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Haven't seen alot of post for OT this year, whats the deal. I havn't got up there yet this year..which sucks, usually I've already been there a few times. I will be up there within the month, however. Hows the ice...will I be able to drive on or not? Hows the bite? I appreciate any info. Thanks.

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It has been kind of an odd year, ice wise. I have not been out fishing much in the last couple of weeks. From what I am hearing, that front last weekend really put a crimp on the bite.

I had some good days on Ottertail in late December and early January.

This is the worst ice year I have seen, ever. That big dump of snow we got right after xmas coupled with the warm weather has not been making much ice at all. We had about 10-12 inches the third week of December, and there is not much more than that now. After the snowfall, there were big messes of slush on most lakes, and there are still some really bad slush spots on most area lakes.

While some are driving vehicles on the lake, I will continue to use my ATV and sleds this year. Just too much inconsistancy for my liking. Sled travel works the best right now.

Wish I had better news for you. If we could just get a week with some sub zero lows, that should tighten up the slush problem. This might just be a year where I never drive my truck on the lake.

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Quote:

This might just be a year where I never drive my truck on the lake.


This IS the year I will never drive my truck on any lake. When there are reports of 10" of ice in spots on the lakes I fish at this time of year, and slush, no way will I take the truck.

That cold front that rolled in last Saturday killed the bite. It should improve now with more consistent weather in the forecast.

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I haven't been out there for 2 weeks.. last time I was out we took the truck out a mile.. It was a buddies so I wasn't worried about it.. I was riding in the box.. there was some flooding on the ice.. and I'm sure there's more unless it froze up last night... I would n't suggest driving a truck out anywhere now.. I went to a lake last weekend and fished northerns... we drilled 8 holes spread out.. the ice was like 14 inches thick, but only 6 inches was good ice, and one hole had 3 good inches...Also the flooding was getting pretty bad the further you went out on the lake... some lakes are different than others... Ottertail floods pretty easy so I'd expect it's still floodin' pretty good out there..

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Fished Pelican north of P.Rapids on Sat. The ice is in fairly good shape considering the year we've had. 15 inches straight out from Zorbaz. Slush areas seem to be frozen over judging from 2 pickups that drove through an area that was bad about 10 days ago. Fishing was slow. Sat on a break in 22ft that dropped to 38ft. Lots of 12-15in pike would take anything you put down. Walleye would move through 3-4 fish at a time, one would "sniff" the bait, sink to the bottom, lay there for awhile, then leave with the rest of them. Frustrating. Oh well, beats sitting at home!

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Any more fishing reports? I'll be coming up this weekend for only the second time this year. We had real good luck New Year's weekend and I'm hoping for the same again. Is the ice still slushy or has it hardened up? I'm assuming I still won't be driving my vehicle out there?

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A lot of the snow melted on the lakes and hardened them up, but I am still finding some terrible slush in spots (not exactly OT, but other large lakes) that is nasty stuff. Some cold air is rolling in for the weekend that might lock that slush up...I hope.

It seems every day I see more and more houses getting pulled off the lakes.

I still won't drive a truck on any lake, but that's me. wink.gif

Fishing reports have been good.

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I just took a drive on my wheeler on the small lake I live on. The lake is nice and tight and I found no slush to speak of.

Saw a couple of full size trucks, but there is no way I am taking a vehicle out on the OTL area lakes this winter.

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I was up on a small lake last weekend and the top of the ice was great not much snow and all the water was more or less locked up and the fish were kind of bitting for me Good weekend!!

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Went out on Ottertail with the ATV tonight and got around a little better than Sunday night. With the cold weather moving in this weekend, it should firm up a little better yet.

Two of us ended up with 4 keepers and about 5 smaller fish were released. We were fishing shoreline break anywhere from 20-30 ft deep. Fished from about 4:30-6:00. Most fish came on the jigging rods with a couple on the deadsticks.

MJ

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Gissert,, did John Hexum put his boat in through your back yard 2 years ago the last weekend in July when he took me and my friend out fishin?

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FrabillFisher,

Been teaching in Perham for about 11 years now. Have lived in the Balmoral area for almost 15 years now.

I'm going to try to get out to some of the mid-lake humps tomorrow and I'll report back soon.

MJ

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Well the fish did not cooperate for me this weekend. Fished OT Saturday afternoon with 10 other guys (a total of 6 portables) in varying depths from 20-27 fow with only a few perch. I measured 14" of good ice with 3" of white stuff on top (no slush at all).

My crappie holes did not do very well either. I fished Friday and Saturday night on smaller area lakes (a total of 6 guys) with only 8 crappies to show for it.

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Being that I knew the Super Bowl would end the same whether I watched the first half or not, I ventured out to some new water I haven't fished before on OT. I picked a spot that looked good and fished it with no success. I then moved to another spot and fished it from 18 to 38 fow. It didn't take me too long to decide that I'd need to pick a spot and stick with it, as the rod guides were freezing. So, I flipped my porty over in about 18 fow and had good, steady action for about 45 minutes. Started out with a buckshot rattle jig and caught a few eyes and a few perch, icing a couple of each. Then I switched to a Chubby Darter and did better. Ended up with a nice bunch of fish and let quite a few go. Probably the best trip I'd had on OT this year.

MJ

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I'll be coming to OT this fri. and sat and was wondering it its gonna be safe to drive a ford explorer out there? And what type of structure were you having luck on MJ?

Thanks

Joe

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I don't know what to tell you about vehicles on the ice. I did see some mid sized trucks on the ice out on the shoreline break by the Pelican Bay access last night on my way home from work.

It seems that sharp breaking humps and sharp breaking shoreline structure have produced the best; anywhere from 18-35 ft. Move up the hill, as the fish move with the sun setting.

MJ

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We've had some cold weather but I'm sticking with my opinion that this is a winter I will not drive on any ice. Just not worth it.

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I drove out on the lake last weekend with my 3/4 ton extended cap pickup. There was 18 inches of ice where I was fishing. We have been cold all week also so the ice should have gotten even better. But with all that said remember to be careful out there, and I would stay on the paths where other people have traveled. We also caught many perch and a few walleyes in about 38 feet of water. Good action all day from 7:30 to about 5.

Good Luck!!

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Iwas out on OT on Sunday Feb 5th on snowmobile. I stopped and talked to a guy fishing out from the Pier and there was only 10 INCHES of ice. He said earlier in the week he was a little west of the spot he was in and there was only 8 INCHES. So there is no way in hell I would drive a vehicle on OT. I plan on being out there the next two weekends, I will post if I catch anything.

Brian

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