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Posted

Fished Eagle Lake in Maple Grove yesterday. Ice was a solid 8+ inches where I was set up. Fished the hump between the two holes on the east side of the lake just north of the sand bar. Marked a ton of stuff right off the bottom (30 feet) but only managed to bring 4 crappies through the ice, best one being 11”.  Had a couple larger marks come through around 16 feet deep but couldn’t get anything to bite. Southeast hole in the lake was surrounded with about 12 pop ups, I assume most going for crappies as well.  Anyone else having any luck on the northwest metro lakes? Glad to find something else in Eagle besides the tiny perch I caught last year. 

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Posted (edited)

MG welcome to the fourm and thanks for the report. 

Haven't fished Eagle for a while but the last time I did I got a few crappies and was shocked to pull up a Walleye right at sun down.  It's becoming harder to get on the lake. Years like this with a lot of snow the launch by the creek can be scratchy with not much parking. Leaving walking on from the park on the other end where they are making it harder to park as well. Good luck out there. 👍

Edited by leech~~
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Posted
40 minutes ago, leech~~ said:

It's becoming harder to get on the lake.

 

I don't fish out there in the winter, but I do on occasion fish out there during the open water season.

 

The access at Eagle Creek has never been very good.  Its very dependent on the water levels, obviously.  I drove past it in July (no boat), and was shocked to see how low it was.  I would be surprised if anything bigger than a shallow drafting jon boat could launch there during the second half of the season.  The water simply wasn't deep enough to draft a real fishing boat.  If the water level doesn't come up there this spring, no one will be using that access next season other than a kayak.

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Posted
1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

I don't fish out there in the winter, but I do on occasion fish out there during the open water season.

 

The access at Eagle Creek has never been very good.  Its very dependent on the water levels, obviously.  I drove past it in July (no boat), and was shocked to see how low it was.  I would be surprised if anything bigger than a shallow drafting jon boat could launch there during the second half of the season.  The water simply wasn't deep enough to draft a real fishing boat.  If the water level doesn't come up there this spring, no one will be using that access next season other than a kayak.

 

I was talking more in the way of moving water causing the ice not to get very solid some years to drive on there.  But, you are right about the summer launch issues and having to park down the road. 

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Posted

@leech~~ glad to hear someone has pulled a walleye out of Eagle Lake, I’ve spent the last three ice seasons trying to find one in there.  I’ve found pike along the north end of the lake near all the cattails, 5-7” perch everywhere, and crappies in the deep holes, but no walleyes. Going to give a few other spots a shot this year and hope to get one. 
 

Anyone have any reports for Independence or Buffalo? I heard there were still spots of open water on Buffalo recently due to some natural springs. 

B1DF95EE-28A0-45FA-B9EA-819D9B2E5879.jpeg

23509D58-ADAF-4031-9186-C01B436FDC65.jpeg

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Posted (edited)
11 minutes ago, MG Ice Fish said:

@leech~~ glad to hear someone has pulled a walleye out of Eagle Lake, I’ve spent the last three ice seasons trying to find one in there.  I’ve found pike along the north end of the lake near all the cattails, 5-7” perch everywhere, and crappies in the deep holes, but no walleyes. Going to give a few other spots a shot this year and hope to get one. 
 

Anyone have any reports for Independence or Buffalo? I heard there were still spots of open water on Buffalo recently due to some natural springs. 

B1DF95EE-28A0-45FA-B9EA-819D9B2E5879.jpeg

23509D58-ADAF-4031-9186-C01B436FDC65.jpeg

Sent you a PM on a spot, that was a sun down bite.   I may not get back there anyway.  Good Luck! 

Edited by leech~~
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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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