Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Horseshoe Chain

Dash 1
 Share

Recommended Posts

Dash 1 Community Regular

Dash 1

Posted
Posted

Started out on Long lake this morning south of Richmond. Picked up a 21 in walleye. Then motored up the channel and  we got 2 25 in northern and 3 18-20 inch walleye.  All in all a fun time on the water, but hot. All caught in 16 ft or less on leeches and crawlers. Dead calm, bright sun and water temps in mid to upper 70s. Just teaches me another lesson that you never know when it’s ideal time. Oh wait anytime fishing is ideal time. Kept a couple for meal and rest went back.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Coleman Rising Star

Coleman

Posted
Posted

Glad to hear you found some solid eyes.  I assume you're fishing the first break on the main lake?   

 

I did see some guys fishing near the main drop at the Meth Hole this weekend.  But, I ran through there a few times, but didn't see anything on SI.  All I found where huge schools of carp.  

 

I only got a chance to fish for gills this weekend, but I hope to search a little more for eyes this next weekend.  

 

 

Coleman Rising Star

Coleman

Posted
Posted

I foolishly attempted to fish for eyes a few times this weekend until I grew tired of not getting a bite.  Maybe I wasn't going at the right time, but I gave up pretty quickly and decided to hit bass/pike/gills.  

 

All three were going nuts.  Bass and pike on spinner baits all weekend long.  Although, the water temps did get to the mid 80s, and I think that shut off the predator fish a bit.  All were hiding close by to clumps of weeds.  

 

Bluegills, I couldn't count how many 8-9" fish I caught this weekend.  Find a weed line and throw a wax worm at them.  The late afternoon bite being the best.  

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  

  • 4 months later...
smurfy Grand Master

smurfy

Posted
Posted

drove past the chain this morning........ maiin lakes still wide open, but the bays are starting to get ice!!!!!1

Coleman Rising Star

Coleman

Posted
Posted

I was on the water on 11/20, water temps were 35*.  I used the Cold Spring access, when I put in only ice was along the shore.  I fished the narrows between Great Northern and Krays, and the fish were stacked up like legos.  I give hell for about an hour.  Then decided to head back and it froze up right in front of the 49 bridge.  

 

I figured it might be time to call it a year for open water.  

 

I noted Becker was completely froze over on Sunday.  It won't be long now.  We just need some more consistent typical temps.  

  • 4 months later...
smurfy Grand Master

smurfy

Posted
Posted

Ice on the chain is half gone!!! Boat just dumped in off the 22 access and one on the south long access, but he needed to navigate around a sheet of ice 

  • 4 weeks later...
Coleman Rising Star

Coleman

Posted
Posted

Am I the only one hoping for somewhat lousy weather this weekend?  

 

Anyways, this should be an interesting opener.  I put the dock in last week, and I'm guess the water temp was in the middle/upper 40s.  So, I guess it will be a shot in the dark if they're still spawning or not.  

 

But, I guess a person could chase crappie/gills around if it's sunny.  

  • 11 months later...
smurfy Grand Master

smurfy

Posted
Posted

ice is off and the water level is way down.. hwy 22 is open.  lotz of whitecaps today!!!!!

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 3 weeks later...
Dash 1 Community Regular

Dash 1

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Fished the chain this morning with my son Brian. We each got two catfish and another two small perch. Did see about a 35 inch Muskie in the shallows by the old cow bridge between Long and Krones bay.  No walleye. My nephew picked up 4 near the hwy 22 bridge last week but we only had perch nibbling our bait today. Water temp was 64-67. Saw a few panfish shallow but no takers either. 

  • 4 weeks later...
Coleman Rising Star

Coleman

Posted
Posted

It's been pretty quiet on here the last few weeks.  

 

Walleye fishing has still been pretty good on the chain.  I've been slip bobber fishing weedlines with decent success.  I just troll the weedline with SI and look for fish.  Once I find them, I toss out the dinner bell.  Paddle tails have also worked as well as lipless cranks. 

 

I did manage a nice 23" fish and a 19" off the same spot.  Then my buddy hit it the follow day and he stuck a 26" eye.  The fish were all over the spot I found and I could have had a hay day if I wished.  Also a bunch of large gills right in the weeds, although nothing over 10".  

 

I haven't gone after anything other than walleye this spring, so it might be time to chase some bass this weekend.  We'll see what the weather brings.    

IMG-2875.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 2
  • 1 year later...
smurfy Grand Master

smurfy

Posted
Posted

needed some grub before  freezemaggeden set in, and was bored..........holy hannah were there houses galore on the chain.......then drove by the winter access. and seen the catfish fest signs. 

 

not sure why i care i aint fished it in 5 years.......but i hope they hank a bunch out!!!!!!!!

  • Thumbs Up 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Winter Lake Trout

      By leech~~ · Posted

      It's kind of sad. The two lakes I loved the most in this state are Mille Lacs and Burntside.  And I think we broke them both!  😕
    • JerkinLips
      Winter Lake Trout

      By JerkinLips · Posted

      Went back to Burntside on Tuesday and I got "skunked again" (LOL).  Looked like the lake was a mess over the weekend, but it was all frozen solid by sunrise Tuesday when I arrived.  The new ice cleats I got worked very well on the glare ice.  Was a beautiful sunny day but cool and quite windy.  I had a nice view of my tip-up from my warm fishhouse but the flag never went up, and I didn't mark a fish while jigging.  May have to try North Arm next, or go back into the BWCAW if the ice conditions improve.
    • JerkinLips
      2024-2025 Vermilion Ice Fishing

      By JerkinLips · Posted

      Yes, eagle swoops are awesome.  Had one happen when I was duck hunting one year in Stuntz Bay.  Stole the only duck I got that day.   Vermilion got very wet over the weekend.  Tower Cafe posted a video of a SxS driving into McKinley Park landing going through water that went over their floor board.  Burntside Lake was frozen nice and solid Tuesday morning when I was there.
    • Wanderer
      Is this what the book meant?

      By Wanderer · Posted

      Or the other book that said: The bitterness of poor quality outlasts the sweetness of a low price…   Dang, what a mess to have to deal with.
    • leech~~
      Is this what the book meant?

      By leech~~ · Posted

      When it said. "The foolish man, builds his house upon the sand"? 🫣   Just got back from 10days on the golf of America.  By Panama city Florida.   
    • smurfy
      What's on the Grill?

      By smurfy · Posted

      Venny backstrap and the fixins!
    • SkunkedAgain
      Winter Lake Trout

      By SkunkedAgain · Posted

      Running on empty at dark on a sled is definitely stress-inducing. Been there, done that. Glad that you made it out.
    • SkunkedAgain
      2024-2025 Vermilion Ice Fishing

      By SkunkedAgain · Posted

      Eagle swoops are always a hoot to watch.   The snow is mostly gone on the lake. Ice melt made things pretty wet but the ice is obviously still very thick. 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Ice Conditions Still Good

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the South Shore...  The big question:  "How is the ice up at Lake of the Woods?"  That is for each individual resort or outfitter who operates an ice road or trail to answer, but overall, ice conditions are still very good and ice fishing is going strong!  As always, stay on the marked ice  roads and trails for safety.     Being up on the Canadian border, the colder temps Lake of the Woods enjoys vs much of the region combined with three feet of ice makes a big difference.  Fish houses are allowed unattended overnight through March 31st and it sounds like a good number of resorts will be fishing through the month, but ultimately, Mother Nature will determine that.     Regarding the fishing, overall, very good reports for walleyes, saugers and perch.  There is a strong population of smaller walleyes and saugers in the lake which bodes well for the future, but in the meantime, anglers are sorting through them to catch their keepers.   The one-two punch of jigging and deadsticking remains the most effective technique. Jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head or a lipless crankbait on the jigging line is the ticket.  On the deadstick, a live minnow a foot off the bottom on a plain red hook or medium sized ice fishing jig is catching a lot of fish.   Using electronics is super helpful.  Many nice walleyes are swimming through suspended, keep an eye out.   Anglers tip-up fishing for pike have had a great week and it should continue to get even better.  Suckers, frozen alewife and smelt are working well. Putting baits 1 foot under the ice or right off bottom seems to be effective this week.  Most common depths, 9 - 15 feet. On the Rainy River...  The Rain River is still frozen with no signs of open water yet.  Every year can be different, but on average, the Rainy River will start opening up around the third week of March.  The first boat ramp suitable for larger boats is Nelson Park in Birchdale.  We will keep you posted.    As of March 1st, walleyes and saugers are catch and release only on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River.     Make plans now for sturgeon season.  Once the open water appears, the fish are super active.  Here are the seasons...   -Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd. -Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30. -Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th.  Up at the Northwest Angle...  Fishing remains very good up at the Angle and the ice is in good shape as well.  As on the south end, resorts monitor ice roads and trails daily and there are still some great ice fishing opportunities available.     Walleyes, saugers, perch, and pike are showing up in good numbers.  Those targeting crappies are reporting good numbers of fish.  Work through a NW Angle resort for ice fishing opportunities on this part of the lake. 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. 
    • Wanderer
      Susan Lake

      By Wanderer · Posted

      Looks like a shallow lake with some potential.  Keepable crappies, decent bluegills and some nice perch according to the last survey (2015). Susan Lake   With a max depth of 10 feet, I’d want to know a little more about it before I’d start drilling holes.  Could be a nice little adventure though.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.