****** Ice Reports HERE ******

[LMITOUT]

Please post all ice reports in this thread to keep them in one, centralized area for everyone to view. Makes it a lot easier in these first few weeks of ice.

Thanks!

[LMITOUT]

Drove by Jenny this evening and saw a couple folks out near the main area of the lake from the south access.

Belle was froze over but didn't see anyone fishing from the north access. Slush from the weekend wind is piled up on the access. Didn't venture out to check the thickness.

Stahls is about the same as Belle. Chunks piled up at the access. Nobody out.

The small lake west of Stahls on the south side of the road had about 5-6 trucks parked on the shoulder and people fishing.

Why they have the access on the east and south ends of these lakes is a mystery to me. Makes it difficult to launch/load a boat in the summer too. Think about the lakes in the area and where their landings are......

[lindylittlejim]

Drilled some holes on Clear near Gibbon this morning before work, a strong 3 maybe 4 inches. 1 guy was out fishing yesterday I guess. Has anyone seen anybody on or checked out Willie Greenleaf Marion?? thanks!

[Poutmaster]

There was a portable out in front of the park on Belle this evening. There was open water there yet on Monday though...

I saw a few houses out from the Landing on Jennie. I walked out about 100 yards and there looked to be a solid 5+ inches

I drove by Willie and it looks like all the 'old' ice blew off and it has been replaced with a nice clear coating on Monday. No activity out there.

No activity on Ripley tonight.

[lindylittlejim]

I'm going out Saturday for the first time, and well I'm from Gibbon and havent checked the 'hutch area lakes' out since last saturday and there was a lot of open water. I'm sure everythings capped now as Ive read, but I'm gonna be going by myself probably so I wanna make sure theres enough ice- I just wanna know, some of you locals who check every day, do you think willie or greenleaf will be safe for fishing? I'd like to try Belle too, but man i dont know about by my lonesome. Lets keep this post going and let each other know what ice conditions are and how many are people fishing and where. Not for sure if I wanna venture out on a lake, with no one else on it.

[Ryan_V]

talked to a guy that was out on marion today, says there was about 4" not too far from the landing. Looks like I'll be out on saturday!! weather looks good too, great ice making weather!!

[friendlyfisher]

lindylitlejim,

I drive by willie twice a day. THe lake has been froze over for a long time. Not sure how much ice is there. It would be worth it to plan on going there then checking it when you get there.

If the wind stays down or if it is from the south east, I plan on hitting ripley on saturday morning.

friendlyfisher

[trophyhunter]

Finally.....Went out on the south side Jennie last night. There was a little over 4 inches. Didn't catch any but it was just great to get out. A few on the vex but no takers. I will be hitting a number of lakes in the coming days. Good luck to all and BE SAFE!!

[Guest]

Silver Lake east of Arlington has 4.5 to 5 on any spot I have been on.

[lindylittlejim]

Got out for the first time today finally! Fished Greenleaf for about an hour after dinner, 6 inches of ice near shore 4 in the middle, I fished in about 10ft. and caught a 33 inch northern pretty much as soon as I dropped my line down, other than that nothing at all. Checked willie, 5-6 inches, did not fish though, no one on belle or clear by stahls when I drove by. Fished Marion from 3-530, 5 - 5 1/2 inches out there, 15-20 other portables. I caught 3 eyes and 2 crappies, kept 1 16'' eye and a 10'' crap. thats my report, hope the wind dont blow us off the lake tomorrow! Good Luck!

[walleyes4me]

I thought I would give my report also. Friday fished Rice Lake by Eden Valley. 5+ inches of ice. 1 Northern about 24 inches and that was it. I think I was a little too shallow. Should have fished deeper water. Fished Stella Saturday from the North side. 3 people not even a bite. Fished 12 feet of water and there was about 5+ inches of ice there also. Going out today to try Belle.

[Poutmaster]

The latest 2 lakes I checked were Star and Ripley. Ripley still has open water straight out from the N landing. There is a flock of geese or something keeping a small area open. No one has ventured out too far yet.

Star has a few houses out along the E shoreline. Rough ice has piled in the landing area. Some of it vertically frozen. Makes for a interesting walk! I had zero action with 5 inches of ice. No one was out past the east shoreline.

[trophyhunter]

Was out on Belle tonight. Tried a spot where I caught crappies last year. Caught 10 walleyes(small), no crappies. Measured 6 3/4 inches of ice. Kind of surprised there was that much. I drove my 4 wheeler out.

[Paradice]

You didn't see any perch did ya? We hit the perch really well about five years ago, but haven't seen the size or numbers since then.

Walleyes worth keeping?

[trophyhunter]

No we did not catch any perch. The walleyes were not worth keeping.(10 to 12 inches) It was fun to see the cork go down.

[lindylittlejim]

Well man this wind stinks. I dont mind it being cold, but that NW wind is a joke! with these temps I wouldnt be surprised to see people driving on area lakes this weekend. I did go to belle sunday, fished from about 230-6 off piepenburg, caught 4 runty eyes and 1 perch, no crappies. ice was 6-7 inches. Fished a lake south of willmar yesterday from 12-5 not a bite, 9 inches of ice. Hopefully the wind is lighter tomorrow I really wanna get out on the north end of Belle. If anyone has reports keep em coming! Good luck guys!

[MRWALLEYE2005]

Can you walk out from the north east landing on belle or the one by the carp trap?

[Poutmaster]

I've seen people go out from all 3 accesses.

[lindylittlejim]

Fished Belle today- 10 inches of ice- There was either a car or mini van on the lake off the NE landing, couldnt tell but none the less it was a vehicle, 10 inches aint quite enough for me. The fishing was slow, couple small eyes and 1 nice perch.