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.

Drake....lake conditions?


Recommended Posts

Hey Drake,
You haven't posted in a few days.....I figure you must be getting those chores done before open water. wink.gif I'm sure that Honey Do List is plenty long after all the time spent on the ice the last couple months ! I was up a couple weeks ago opening my place in Wirt and Bass and Dora were a long ways from open. We were able to throw some minnows under the bridge at Dora in the sunshine though.....ahhhhhhhhh grin.gif

I was wondering what the lakes in the area look like for remaining ice ?
Blackduck , Dora, Nora, Round, Squaw....
I may make a run up to do some yard work on Saturday and I'm just curious....

Hope all's well in Gods Country !

Twitter

[This message has been edited by Twitter (edited 04-24-2003).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Twitter~You got that right about the chores (that and our little guy's been sick), gotta get them finished up 'cause the open water is calling! Drove around some on Monday and Squaw and Cut Foot had what looked like a thin layer of ice out farther, with the shoreline looking pretty good. Also on Monday Blackduck the wind had shifted the ice towards the east shore near the dock area (which had started clearing up) and along the northshore it was all open water, but there was a huge increase in the amount of open water from the middle of last week.

Tuesday night we took a spin around some of the local lakes and the ones we looked at were wide open...guess what's on the agenda in a couple of days grin.gif you got it, panfishing!

Right now the plan is to check out Blackduck again tomorrow, head up to Red (gotta bring the ice house home now that the boat is moved out and there's a place to put the icehouse), and depending on the time hoping to driveby Island Lake and Dora. Will try to remember to take the digital camera so folks can see how it's looking.

Our temps have been in the low 70's the last couple of days so that helps, but no rain lately which would really help it out.

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear about your little guy !
Hope he feels better in time to get out after some panfish with you soon.
Thanks for taking the time to respond ! Guess I'll drive up Friday night and hope I can get the yardwork done in time to get out and fish somewhere Saturday than. grin.gif

It'll have to be a quick trip......I gotta be home for my 9yr olds birthday party Sunday noon.
Eventually......I'm going to get thru Blackduck on one of my extended weekends and stop by and chew the fat and pick your brain for new fishing spots !!

Until then, take care, get the chores done wink.gif and I hope your son feels better soon !!
Twitter

[This message has been edited by Twitter (edited 04-24-2003).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Twitter, think he's on the upward swing and can get back to school tomorrow (he's 9 too!).

Just got off the phone with a friend up at Red Lake and they said they were getting rain up there so that'll help deplete the ice up there, none in sight here though and none in the forecast until Sunday. You'll have to let us know how things looked over at Dora when you get back, like I said the smaller lakes that are on 39 were looking pretty good, but some of the bigger ones like Blackduck, and Squaw had some ice. (You can only do so much yardwork before needing a break!)

Yep chores have to end, gotta get new batteries for the boat, new trailer lights and get the boat in the water! Definitely stop in when your up this way and have some time, always enjoy swapping fishin stories! We've had the chance to meet some really great folks here, and on the water too (the boat has FishingMN and Drake on it).

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A drive around checking out the local lakes yesterday from Blackduck to Winni found that the lakes were open and a few boats were out on some of the different lakes enjoying the great weather. Blackduck is now completely open as are the different lakes along 39 that we stopped at. Winni (the southwest access) on the other hand had ice still not far out from the shoreline and some chunks along the shoreline. Didn't take the boat out, but did take the little guy out for some fishing on Gilstad off the fishing pier and he brought home some small panfish...Gilstad doesn't have a lot of whopping size fish, but it's a good lake to take kids to, especially in the boat, because there's enough action to keep them interested and gives them a chance to learn their fishing techniques.

Twitter~how'd things look where you went? Manage to get a break from the yardwork and get a line wet?

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Drake (edited 04-27-2003).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drake...
Glad to hear your little Guy's on the mend...and he got some fish !
I made it up to the lake Friday night about 8, before dark, and was surprised to see the lakes open smile.gif
... In fact, I didn't see any ice on any of the lakes on the way up....Spent most of the day Saturday doing yardwork....what a BEAUTIFUL day !! I put the boat in from 10-12 and could only find some little sunnies in the shallows.....but I got back out at around 4:30 and had a great bite until around 6:30 when I had to leave. Ended up keeping lucky 13...with 5 of 'em over 9"
It seemed sort of strange fishing in less than 3 feet of water .....but that's where they were....... (boy....the lakes are low!)an occasional bass or two mixed in made for some good action too grin.gif

I had the lake to myself...no one else had put a boat in yet grin.gif .. and the grouse were drumming everywhere.... It was mighty tough to leave at 4AM.... but the b-day party was a blast !
We ended our day yesterday with #2 son (11) taking a header over his handlebars and breaking his arm...so, today we get to go and have his arm re-set..... Other than some road-rash on his face, elbows, and hands..he's OK... I think he's lovin all the extra attention though grin.gif
plus, at 11 .....casts are cool.

I better get to work......take care !
I'll keep wishin I was in God's Country instead of in this office..!

You keep fishin !


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Twitter~Sorry to hear about your lil guy and his arm, but like you said at that age they think that's kinda cool.

Glad to hear that you were able to hit the water at least for a bit, and got some fish! Not too bad for the inital outing of the season! We noticed that the water level was down on Blackduck also~we could use some rain around here (we had about a ten minute snow flurry this morning~but it turned into another nice day). Saturday was a Great day to be outside~they're forecasting some pretty decent days so hopefully we'll get a chance to go look around at some of the other lakes since last week didn't turn out the way we hoped.

Definitely right...this is the heart of God's country up here! Just tell your boss you have the dreaded fishing pox disease and you need several long weekends to search up here for the cure!

------------------
Drake Motel
drakemotel.com
(888)253-8501
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • 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.