it before.   I’d like to try and get up there and say hi, but not sure if I’ll be able to make it, but I’ll put it on my calendar, and if so I have a bunch of stuff I could donate as well.   Here’s a quick vid that a friend of mine put together from this past Sat. 

 

[Rick G]

Welcome back, Dtro  Great video, as always

[Borch]

1 hour ago, DTro said:

Hey guys, long time no see. 

I’ve been up a few times this winter and had some good times!    Cats sure are fun especially when they are cooperative.    Borch would you mind if I cross promoted this to my Catfishing Facebook Group?   I get a lot of questions about the ice fishing thing and this event is always a great learning time for folks who have never done it before.   I’d like to try and get up there and say hi, but not sure if I’ll be able to make it, but I’ll put it on my calendar, and if so I have a bunch of stuff I could donate as well.  

 

That would be great Darren!  It's fun getting people on their first cat through the ice.  Hope you can make it.

[The Chemist]

Can't believe that it has been 16+yrs since the 1st gathering.

So wish i could make it out that weekend. 

[Borch]

I missed the first few.  Great time every year we're able to have it.

Would be great to see you again.

[eyeguy 54]

@Borch    could you do a post as to some techniques to try for us catfish rookies?  Jigs, bobbers and bait info. Thanks!