Tonka

[Ice-9]

Got out on one of the smaller 'tonka bays today...4-5+ inches, some nice northerns on tipups. Bigger bays icing well, though it's open still at the Spirit Island/Wayzata Bay narrows (at least it was steaming) and from the Wayzata accesses it looks like open water on the Wayzata Bay side of Breezy Point. Saw a guy skating on the Wayzata Bay side of the Gray's Bay bridge, though he kept his speed up. With the cold weather coming walkers should be good most everywhere by Wednesday. Freezing rain roughed up the surface of the ice too so no slippy.

ice

[Snag]

I finally made it out on Tonka for some walleye fishing. Fishing was pretty good. Caught two dinks and one 17 incher. Had one nice one get off at the hole. Nice to see the Vex light up again. Caught em all on Glow Devils. All in all a pretty enjoyable night on the lake.

[Minaki Lord]

Snag, I was wondering how i should go about catching those walleyes on Tonka, and where i should try on the lake?

[schr0563]

I also made it out on Tonka tonight. I measured 6 inches of ice where I set up my house, and this was roughly 100 yards from an area that was open three days ago. Two of us kept 6 walleyes between 14 and 16 inches. We also missed several more, which were probably smaller fish.

All in all, I thought the action was above normal. We were marking fish about every 10 minutes or so for a while. The warm temps and light wind made it extremely comfortable. It was good to get a night like this before the weather turns sour (Ray and Jeff, It's too bad you couldn't make it out there).

[Snag]

Minaki,

Wayzata, Excelsior and Browns Bays have been good to me. I like to get away from the crowds. Sometimes you will get skunked, but I've found a few great spots. Tonight I fished a community spot that didn't have the community yet. Talk to Tim at Wayzata Bait, he is very helpful.

[schr0563]

I second the community spots. At first ice these spots will produce fairly consistently. After all, that is why they become community spots. So if you know of places where people caught fish last year, get out there now before the crowds arrive. You will notice the action taper off as more people join you, this is when it pays to scope out new areas.

[jeffyo45]

Anyone know if Black Lake is iced over. I would assume so with these cold temps since it's so small.

[Simon M.]

I will be going out to Tonka tonight any advice for catching any eyes. I was thinking about going to Excelsior Bay, but first stopping at Minnetonka bait off of Vine Hill Road

[WallEYES]

Does anyone know anything in Carmens Bay, out to Locke Point and then into spring bay?

[Minaki Lord]

Thanx for the tips, Snag.

[TBone1]

Walleye- I fish this area alot, and it gets hit hard. There is some real nice structure, rock and rubble, steep drops and irregular weedlines.You have to put your time in.

[tashit]

Jeff,

I was out on Black Lake a couple nights ago and there was a good 6 inches of ice. I was only out for a couple hours with no luck.

[Ice-9]

People on Black, Emerald, and a couple on Cook's, that was yesterday and baby it's cold outside. I plan to go wherever I want to...just as soon as it warms up a tad. Or the wind lays down. Still looks like a bit of open water in the center of Wayzata, but it was blowing snow when I looked (this am) and hard to tell. It's time.

ice

[jeffyo45]

Thanks

Tashit and Ice 9. I am going to wait until we warm up this weekend but Black is one of my favorite early spots.

[EBass]

I wanna try to get out there on Sunday. Please keep up on that open water spot and lettus land lovers know what the deal is. I'm thinking Wayzata as it's closer to the metro.

[tashit]

You guys had much luck on Black? I'm trying to decide if I should give that another shot tonight or try the main lake. I would probably stay in Spring Park or maybe try Cook's. I only moved to Mound in February so I'm not too familiar with fishing the lake. I will try to post how I do when I get in tonight. Thanks for any suggestions...good luck and good fishin'

Matt

[jeffyo45]

Tashit,

I have only done well on Black for bluegills and crappies. The crappies have always been small, but early, before the weeds die you can catch quite a few keeper size gills, just around the corner from the channel into Spring Park Bay.

[tashit]

Thanks Jeff. We were out on Black from roughly 5:30-9:30. No bites until we started to pack it up around 8:45 and I caught one average crappie. It would've been a good eater but I just decided to throw it back. We decided to have one more beer but didn't get anything else. There was one other house out there from about 1-9 and all they got was one perch. Not much luck and I will probably be trying the main lake for some eyes next time. All in all it was still fun, I'm just glad we didn't get skunked!

[anchor man]

I was in Wayzata Bay last night and there was at least 6 inches of ice within a couple hundred yards of the shore. I didn't go any further than that. I was out from 3:30 to 6:00 and pulled in one perch. I was jigging 16ft and my tip up was in 19ft. Plenty cold, but still nice to get out for the first time.

[HAMPS]

Is there a slot limit for walleyes on Lake Minnetonka?

Anybody been out to Crystal Bay yet?...Reports?

[Snag]

Made it out this afternoon on Wayzata Bay. Got one Walleye right at sunset. Stayed out until 6:45 and didn't mark any more fish. Had been having luck my last couple of times out between 6 and 6:30 in 16-18ft.

[jigeye]

I was out on Wayzata bay from 10:00am til 7:00pm. No walleyes but got a nice 38" Ski . Saw another nice ski that was curios with the camera so that was neat to watch. Probably why there were no walleyes around too.

[EBass]

My buddy and I hit Wayzata last night to. Only one tiny wee walleye. Rob broke his line on something and a missed flag. I saw some lookers but no takers on the vex. Fished from 15 feet (weedline) to about 26 feet. Ice is about 8-10" just by looking at it, no actual measurement but we did take out the wheeler. My new otter is sweet, but I do want a new sunflower type heater. The ice season is here and real mild temps this week.

[Seeker of Clayface]

I hit Wayzata Bay yesterday as well. Hunkered down on the weedline for the "bewitching hours". One 17" eye on the jigger and one 14" on a shiner under a bob. I measured 11" of solid, clear ice. The perch were pesky until the walldogs showed up. A very nice day indeed.

[anchor man]

I walked off the access by the Wayzata Yacht club last week and had poor luck for walleyes. Has anyone been having some luck off the beach acceess by the depot in Wayzata? I will be out there a few times this week and am trying to get on the board with an "ice eye".

[schr0563]

I was on 12+ inches of ice last night on the south side of Tonka. Saw vehichles driving out to Big Island. It was crowded where I set up, but the crowd disappeared by 6:00, and I managed to catch half a dozen walleyes in the next hour. The fish have been on the small side, but the action has been great.

[Chaska Fisherman]

Where you out on excelsior bay last night? I was out there as well and was one of those who left early.

Lane Canfield

[cyclone guy]

Has anyone been catching any 'eyes on Spring Park bay? I was out last night and had a few crappies, but never saw anything else.

[schr0563]

Chaska Fisherman, Yes I was on Excelsior Bay.

[wmn luv me walleye fearme]

Have you guys been having luck using fatheads or shiners, (or even crappie minnows if they are being picky) I'm heading out on saturday to a sunken island that i did good at the end of last season but don't know yet if its a good early season spot