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Waconia Ice Report


InTowneGuy

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Hi everyone. Jim & Ben went out on Thursday Afternoon to check Ice Thicknesses. They walked out to Cemetery Reef, East End of the Island, South Side of the Island, "Under the Wires," West Center Reef, and Waconia Bay. They found as little as 2 inches of ice, with an average of 2 3/4 to 3 inches. Closer to shore where the ice was broken up by the wind and refroze, was as much as 5 inches. CAUTION! Watch out for pushed up ice (small heaves) that from a distance look like snow drifts. These areas are hollow underneath and are quite small in size. Thankfully it is 20 degrees now and the ice is growing. I will update as I get more information.

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HEY InTowneGuy....

Glad to see you back!! And thanks for the report. You know me and thin ice shocked.gif and that I'll probably be waitng a while longer for "real" ice, before the lil' green house shows up. BUT... I may try to make an adveture in the Otter soon...

Welcome back and thanks again!!

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Welcome back InTowneGuy,

Thanks for the ice report, I heard there was a couple of guys out on Red's last night, Pretty scary sounding to me. I'll stop in this weekend and say hi and buy my shelter license. Remember this is going to be the year I finally catch the keeper walleye.

Hey Dan (AKA Moose Hunter), Can't wait to see the little green house, we need to hook up for some ice drinking--oops I mean fishing this year. Did you ever find the LED lights you were looking for?

Danny

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Pike hunter,

Stopped by there the other night and took a few steps out, wasn't too bad by shore but the farther out I got you could hear the ice cracking under my feet, forgot to bring the spud bar to punch a hole to see how thick it was. I am going on a mission this weekend to check the ice on all my local fishing spots.

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Thanks Danny ... I'm going to be venturing back into that area this weekend, thought it might be a better option than some of the bigger water. I'll pass on info if I hear anything.

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I'm pretty sure I saw a portable out on the ice on my way home. It looked to be near the marina. I didnt have time to stop and look though...

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Hey In-Towne Guy,

Any update on the ice? Hoping to come out and see you all on the 23rd!

Dino

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4"1/2 TO 6" on Parley Sun AM, Waconia should be a good 4-to 5 inches or more from In Towne to the island, beyond the island I don't know. I did see a couple of guys on 4 Wheelers Sun. around noon. Will be giving Waconia a shot tonight after work.

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Thanks Danny! Barring any problems I'll be out on Thursday PM to try some new goodies! Let me know how you do tonight.

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How has the action been in Turd's bay?

I have noticed a few portables out there...usually first ice brings some nice crappies to the green weeds. Has anyone been brave enough to venture out? Looking forward to getting the permanent out by XMAS!

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Sat in Waconia Bay in about 11 feet of water on about 5" of ice from 5:15 until 7:15 we caught 20 crappies, all released back, due to laziness ( neither of us wanted to clean any fish last night)

SWMusky. With this cold weather we are suppose to have this week You might be able to get the permanant out depending on how heavy it is. I won't put mine out until there is 9 or more inches. Mt house is old and heavy, it is on wheels but I have to jack the thing up to take the wheels off, and with the floor jack I use, that is a lot of weight concentrated in one area.

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Hi Danny,

Thanks for the update! Will be out on 12/23 PM looking for some crappies and maybe an eye or 2. I'll let you know how I do.

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Hey Intowne Guy. I am new to Eden Prairie. I would like to drive out to Waconia tonight. I have fished Waconia a bit, but only in the summer. I purchased a map for the winter ice bite. I was reading your posting and realized that some of the places you talked about are not on my map. I see where Cemetary reef is as well as the Center Reef but is Wageners Bay what you are referring to as Waconia Bay? Also I am looking to do some crappie fishing and another guy posted that he walked out to center reef. Do you know what the ice is like out to center reef or do you think it would be wise to just stick neat cemetary reef and the south side of the island?

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Also if there are any other guys out there that know of any other lakes in the area of Eden Prairie that hold good crappie haunts I would love to hear of them. You don't have to give up your spot just point me to the frozen stuff, and maybe an area.

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Ice is good from the Island south. If your looking for crappies, try waconia bay in 7-13 ftw. If your looking for eyes then go out to Cemetary Reef, I haven't heard of any reports out on Cemetary, but it's been proven over the years.

Hope that helps

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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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