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.

Recommended Posts

Posted

I'm new to the post and have enjoyed the reading Thank you Everyone. Well it's time to post a message.<P>Last Year in Feburary some work buddies and me planned a ice fishing trip of course it was all last minute planning. It was my frist time ice fishing at lake of the woods so I didn't know what to expect. We all told stories of metro area ice fishing trips and the stories were great. We all went on bragging about who was the best fisherman out of all of us. I had opened up a can of worms when I spoke up and told these guys let go to LOW, and find out who the best fisherman truely is. Well they accepted the challenge and we had a great trip. <P>We are wanting to plan another trip. We could possibly be going the frist weekend in December. We'd pile in a R.V. and pull up some snowmoblies and portable fishouses. But is the ice safe that early ??? or should we wait until the new year weekend and line up a sleeper fishouse??? When is the fishing at it's best???<P>Let's keep our hooks sharp! <BR>TackleBoxMike <P>

Posted

Here, as with most places I know of, the best fishing is early ice and late ice. The first weekend in December may or may not happen. Your best bet is to monitor this forum and check with the resorts in the area.Good luck. Ol'Sneller

Posted

The last three years we have done a portable trip to the NW angle. We hit it about the second weekend of December. Last year there was 8-10 inches of ice, the year before there was 12-14.<P>

Posted

welcome mike!! i have been going up to low for 16 years ice fishing. we go up on our first trip around the 6th to 10th what ever the weekend falls on that year.we have had any where from 4 to 18 inches. i stay at adrians and stay in touch with them to see if we can drive out, or have to wheel out. the ice fishing is most of the time fantastic that time of year, you just hope the ice is too. good luck on you trip!!!

Posted

Don’t let this guy fool you all. He is just looking for an out so he doesn’t take another beating like last year. I am the better fisherman Mike! Be it portables or sleeper again will still out fish you. LOL Just get the date set and let’s go.<P>Walleyejon you got any input on the ice fishing?<P>Dan icefishing.gif

Posted

Thanks for all the responses guys and I'll keep tabs on low for ice thickness.<BR> <BR>Alright fisherdan, I remember unloading the gear into the fish house and while you guys were deciding which hole you guys were going to use I had my line in the hole already and also my rattle real never stopped ratteling. I had the first walleye before you guys even got your lines wet. lol. Fisherdan is the eelpout king, he makes the best smoked eelpout. I think he's the one who caught the most eelpout last year. haha Danny were going to have a kickass time this year and then we'll see who is the best fisherman. Be prepared to get your butt kicked in fishing even though you caught the biggest I still caught the first one while you guys were bickering over the holes.<P><BR>Thanks again for all the responses and if anyone has anymore ice info. to share please do, thanks again.<P>TackleBoxMike<BR>

Posted

Jon<BR>You got to love a challenge and what’s a little cold got to do with anything when it comes to fishing a great lake like LOW. LOL We did go last year middle of February. The weather was great and the fish were biting. We stayed in Schuster’s 6-man sleeper. It was great other then a ventilation problem at night. Solved that by cracking a couple of windows.<P>Yeah I would need a bit more then 4 inches of ice too. As Mike stated before he is the first to get a line in so we thought we would just follow him out on the snowmobiles. Like a quarter mile behind I would think would be safe. LOL (he’s a big boy)<P>I’ll let you know when we are going up and what the plan is. I’ll have that beer waiting for you. If I can figure out how to keep it cold. <BR>Whats up with them Catfish pictures?<P>Dan icefishing.gif <BR>

Posted

Well Dan, <BR>If you really want to seperate the men from the boys, go towards the end of January with portables, snowmobiles, hand augers, and no electronics. I'll wait in a nice, warm resort rental, and judge the catches of those who survive. <BR>Seriously, the early ice is definately an opportunity to catch quantity, and quality fish. The only drawback is timing it so you get here when the ice is safe, which early in the season, varies by several weeks. "Safe ice", also differs from person to person. I know people who are comfortable walking out on very little ice (4 inches or less), setting up next to open water, and fishing....I am not one of these people. I normally wait for a few days or a week or so after people have been going out consistantly to head up, and the fishing is still outstanding. Let me know when you're headed up, and I'll try and hook up with ya.<P>------------------<BR>Fish on gotta go--JON

Posted

Well, this talk about ice fishing got me all fired up for some hard water, so last night, after golf, on one of the warmest days we've seen this year, I had to go out to the shed and fire up the sled. Ohhh did she sound ready to fish. I glanced over at the boat while I was revving the throttle, and I swear the old Crestliner was in tears. I had to go reassure the old gal I wasn't done with her for the year yet, and promised to take her out a few more times starting this weekend...... I hope she doesn't hold a grudge.<P>------------------<BR>Fish on gotta go--JON

Posted

Yes,Lets talk ice fishing. I'm going to be pulling out the fishouse this weekend and checking it over to see if it needs any maintenance. I'm hoping to get my dad and brothers together for the big event. I'll be giving my brother a hand pulling his fishouse out. My dad will be wondering and talking about what lake we might put the fishouse on this year? I have nice 7'ft. x 10'ft fishouse built on a trailer that a couple of welders put together where the wheels will retact up under the seats inside the fishouse. I've been heating the fishouse with a wood stove it heats the house up to a nice temperture were you can peal down to a tee shirt. The wood smells good and it's nice to watch the fire, if the bobbers are not being pulled down by fish. I've also cooked up a few hotdogs in the wood stove. A good hotdog and a soda can hit the spot. It's been my cabin on many diffrent lakes. After pulling the fishouse out and cleaning it up. Its been cool checking though last years calender hanging form the wall and seeing what's been writen down as far as whats been cought, missed or released. sunnys, crappies, walleye, and northern etc. that my frinds, brother or me have marked in the calender. Again it's realy nice to look back at all the fun we've had ice fishing. Im pumped up for this years ice fishing.<P>The only ice I can find is in the freezer.LoL<P>Mike <P>[This message has been edited by TackleBoxMike (edited 10-07-2004).]<p>[This message has been edited by TackleBoxMike (edited 10-07-2004).]

Posted

Danny,<BR> The planning of the Lake of the Woods trip is in progress. I have resort information being sent to me about ice fishing / sleeper houses from the dept. of tourism.<P>If anybody has information on a great place to stay in a sleeper fishouse please share ?

Posted

Check out Gibbins Ice Fishing on the resort locator. He has the fabulous houses with kitchenette stoves, pots, pans - the whole works. They even have sinks with plumbed drains! Very comfy and price right too.<P>I have been staying in their sleepers for the last 2 years and have been very satisfied.<P>------------------<BR>The Doctor is in.............Everybody stand back!!!<P>I.B.O.T. # 144<BR>Boundry Waters Chapter

Posted

Here ya go -<P>Gibbins Ice Fishing - (218) 634-2653<BR>Bryant Wilson<BR>1036 Winter Dr. NW Baudette, MN 56623 <P>------------------<BR>The Doctor is in.............Everybody stand back!!!<P>I.B.O.T. # 144<BR>Boundry Waters Chapter

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      Naw, I just pushed up my glasses.         
    • 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.  
×
×
  • 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.