Pelican Lake Fishing Reports - Ashby

[Elkaholic80]

Sorry I got bad info the tournament is still Sat the 4.

[BoxMN]

How was the tourney?

And sorry Fishunnt, I didn't see this till now. We were using shiners, fatheads and leeches and crawlers The walleye came on shiners. But not many, haha! And yeah, there is always stories about "the bite" at area lakes. Now we usually don't leave Pelican unless we are doing real bad, or if the wind is pushing us off, regardless of the fishing reports. But it was fun fishing and having beers with the folks in the sloughs

We prolly won't get up there again till duck opener.

[#fishhunt#]

Anyone going up this weekend to fish the walleye dead sea? I'm heading up for 7 days starting Friday. Good times. Family reunion with people coming in from Calif and Lousiana. Should be a blast with 39 people staying at 3 cabins. I can't believe that I have caught more crappies than walleyes this year. Still have not put a walleye in the boat this year. Geting frustrated and even told my wife I may need to pull my boat out and try a different lake. Not sure which one. I heard some people were getting them on West Battle last weekend. Fireworks display will go as usual on the southside of the lake south of Bird Island if anyone wants to watch by boat. Should start at 10pm. Anothe rset will go off south of the mouth of widows after that. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

[jjohnson5150]

We will be up also. It's certainly been an off year for Walleye. I got a few more over the past 2 weeks, but it's been pretty slow. I also got 3 - 13" Crappies recently in one area. It was good to see the slabs. I heard the tournament yielded only 2 Walleye for 9 boats. Speaking of other lakes, does anyone know if a decent lake near Ashby that I could take my 4 year old to get some panfish? Just looking for some better action with sunfish, etc. Does Jolly Ann offer that?

[GRA]

Fireworks going to be the night of the 4th?

[#fishhunt#]

I just talked to the guy that did the south end fireworks. He could nto do it this year. The one in front of Widows Bay is still on for the 4th. Not quite as big as the southside. Sorry for the misinformation.I was assuming since he did it every year.

[#fishhunt#]

JJ , I know you use hardbaits a lot. Are you still using them with the weeds now or have you moved to live bait? Thanks

[jjohnson5150]

I'm Still using cranks except off the dock where I'm hooking very large suckers to a bobber for pike. Big bass will take the suckers also.

[jjohnson5150]

Has anyone been doing any good on Pelican? I've got a few Pike & Bass off the dock, but that's about it since July. It's a dead sea from my perspective. I've been heading north into OT county for some fantastic bluegill action and will continue to do so until the Sept bite starts. Also, I'm estimating the water is up 2ft from normal. It just won't go down!!!

[BoxMN]

Hey JJ, was up there for a funeral unfortunatley, week and half ago. Stopped and talked to Mike and Diane at Ashby Resort, but did not fish. They said the walleye started up for them and others, and Mike was actually doing some fishing along with normal resort work it was going so good. Didn't get into specifics, but they told us we should have brought rods... Hope it picks up for you. We are up there next the normal duck opener weekend, not the "new" opener. If nice weather might bring boat for fishing in afternoon.

[#fishhunt#]

Heading up tomorrow. I hope they are biting. I have not been up since the 4th of July when they were biting. My dad did not get any last weekend but the weekend before did pick up a 28.5 walleye(his PB)that he tossed back with no picture and one 17 inch keeper. Said he did not hit it too hard though. My best fishing last year was duck opener so hoping it is starting now and keeps getting better.

[ChuckN]

New guy to the Pelican Lake scene. I've tried a little to find anything that bites, no walleyes yet. Any hints how to catch these fish? I'm used to crystal clear waters and fish in 20+ feet.

Crappies and sunfish are shallow, like 1-2'. Total different fishing here...

Cool weather rolling in should get the walleyes going. Frogs are on the move.

[#fishhunt#]

Pelican is only about 23 ft deep normally. May be 24.5 this year. I've never caught a fish in over 15 feet and most under 12. Weedlines are a good place to start. Bait seems to vary week to week with all types catching them at sometime. It's been a tough year for me. Not catching them in my normal places. Got to move a lot this year.

[jjohnson5150]

Can anyone comment on the latest ice conditions? I'm wondering about taking our wheel house out around new years. Any reports of drive able ice?

[BoxMN]

Hey, Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year to all the Pelican Lake folks! Hope the lake treats you well for the rest of '11 and into '12!!! I will be watching your winter reports, post some pics for those of us who don't get up that way in winter

One of these winters I will get up for some ice fishing, need to wait till my buddies have their big shacks out and I can come up to warm houses, haha!

[Elkaholic80]

you can get your wheel house out, you might have to pull it out with a 4-wheeler, unless it gets colder. There were some guys diving small trucks out last week. Last time I was out there was about 8-10in.

[jjohnson5150]

Hmm, that might be justification to buy a wheeler! I'll need to pull it out with my truck though. Might have to think about red or low for new years as a backup.

[ChuckN]

I've seen cars and small trucks driving on Pelican for the past week, only spotted 1 full size truck. The wicked warm/cool weather swings we've had has really made the ice uneasy. Cracks exist and constantly move every day. I've found 11"+ ice as of 2 days ago. The lake froze over November 20. It's been a slow ice growth process...

[jjohnson5150]

Thanks. We need some cold to move in quick! I'd like 15" to drive my house out with truck. I might have to see if someone will pull the house out with a wheeler for me in exchange for some brews.

[ChuckN]

How big of house? I'll try to send you a PM.

[jjohnson5150]

Just heard on the news that fish houses went through on a few Grant County lakes, including Pelican, with the warm & wind yesterday. Can anyone confirm the rough locations this may have happened at? I was planning on getting out on the lake this week, but am growing a bit concerned after the warm & news on this.

[Gissert]

It would not surprise me. I has a small bleeder hole outside my perm shack Sunday. Towards dusk, I packed it with snow and it sealed up. Yesterday morning, I jacked the house up 4 inches and banked it well.

Today, every bit of banking is gone and the wind is whistling underneath. On the plus side its only 15 degrees and the ice is healing today.

I came very close to pulling it home

[Elkaholic80]

A house fell in this morning in the narrows. Went over there didn't look good. If you got a house out it would be a good idea to check it after yesterday.

[jjohnson5150]

Fortunately, our house is at the dealer in Alex. We were going to pick it up tomorrow & thought about getting it on the lake in front of our place. Is there still a good foot of ice in areas away from the other houses?

[ChuckN]

Monday surely freaked me out. My shack went from looking great at noon to almost sinking by 4:30pm. Instead of fishing, I quickly removed it off the lake. The ice went from 12" to about 7" in a matter of hours.

I haven't checked the ice since, but it may have healed up with the cooler weather. Unsure when I'll place the house back on the ice.

[jjohnson5150]

I've been on foot since Wed. Fishing has been terrible so far. I went to the narrows yesterday and there are a few bad spots out there. With this little bit of snow, they are going to be covered a bit & less obvious to the naked eye. I'd like to get to some other areas, but I just am too uncertain if there may have been houses in the area when the melt occurred. Stay safe.

[jjohnson5150]

http://www.startribune.com/local/136485163.html

On the east side of Pelican Lake in Grant County, a man and his 5-year-old son were riding an all-terrain vehicle that fell through the ice Saturday morning. The man grabbed his son and got him onto the ice before pulling himself out of the water, the Sheriff's Office said.

My WORST nightmare as I have a 5 year old. Be safe everyone and PLEASE, stay on foot until the deep freeze.

[ChuckN]

I heard the guy tried to cross a pressure ridge on Pelican. There are a lot of them this year, and hardly any have sealed up. All pressure ridges are incredibly unsafe out there. One pressure ridge opened up a large portion of water over a week ago and it won't freeze, even during our cold nights recently. Don't go driving wildly on this lake, you will get wet...

[Gissert]

I can vouch for this - 20 miles to the north I know of three lakes that have pressure ridges with thin ice and/or open water.

On the plus side (if there is one) I have nearly all my wood cut for next year.

[jjohnson5150]

I'm curious how the ice healed with the cold. Has anyone been out?