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Fish lake Ice Out Date


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A couple questions for you guys from a rookie. Its my first spring in Minnesota and when you guys talk ice out...do you mean safe to drive boats(even though you cant fish)? Got company coming the end of April and just trying to figure if i can take them on an inland lake or not. Second while i got your attention. Im a pike fisherman and was wondering on may 12th will I be throwing the lures towards the cabbage weeds on island lake(if they are growing) or deep structures? Thanks everybody

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Ice out means no ice left so yes you can take a boat out after ice out.

Weeds usually don't survive the winters here. There should be some emerging by Opener though. A bobber and a smelt or sucker minnow is hard to beat when the pike aren't that active on account of cold water. Not saying you can't get them on casting lures but I know for sure they'll smack a free meal thats sitting still.

I've found pike will cruise the shorelines in the Spring. Find something with a slow taper that doesn't drop off into too deep of water. Entrances into shallow bays are another very good spot. Channels are another prime area. If you know Island lake you might know what I'm talking about.

I don't keep any pike and found that a quickstrike rig allows you to set the hooks sooner and without hurting the fish.

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just wondering what the conditions are as of recent....anyone up there got a report???

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I live on Island Lake and I dont think we are close to ice out. The snowmobiles on the ice yesterday gave me a clue. It is getting a little darker though.

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wow, i can't believe there are snowmobiels still on the ice!! Thanks for the report!

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  • 2 weeks later...

The ice is gone!! smile.gif I after only changing my date three times, I missed by a half day. ooo.gif Yesterday it lost half or more of its ice and it’s gone this morning.

Now big fish go make babies grin.gif

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Sundays paper had guys in a boat between sheets of ice. Ya it could go that quick.

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As far as I could see this morning Fish and Island are down. I will check more of Fish on my way home tonight...

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My folks live on Pike and as of yesterday there was just a sliver of ice left. Spring is here(Thank God). By the way, is it just me or are others seeing and hearing more grouse than last spring? I saw a male go on display for an approaching hen. It was a neat sight.

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Fish is all open went by the landing last night and there were a half dozen boats out fishing... Remember to use your PFD's when on the open water smile.gif

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Quote:

LOL Frank, I think you will be more so looking at the last week of April now. My money is on the 26th.


So what does that get me??? grin.gif

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Cheffery, nice guess. You win!!! "One Free Lesson Lesson"

at the Chuck Norris Driving School! Of coarse we'll use your truck again. grin.gif

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I feel like the kid in school that no one picked to play baseball. I live on island and see PLENTY of ice still!! Im on the east end. somebody break it for me so i can see some waves at least.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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