2018 Central MN Waterfowl Hunting Reports
By
Troy Smutka
in MN Duck Hunting - Geese - Waterfowl-Sandhill Cranes
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By Troy Smutka
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By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted
On the South Shore... Ice fishing remains strong on Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters continuing to offer both day houses and sleeper fish houses. The bite has been good in most areas, and ice conditions are among the best in recent years. Some ice roads now extend more than 20 miles out, with resorts and outfitters working hard keeping anglers on schools of walleyes and saugers. With nearly 40 inches of ice in many areas, auger extensions are necessary for those fishing on their own. The March forecast predicts daytime temperatures above freezing and overnight lows below freezing, helping to maintain solid ice conditions through the month. Resort guides and outfitters are on the ice daily monitoring conditions where they travel and fish. Anglers are sorting through smaller fish but are consistently catching limits of walleyes and saugers, along with jumbo perch, eelpout, pike, tullibees, and even a few crappies. The one-two punch of jigging and deadsticking remains the most effective technique. Jigging spoons with rattles, lipless crankbaits, and jigging rap-style lures are producing well, while deadsticks with a live minnow a foot off the bottom are catching less aggressive fish. March is prime time for trophy northern pike, with tip-up fishing proving to be highly productive. It was a great week for big pike and should only get better through March and into April. On the Rainy River... As it has been most of the winter, walleye fishing has been best in the mornings and evenings using jigs and minnows. Sturgeon fishing has been solid, with some large fish being caught. Anglers should check with resorts before heading out, as ice conditions on the river can change quickly due to current and runoff during the day. Up at the Northwest Angle... Fishing remains very good. Resorts continue to move fish houses to keep guests on active schools of walleyes, saugers, perch, and pike. Big crappies are still being caught just over the border in Canada, and those interested should check with resorts for the latest conditions and guide services. Lake of the Woods being border water with Canada has an extended ice fishing season, with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st. In addition, the walleye and sauger season is open through April 14th. Pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well. Whether booking a day house rental, sleeper fish house, or resort stay, there is still plenty of time to plan a late-season ice fishing adventure. -
By JerkinLips · Posted
Van Vac can be a tough hill to travel on. I parked in the upper parking lot in 2014 and went out fishing in a snow storm. I think we got about 10 inches of snow that day and they didn't plow at all. There was no way my front wheel drive caravan was going to make it up the upper hill so I spent the night in my van. I had prepared for that possibility so I was quite comfortable in the 0ºF night (just started the van up once during the night to heat it up. I went out fishing again the next day and when I came back they still hadn't plowed the road to the parking lot (late March). So I towed my snowmobile trailer to the top of the hill with my snowmobile. Then I made a circular path in the parking lot so I could build up my van speed to go up the hill. I think it was about 15 attempts to go up the hill before I finally made it to the top. What an experience. -
By JerkinLips · Posted
Burntside Lake is a beautiful lake and very convenient to get to. I started fishing it in 2010 when it got to difficult for me to travel into the BWCA while I lived in the twin cities. I averaged 1 laker/day up to 2018 when my success started to decline. That was also when I quit going out on snowmobile and just walked to fishing spots. That probably also contributed to my decline. My average the last 3 years has been 0.4 lakers/day. Now that I live in northern Minnesota I think I will travel into the BWCA more for lakers. My longest Burntside laker was the skinny 33 incher shown in the 1st picture (2020). This fish weighed only 7#-15oz, and I think it was at the end of its life. My biggest BWCA laker was 34 inches and weighed 13#-3oz (2nd picture from 2008). I also caught an 11 pounder in the BWCA in 1999 (3rd picture). My goal is to someday catch a 20 pounder. I had one up to the bottom of the hole once that I think was over 20 pounds. I was jigging a large airplane jig near the bottom when I thought I snagged the rocks. When I was able to finally move the fish I knew I had a huge one. I saw its head at the bottom of my 7-inch hole and had a hard time getting it started into the hole. I reached for the gaff hook but the jig caught on the bottom of the hole and the fish was gone. Ever since then, I chisel the bottom of my holes to guide the laker's head into the hole. -
By Wanderer · Posted
Quite a bit a matter of convenience but it was pretty good in the late 2000’s; early 2010’s for me. It’s fully outside of the B-dub, and expansive, so plenty of places to try. But never go out there with expectations beyond spending time on one of the most beautiful lakes the state has to offer. You should count yourself blessed to get 1 trout iced but 5 trout days can happen. Biggest I’ve gotten out of there is 32 inches. Average had been 24-27. -
By mbeyer · Posted
Is Burntside "the Laker" spot to fish in the area? Is that a matter of convenience or is Lake Trout populations far better there than any other lake?? -
By Wanderer · Posted
It’s been all of 7 years since I’ve fished Burntside. The last time I also brought my wheelhouse up and headed out of Van Vac. That was a scary ride down the hill at 11pm when I showed up. The switchback access road was iced up and the weight got me sliding like I was on a luge. I intentionally put my rig into the snowbank before I got to the 2nd turn. It was enough to slow me down that I could make that corner. I left the lake out of Camp Van Vac and that wasn’t easy either with the double layer of ice. The lake ice conditions you described are too familiar to me for this time of year. I’ve had a wheelhouse out there twice in my years of fishing it, otherwise it’s been sled or wheeler travel only - which is a way better idea! Reports have been so quiet from there, I’ve wondered if the fishing got tougher or if it’s just the shift in social media that’s the reason. March trips for me have always had that great expectation but honestly, most March trips for lakers have been a bust. I’ve been in Canada the past 3 years at this time and only 1/3 were good laker trips. No trip this year and I’m OK with that. All this to say, I still miss ice fishing that lake! I was looking over some of my old spots on my mapping app and thought how nice it would’ve been to have that back in the glory days! Good luck and thanks for posting! *6 years, 11 mos, based on a phone pic. * 😉 -
By JerkinLips · Posted
This may end up be a quiet topic, but I thought I would share my results (and lack there of) because of my love for late winter lake trout fishing. Went to Burntside Lake on Thursday, February 27th for my first time there this winter, and like my last 3 trips there last year I was skunked. It was a very windy day so I fished in a spot next to a cliff to avoid the wind. I found 4" of hard pack snow on top of 3" of water over 20+" of ice. I was able to avoid the water (most of the time) by sitting in my sled portable and walking around very carefully. I had no bites in 10+ hours fishing and only 3 "follows" of my pike suckers and jig. Was still a very enjoyable day on the ice. I saw a few other people out fishing, and was surprised to see that somebody had plowed a huge road out from Van Vac landing and plowed spots for wheelhouses. Currently there were 8 of them on the ice. My success on Burntside has definitely diminished in the last few years. Guess I need to get to "10,000 jigs" to catch another. Or maybe I will take the tough trip into the BWCA to enjoy the wilderness. -
By smurfy · Posted
🤣🤣 i prefer fish that has flavor......... but thats a pretty funny one right there!!!!!!!!👍 -
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By Kettle · Posted
It's from tiny boat nation, the auto boat smart head. Essentially you remove the head of a minnkota transom trolling motor, and use the shaft/lower unit and bracket, there's a motor that attaches to the bracket and a different head unit that's operated via remote or phone app
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