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Posted

Another good trip to the north country. We came back with 57 mixed eyes and Sauger along with some jumbo perch and a few whitefish. We fished in one of a couple of houses that Glenn had moved back a little shallower, 26' of water. The highlight of the trip was my son's friend who does not get a chance to fish much except to come with us once a year to LOW caught a 28" eye on Saturday morning at 730am. its the largest fish he has ever caught, after a couple of pictures he opted to let her go. God was she a beauty, big and fat. <P>We had a lot of lookers too that would chase the jigs but just wouldn't hit it. Glenns deeper houses did not do as well. The fish were caught on a variety of lures, including Angel Eyes, AE jrs, and Buckshot Rattle. Jigging out produced the dead sticks, however several nice fish came off of small crappie jigs, tipped with a shiner.<P>The snow is still present, but it was starting to get sicky, a couple of areas of slush on the Bomber trails. Glenn is starting to move some houses back shallower as there is a pressure ridge that he wants to be across in case the weather doesn't cool down and things get to be a real mess. Our next scheduled trip in March 25 thru March 27 which is going to depend greatly on the next couple of weeks temps. <P>It sure was a beautiful few days with fantastic sunsets, cold beer at the lodge and great food. Good luck to all and hang on. Bill

Posted

Sounds like a good time Bill. I was wondering when the fish would start moving back in.Wish i could go every weekend. The ice fishing here on Lake Pepin is nothing short of BAD. It's always a good time up north.

Posted

BobD. I agree with you on the good times up there. I too wish I was about 2 hours closer. I have a permanent on Mille Lacs and I would move it there if it wasn't for the fact that its a 5 hour haul out of St Cloud. Just hoping for some colder weather to prolong the season. Bill

Posted

BT - sound like another good trip - envious of that 28 incher, but glad your son's friend enjoyed it - were it me you'd have heard me holler from St Cloud!<P>I'd trade that 5 hrs for my 8 any day, and if I could make a living up there I'd sure think about moving. Hope the weather will hold for you - it's been in the forties for a few days down South and the ice on some local lakes is getting marginal I hear.... Maybe iffy late March but wish you luck!

Posted

New Yank: We were talkiing about your in the house one afternoon. I was telling my son Dan about your trip up with the family, and your 8 hour ride came up. Yes the 3 hours less driving time makes a major difference. I agree with living up there as well. I keep thinking maybe retire and head that way, always looking one never knows what may happen. <P>Its in the forties here today as well, not a problem with our ice yet but if the snow goes completley then its only a matter of time for the ice. I would really like to see it cool off. We know that spring is a ways away and losing the ice isn't going to speed up the green grass. Bill

Posted

Wise thoughts my friend.<P>Do you usually head up between Xmas and New Year? I'm begining to figure (and like!) this stuff out and would sure enjoy catching you, Dan and the rest up there if you do.

Posted

NewYank:<P>I have four trips reserved for next season the first time up will be 12/26 thru 12/28 right after Xmas. About the same time that we ran into you guys this past December. Man its raining cats and dogs in St Cloud this morning. Saw Piere,SD has 10" of snow this morning, man what a crazy weather pattern. A little cooler later in the week, hope hope. Bill

Posted

Bring on the 60's 70's & 80's.<P>I'm ready to tee up a golf ball, and start pitching jerkbaits. <P>It's been a long winter up North. Cabin fever is starting to set in.

Posted

Typical response for a musky junkie!

Posted

Right on WIDETRACK, Mind if I cast through?LOL Good Fishin DOUG

Posted

Hey guys, give me three more weeks PLEEASE and you can have all the open water you can handle. <P>Widetrack: Is hockey over for the year, or are you still on ice all weekend regardless of the bite. LOL. Bill

Posted

I'm with Widetrack, <BR>Bring on the muskies! I'm getting tired of making lures, I want to start using them.<P>later,<BR>toddb

Posted

Bill:<P>I'm on the ice in one form or another every weekend. Tournament season is just getting into full swing, and I think I'm about done ice fishing for the year, except for a vacation day here and there.

Posted

I remember those hockey days well. It was a great time, but after 22 years I can honestly say I don't miss it. Hope your tournaments are all in your favor. Bill<P>PS One more question Widetrack, Have you ever fished the 3 sisters Island area on the east side? Bill

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
    • smurfy
      🤣 did your nose just grow a bit!😏🤭
    • Wanderer
      I hope to be fishing….  It’s so rare that I get to go, I hate passing up the opportunity. 😉   
    • leech~~
      Since the Vikings are never in it. We use it for an excuse to make some fun stuff!  Last year was a bit light. Hot cheese bean dip, hot wings and pepperoni cheese bread! 😋
    • Hookmaster
      That snow and the 15-25 mph winds on Thursday with higher gusts will be nasty drifting. I didn't go to LOW (can I say that in the this thread?🤫) this week because of it.
    • smurfy
      Who's watching the big game Sunday? More importantly what's ya'all cooking!   I like good football si I'm tuning in. Food... yea no clue yet 
    • Wanderer
      Hard to see em well enough to tell.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing is strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of.  There are fish in both areas.     Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits. As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers.  Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh fish frys and bring fish home.   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.   On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    You never know when the fish will move through.  Anglers fishing the entire day normally have success.  Electronics are a big help as well. On the Rainy River...  The morning and evening hours are the best for fishing walleyes. A jig and minnow combination has been a good presentation.  A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still producing some big fish through the ice.  There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year.    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd.    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 remains good at the Northwest Angle.  Resorts continue to move their fish houses staying on fish.  Some fish houses are set up on structure while others are targeting deeper mud flats.    Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees.  Good numbers of big crappies are still being caught in select areas and hard sided fish houses are available to target them.  Check with a NW Angle resort for info.   Jigging one line, deadsticking the second is effective.  Some days the jigging line is hot, other days the deadstick.  Some good colors have been gold, glow red, glow white, wonder bread, pink, chartreuse and orange. 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.  
    • JerkinLips
      Same story, different day (Monday).  Caught several small walleyes (biggest were 14 and 15 inches) with the best bite from 2-5pm.  Caught my record walleye this winter at 6½ (inches, not pounds).  Was wondering why the bobber kept going down a couple inches for several minutes until I finally reeled it up.  Fortunately it was just hooked in the lips.  Having a lively minnow definitely improved the action.  I put down a pike sucker for the first time this winter and got an immediate hard bite.  When I went to set the hook, the line broke just above the hook.  Don't know if it was a northern bite-off or just weak line by the hook.  May try some pike suckers next trip.   Ice conditions were very good except for heavy drifting (even with very little fresh snow).  Didn't see any vehicles traveling off road except for snowmobiles and a tracked SxS, although there weren't many people out on the lake.  Water came up around my house about 1½ inches but froze very quickly with the cold weather and no snow on top.  Will probably have to block it up again next time up.   Good luck fishing and be careful of severe drifting of snow, especially with the 3-5 inches they are predicting for Wednesday night.  
    • leech~~
      Why, do they all only wear Sitka camo over there? 😏
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