Lakers and splake

[Steve Foss]

Great Web site, by the way.

Moved to Duluth/Superior this autumn, and I'm looking for a couple good laker or splake lakes to ice fish. Done a lot of ice fishing, but not for those species. I'm looking for some lakes around Duluth within two hours' drive north and northwest. If anyone can give me the names of a few of those lakes, include distances/direction from nearby towns, I'll use maps to do the rest (except it'd be helpful to get a couple tips on techniques, depths to fish, etc.) Here's the catch. I don't have access to a sled or ATV. That means I either drive on the ice in my full-size 4X4 pickup (not likely), or walk in and tow my Fish Trap II, power auger, etc. I'm willing to work at it a bit, including snowshoeing in, but I'm no athlete any more, so those lakes more than a mile off the road won't work. I'm not after huge fish, just a good time in the woods and a few eaters. Not that I'd mind a trophy splake or big laker, either. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Mnfisher]

Try Echo Lake for splake, NE of Finland about 20 ? miles on Hwy 7. Access is 5'from the road and you fish near shore. Try dead salted minnows or wax worms on crappie jig, small hook or swedish pimple. No live bait. See you there opener.

[Steve Foss]

Thanks for the tips, Mnfisher. Echo it'll be, when I can carve out a day to go. So, the Minn. regs say opener is Jan. 13. Why a Sunday, eh? I work Sunday-Thursday, so I'll have to wait awhile. Nice to know the fishing's close to shore. That Fish Trap gets heavy with gear and a power auger on top. I've got a lot of live fatheads that won't be lively much longer. Can I freeze them and use them dead on Echo? How big are the splake there?

[Steve Foss]

Thanks for the tips Mnfisher. I'm working Jan 13. Why have an opener on a Sunday, I ask you? Anyway, I'll make a day trip to Echo as soon as I can clear a day. Good deal it's close to the road and people fish close to shore. I've got a bunch of fatheads that aren't going to stay lively much longer. Can I freeze them and use them dead on Echo? How big are the splake there?

[Guest]

Any other suggestions for ice fishing north of Duluth? I am also willing to make some effort to snowshoe in for a day.

[Mnfisher]

The 2002 opener is Saturday the 12th. You probably saw the 2001 opener which was the 13th, a Saturday last year, but Sunday this year! I don't know about fatheads. I was told crappie minnows. I used waxie's myself and they worked fine. Good luck!

[ludy]

Echo is a very popular lake and there will be a lot of people there sat. opener
Just a hop up the road and a short walk, won't need snowshoes, is Golden eye a brooky lake
Another short hop is hare with brownies, its right next to the road
A couple of miles from there is the Trestle for a brew and burger
I drove by Echo last sun. and the ice looked fine and there were sno-scooters on Hare

[ludy]

2nd try 1st didn't post
Echo is a very popular lake and there will be a lot of poeple sat. for the opener
Just a hop up the road and a short walk won't need snowshoes is Goldeneye a brooky lake
Another short hop is Hare, with brownies its right next to the road and you can use live minnows
A couple of mlies fom there is the Trestle for a brew and burger
I drove by echo last sun. and the ice looked fine and there were sno-scooters on Hare
There are many lakes in the area for all species of fish

[ludy]

2nd time 1st post didn't show
Echo is a very popular lake and there will be a lot of poeple there sat. opener
Just a hop up the road and a short walk (won't need snowshoes yet) is Goldeneye a brooky lake
Another short hop is Hare, with brownies, its right next to the road and you can use live minnows
A couple of miles from there is the Trestle for a brew and burger
I drove by Echo last weekend and the ice looked fine and there were sno-scooters on Hare
there are many lakes in the area for many species of fish
have fun beautiful area

[Guest]

dad can't reply for some reason so i'm going to try
echo is a very popular lakeand there will be a lot of people there sat. opener
just a hop up the road and a short walk (won't need snowshoes yet) is golden eye a brooky lake
another short hop is hare with browns its right next to the road
a couple of miles from there is the trestle for a pop and a burger
dad and i drove by echo last weekend and the ice looked fine and there were 9 snow-scooters on hare
there are many lakes in the area for all species of fish

who am i?
i'm in 7th grade i like the fresh air and fish and swim at our cabin which is in the area moved up here from northeatern iowa lived up here almost 5 years now, i like little league baseball dad took me to the vikings-packers game in minneapolis had a hard time getting out of the cities go vikings but what about "kurt warner"

love silver bay and the arrowhead