How much ice?

[boener]

How much ice in the springsteel area? Just wondering if I should bring a wet bike or a wheeler!!!

Dont forget your buckshot rattler!

[bigwood56]

wet bike!!!!!!!!!

[boener]

big WOOD!

I was hoping to get into some "Gator" action!! I just put the wet bike away and now I have to gas er up again!! Might be a little nipply out there on that thing....

You going up next weekend?

[fiskyknut]

Not sure about the westside but....Drilled thru about 9 inches of ice yesterday out front of Morris in 15.5 foot. About 6 to 7 on Wednesday off of Graceton. There are about 100+ permanents on the ice near Morris, folks were on the ice with wheelers/sleds and I also saw a couple of small SUV's out there as well. The bite was decent both evenings, hopefully even better this evening!

fiskyknut

[boener]

Thanks fisky!!

I really got the itch now!! Might have to practice jigging tonight in the garage!!! Keep'er safe kids!

[great fishing 4-U]

How much ice is there out past pine island. Is it the same as morris point?

[widetrack]

Big winds for-casted for the weekend. Please use common sense out there this weekend. I'm pretty aggressive on first ice, but with the forecast I think I'm waiting it out a bit.

[JHansel7]

Relax guys, the ice isnt going to go anywhere, especially by pine, my dad is up fishing this weekend out of Ken Mar Ke and fishing out of their houses, he told me they had about 8-9 incehs of ice and its solid.

[icefishingdude]

I agree...its still early to be on the lake. I couldnt imagine making reservations or planning a trip to go out onto that ice yet, give it a few more weeks...doesnt the theory of having to use a four-wheeler to go out and having to fish in 15 ft of water steer anyone from southern mn away???

[widetrack]

Jhansel, I'm not sure you know what a 45mph NWester can do out there. It can do a lot of moving and shaking. Be careful guys...

[rodsbyengel]

Widetrack's definitely right. Also, an extremely reliable source told me two four wheelers went through by pine yesterday.

[walleyereaper]

My is advice is to stay off the ice this weekend. If you remember what happened last year at Long Point that was with about 25mph winds and 11 inches of ice. That lake does a lot of shifting on early ice with these kind of winds.

[JHansel7]

Yes it does shift, but I would have to say if your in the pine island area its not going to move around much, i can see what widetrack is saying though with areas with little ice, such as long point which was just opened up a week ago. But i do think the resorts do know what they are doing, so they arent goign to put people that they are responsible in harms way.

[Reefer]

BOENER69

I think we're going maybe thur. nite to fish fri. thru the weekend. You figure out if you'll make the trip?? Sounds like a little breeze for tomorrow, don't put that wetbike away just yet!!

[bigV]

Hope we're still good out of Arnesons' Monday am??

Guess I'll call before leaving tomarrow-- don't like the wind forecast at all!!

[White-tips]

Hey Reefer wassup? Just talked to Lip Ripper moments ago. 20 ft, 12 total so far, 1 27" back in the drink. Wanted to go tomorrow but I don't want to end up like the people at Long Point last year. The ice at Morris, from the pictures in the above post, doesn't look very nice. Lip got an e-mail from Paul at Arneson's the other morning. He figures fishing by Twin Island this year will be nearly impossible because the ice over there is all screwed up. Buzz kill. Calling Lip back this afternoon for a final report. Holte told him best bite has been from 1:30 to 3:30. They didn't even get started until nearly 11am. Call me and let me know when you're goin up to da lake.

[Reefer]

White-Tips..

Good to here from ya. Man am I going crazy sitting at home!! Just restrung all my rods, cleaned tackle, shined up the vex, and here I sit. I'm going up to fish frisatsun next weekend if the wind doesn't totally explode the ice. I'm sure a guy will be able to get out somewhere though. What are your plans?? We sold the shack at Arneson, so we'll be at our summer place on the other side of the lake. Just a little bit roomier!! Who'd Rip go with? Sure don't sound like any fun. Post or give a call with your plans(lost your cell).

[luckystrikeicehouses]

Was up to fish the big lake Friday,yesterday, the reports from Adrians on the ice conditions was 5-6", everything looks great, just make sure you follow the stakes out across the bay, they said. I was on my wheeler heading out across the bay and followed a launch from Bayview, (10 quys in an enclosed 8x10 trailer being pulled behind a wheeler) about have way out in the bay the trailer suddenly broke threw the ice, I was about 150' back and was able to help some people out of the water then went to get help. Everyone is ok. We still went out fishing, fishing was slow Friday morning but late afternoon was awesome, as fast as you wanted to pull up walleyeyes! This morning,Saturday we went out again and saw a line of 30-40 wheelers heading back in to shore. These fisherman turned around because their were 4 seperate wheelers broke threw the ice. We continued to head out (away from the stakes, and not near any one elses wheeler)As we went out we could see the groups of people around each sunken wheeler, The rescue hoover craft was being used. The wheeler breakthrews were spaced within the last half of the bay before you cross the island. These people were following the staked trail. We evently made it out this morining after passing all the carnage, and hopping about a two foot opening on the lake side of the island. Fishing was absolutly great this morning. Beware of the claims of 6+ inches of ice, don't go overloaded and bring a live jacket.

[charterboss]

JHanson---nothing personal but i have been doing the ice biz for 12yrs--and i assure ice is never safe at anytime--you must always keep your eyes open for new cracks/heaves/slush pockets and what have you...it has been raining now for 3hrs --now snow -50 mph winds here tonight and sunday.....the lake will shift alot--I have seen it move a mile and a half ..5 inches only in the bay --4 four wheelers have broken thru already and its only sat. most of the lake has only 7 inches...with only a small area of 9--so caution is the word of the week...have fun but stay dry

[JHansel7]

Ibelieve you,its common sense that it is going to move. all i was saying is that there is no need for everyone to freak out about there upcoming trip, as YOU GUYS and the RESORTS obviously have a better idea of what is happening than anyone else, and they ARENT going to put you out there if they know that there could be a PROBLEM!

[walleyereaper]

Luckeystrikehouses I can't believe you still went fishing after all you witnessed. Were you walking out?

[iffwalleyes]

I went out on Sat. first trip of the year. I took off from Adrian's. They told me before I left to be careful because the ice was moving around. I left and sortly after getting out there 2 sleds flew by me doing better than 40 mph. Not smart on thin ice. Then I saw some guys waving at me i went over to see what was up they said they said that a wheeler had just in front of me. I then became leary of going out but there was a guy from one of the resorts that said if you follow along the marked trail you should be fine. Ony my way I saw a couple more of in the drink. So I went out I followed another 4 wheeler staying behind them. I got set up by 8 am. I had my limit bt 1:00 I must have caught around 80 fish in that time. The wind was coming up then and I decided it was time to leave. I am glad I did because from the sounds of things I got nasty up last night. I wouldn't have wanted to drive back in the weather they got. So good trip but yes Widetrack is right be careful. No offense Hansel but I think Widetrack from Roseau has a little better idea of what is happening at Lake of The Woods than Hansel from St. Cloud.

[JHansel7]

Congratulations, you might be on to something??

[widetrack]

...

[JHansel7]

Oh c'mon widetrack, can you fault me for being excited for my trip?? And we've talked plenty before, especially last year, i think about jigging spoons, i dont think we really meant to offend each other, at least that wasnt my intention, and if i did, sorry..i guess.

[widetrack]

Sorry Hansel,

I'm under the weather, finished my 2nd hot brandy, and a bit surly.

Peace.

WT.

[JHansel7]

No love lost!

[Philo]

Hey Iffwalleyes - What was the lure of choice for your great success? I am heading up this week and am wondering if I need to get any special lures before I go?

[iffwalleyes]

I used the my old favorites. I used a plain gold kahle hook on my dead stick line probably got about half my fish on this. Then on my jigging line I rotated between my old favorite the JR Pink/Glow Crusher (I always get fish on this one or the Glow Red Crusher) then on my other jigging rod I had a Orange/Gold Chubby Darter. If I had a fish on my Marcum and it wouldn't bit then I dropped down the other and pretty much every time that change would trigger the fish to bite. The darter they were smacking the heck out of that thing. I could jig them off the bottom and they would start to flow it I had some fish follow 5 feet before hitting but when they did they nailed it. I also used on of JR's new rattle jigs in a glow red and I did get a few on that. All and all it was a great time on the ice and I am glad that I used my smarts and got off the lake and back home when I did.

[boener]

Reef master,

Your heading up on thursday huh! Well, at the earliest, I can maybe make it up there saturday evening..basketball! Maybe thursday though?!?! I'll give ya a call one of these nights..... Was in Bemidji today and stocked up on some rattlers! I'm pumped! Later dudes!