Ice Fishing Eagan

[bucktailsam]

I was wondering if anyone does any ice fishing on the Eagan area lakes like Shultz and Holland. I have done well on these lakes in the summer but not so well on the ice. What can you catch through the ice on these lakes and how have you done in the past years on them.

bucktailsam

[Dave B]

My buddy catches panfish and the occasional trout from Holland.

[Duffman]

For it's size, Holland just gets hammered, especially during the winter. Plenty of hammerhandles and stunted sunnys to keep ya busy. I've heard rumors of decent crappies over time, but I've never caught any that I would consider keepers (I think good year classes get cleaned out fairly quickly). The trout can be fun if ya get lucky enough to hook one, those trout that don't find their way into a poachers bucket by opener might be a little lure shy by the time the season opens. There was a bald eagle hanging out there this fall for a couple weeks, I'm sure he put a small dent in them newly stocked trout. I've put quite a few hours on Holland over the years, it's where I spent alot of time by myself learning and trying new things under the ice.

In all honesty, it sure has gone downhill the last 10 years. But that's what happens when more and more people move into the area, and this sport called icefishing has increased in popularity. Since the crowds came, I haven't fished it as much as I used to. So take it for what it is, sure, there might be a bigger pike or bass that has been feeding on dem speckled sausages swimming around, but don't expect to be going home with a lot of fish. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, it's a fun place to fish(I've got my reasons), but don't expect a whole lot. As for Shultz, I don't know if it's legal to fish it or not during the winter.