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Posted

Anyone have an open water/ice report for the chain? I'd assume it's open but that is further north than I've been since February. Headed to riverside on opener for the first time. 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

no ice left. :)

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN
Posted

Ice free water temps are running about 58-60 degrees right now. Current flow in the river and channels is at a medium rate.  Bad thing is the water is very stained right now clarity is almost like coffee. Hopeing things clear up soon crazy last year you could see bottom in 11 foot of water. 

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Posted

If it's stained now you can bet the rain mid week won't help that issue. Better make sure my rattling cranks are stocked up! Thanks for the SITREP, I would've never guessed the water temp was that warm already

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Posted

68 degrees today.    70 in a shallow bay

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted

Man it's warming up fast.  Pretty short spawning window for those walleyes this spring.  Jumped from ice out to bass, panfish spawning temps in about 2 weeks.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

cappies are getting pretty black in a couple spots I have hit. 

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN
Posted

Found a pretty good walleye bite this morning out on the chain . ? Ill be doing some updates and giving out some good information for the chain over in the Fishing clubs. Check it out. 

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Posted

Glad to hear someone had some luck on that zoo. Never been there for opener before and I personally will never do that again! I figured it would be busy but not that darned busy. Wouldn't have been so bad if the other anglers weren't so blantely rude. Seriously I've never seen such disregard, it was absolutely appalling. All that water and everyone tries to squeeze into one bridge so you can't even drive through it, which by the way is illegal to block a navigation channel read the boating regs. A little courtesy goes a long way fellas. I've fished the chain many times with great success and no success but that entire area is no longer on my radar with the boat. Best of luck to those brave enough to battle the crowds of inconsiderate jerks.

Posted

Eyesniper, you aren't the only one that has sworn off that lake for opener. I haven't heard too much from other lakes yet but some of the reports I've heard are that it was slower because of the cold water. I too was frustrated with the bumper-boats and didn't actually catch a fish till after 10:15 once some of the traffic died down "I was on the water by 6am". My buddy fished it last year and said it wasn't bad so I agreed to fish it this year with his crew. It only took my line getting run over twice for me to swear this lake off for opener. A couple of fish just isn't worth that hassle, next year maybe there will be less traffic because I won't be there. We caught some fish but because we weren't willing to play bumper boats while dragging lindy's and raps during the peak morning bite we didn't end up with numbers, just enough for dinner. Oh well, the company made it worthwhile and at least we were on the water! Live and learn and fish lesser known spots for this guy!

Posted

I don't know why people pile up under those bridges any more. 20 years ago we used to catch walleyes, northerns, catfish and even a couple of small mouths sitting under those bridges but now days if we do spend some time under there I rarely see anyone pull anything in. We have found other more productive spots out there.

I will be up there with our group of about 12 again this weekend.

Posted

Hopefully your group will yield some results. I know it's a good fishery but I won't fish it anymore unless it's frozen. After last weekend though I wouldn't be surprised to have some self-entitled roll of charmin(*** wipe) drop their 'ducer and jig in my ice hole! I've just never seen such disregard amongst fellow anglers and that's even worse when kids are being exposed to it as it's our duty to set the examples and to get them involved and off the couch. Shame on those that act so arrogantly. Best of luck to the rest!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • 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~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
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