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Just got back from Burntside with Great Outdoors. Went out from the Wolf Lake Road and got my truck stuck right away! crazy.gif There are a couple of houses right there and the snow is drifted around where they plowed-consequently there was slush underneath. A real nice guy pulled me out of there! Good thing I had a bunch of logging chain in my truck! From there, headed out from Van Vac- Its alot better going out from there...There isn't really a plowed road out too far, but, it was OK going. I really think if we get much snow soon, its going to be hard going for awhile without a snowmobile. There is alot of ice out there. Jim and I fished off of a reef that he knew in 18-32 FOW. We each saw 2 trout, but neither one of us could get a bite. It is getting really windy out there. Had a great last day of freedom..tomorrow, back to reality.

If we get more than about 4-6" of snow, wheelers are going to be out of the question out there-Hope this helps!

Justin

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took my little saturn car down the vic road last sat., had realy good snow tires. got a nice one at 5.2# and a smaller one to complet the limt. thinking of going back this weekend.

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I was out on the 28th also. You probably seen my truck parked at the Van Vac landing. I used the snowmobile and went West of Waters island, on the reef that runs east from a little island where you enter school section bay. I set up in 35 feet and had about the same luck as you guys did. Although one hit about 10 feet down but didn't get hooked. It was a nice fish. That's about all the action I had, except for seeing acouple on the vex-lar.

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LuckTuta,

Did you have a white Chevy with an enclosed snowmobile trailer? If you did, I was in the red chevy and I followed you out of there back to town last night.

Weclome to the forum, by the way! Do you live in Ely?

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JustinG

Hi, yes that was me. I turned at the light and went towards Babbit. I live in Hoyt Lakes. I use that road as less frost bumps in the winter. I see that my username showed up as LuckTuta and it should be Lucky Tuta. I may have two names on this forum. I have a Lake Superior type boat and the name I had on it was Lucky Tuta, so thats what I used for my handle on here. The covered trailer works well keeps everything clean as I have the snowmobile and sled type fishhouse in there. I went and got new license today and will probably make two or three more trips if the wind goes away.

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Yeah, I hear ya there about the wind! It doesnt look like the nasty weather is going to blow out of here until Saturday sometime. I just might get out Sunday if the weather cooperates and there is not too much more snow on the lake. Looks like it might start warming up late next week, but we could get another snowstorm-who knows? Its March. Good Luck out there!

Justin

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Justin

One question, how do you put a picture with login username etc. Thank you

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Hey Tuta, I see you figured out how to post an avatar. Hope the phone talk helped. grin.gif

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Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Tuta

I am now a working man again and I haven't been on the computer since last night. Glad to see that Steve could point you in the right direction! I have been on this forum for awhile and I just recently figured out how to get my photo on here! grin.gif

Take Care,

Justin

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Has anybody been out on Burntside durring this weather?

Is anybody planning on fishing Burntside tomorrow?

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Hey Casey,

I was thinking the EXACT same thing you were. I really want to get out there and chase those Lakers around again, but I think truck travel is going to be out for awhile confused.gif Maybe Steve or G. Outdoors know if someone plows a road out to good fishing locales?? I was thinking about going out on Sunday if anyone is interested and we can get out there.

Maybe I will be forced into buying Jim that beer and steak to plow a road!!! grin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gif

Later,

Justin

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Justin

Make that plural, BEERS grin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gif and the Dodge may do some snow pushing laugh.gif

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i will be there sun. fishing off van vic. i have a black house with big windows. feel free to stop in and chat.

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Justin and Great Outdoors,

I chickened out last weekend. We got hammered (with snow) at home and I help out a couple neighbors so I stayed busy. Now I realize I have a Pheasants Forever banquet this Sat. Timing sucks. I think I'm done Troutin' through the ice. frown.gif

I just wanted Justin to know that the chains on my wheeler do really make a difference as long as I have the clearance, but when I got in deeper than that I got stuck BIG! blush.gif

My winch to a telephone pole to a log to the hitch of my friends truck got me out. tongue.gif

I'm getting a snowmobile....someday.....before next season.

OK, I'll ask first: Who's gonna be out around White Iron/Shag for opener in May? I will be there for the first full week of the season. No permit for Basswood. frown.gif

Wanderer

P.S. Panfish in late April?

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Hey Wanderer:

Yeah, the chains really help! This heavy new show doesn't help matters, but once it settles down, you should be able to get though with that wheeler-no problem!

Pheasants Forever???????? ITS THE LAST WEEKEND!!!!! TO CATCH A TROUT!!!!!! I think you should bail on the banquet! grin.gif Well, you do have Sunday.......

Whit Iron/Shag for opener?? There are way better places to go for a blood bath!!! cool.gif

Take Care,

Justin

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I know! I curl my toes to think I'm gonna let it slip away!

Only thing is, this PF banquet is huge (Anoka Co.) and I'm a guest of one my vendors. I accepted a couple months ago when I thought Trout season ran into middle April. Too many interests - not enough year.

My goal is to live in Ely about 10 years from now unless I run across a job offer I can't refuse. Then maybe I'll get to spend the time with the fish that I want to.

Where else in the area should I be thinking about for opener? My learning curve of the area just started and its been pretty flat so far. I just know everyone was banging limits by Noon on opener last year - and I didn't have a boat! mad.gif

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Ah well, There is always next year to chase those trout! Man, the season comes and goes by so fast...hard to believe another one has come and almost gone. I have one last weekend for trout in MN and one trip in 2 weeks to Ontario. Then, possibly, one crappie weekend and that will be about all for me this year. Can't wait for the end of November to get here! grin.gif

Hmmm... Opener- it can be so hit and miss up here from year to year. It totally depends on ice out and water temperature as to where you will find fish. Some years you pound the Walleyes in one area just to find that it dead the next. Most of the lakes produce well during that time, but you may be searching a few different locations to find them. Also, they may be stacked in very small areas and very spread out over large expanses. My best luck open water fishing up here is in June when the Walleyes start moving onto the reefs.

Unfortunately, I don't get to open water fish at all during the summer due to my job. That is why I love ice fishing!

Take Care,

Justin

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Wanderer,

It's hard to beat Shagawa for the opening weekend/week, unless some strange weather condition moves in. Many bonafide 1 1/2 to 3 pounders come out of there. In fact, if walleyes are cooperating, Shagawa is as good as any lake in the state during that time! cool.gif

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Yeah, Jim, that was what I was picking up on last May. I saw alot of boats out there all day.

I talked to one of the guides at Grand Ely Lodge when we rented a pontoon for the family in July and he told me some stuff to work off.

He kinda grinned when I drug ALL the stuff from my bass boat onto the pontoon. Thats probably my biggest problem with fishing the Ely area ~ I'm a recovering bass tournament addict. If there isn't a decent weedline, then what??

I haven't fished a tournament for a couple years and don't really miss it. I enjoy the PLEASURE of fishing now instead of it being like a job (that costs more than you make).

I hit the walleyes good in Sept. on Shag but that was the only time last year. I found the weed beds hold some nice pike. 5-7 pound average with a couple 10s. I even picked up a 10+ Musky on Shag. I'll learn more.

Justin,

What is your job? I'm not used to hearing guys start up big this time of year for a long summer. Seems early. Curious.

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Wanderer,

I am the superintendent at the Ely Golf Club. Unfortunately, I am back at work- There is alot to do before the season starts such as sharpening 100's of blades, equipment prep, course accessories to paint, ordering, budget, etc. This winter we had a flood in the clubhouse and sheetrock, carpet, and alot of things in there were destroyed. So, we have been busy sheetrocking, taping, and getting ready to paint everything in there. We will be really busy until November now!

Justin

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OOHHH! Now I fully understand!

I manage the maintenance operations of a pretty large Mixed-use Development (residential/retail combined) in da City. We've been calm through Jan/Feb, but things are starting to get summer crazy already. Good luck!

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Anyone know how far a person can drive with a 4x4 pickup from Van Vac? Heading up there Saturday for a little bit before the season closes.

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Great Outdoors says that there is 3 ice roads out from Van Vac in different directions, but I have no idea how far out they go. I'm sure he will chime in.

Later,

Justin

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Yep, three roads plowed from the Van Vac landing as of last night. I didn't follow them to the end, but they appear to go out about a half mile, maybe more. If there isn't much much snowmobile traffic you may be able to cut off the beaten path and go cruising.

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Hey guys, sorry to get off the topic of this thread ~ I just unfortunately don't have any fishing news lately. frown.gif

Thanks for chattin and hopefully the lake will be on FIRE! this weekened. I look foward to the stories.

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Just got back with Blaine and we filled out early and called it a day. The fish were everywhere and ate everything. Best day I've ever seen. If you didn't make it out today you are probably wishing you did. wink.gifwink.gifwink.gif Good end to MN laker season eh Blaine?

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Yeah it was a good day, only Great Outdoors knows where we were, and how good it really was grin.gif

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Good job guys! Glad to see you got into them. Days like those are to be treasured. And, well, lied about as the tales grow over the years. grin.gif

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
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