Anyone else into ice fishing? I think it would be cool if we shared what's working. So, where and when are they biting (depths / lakes / structure / bottom)? What are they biting on? Good bait shops? We were out on Priest's bay (6-7" of ice) last night (Sunday the 9th) in about 14-16' of water, mud bottom and very little structure. The perch were small but active. I didn't have a shelter and it got pretty cold after the sun went down, so I headed in at about 6:15. There are some Walleye being caught out there, but they weren't on last night. Who else is having success?
Lotus last night, 8" of ice. 3 walter's. 15" 17" 18" 20' between 3:30 and 5:30 sandy bottom, no structure using fatheads. Friend has a permanent out there, after we were in there for a half hour, the temp was 70 =D nice n toasted...err toasty
Damn, that's a pretty good night!!! I am getting a 2 man flip-up (Genz II) shelter this week from a buddy for $30.00 - because it has mouse holes in the canvas. I just ordered a replacement tent online for $75.00 brand new. It should be pretty handy.
A couple of my buddies have a nice permenant house on Waconia, but it doesn't go out until the ice is a good 2' thick. This thing is a HEAVY BEAST! I go in on the fuel with them, and they keep the house at 50 all winter - so the holes stay open. I use that ALL the time because it's so close to my place.
I've got a friend putting a winnebago (sp) out on Wac this year, probably next week...maybe we'll have to meet up and drink a few.
Absolutely!!! I am going to try to get out on Wac on Thursday and maybe on Sunday. What kind of ice thickness does your buddy need to get the Winnebago out?
man! we should all get together for a fishing trip! me and lvt went to bald eagle. there was fish...but they weren't active at all...we've tried everything! i mean everthing! 3 hours of fishing and caught 2 crappies in about 20-22 FOW... there was about....6-9" from the launch up to the cigar island...
Just put "Lotus Lake" into Google Maps. I'm not sure where the launch is there, but it's in Chanhassen, by 101. Anyone ever fish Minewashta?
The launch is on the southside of the lake, although there is a public beach as well that gives access to portables. My friend fourwheel'd the permanent out there from the public beach. No cars yet
oohhhh....hmm..the beach sounds like a fun place! lots of baitfish and big eyes! also...are you guys on www.lakestatefishing.com ???its a pretty good site...just like here! but anyways...tomorrow there are a few guys going to meet up at bald eagle in the morning and at night i think...so...if you guys are interested...we can all go up there!
Where is Bald Eagle? I plan on heading out of work early on Thursday and hitting Waconia until a couple hours after sunset. I'll let you guys know how we do.
Well, I guess knowing where they are is just as importiant as knowing where they AREN'T...:biggrin: I've been out on Waconia 3 times, and havn't caught anything. We have tried in 12', 15' and 20'. All three spots are within 20 yards of eachother - so it's a shelf. The bottom is mud and clay. I've got some other spots to try, but it's been slow for us there. We've done alright on Tonka, including a 30" Muskie last weekend. Also, I have an awesome new toy, here's the story... I got an old Genz Trap II from a buddy for $30.00. He sold it to me because he has a Frabill 3 man, and was given a Trap 1 man. Also, because it has about 10 mouse holes (including one about the size of a beach ball) in the old canvas, and he didn’t know replacements were available. It’s a flip-over one with a sled and two seats. The replacement canvases NEW are $165.00 – but I found their clearance section, and got last years new one for $65.00. I have not had time to take off the old tent and make sure the Velcro post holder thingies line up, but this new tent is the $HIT!!! You can totally pack the sides in with snow to eliminate the drafts, and just unzip the door to get in and out – you don’t have to flip the whole deal up! There’s also what they call a “D link” on the back side, opposite the door – so if you want to set up two Traps back to back, you just get this tube deal that zips into both houses. The old tent was stretched weathered canvas and you could almost feel a breeze through it. I can't wait to get it out!
ha ha ha. That was our Lake of the Woods experience last year. Anyone who hasn't been there, I would STRONGLY reccommend the late season bite.
1/5/8 I was on Waconia all night on Friday, still nothing. It's been a slow year there. I caught a BUNCH of Crappie this afternoon on Wale Tail. I kept 7 of them and cooked them this evening. Mmmm. I drove out about 100 yards east of the group that is straight out from the launch and set up in about 8 feet of water. I used crappie minnows on a slip bobber setup. I marked 3-4 fish constantly for about 3 hours. They are really light biters, and I found that it was most successful to set the depth of the minnow so I could barely see the flash of the minnow belly when I jigged the rod. I could then tell when a fish had it in his mouth, and would just lift the rod - fish on. I would highly reccomend this lake to people who have kids, or if you want to have a fun afternoon catching Crappie. T
Is that new? I joined lakestatefishing.com not long ago. Seems to be pretty good, and EVERYONE has been very welcoming!
I've driven on Waconia and Wale Tail. There is about 17" on Waconia where we were at least. There are full size trucks on both that I've seen. I don't know anything about Tonka.
brand new forum. If it takes off in the next couple months, we'll need some mods Went up to Mille Lacs on the 30th, slow slow slow up there. Went out to Tonka yesterday, few crappies and sun fish. I drove out with my Pathfinder, there is a good 12". We were out on Priests Bay and Black lake, there was full size trucks hauling ass out there.
Mary (wife), Jay (racing partner) and I were out on Chisago Lake yesterday. We walked on from Co Rd 83 on the south end. Set up in ~9 feet of water over heavy weeds. Got out there about 9:00. Nothing much until about 11:00. Caught 20 sunfish cleaners (fish worth cleaning) by 1:30. Then Jay had to leave. Mary and I caught 28 more cleaners between 1:30 and 3:30. We probably threw back 50 that were too small, not cleaners. We were in a 2 man flip up with one of us sitting on a bucket, cozy. We were using waxies on a variety of jig heads. The jigs didn't make a difference but two waxies on the hook greatly increased the bite. We were sight fishing. They were hitting so light, the slip bobbers weren't moving. The water was clear enough you could watch your bait, watch the fish SLOWLY swim up and wait for the bait to disappear. If the fish only took the tip of the worm, (no hook) you just waited until it took the whole thing. It was very hard on the patience at times. The holes were close enough, we would help each other by saying if a fish was above or below your bait and you could bring the bait to the fish. Looking straight down, you had no depth perception but from the side, you could see the fish level. All in all a very fun day. It was funny to hear all three of us talking to the fish at the same time when we each had one looking. C'mon c'mon, take it, turn around, come back...etc. If you've never sight fished panfish, try it. It's a blast. Last night's dinner was sunny fillets baked in a foil pouch with butter, lemon, pepper and other secret seasonings. Add baked potatoes and you have a perfect Sunday evening dinner after a great day of fishing.
centerville has been producing for me a lvt everytime we go there...its not a very deep lake..but the crappies and sunnies are worth keeping...last week we had two bites that didn't seem like crappies or sunnies....it got away before we even got to take a look at it...we might be going out tonight....and lots of peole are driving on the lake...big trucks!
A couple weeks ago my dad was on Crystal Bay and pulled a 40" muskie through the ice. I was pretty surprised to say the least. I wonder if I should bring my tipups to the ice races since I'll be getting there on thursday.
