Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

I just moved to Roseville and was an avid western metro ice angler. I'm going to miss hitting Tonka after work on weeknights. I'm also going to embrace the new challenge of learning some new lakes. Don't think I could do it without the help of FM though. Anybody have some ICE ADVICE for the lakes titling this post? I would love to have some company out there too. I don't know anybody on this side of town who likes to ice fish. My neighbors are reeeaaaly quiet. Crappies, norts, eyes, perch? Any specie?(Al Lindner pronounciation)

---Zdaddy

Posted

Hey welcome to this neck of the woods! Well I haven't ever fished Owasso with ice on it, but josephine is good for some nice pike, and smaller panfish. Johanna actually puts out some nice walleyes each year, buddy of mine caught a 7 pounder last winter there, I have only caught smaller ones though, 14-18". I am always looking for someone to fish with too, so if you need some company, just shoot me an email sometime [email protected]! There are better lakes around than just those for sure too, Bald Eagle is quite nice...plus I may know a few more "secret" ones wink.gif...

Posted

You can add me to your fishing partner list. I live about five minutes from Johanna. There's some really interesting structure/features to that lake and something new to learn every trip. You can send me an email if you want to do an outing. [email protected]

Posted

IN THE WINTER JUST A FEW NORTHERNS AND A COUPLE MUSKEYS BITE OFFS IN THE SUMMER MUSKEYS AND WALLEYES BIG PIGS (NOT KIDDING) 7-9 POUNDERS shocked.gifOUT ON OWASSO THERE ARE BIG FISH IN THERE.

Posted

if you go right out from the access on Owasso you can catch all the little craps and 'eyes you can handle during most of the winter. tip-ups in that area also produce some big pike. Josephine can be pretty good for decent 'eyes if you know where to look. full moon nights the pigs will come up and roam the weeds in front of the public beach also on josephine.

Posted

The summer before last I talked to a guy that told me about the tremendous walleye fishing early on these lakes and I didnt believe him. I asked a few questions, but more or less had to figure it out for myself last winter. I pulled a bunch of eyes out of those lakes last winter with a 28.5" being the best; she went back in so I can have that chance at the 30" this year. Zdaddy, I take the kids to Owasso quite often for the small crappies and have a couple of spots for myself on the other lakes, because the kids just dont have the patience to sit there and wait for larger fish that dont try to kill themselves. I live a quarter mile from Josephine by Emmitt D. Williams School. Shoot me and email at [email protected] and we might be able to pick a time to meet EARLY this winter but getting out is sometimes and issue with my wife's work and the kids. Best to keep the spots limited to a few people because these are some small lakes and too much activity is never a good thing and you dont need guys keeping 5 pound fish like the guys next to me did last winter. There are plenty of eyes in the 15 to 18" range to eat. Last year they absolutely killed the eyes on Bald Eagle, but the crowds were a bit ridiculous. December is the best and it goes downhill after the new year.

I have a black Frabil 1 1/2 man portable and my name is on the outside. Stop by and say hi if you see me out there. Good luck this fall. I am probably going to wait until someone fatter and dumber than me starts walking out but hopefully that will be next week!!!! God, I cant wait to get out there.

Posted

Zdaddy, I plan on hitting these lakes also this winter, as they are not to far from me. Drop me an email when you are heading out and I can join you just about anytime. [email protected]

Posted

I'll second most of what's been said, tho I've never hit Josephine. Especially late ice, the crappies on Owasso straight out from the launch in about 20' of water will light up the Vex so you can read by it before sunset. There are a few bigs ones but most are 7-8" & I too have brought the little ones out for a "sure thing".

Johanna has big fish in it, walleye & pike & bass, but it's more of a size lake (for me at least, perhaps others have a different view). Two years ago I caught my biggest bass, walleye & muskie all out of Johanna. But never much for numbers in my book. There's lots of strucuture & fun weedlines to explore, but I haven't been out there for ice...yet.

Posted

I have hit a few nice walleye on Johanna. The DNR report shows tons of panfish, but so far I have not been able to find them. I work real close to Johanna and I usually hit it early ice since its the only place I can get to afterwork during "prime time" Once the days get a little longer I tend to drive right past it to get to some proven spots. Should probably try it later in the year sometime. I might try it before work this year to see how the morning bite is.

Posted

Thanks to all of you. I will be getting a hold of you soon as it seems that most of the best action is early. Saw on the news today that some people fell in up in Anoka. Probably should wait til early next week to head out. I will certainly help you guys with some secrets I know in the western metro... smile.gif My e-mail is [email protected]

Posted

I live in Maplewood so these lakes are all in my neck of the woods. Most weekends I head to the St. Cloud area or West metro for day trips on some of my favorite bodies of water. During the week however I am home by 3:30 and have always wanted to try Johanna or Josephine. I am going to throw my e-mail address out there as well so that when a few of you are heading out I may plan on joining. It is [email protected]

I have fished owasso during the winter and if you ever have a need to test electronics, try different presentations, or keep the kids busy this is the lake to do it. Loaded with paper thin 6-8"ers. You will get the occassional 10" nice one but very rare. If you past the deep hole you also have a shot a walleye or pike on the flats with tip up.

Posted

The other lake that is worth trying is McCarrons off Rice just south of 36. Last year my buddy pulled in a few nice eyes out of there early in December. Also, Gervais is a decent lake to check out.

I will be checking the ice on Wednesday to see what we have on Josephine. There were some long crack lines that I could see through the snow so I am thinking that a few days of this beautiful cold weather would make everything nice and solid. If anyone on this site is 300lbs and about 5'-6" please get in touch with me and I would be more than happy to have you check the ice in front of me!!!!

The wife and kids will be in CA this week, so I need some ice to get out of the whole hunny-do list.

If anyone checked any of these three lakes this weekend, please post what you found. Thanks.

Posted

I'm going to check the ice near the shore on Josephine either today after work or tomorrow. I'll let you all know what I see there. The lake has been completely frozen over since middle last week and the overnight temps being where they've been I'm thinking i'll be fishing really soon.

---Zdaddy

Posted

Zdaddy, was the you that drilled a hole off from the landing. I saw someone had done that when I was on my way home from work. If so, how deep was the ice.

Posted

Actually it wasn't me, I saw that too on the way home. Actually the wife and I have been busy the last couple nights decorating for Christmas. I know I'll get a chance to head out there buy Thursday night. Should be a lot warmer on Thursday night too. You wanna meet up that night? Give er a shot?

---Zdaddy

Posted

Zdaddy, did you actually get out tonight? I am off on Friday and am going to check a few local lakes. On Saturday I am going up towards little falls to a favorite little lake. The report is that the lake already had 6" of solid ice on Monday so I am guessing 8-10 for Saturday.

Posted

Cant make it out tonight. I checked Owasso last night. 4 to 5" 50ft off the landing. am planning on getting out saturday and sunday evenings.

will be on owasso, not by the landing with all of the other "trophy" crappie fisherman. hope to see some of you out there and get to know some guys that are tougher with cold weather than most of my friends.

Posted

SFBOY, I have Friday off and will be checking a few of hte metro lakes. I may run by Owasso to see if anyone is out. You definatly will get action on Owasso I just wish there were more 10'ers. I may drill a whole or two and drop my camera down to check things out for fun.

The one thing that is freeky about Owasso is they have to post that sign warning of weak ice. Freaks me out every time I see it. I already hate early ice and seeing that sign before you walk or drive out does nothing to ease my fears...

You should also think about little wabasso across the street. There is some shallow water in the little bay to the left of the access holding some nice sunnies.

The lake by my house has 5" and the walleye bite was on. The dusk eyes were bitting. The size is 15-21" all swimming for another day.

What other parts of owasso do you fish? I know you can get walleyes and pike more on the flat behind the deep whole. It seems this lake has natural springs you have to watch out for...

Posted

Could I get some definate confirmation of the ice on Owasso? I'm trying to convince my dad to go out on Saturday/Sunday. On a side note, what works well there? We've been there once before, and got skunked!

Posted

Pike1, I know what you mean about early ice. Last year I was sitting on 8" of really clear ice and it just freaked me out to see the fish coming up right underneath me. The ice was so clear that is looked like it was paper thin.

I think Owasso would be safe now. Yesterday, there had been guys out to the center of the deep hole. I dont waste my time there when I am trying to catch anything decent.

Not sure where I will be tomorrow. There is a nice saddle in the southern portion of the lake that always kicks out a few fish.

If I still have reservations about the ice thickness, might be up for McCarrons. Middle of the north side of the lake.

I would think there will be much more information come sunday evening and Monday morning on the ice conditions around the cities. Good Luck everyone and be smart out there.

Posted

My personal advise is wait another week. the snow cover has insutlated the ice and most areas are 3-5" in the metro. I have only actually been on Owasson 3-4 times last year. My main objective there was to try some plastics and other artificial baits to see how they performed compared to live bait. Concerning Owasso if you walk out for the access maybe 100-150 yards you will be in the deep hole. It is loaded with 6-8" and should at least wet your whistle as far as action. Go past this and you will be on some structure that may put out a pike or walleye.

Posted

What time might you be on McCarrons. I have the day off and am dropping my daughter at th bus stop soon and then some x-mas shopping. I was hoping to at least check a few lakes in the afternoon and McCarrons was one I was going to drive by as it is close. I put new blades on the auger and need to drill a few holes to ensure they are good as they were the resharpened ones

Posted

There are 3-4 good inches of ice and about 1/2" of frozen slush on Josephine. Fished there out front of the beach area for a couple hours on Thursday night. Had a loaded flasher but no takers on crappies and waxies. Not sure what the marks were on the flasher. I did crack the frozen slush and it scared the heck outta me but I realized that it was just the top layer. Ice was black and clear under the snow/slush. I weigh 260 and I had my fish trap with me too. No problem out there. Also no fish!!!

---Zdaddy

Posted

On Johanna, Ive seen the group of shacks just off the Northeast point. On a lake map it looks like this should be a good saddle area, since the underwater structure extends all the way from the "Island" (almost). I checked it out this Fall with electronics and didn't find any real appealing saddle or other structure there. Anybody know what I mean?

Has anybody fished this "popular" area on Johanna in the Winter?

I did stumble accross a great looking deep hole, maybe 30' accross that is on no map. Steep drop from 25' bland flat to 35' in the middle of nowhere that I'm dying to try this Winter. Of course I forgot the H2O so I don't have a waypoint...you know, "I'll take the boat out one more time to mark spots"...of course the boat got Winterized before that one last time. I did take two visual bearings on shorelines, so still hope to find it. If you see a FT PRO on the Lakes SE area, stop by.

Posted

Pike, Zdaddy I would like to get out on Owasso tomorrow night. My buddies can not make it and I would like a partner to walk out there with, I will bring the rope. If you guys can make it, let me know at the email listed above. I am planning on getting there at 330 and fishing until 730. Things you need: a few 4" shiners for a tip up, jigging spoons and some fatheads for jigging, I prefer the glow devils, but rattle spoons work too. I have a black ford 150 and will park in the beach lot, not the landing lot. We will take it easy getting out there and check as we go. I will be in the office tomorrow for awhile and will check my email, (in a previous post on this string), and this site to see if anyone can join me. This is the time of year to get after them. The fishing died after the new year.

Hope to hear from you.

Posted

Swimmer, I've hit that hole during the summer to late fall & haven't had much luck beyond the odd crappie or perch. There's more productive spots (although I don't know about ice time of course!) between the western shore & the sunken island along the deeper water there. IMHO!

Posted

SFBOY, I am actually going to the childrens theater with my wife and daughter for Aladen. So tonight is out for me. Post any reports. Hopefully some one else from the site can hook up with you. Early ice you should always have someone with just in case.

Some advise if you ever do go through the ice. Go on your back and kick until your body is on hard ice. Roll, grab what you can and run...

Posted

Zdaddy, not tonight, Sat. night.

Posted

Hey there Swimmer,

I have been to the described area at Johanna that you speak of. My grandpa used to say that for some lakes "if they bite there in the summer, they bite there in the winter". My experience from the last couple years says that this is one of them.

I have also had fun on Josephine- and I know exactly what you are talking about where your vex is lit up but nothing is biting. Sometimes it's perch but I have had some surprising walleyes out of there. And there is always room.

Just my $.02

Jug

PS- Having a problem getting my posting picture to work. Is the "Url" just the name of the image on your desktop?

Posted

Hey guys, how clear is Josephine? If they're stacking like that, I might bring my Aqua-View out there.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.