Sometimes you just have to take a chance and explore some new water. This past weekend my wife Wanda and I decided to fish some small hidden gems that generally don’t get a lot of attention in the Chippewa National Forest . I had spent some time checking out the Minnesota DNR’s Lake Finder site for the area we were staying in looking for any clues to a possible hidden gem. Many of the lakes listed on the Lake Finder site do not have a “modern” access. Some have no access at all which really limits the pressure these lakes receive. These lakes are often more easily accessed in the winter with a snowmobile or ATV.
Wanda and I picked a lake we had fished before a few years ago with some success. We had a recent warm spell that melted much of the nearly 3 feet of snow that had accumulated in the area. The temperatures had dropped to well below freezing the past day or so and this made our travel a lot more pleasant. After parking the truck we made our way through the woods to our destination. A couple snowmobile tracks led the way but it was obvious that there had not been any recent travel. When we got to the lake there were no houses, fishermen and only a couple holes previously drilled. We had the entire lake to ourselves! It was getting close to prime time so I fired up my auger and started drilling a series of holes over a deep flat as Wanda check each one with my Hummingbird 55 Ice for depth and any signs of life. After I had drill several holes Wanda called my name as she was seeing some suspended fish on the Hummingbird. Game On!!!!
We quickly set up my Otter Lodge as the sun was touching the tree tops. I turned on the LED lights and we got out lines in the water. I dropped down a little plastic and soon a thick red mark appeared and raised to my bait. I slowly lifted the bait and the fish committed. When I set the hook my Jason Mitchell meat stick doubled over and I soon had the first fish of the night on the ice. A fat 12” crappie, we were off to a good start. It was the first of many as Wanda and I caught many slab crappies over the next two evenings. The entire time we fished in solitude with the only sounds being the drags on our reels slipping, good conversation and the ice popping as the evening temperatures dropped to around zero degrees.
There’s a feeling of satisfaction when you’re on fish and you look around and there’s nothing but open ice and trees. Do a little research and you can find a gem. It’s good to have a few options because it’s unusual to find one on the first try. But you just never know until you try.
By: Jeff Borchardt