I've been very busy out on the ice lately but I figured now would be the time (after the big warm spell) to give an ice update for those who may be wondering.
Red Lake: Upper red lake wasn't affected by the warm up however I'll still update on URL. There's 14" of ice or more in all of the spots resorts are allowing you to go. What's been working up here is rattle reels/set lines with small shiners or rainbows at night. I've been seeing a lot of action on those. Jigging with 1/8oz spoons like the Rattlin' flyers and using minnow profile baits like the ultra-lite size Rippin' Raps is working good too.
Mille Lacs: We lost around an inch of ice on top from the warm up and all of the water on top but there's still 12"+ where resort roads are. Even 16"-18" where the rough stuff is on the south side. A lot of walleye are being caught in that 10"-13" range and more and more perch in the 9"+ keeper class. For bigger walleye the people that are hanging shallow are the ones doing better.
Metro area: During the warm spell a lot of holes from water opened up. I'm not talking about holes from people cutting holes I mean holes that opened from the water itself draining. We lost anywhere from none to 2" of ice in the metro area here. But with the freeze up and some fresh snow we're back to making good ice. Another bright spot on the horizon is Christmas day. There's another arctic blast coming in and we could see some more sub-zero weather which means people will probably be driving all over the place by new years. Don't quote me on such and always always always check the ice conditions on your lake before going out no matter what method of getting out there you'll be using.
Until my next report,
Good luck and stay safe,
-Zander
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Ice update 12-5-2014
Hey all. My apologies, a little late on the ice updates.
Upper Red Lake: Most areas we're finding anywhere from 9"-16" of ice. If you stay on resort roads you'll be fine but be very careful if you venture off. JR's has had a road out to Center Bar for quite some time now. Walleyes are biting quite well. Still the loud rattle and bright colors are the ticket. Things like Lindy Darters, Rapala Ultra Lite Rippin' Raps...etc.
Mille Lacs: Down on the south end I couldn't find anything less than 10" 3 miles out. Chapman's and Hunter Winfield's are allowing vehicle traffic but not too far out of the bay. Moving north Hunter's Point has an ATV trail staked out to Flat Country but there's still some movement in the ice so be careful.
More and more walleyes in the 10"-12" class are showing up which is a really really good sign. There's also more 9"+ perch showing up. This year might be a good one for perch and 'eyes. The only thing that's really going to mess up the lake is the spearing. One of the best trophy northern fisheries in the state and the good ol' DNR has to go piss that away. But it's legal now so you can't really do anything about that. One thing I stumbled upon while searching the intertubes the other was this video of a Walleye With Spear Marks. (click blue text to see video) But seeing something like that just makes me sick. Yes it is legal for natives to spear walleye however in the years I've fished Mille Lacs I've never witnessed such.
That's all I have for today. I'll be on some hard water tomorrow searching for 'gills.
Good luck,
-Zander
Upper Red Lake: Most areas we're finding anywhere from 9"-16" of ice. If you stay on resort roads you'll be fine but be very careful if you venture off. JR's has had a road out to Center Bar for quite some time now. Walleyes are biting quite well. Still the loud rattle and bright colors are the ticket. Things like Lindy Darters, Rapala Ultra Lite Rippin' Raps...etc.
Mille Lacs: Down on the south end I couldn't find anything less than 10" 3 miles out. Chapman's and Hunter Winfield's are allowing vehicle traffic but not too far out of the bay. Moving north Hunter's Point has an ATV trail staked out to Flat Country but there's still some movement in the ice so be careful.
More and more walleyes in the 10"-12" class are showing up which is a really really good sign. There's also more 9"+ perch showing up. This year might be a good one for perch and 'eyes. The only thing that's really going to mess up the lake is the spearing. One of the best trophy northern fisheries in the state and the good ol' DNR has to go piss that away. But it's legal now so you can't really do anything about that. One thing I stumbled upon while searching the intertubes the other was this video of a Walleye With Spear Marks. (click blue text to see video) But seeing something like that just makes me sick. Yes it is legal for natives to spear walleye however in the years I've fished Mille Lacs I've never witnessed such.
That's all I have for today. I'll be on some hard water tomorrow searching for 'gills.
Good luck,
-Zander
Friday, November 21, 2014
Ice update 11-21-2014
Mille Lacs lake is primarily locked up. Isle bay and out 2 miles there's nothing less than 6 1/2" of ice. Most of the other bays are about the same. The north had a few guys out in Garrison. However 4 or so miles out there's some nasty pressure ridges. If you plan on going out on the south end any further than 2 miles (on ATV or snowmobile) I strongly advise you check ice every 20'-30' feet. It may seem excessive but there's no fish worth your life.
Red Lake is and has been locked up for a while. Out of JR's on the south east end there's anywhere from 9"-11" of ice. If all goes well there'll probably be trucks out Thanksgiving weekend. Fishing is good. You'll have to do some searching though. Also staying mobile is key. Start in 6' FOW and work out deeper. Lindy Darters, Rapala Jigging raps and Rapala Rippin' raps (the small ones) are good baits to start with and try to locate fish.
Around the metro I've noticed most lakes are around 3"-7" of ice. However when you go out, don't assume there'll be that much ice. Check with local bait shops and use your spud bar/chisel and check the ice as you go along.
I'll be out tomorrow bright and early searching for some Panfish.
Good luck and stay safe on this early ice!
-Zander
Red Lake is and has been locked up for a while. Out of JR's on the south east end there's anywhere from 9"-11" of ice. If all goes well there'll probably be trucks out Thanksgiving weekend. Fishing is good. You'll have to do some searching though. Also staying mobile is key. Start in 6' FOW and work out deeper. Lindy Darters, Rapala Jigging raps and Rapala Rippin' raps (the small ones) are good baits to start with and try to locate fish.
Around the metro I've noticed most lakes are around 3"-7" of ice. However when you go out, don't assume there'll be that much ice. Check with local bait shops and use your spud bar/chisel and check the ice as you go along.
I'll be out tomorrow bright and early searching for some Panfish.
Good luck and stay safe on this early ice!
-Zander
Monday, November 17, 2014
11-17-2014 Ice Update
Hey there...back with another ice report.
Oh, I also made it to the ice show! :) I bought a VMC Tingler spoon and some panfish plastics. Back to ice...
Vermilion is developing more ice. Not sure about thickness but Pike Bay should have at least 4" but don't quote me.
Mille Lacs: South end is beginning to lock up. Isle Bay has had ice for a while now and should be fishable by this weekend.
Metro: Minnetonka is locking up in more of its many bays. Centerville and Peltier have fishable ice. Also some Chisago area lakes are fishable.
Upper Red Lake: Roger's is letting foot traffic out as of today and they're going to allow ATV's by the weekend. West Wind is letting ATV's and snowmobiles but no side by sides. What I'm seeing is 4"-7" of ice. Best bet though would be walking as the ice on Red this time of year is quite unpredictable.
I'll be out on Saturday and I'll update more throughout this week.
Good luck and stay safe this time of year,
-Zander
Oh, I also made it to the ice show! :) I bought a VMC Tingler spoon and some panfish plastics. Back to ice...
Vermilion is developing more ice. Not sure about thickness but Pike Bay should have at least 4" but don't quote me.
Mille Lacs: South end is beginning to lock up. Isle Bay has had ice for a while now and should be fishable by this weekend.
Metro: Minnetonka is locking up in more of its many bays. Centerville and Peltier have fishable ice. Also some Chisago area lakes are fishable.
Upper Red Lake: Roger's is letting foot traffic out as of today and they're going to allow ATV's by the weekend. West Wind is letting ATV's and snowmobiles but no side by sides. What I'm seeing is 4"-7" of ice. Best bet though would be walking as the ice on Red this time of year is quite unpredictable.
I'll be out on Saturday and I'll update more throughout this week.
Good luck and stay safe this time of year,
-Zander
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Ice update 11-13-2014
Hey all! Back again with another ice update!
Upper Red: Beacon Harbor on the north shore has ice as far as they can see. The east side has ice out about 400 yards and from what I hear the south side is still open. Just need a few days without much wind!
Mille Lacs lake: It's still pretty much wide open however there's some shoreline ice in places. Isle Bay is developing larger amounts of ice. Again, we just need some days without much of any wind!
Vermilion: Same as yesterday except I've noticed Wolf bay is more locked up.
Metro area: Minnetonka is developing shoreline ice and some of the small bays are around half froze. There's a small lake near my house with 2 1/2" of ice. But most lakes are icing up by now. Smaller lakes are even locking up. (some of them)
That's all for today! I'll have one more tomorrow and Saturday I'll be at the hardwater show!(hopefully) But then I'll be back Monday. I might try to get out the weekend before Thanksgiving but if not I'll for sure be out the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Good luck,
-Zander
Upper Red: Beacon Harbor on the north shore has ice as far as they can see. The east side has ice out about 400 yards and from what I hear the south side is still open. Just need a few days without much wind!
Mille Lacs lake: It's still pretty much wide open however there's some shoreline ice in places. Isle Bay is developing larger amounts of ice. Again, we just need some days without much of any wind!
Vermilion: Same as yesterday except I've noticed Wolf bay is more locked up.
Metro area: Minnetonka is developing shoreline ice and some of the small bays are around half froze. There's a small lake near my house with 2 1/2" of ice. But most lakes are icing up by now. Smaller lakes are even locking up. (some of them)
That's all for today! I'll have one more tomorrow and Saturday I'll be at the hardwater show!(hopefully) But then I'll be back Monday. I might try to get out the weekend before Thanksgiving but if not I'll for sure be out the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Good luck,
-Zander
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
11-12-2014 Ice Update
Hey all...I come to bring another update!
Bear Paw guides on Red lake posted last night that if the weather cooperated, they'd be out icing walleyes on the main break. As I learn more I'll let you know.
Mille Lacs lake has ice forming in Isle Bay and on some small harbors around the lake. There's also some shorelines developing ice.
Lake Vermilion has ice on Pike bay, almost all of Wolf bay and parts of Big bay.
Metro lakes are developing ice around the shorelines.
Won't be long now ladies and gentlemen!
Good luck,
-Zander
Bear Paw guides on Red lake posted last night that if the weather cooperated, they'd be out icing walleyes on the main break. As I learn more I'll let you know.
Mille Lacs lake has ice forming in Isle Bay and on some small harbors around the lake. There's also some shorelines developing ice.
Lake Vermilion has ice on Pike bay, almost all of Wolf bay and parts of Big bay.
Metro lakes are developing ice around the shorelines.
Won't be long now ladies and gentlemen!
Good luck,
-Zander
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Ice, ice, ice!
Hey folks! Very exciting update...
Yesterday and into today(Monday and Tuesday November 10th and 11th) we were blessed with anywhere from 4"-16" inches of snow depending on your location. Plus we have an arctic blast crusading down upon us. For us ice heads, this is beautiful! We have an insulating layer of snow to act like a freezer but it fell on lakes that are open! With that, we have cold temps. approaching and the snow will make it even cooler so the lakes will freeze very quickly!
Pike Bay on Lake Vermilion is froze over along with a few other spots on Vermilion. Upper Red Lake is icing up as well. Bear Paw Guides posted that they walked out 30 yards! Even down here in the metro, small lakes and small ponds are icing over. I think we'll be on the ice all over the state on the weekend before Thanksgiving!
I'll be updating almost daily as I get new information.
Good luck,
-Zander
Yesterday and into today(Monday and Tuesday November 10th and 11th) we were blessed with anywhere from 4"-16" inches of snow depending on your location. Plus we have an arctic blast crusading down upon us. For us ice heads, this is beautiful! We have an insulating layer of snow to act like a freezer but it fell on lakes that are open! With that, we have cold temps. approaching and the snow will make it even cooler so the lakes will freeze very quickly!
Pike Bay on Lake Vermilion is froze over along with a few other spots on Vermilion. Upper Red Lake is icing up as well. Bear Paw Guides posted that they walked out 30 yards! Even down here in the metro, small lakes and small ponds are icing over. I think we'll be on the ice all over the state on the weekend before Thanksgiving!
I'll be updating almost daily as I get new information.
Good luck,
-Zander
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