Enough Ice for the Weekend?

[Sergeant Slabber]

Just wondering if it's worth my time to drive up for the weekend to ice fish. I'm assuming the smaller lakes are fishable up there, but I need the locals to fill me in. Thanks guys!!

[ChuckN]

It's always worth it!! From what I saw Clitherall is locked up, but it took awhile longer for it to freeze. Not fishable IMO.

I accessed off a friend's property on West Battle last evening and I had 4-5" of ice out 200 yards to a breakline. Rough ice from the winds though.

A lot more options for lakes now.

[who are those guy]

How about the old norwegian slough?

[jcbh]

Norway froze over sunday night. Fisherman were there by tuesday morning, with a permanent spear house there this morning.

[PRFISHER]

Was the house in the narrows? or was it on the main lake in front of the access? The narrows have been froze over for nearly a month and the main lake didn't freeze until during the day monday.

[Sergeant Slabber]

It better be worth it ChuckN! I'm leaning towards coming up there, but don't want to get the wife to PO'd. I'm going to Red Jan. 14th, so I need to catch fish if I come up there to keep her somewhat off my back. Maybe I'll run into you at the Sportsman.

[ChuckN]

The ice reports I can help, telling you you will catch enough fish to please da wife...can't do, sorry.

The weather looks interesting, so you may want to check on that too before making the haul. Cold, windy weather on the way.

[jcbh]

The house on Norway was out in front of the access. I live on Norway, and the narrows had re-opened, but is frozen solid now, another portable out there this morning.

[PRFISHER]

I live very close to Norway Lake and usually drive by it every morning including this morning, no houses in the main lake. Have been a few portables. Might try it tonight.

jcbh There are only 8 homes "around" the lake.

2 Klaksviks (my brother and father in-laws), Al Sundby, soon to be Paul Jensen, Mike Johansen, Rick Gronner, Old Richter farm, costello's (seasonal), and one unknown, I'm guessing that is you. If not I'm guessing that I might know you.....

[jcbh]

I live right next door to where Jensen is building. 2 houses in the narrows this morning.

[fishlips]

jcbh...

Did you icefish on Norway last winter? The reason I ask is that the crappie fishing must have been outstanding last winter. Norway is a fun lake to fish and I like the special regulations. I fished Norway twice this summer and never caught a single crappie - is the population way down this year?

[jcbh]

Fishlips,

I only fised it a few times last winter, after all the houses come off. I know lots of crappie there and they are easier to find in the early ice off. I would guess that, even with the restricted limit, if there are another 50-75 houses on it again this year with everyone taking home at least 5 crappies and any size walleye that bites, it should about kill it off. Its a great lake, but I typically fish elsewhere.

[GRAND DAD]

I second that I couldn't belive how many fishhouse where out there last year for such a small lake I wanted to try it icefishing but It didn't look like my fishhouse would fit out there I did manage to catch a few in the spring good size all where cought after dark and 18in and 26in walleye all fish released!!!

[PRFISHER]

I would also agree that there were too many houses for such a little lake last year but I have a theory that says that isn't the only problem with Norway. The bass have become a problem in this lake. They feed on everything smaller than them, including walleye, crappie and sunfish. Anybody ever fish this lake for crappie, sunfish, or walleye in the summer or spear in the winter you will see first hand how alive and well the population is. Walleye good size no young, crappies down, sunfish close to nonexistent all since the new regs...

I will probably take some heat, but this is just my observation of what has happened to the lake in the past 15 years.

[jcbh]

I agree PR. I believe that people should be able to keep bass, especially the eating size. Maybe nothing over 16" or something. There will be so many they will eat all other fish out of house and home and there growth will also stunt. The only better way would be to have about 10 times the population of giant northerns, to keep things in check.

[GRAND DAD]

Ya know you guys might be right,It is fun catching in the summer There are so real big bass in there!!and maybe it is time for them to start letting people keep some of those fish to thin them out a little!