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Coon Lake Ice Report


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Could anyone who see's this lake or fishes it, let me know when there is a few inches of ice, I would like to get out for some norts. I hit it up every year early ice one of the first places to go.

Cubbies

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I heard Coon was a good lake for first ice crappies. Does anyone fish it early in the season?

Thanks for any replies.

Ole

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Coon Lake is a good early ice lake for pike, bass and panfish. The channel usually freezes first and once the ice is safe to walk on you can find pike, bass and crappies staging in there. They typically hold in the channel for about week after ice up, and then they move out towards the mouths of the mainlake (in both directions). You can intercept these fish and have some excellent action. One of my biggest pike came from Coon Lake during early ice a couple winters ago. I've also watched several 6 pound class largemouths caught out there during early ice too. Once the fishing pressure rises it becomes hard to find and catch crappies near the channel, but early on is good.

Coon Lake is always a good bet for early ice...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

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Yeah so how long till we can get out there? There's gotta be ice by now at least skim?

Cubbies

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I was checking out Coon yesterday morning. The boat landing was frozen solid...ice was about 150 out. Plenty of open water still.

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Hey Matt,

How do you get to the channel by land? Is there a path where there's public access? Thanks for the tip. I've caught some big Northerns out there in the summer.

Ole

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Ole,

If you are at the access (the one off of CR 22-Viking Blvd) then you can walk the shoreline down to the left. Its not a long walk, its actually only literally yards away from where the access is, maybe 50 yards or so give or take. The channel almost "dumps" towards the access...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not looking good with the wind today. There's a huge area that opened up out from the landing off Viking Blvd. There were still a couple people fishing close to the channel, but the ice can't be great there. Not for me anyway. This sucks. Even with cold temps it's going to be a week or two...

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my budies were outin the channel on sunday with those big winds and they got three northerns but there is still 6 inches out there even thought the rest of the lake is frozen

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HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THERE WAS A GUY ON A WHEELER ON THE NORTH BAY AND THREE PEOPLE NEAR THE CHANNEL

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I fished in the channel at Coon yesterday afternoon and evening. There's about six inches in the channel. There were a number of people fishing northerns with tip-ups and a couple other portables besides mine. I mostly went to try out my new UW camera (couldn't wait any longer and took half a day off). It's a Marcum and it worked really great. When it got dark the lights lit up my bait really well. Didn't see any fish after dark but I did see a few sunnies cruise by during the afternoon. All in all it was just good to be back on the ice again. grin.gif

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Has anyone found panfish in the channel yet? I was out there a few times and didn't catch anything but pike.

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The decent panfish have moved out of the channel. I would check the flats out in the lake mouths and the initial drop-offs into deeper water right now if I was to hit Coon Lake. Or else look for any humps in the deeper water. The humps are not on any maps, but they are there.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

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where have u guys been finding northerns in the bay what dept what were they biting on any help would be apreceated?

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The thing I've noticed about Coon, and maybe with Northerns in general, is that they tend to roam a lot. Any place known as a good "hot spot" for northern bite, might end up turning up zilch for you. What I've found on that lake is to literally stay in one spot for a while, regardless of where it is and eventually one will strike if they are hungry. Coon has such an abundant Northern population that when the wolves are hungry, you will find them. Just be patient and they will come.

And for some reason I've had a lot more luck with fatheads on Coon than I ever have had with suckers or shiners.

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im gona head out today are there any good crappie or panfish in the channel. im thinkin about picking up some shiners or fat heads.

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You might find sunnies in the channel, but Crappies aren't nearly as abundant in Coon anymore. It's really become a Northern/Bass lake. Though I heard a rumor it was finally stocked with Walleye this year..but I can't confirm that.

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And if I can convince a buddy of mine to go out there tonight, I might be out there as well. (He's got the auger, I don't have one yet...) If not I probably won't be out on the ice until after Christmas.... frown.gif

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Hit coon on Saturday... 6" - 7" of good ice in the channel, tappering off to about 3 1/2" near the first hole west of the channel.

Good 2 small northerns and 3 nice largemouth.

Medium shinners on tip ups...

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      well.......he's not sayin he aint!!!!!!!🤣
    • Mike89
      and that's why I didn't ask!!!   LOL!!!  
    • smurfy
      LOL its gonna be colder then a witches mammary glands the next 3 days!!!!! so he's staying indoor as much as possible!!!!!!! i'm just curious if he's "hermiting"up alone!!!!!🥰😂   looking at the webcams up there  doesnt look like that much.....and seems less on the lakes!!!! 
    • Mike89
      hermit up??   not going to ask!!!   LOL!!!  
    • Kettle
      3-6", crusty stuff in the yard. I'm working tomorrow and will hermit Thursday and Friday for sure. I might make it out Sunday evening and planing all day Monday 
    • smurfy
      Kettle,  just how much snow is on the ground up there??   Looking like some good ice making temps up there the next 3 nights . 3 consecutive nights  below 0. 2 double digits below  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Much appreciated. It may not have been the best start but hopefully the next week will start to firm things up.   I like your view.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing has begun for some areas of the lake, while others are grooming trails and will be close behind.  The ice is progressing nicely.  There were concerns a big blow this past week might mess things up but thankfully, the ice stayed intact and is continuing to thicken.    Please remember, ice conditions can vary significantly from one area of the lake to the next.  That is why it is difficult to provide an answer to the question, "How thick is the ice?"  The thickness and condition of the ice is best told by those working each ice road every day.  With that being said, there is certainly some good news regarding ice progression.       So far, some resorts have begun by allowing snowmobiles and ATVs with collapsible fish houses to access their ice roads.     In addition, some resorts are pulling day houses out this week and they are available to rent.  It is best to check with your favorite resort for additional info.  Resorts will provide transportation to and from the front door of their heated fish houses.  Early ice provides some excellent ice fishing opportunities.   The 10 day forecast shows temps staying below freezing and hitting below zero and single digits many days.  Good news for eager ice anglers and resorts who provide ice fishing services.   Initial actual fishing reports have been very good.  Good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught with some nice jumbo perch, eelpout and pike as well. When you decide to come up, please stay on the resort / outfitters marked trails.  They are marked for a reason and veering off of the trail could put you on ice conditions not suitable.   The satellite imagery shows Big Traverse Bay, which is the main body of the lake, locked up.   On the Rainy River...  The river is gaining ice.  Some local resorts and guides have been out checking ice conditions and fishing with some decent reports of walleyes and some sturgeon.  River ice doesn't form as quickly as there is current.  Work through a resort for safety. In addition to angling, some spearing and angling for pike is taking place in back bays off of the river.     Up at the NW Angle...   The Angle is locked up with ice.  Resorts and outfitters are continuing to check ice conditions and mark trails.  Ice fishing will be coming soon to this part of the lake as ice conditions are also progressing nicely up at the Angle.     Traditionally, most Angle resorts will get houses out and begin fishing December 26th.   Some resorts may take advantage of good ice conditions and get out earlier in the month.  Watch messaging from your favorite NW Angle resort / outfitter for specifics. Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook / Instagram pages or other resort social media pages will keep you updated often with current ice and fishing reports.   If you haven't made reservations for ice fishing, now is a great time.  Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season through March 31st, with walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and pike season never closes.        
    • CigarGuy
      Skunked, we had about 4-5" on the ground, some melted with the warm weather over the weekend. But, overnight and it's still snowing, we're adding to the totals. I'd say we've got another 4+ so far. The railing was clear before it started snowing. Some wet spots out in front of me, I haven't checked the ice thickness yet. Hopefully, we're not in for another bad year with slush on the lake!
    • SkunkedAgain
      Appreciate the report. Too bad the fishing didn't reward you but 6 walleye isn't the worst you could do!   It doesn't look like we got as much snow as predicted, so hopefully the cold can really do its magic on strengthening the ice this week.
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