Pelican Lake Fishing Reports - Ashby

[Gissert]

Its making a lot of noise for sure. With no snow cover the ice (pressure ridges) have been active on some lakes. South Turtle still had a 15 acre piece of open water yesterday.

I would say on the whole, its shaping up nicely. The bigger lakes seem to have the thickest ice.

[ChuckN]

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

The ice is improving in most of the lake and more people are starting to venture out, HOWEVER yesterday there were two massive areas of open water! South of the narrows about 3/4 mile, from the point (no clue on names of these areas) extending south along the middle of the lake to the west side of the "bird" island. Also, on the far south end of the lake, south of bird island, there was another large area of open water. I cannot believe how much open water was out there yesterday even during this cold spell since last week. That lake is compeletely unsafe, from what I've seen so far.

Good news, I didn't see any steam rising from these open water areas this morning. They may have healed up, but it's thin ice.

[jjohnson5150]

Wow, unreal. Open water in those areas is very concerning. Now they will skim over and hide the thin ice. Are the houses back over by Phillips Point and are they driving out there? I want to get our house out on Pelican, but might have to keep heading North to URL or LOW instead after hearing this.

[ChuckN]

Nobody is driving out there, but big shacks are going out more and more each day in the bay where your place is. That area seems good to go, but don't go west another mile in the center or you'll be swimming.

URL or LOW (east side) would be my choice. You can go anywhere up there. I just returned from LOW - Baudette.

[ChuckN]

Trucks are starting to wander around, but there is still open water that is easily visible with all the steam in these cold temps. Hit -19 and it won't seal up. Here's a map of the general open water areas and areas to avoid.

[Gissert]

Wow.

Wife reports ST is still open and steaming this morning too.

[jjohnson5150]

Thanks for the map. I worry about those who are venturing out there. I'm heading to a different lake for awhile - perhaps the rest of the season.

[no bait nate]

I am heading up there tomorrow with my girlfriend and a college friend of hers that is from Ashby. Her parents live on the lake and I am hoping to get out and do some fishing, the map you posted is great and will help a lot for ideas on where not to go. Don't really know what the fishing is in the lake, is it more walleyes or panfish action? Not looking for any spots, as I can read a lake map pretty good, just wondering whats worth a guys time out there? Thanks

[ChuckN]

Walleye fishing was decent earlier ice, but I have not fished it for a few weeks during the warm spells and a trip elsewhere. I know nothing about the panfish action, but they are to be had. The ice was real spooky with all the warm weather and in my opinion it still is! The open water is expanding more every day despite the cold weather.

The northern open water spot is expanding towards the NW now. I updated the map. The far south open water is pure speculation as you won't find me driving down that direction to inspect and get specifics. I heard there are photos from the air and printed in the local Ashby/BL newspaper.

[Elkaholic80]

Chuck that's a nice pic, I also seen the one in the Ashby Post, could of went fishing in a boat the hole was so big. It was steaming like crazy yesterday, don't see any steam today.

Nate most guys that fish the lake are after walleye, it's a shallow lake so you don't need to go real deep.

[#fishhunt#]

Thining about heading up next weekend. Anything happening with the open water? Is it froze over now? Probably still want to stay away from those areas. Any fish biting? Thanks

[ChuckN]

Here's the latest update as of yesterday. I took a snowmobile ride around the lake....came close to some of the old breakers that will not heal. Some fishhouses and trucks are very close to these breakers, so go slow and know what's in front of you! I can't even explore the entire southern half of the lake on sled. Too dangerous to cross the breakers with the unknown factor. I see only a few thin ice signs, hardly anything is marked on the lake.

Pink dots = thin ice signs

Red lines = open water where the breakers are.

The blue areas should be avoided! They mostly froze over the night of 1/22. This warm weather will likely open them back up, unfortunately.

Fishing is ok!

[#fishhunt#]

Crazy. Less fishing pressure = more fish for spring maybe? I dont think I would draive any full size vehicle on the lake unless atv or sled. The Public access side of the lake looks ok. How much ice are you seeing in the "good ice" areas?

[jjohnson5150]

That is unreal. Thanks for providing these updates.

[ChuckN]

There is a lot less fishing pressure. In mid-December you could go anywhere on the lake it seemed, lots of traffic. Now, thankfully people aren't randomly driving around the lake or they'll be in trouble...

I've found 14-16". While drilling holes near the open water spots it went from 14" of ice to open water within 20'.

[fisherking01]

Wait until they turn the Lake Christina pumps on. That's going to change current patterns and change some fishing opportunities for sure! Not planning on winter pumping so that shouldn't affect ice. Something for you to ponder and scheme about as open water slowly comes!

[101winchester]

FK101

The man, has been out on Christina spreading the word No Fishing. Was out north of the gusher and got some earlier haven't been out lateley with wrestling. Ozzy and Clay were headed out today after school. Talked with Tweeter in Osakis last week wrestling, give me a shout when you get off the slope. Everything I've heard on the big lake is the same, slow but those caught are too nice. Hope all is well with you and yours.

[wmw]

Any thing new on pelican, every one get there docks in OK.

[jjohnson5150]

We were up this weekend. It was pretty quiet, but we managed to get everything in the water between rain events. We got hail like I've never seen on sat afternoon. It was piled up pretty good. Grassy areas and deck surfaces were completely covered. Some piles were still there yesterday morning. Emerging plants took a beating. I only fished from the dock for a half hour, so not much to report. Water is lower than it typically is in the spring. The dock is not in at the public launch. Be careful over there as there are rocks where the dock normally sits. Stay on the north side of the launch pad, raise the motor and slowly back out if you use it.

[#fishhunt#]

Dock in 2 weekends ago. Waiting for my dad to decide what pontoon lift to buy for his new/used pontoon. Need to add an ell to the dock this year after he gets his in so I can get my boat lift in. Water level seems down 3 inches as I had no problems with water over the waders this year at the end of the dock. Fun to see all the waterfowl activity moving through with the divers. Also nice to watch the wood ducks buzz around checking out houses to lay eggs.

[wmw]

sounds good, I cant wait to get up there.

[jjohnson5150]

What a great weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect. Got out right away on Sat AM. First fish was a 22" eye a bit after 7. Got a few Pike before heading in at 9 for breakfast. Went out again with my family at Noon, but did not get anything. We had to try a different spot due to the amount of boats in our normal trolling run. We went out again Sun around 10 AM and got 2 more eyes 17" & 20" within 15 min. Another one 18" or so got off as I was netting it. A few more pike hit before we went in around 1. The fish were fairly shallow yet. Not sure what this week will do to them, but I'll have a nice long weekend with the guys to figure it out. I'd like to get into the crappies again. I'm just not sure if it's too early after the stocking efforts or if there is enough of the post kill leftover action to keep us busy.

[ChuckN]

Great weekend for sure! Walleyes during the day and bullheads at night. lol Couldn't be better!

If you saw a pontoon full on Saturday w/ 5 adults and 2 kids, that was us.

[BoxMN]

Good to hear you guys had a good opener! We are headed up for annual 2nd weekend trip, this weekend. Hopefully it will be sunburn weather again

Would like to get some crappies for Saturday fish fry too. And yes some bully bully action off the dock at night is on the to-do list

We;ll be up all day Friday, Saturday, but must return on sunday this year. Dratted work...

[#fishhunt#]

Great weekend weather wise to be on the water. 2 keeper walleye, 3 northern for the pickle jars and 2 bass getting in my way of walleyes in the first hour. Slowed after that. My brother took a different boat to cover more areas. He ended up finding a couple crappies. Kept 2 12 inchers and missed a couple. He released a 15 and a 13 inch crappie. Crappies were in 4 to 6 feet out from the pencil reeds with jig and minnow. The neighbors did well at sunset off their dock while I caught zip off ours...

[101winchester]

Saw a few nice ones off the wagon box island and a couple out in front of the goat tree on the south side of bird island. All in all it wasn't like the old days but nice weather, good friends and cold beers made it fun for all.. Everyone had a safe opener but over all it was slow.. Hopefully it picks up..

[jjohnson5150]

We had some decent action this weekend after fishing what has become our normal early season areas. Fish were shallow and the wind made boat control tricky. We cleaned a very nice batch of eyes last night along with a pair of crappies and some pike. We also had two fish fries. It was another solid weekend. The eyes seemed to be from 4 different classes, which was nice to see. We even had some 8-10 inch throw backs. The crappies went 13 & 8 inches. That's also encouraging for the future. It was tough to leave today, but we will be getting back up there Thu again to get after it again.

[#fishhunt#]

thanks for the update! Great to hear they are picking up. Heading up Friday to try and get after em a little. Hopefully the weather cooperates. Minnows, leeches, Crawlers, stick baits, or a combo of them?

[wmw]

Hi any one know if there are small mouths in this lake my friend said he caught a nice one and some nice large mouths last weekend while in pursuit of walleye and northern's.

[#fishhunt#]

No smallmouth in this lake from what I know.