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Posted

So.....It's nearly that time again....a few wet days and counting. Judging by the forecast, it will be an interesting opener to say the least. Most likely will have some chilly water temps to contend with since it's snowing this morning over a large area of northern ND and Minn. Will the wind ever stop blowing? Fished similar conditions a few years back in the Buffalo Bay area and found the fish extremely shallow 3-4 feet.....did VERY well on eater size males with a jig and minnow. Hopefully it is setting up for a repeat! <P>Maybe we could get the experts to weigh in on their predictions/techniqes for the conditions that we will most likely have this weekend. Widetrack, Fisky, Old Guide, Anybody else??

Posted

Yepper this weather sure took a turn for the worst! Plain nasty out there with sleet and wind. Hopefully things will look brighter by the weekend.<P>This spring's weather has been simular to that opener 2 years ago you mentioned. That year I fished over east on opening day with so so results. Went west that Sunday for the afternoon and we got into the fish good, and just like you in very shallow water. We got some larger fish that were spilling eggs all over the deck. The Lake spawners do the wild thing on a different time schedule than the river runners do on account of the water in the pond stays cold longer.<P>Find the good shoreline spawning locales and work them over good.....Should be some big fish to be found.<P>If you're fishing in Buff bay you may just wanna follow Widetrack around though....lol!<P>fiskyknut

Posted

What he said.<P>Except the part about following me around.<P>Hard bottom, Big jig, big shinner, big walleyes.

Posted

WT, I won't give anybody a description of your boat but make sure you don't flash that landing net around to much. I'll be out and about somewhere.

Posted

Also don't hoist your pirate flag. WT did you guys manage to get up north and get into those trout?<P>Is that Yarcraft of yours back together yet...lol!<P>Weather permitting Josh and I may run up near where we all ice fished. Maybe try near the sand bays we spoke of last year too. It's all still in the works, we won't know untill we get there!<P>Redtails and Creek Chubs are building nests already behind my old place, I've managed to get a few of these Walleye snacks. Hoping this crappie weather don't swell the creek too much cause we need more. Someone decided to liberate 3 of my traps the other day....guess I'm gonna have to get some no tresspass signs out there on account of that.<P>fiskyknut

Posted

Fisky:<P>My boats still in the shop. I'll be fishing with some friends up North this weekend. (Trout)<P>This will be the first year I've missed walleye opener as long as I can remember.<P>I'm picking my boat up early next week, so I'll be after a few walleyes shortly after that.

Posted

Good to hear you're boat will be back in the biz soon. Hey you're not really skipping opener, you're trout fishing anyways....Sounds like a good time to me, and smoked laker is 'oh so good'!<P>fisky

Posted

Just reading this and all your enthusiasm has my blood pumping. Not going to make the opener down here. Taking my wife to Mpls for the weekend. She never says a word all year about all the fishing and hunting so I'll go along with her plans. Hope you all have a really terrific opener. Weather has been HOT down here, high 80's thunder storms, tornado watches, and I look at your area and youre 40 degrees cooler than we are. Any ice on the pond yet?????LOL...Hey good luck guys and hang on, I'll be looking for the reports come Monday. Bill

Posted

Gillraker, I've been fishing the opener on Buffalo Bay a long time. Two years ago we found lots of male walleyes in 7 to 10 feet of water. Last year we hit them in 5 to 7 feet ( the lake was low but this was a diff. spot) The prev. year's location didn't produce. Lots of moisture rain/sleet/snow! The weather should change by ????? Stay warm and dry, good luck!

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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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