Ice Fishing Reports

[fisherdog19]

Lets use this thread to report on our fishing endeavors through the early ice season. I will start.

As of this morning Big Detroit is almost entirely froze over. I will be out ice fishing tomorrow morning and I will report results. A buddy of mine fished the other day and got three walleyes in about 14 fow. Ice should be pushing 3 inches on where I will be going.

Everyone be safe and have fun, Ice fishing is not worth taking a dunk over.

[Dahitman44]

Say -- Can you let us know the ice condition too. That would be great.

Some of us are part chicken, but I think I am 3/4 chicken.

[fisherdog19]

First hand report of 4 inches in Deadshot bay, should be ok but wear a life jacket and have hand spikes available just in case.

[mark n]

Went out today for my trial run.

I went to a pond between twelve and fourteen and saw nothing, (fished in 11' of water)but had a great time.

The wind tried to blow me of the lake so I packed up about 6PM and headed for home.

I was on 5" of clear ice

Use extreame caution if venturing out over deeper water as the ice appeared to get thinner as the depth increased.

[lenny4077]

Planning on going to Swede Grove tomorrow afternoon - if the wife lets me out of the house. Drove by it this afternoon and walked out a ways, there is between 5"-6" of ice that I could tell. Also saw some guys fishing a small slough just to the west of Hitterdahl - I know there are tons of walleyes in there, but most are pretty small (8"-10"). I would think that there was more ice on that pond.

[shae1986]

Lenny, 5 inches on the lake you are talking about. Was out their yesterday.

[DEADhead]

Just an FYI for the 'heavier' angler who wants to fish little D. I was out on Little D this morning with 4" of ice and was experiencing some cracking of the ice when I was venturing out. With that and the freezing rain, I went back home; not worth going in... the bad spots were betweeen the marina and the public beach. I weigh 230 lbs.

Be safe out there, and careful driving today, it's slick.

[fisherdog19]

Fished the late afternoon bite on Deadshot with a friend of mine and DEADhead. I small pike, and nothing else. Not sure why the lack of fish, didn't mark anything large, could be just a fluke, it's usually real good early ice.

[ScottND]

Don't put the boat away yet!!

For about 2 hours I was walking all over the ice (5") northeast of Hitterdahl. Only set up a tip up for 15 minutes while I checked out the lake with my LX3. Nothing happening so I drove around and......

At 5:00 pm Sunday evening I saw a boat out on Big C. with a couple fishing just off the north landing! Not a sign of ice other then 50% of Leif starting.

Hmmmm....what's a guy to do??

[lenny4077]

Shae - did you have any luck?? In the past we have done pretty good on Swede. Acutally broke the 10lb mark this summer on a few fish.

[shae1986]

Lenny,

I didn't even fish that night, me and a buddy are busy building a spear house but we went and talked to another of our friends out their and he said he hasn't marked a thing, but thats how i knew how much ice was out their. I was hoping to try thier on sunday but got busy doing some other things. Maybe this weekend, depends on the weather, might have to do some pheasant hunting instead. But good luck too all who venture out and be safe, especially after this rain.

Andrew

[Zach J]

i heard of a couple of guys goin on south twin and slottering the wallys i seen on tamarac sum guys were in a portable already i hope this weekend i will be on the lake be safe out there guys

[Dahitman44]

I am starting to salivate -- I neeed to get out there.

I have been muzzleloading -- Need to get fishing.

[fisherdog19]

Hit Little D with DEADhead on Friday, caught tons of bluegills and 2 small crappie's. Fished 12.5 fow, and it was good to get out. It was good to get the kinks out and make sure all the equipment works.

[Cicada]

Talked to my cousin this morning. He put his spear house out on Lida yesterday. He said he found four inches of good ice. I don't know the exact location (I'm sure one of his super duper secret, kill you if you tell, spots) He did get a couple of northerns and had a couple others stay outside the edge of the hole. He thought Lida blew pretty much completely open before it froze solid, but be very careful. I'd never take anyone's word for ice depth early in the season. Plus, I have seen what he calls a 15 inch walleye! I'm thinking of trying my favorite early season lake this afternoon. Good luck and stay topside.

[Musky_45]

hey cicada were he was at there probably was about that much ice in front of the cabin i founf 4-6 inches but when you got to the edge were it was open on wed there was maybe 2 stopped when i got that far shawn earley

[Musky_45]

i will also second his measuring sucks ive seen it more then once

[ivegottabite]

Hit Little D with Deadhead today. Tried for gills and crappies in 11-13 fow. Gills were very finicky with most of the biters being small ones. Caught a couple bass which surprised me a bit. Deadhead had a nice fish on, thinking northern, that he must have fought with for a couple minutes before it broke off. Sure would have been nice to see what it was.

Good to get out for the first time, but boy was it cold out there!

[Cicada]

I did go to the little lake mentioned earlier. There was eight inches of ice away from shore. There was also an inch or two of snow on top of the ice. I usually walk about a half mile to my spot. With that little bit of snow, I didn't get all the way out there. Being a old fat guy and trying to pull a Clam Jr and a sled with equiptment and auger, just about killed me. Fished 15 feet of water. Marked a few fish, mostly small stuff. Got skunked. Decided to make two trips to shore after dark. Oh well, there's Wednesday.

[12lb8oz]

fished little detroit sat. we got 9 bass, 2 crappies (1 was about 5 inches long), 2 northerns that broke off in the hole, 2 sunfish, and a bullhead. Fun to get out but would have liked more crappies.

[nluchau]

Funny story here. My brother and I were out yesterday and I had to relieve myself and went outside the house and he said a second later my bobber was down. when I get back inside he's reeling in a pretty good size fish. After about 5 minutes of playing him out he shows himself sideways in the house. Its a monster Walleye. Boom hes gone for another run. comes up again still same way sideways. hes not coming up that hole for nothing - both of these times I dont have enough time to reach and grab him. the Third time I did just that and finally got him through the 8 inch hole. Took him outside and find that my tiny little jig hook was not hooked by any skin just hanging from his mouth. I remove it and it was bent pretty good. (27inch 8 lb Walleye.) It was a team effort. If I wasn't there to grab him he would of been gone and it would just be a story. Its his biggest walleye. Would of been mine too. Dang it!!!! Why did I have to Pee just then.

Just thought I would share. This was about 5 p.m. last night

[Jay R]

Just wanted to add my report, I was out on Sunday on Franklin back in Churchs Bay, ice was good / clear about 4". Was only able to fish for an hour, but got to work out a few things equipment wise. I used a spud bar infront of me at all times and there are places where one solid hit with the spud and you are throught the ice. I did see a few folks out on crystal, lida, prairie etc. One note on Franklin the water was very dirty. Maybe 3-4 feet visability which for that lake is uncommon. No-hook ups but marked a few on the LX-3, but no takers. All in all it felt really good to get out. Use common sense and stay safe.

Jay

[gonefishin11]

Fished Little Cormrant saturday. There were eight inches of ice. Fished in 17' and marked alot of fish but they were really finicky.

[Skitterpop]

8 inches of ice on the smaller lakes I fished. Swede Grove lots of small perch. Most productive catching bass surprisingly in 11-17 FOW. Goergeous weekend!

[DEADhead]

Was out checking ice on Sallie this morning, and found 6" of new ice. Looking good!

[ivegottabite]

Quote:

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Fished Little Cormrant saturday. There were eight inches of ice. Fished in 17' and marked alot of fish but they were really finicky.

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did you get out with steve-o? i was hoping to get out with you guys this year.

[gonefishin11]

Yeah, I did get out with steve-o. I think we will be heading out either friday after classes or saturday. Not sure where yet. Drop me a line if you want to join.

[Liv2Hunt&Fish]

Anyone have any info on ice thickness of Little Detroit or Sallie? I have seen some houses out in front on J&K Marina, but wondering on thickness. I went to the access at Sallie and saw no houses. Hoping to put a 7 X 12 house w/ retarctable wheels out this weekend. Any info would be great.

[Dano2]

someone claimed 8" on LD in another thread.

[ivegottabite]

Quote:

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Anyone have any info on ice thickness of Little Detroit or Sallie? I have seen some houses out in front on J&K Marina, but wondering on thickness.

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As of this past Sunday, out around the Marina there was a good 8-9" of ice. The number of permanents doubled in the few hours I was out there. Don't know about Sallie. I thought Deadhead did an ice check on there, might be in one of the other threads on here.