Chain Ice Reports

[IceHawk]

Thanks Don Checked a lot of it today some skinny ice out there yet, Couple crazys  hit mertens bay on other side of u prior to this last snow. Cedar Island has a bunch of fresh ice your point you fish over there looks to be white especially the bay so It was froze before the last snows. Did find a spot with 4-5 inches that I fish for eyes so looks like the maiden voyage locally will happen soon. 

[IceHawk]

4 hours ago, JustinN said:

 

Thank you for the report Don! Much appreciated. Can't wait to get out there and do some kitty and eye chasin'. 

Justin give me a holler some time we will team up  I fish eyes solo quite a bit  out there during the week. Wknds the boys are usally following me out 

[smurfy]

1 hour ago, IceHawk said:

Thanks Don Checked a lot of it today some skinny ice out there yet, Couple crazys  hit mertens bay on other side of u prior to this last snow. Cedar Island has a bunch of fresh ice your point you fish over there looks to be white especially the bay so It was froze before the last snows. Did find a spot with 4-5 inches that I fish for eyes so looks like the maiden voyage locally will happen soon. 

your wife has ALOT of life insurance on you???? right!!!!!!!!!!!!! you guys are goofy going out with this weather and ice conditions......but have at it.

[monstermoose78]

2 hours ago, IceHawk said:

Justin give me a holler some time we will team up  I fish eyes solo quite a bit  out there during the week. Wknds the boys are usally following me out 

What boys 

[IceHawk]

53 minutes ago, monstermoose78 said:

What boys 

Da men that better

[JustinN]

5 hours ago, IceHawk said:

Justin give me a holler some time we will team up  I fish eyes solo quite a bit  out there during the week. Wknds the boys are usally following me out 

Will do, usually get out on the weekends now with work. Once the ice gets a little better out there I'll shot ya a line if I plan on heading out got into a few fish on Black Friday in Avon on 4-5" 

[Horseshoe_Don]

Went out and checked the clear or new ice today.    Found maybe 1" an it started cracking as soon as i walked on it.    It is going to snow sunday night so you will not be able to tell the difference beteen the 6" or 1" ice after that so be careful.

 

Don

[Borch]

Sounds like we're for another 6-10" based on the weather report. 

[merc]

Checked three different weather sites on line. One said 1" and the other two said 1"-3" Hope it's what I found.

[Horseshoe_Don]

Checked the ice this morning.    Went out the farthest I have so far, about 100 yards and found very little slush.   Snow was about 6" deep.    The ice was 4 to 5" and the water comes out 1" when you drill the hole.    This is plenty of ice to safely to walk to my walleye spot so I will fish for the first time Saturday afternoon.

 

   Beware these condition only apply to some of the older ice and as always check for yourself before proceeding.

 

 The winter access on shoe is unsafe and will be for some time due to it being open just a few days ago.   And never use the summer access EVER!   unless you like swimming in the winter.

 

Don

[IceHawk]

Great Report on the Ice Don! Saw 5  guys ventureing out into Mertens bay N of the winter access today on Horseshoe. I assume they were trying to get to the Catfish hole off the point. Sat and watched them made sure I didn't need to make a rescue call. They made  it to the clear ice and backed up. and sat on the grey ice. If we get this snow going to cover up those thin areas so people ventureing out next week be very cautious. 

[Horseshoe_Don]

Out fishing right now.  Water is extremely dirty.  Bunch of cat fishermen on the edge of the clear ice south of me.  No change in ice conditions here.

 

Don

[Huntin&Fishin]

I saw a few people out on the clear ice out from the winter access today. That was open water a week or so ago......Wonder how thick it is there

[IceHawk]

There was a good amount of guys out there this afternoon guessing  15 at least . A lot were catfishing I assume as the locations they were set up in were catfish holes. There were also a couple on Mud. I did check out Rice and there were 3 traps in Shaumans bay. As far as that clear ice  hard to believe it was more than 3 inches just enough to hold them I talked to a friend who hit Mud and he said there was some sketchy ice pockets with two inches, Saw Don setup on the eyes so hopefully hen finds some success tonight. Nice trap Don is that a new one? 

[JustinN]

Went out of the winter access on Shoe today and was out from 15 to 24 feet from 12 - 530 PM. Caught one small eye and a nice cat. Was going to fish Grand or Pearl but neither had ice I was comfortable with. Good luck Don

[Horseshoe_Don]

3 hours ago, IceHawk said:

There was a good amount of guys out there this afternoon guessing  15 at least . A lot were catfishing I assume as the locations they were set up in were catfish holes. There were also a couple on Mud. I did check out Rice and there were 3 traps in Shaumans bay. As far as that clear ice  hard to believe it was more than 3 inches just enough to hold them I talked to a friend who hit Mud and he said there was some sketchy ice pockets with two inches, Saw Don setup on the eyes so hopefully hen finds some success tonight. Nice trap Don is that a new one? 

Got a few eyes but no size and all were within 15 minutes.   This is my 3rd year on that trap.    I checked the clear ice less that 2 days ago on the north end of my point and I would have gone through.   no doubt about it.

 

Waiting for more ice to get to my secret spot, yes the one you know.

 

Don

Edited December 8, 2019 by Horseshoe_Don

[IceHawk]

13 hours ago, Horseshoe_Don said:

Got a few eyes but no size and all were within 15 minutes.   This is my 3rd year on that trap.    I checked the clear ice less that 2 days ago on the north end of my point and I would have gone through.   no doubt about it.

 

Waiting for more ice to get to my secret spot, yes the one you know.

 

Don

Good to see you had some action. I'm waiting to get over on that side myself.  Usally better quality there but time will tell. Released a 28 and two 27 inchers in that area this summer so maybe with any luck one of us will put one of them topside again. The dirty water bites Hopefully it clears out .  I find that the eye fishing can be a little on the slow side when the clarity is down. Time for the rippin raps shallow 

[Fishing Frenzy]

I checked Grand, Pearl and Goodner and Eden. Except for the shoreline by grand it was all wide as of last Sunday. I walked out like 25 yards on Eden and Goodner and had 3 1/2 inches as of yesterday. Was a few people fishing.

[smurfy]

I drove by the chain and there was no one out on horseshoe. there were 4 people or so out on mud lake I believe it is. just south of the winter access and on the left. I only drove down 22 till there, didn't take the full scenic route.

[Horseshoe_Don]

checked the clear ice and it was 2 to 2/2 inches yesterday.    The clear ice that that they were fishing on Saturday was only 10 feet from thicker ice.   The cat fisherman are also smaller people that weigh less.   

   Today we got about 4" and the lake is drift covered and all ice is covered and insulated.    You wont see a wheel house on shoe this year maybe in january if the snow stops.

 

Don

[smurfy]

hey guys....i think its making ice!!!!!!!!!!

 

sorry its been quiet here!!!!!!

[IceHawk]

 

1 hour ago, smurfy said:

hey guys....i think its making ice!!!!!!!!!!

 

sorry its been quiet here!!!!!!

That's because some of us are on the ice, fishing and in our happy world 

[eyeguy 54]

got out sunday locally for a few hours since the mrs was fighting a cold and venny quarters still thawing. pretty good action on gills. 4 wheeler drove out. threw a prayer up for him.   butchered a bit yesterday and today. making jerky and more grinding. two more quarters thawing over the next couple days and I will be done. gonna be supper bored Wednesday. LOL 

[smurfy]

1 hour ago, IceHawk said:

 

That's because some of us are on the ice, fishing and in our happy world 

and some of us are donating to the government yet!!!!!!!!!!! 5 days a week!!!!!!

 

have fun...……..stay safe!!!!!!!!!

[IceHawk]

1 hour ago, smurfy said:

and some of us are donating to the government yet!!!!!!!!!!! 5 days a week!!!!!!

 

have fun...……..stay safe!!!!!!!!!

You chose your job as I did mine  When your sitting in your backyard in summer evenings playing in your garden enjoying a beverage.  who do you think is working  we watch the sun go up and sun go down and not from the backyard  Seriously now hope you find some time to spear a northern or two. I know union stewardts aren't that busy

[smurfy]

No but I'm a rep so I have more to babysit.

 

And I do plan on it. New year's weekend fish are in trouble.

[Coleman]

I'll be venturing out on the chain Sat. with a 2 man.  

 

Should be fun, and will be good to get a line wet.  

[Reel_Magic]

Got out yesterday with the ATV and found 5in of good ice w/ 3in of really crappy ice. This is on Horseshoe roughly the section between the winter access and the 22 bridge along 22.  I accessed the lake from my house so not sure what ice is like from the access, exercise caution.  
 

Really tough going, lots of slush still, almost got the wheeler stuck, really need a snow mobile or at least chains. Snow pushed the ice down so water has been coming up on top of the ice and the snow is insulting it so it’s not freezing, pretty crappy traveling conditions
 

Couple small walleye, lots of action but a pretty light bite.

 

Be careful, ice conditions are not ideal and most likely vary significantly!

[Coleman]

I got out Saturday late afternoon. Fished Horseshoe as well, and travel by foot was pretty rough. I also parked at my cabin on the main point, and walked to my spot. Only saw maybe 3 other guys out on the west side. There was at least 6" where I was fishing, but also some areas had 2-3" of slush. Water seemed to be pretty clear. Fishing was pretty dang good for me. Caught 3 quick eyes, two were cigars one was 13". Then caught a half dozen cats. Lost one really big fish, very certain it was a cat. But, I could barely move the thing. 

 

All eyes caught with a rattle spoon with a minnow head. Cats were on a dead stick with a minnow head. They seemed pretty aggressive for the most part. 

[IceHawk]

Well have some bad news for the parking situations along Horseshoe and Cedar island Hwy 22 area.  Basically where everyone drives walks on in the winter. Mn dot put up no parking signs along the whole streatch from Mud lake to the end of Mertens bay basically there is room for bout 3 vehicles now at most in the last corner towards Richmond.. The sheriffs department has been issueing warning tickets for now to all those who have attempted to park along there. Its a bummer because it was a great walk on spot early ice for years . In fact I've personally parked along there for 30 plus years  Dont know the reasoning other than a safety factor i'm guessing,. But kind of understand. It use to be 5-7 vehicles along there and sometimes now on weekends its well over 20 plus kind of bites as there really is no easy way to access either area now.