Anyone ice fishing yet. I went the Thursday before Thanksgiving and caught one walleye, and then went yesterday after work and got skunked. Deer hunting and the frigid temps have kept me off the ice until now. I should be able to get out a couple days a week the rest of the winter. Have a trip planned to Lake of the Woods on Feb. 28th, and hopefully a trips to Bay De Noc for walleye, and Leech Lake for perch.
I havent thought for my wide waistline I still want some more ice to feel safe ;D
We have had a rash of people dropping there vechiles in the lakes around here and the metro area. I have been shocked!!!! I believe there has been 3 on the news this week and 2 more in the paper.
I usually start after x-mas.
Be safe and sounds as if you have a couple nice trips plan, those trip sound like some fish if you ask me!
Couple trips out so far on a local place that freezes quick. Actually just getting ready to go out now.
SO... I want to do some ice fishing... (pretty sure I have spoken of this before... but... hmmm.... I have a good memory, but it's short.)
I have 'some' gear/equipment... a couple tip ups. Have some jigging rods etc.
Some fishing line...
A manual auger...
Have access to a lake, from a property directly on a lake and I've seen guys out there... say 400 yards from the house or a bit more? So I can walk there. Could drive my Jeep out there too (when I see some bigger pick ups out there I would trust the ice)
Need a current license.
What are the absolute 'must haves' for my ice fishing?
What type of bait?
Hooks?
Lures?
Staying warm? I probably won't buy/build a shelter.
Quote from: TomM on December 14, 2013, 09:57:20 AM
SO... I want to do some ice fishing... (pretty sure I have spoken of this before... but... hmmm.... I have a good memory, but it's short.)
I have 'some' gear/equipment... a couple tip ups. Have some jigging rods etc.
Some fishing line...
A manual auger...
Have access to a lake, from a property directly on a lake and I've seen guys out there... say 400 yards from the house or a bit more? So I can walk there. Could drive my Jeep out there too (when I see some bigger pick ups out there I would trust the ice)
Need a current license.
What are the absolute 'must haves' for my ice fishing?
What type of bait?
Hooks?
Lures?
Staying warm? I probably won't buy/build a shelter.
What species of fish are you after? If you are tip up fishing for pike, target shallow water weed lines. If you are going to jig for panfish, your best bet is probably to follow the crowd. Lake-link.com will have some good info and reports from your lake.
I think you can do two tip ups and one in the hole. You may wish to go for a bigger type with tips ups (northern) and more meat fish through the whole(bluegill/perch, etc.) I can feed the family three meals on two northern and eight bluegills. I can see the love of filleting an northern; but, if you have wise northern eaters, they are the best to bake whole in foil, lime and butter.
This has been the worst winter of ice fishing for me in a while. Brutal cold weather and too much snow on the ice makes getting where you want to go difficult. I decided if it was more work than fun then it is not worth fishing. The bite has not been good on the days that I have fished either.
I have never ice fished less than I have this winter. Same reasons as you. I gotta get a pair of snow shoes for my son, then we can think of something to do outside. Gotta clean out the chimney tomorrow.
Headed to Lake of the Woods on thursday for 3 days and nights in a sleeper shack. The forecast says the temp will never be above zero the whole time we are there. Hope the fish bite.
Went yesterday on the Miss. 7 northern (we eat them) ,and about 35 panfish between my son and I.
I went ice fishing only once this winter and I only caught 3 crappies. At least they were big enough to eat. That was quite a while ago and the ice was so thick that my auger could barely punch through. Must be ridiculously thick by now. I think I'm going to just start getting my gear ready for open water fishing...
Quote from: Houndhead on February 24, 2014, 06:28:54 PM
Headed to Lake of the Woods on thursday for 3 days and nights in a sleeper shack. The forecast says the temp will never be above zero the whole time we are there. Hope the fish bite.
Where are you headed? Zippel Bay, Arnesons? Typically these temperature crashes have meant very slow fishing on LOW, at least in my experience up there. If the walleye aren't biting, see if they can get you on some perch on the mud flats. There are some absolute jumbos in LOW 13-14 inchers are fairly common. Other options, since you are sleeping out there, night fish for eelpout. Best tasting fish in that lake. I'm not kidding.
Good luck, watch out for the ice heaves.
Quote from: Houndhead on February 24, 2014, 06:28:54 PM
Headed to Lake of the Woods on thursday for 3 days and nights in a sleeper shack. The forecast says the temp will never be above zero the whole time we are there. Hope the fish bite.
My son in law and grandson went up there (out of Baudette) about 3 weeks ago. They were jigging for walleyes and did great. They liked staying in the sleeper, as well as the ride out in the ice taxi. Have fun and good luck!
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:37:46 AM
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
Is that a threat? JK! ;D Never fished in your area, but my daughter's family has been up a few times and they say it is beautiful up there. I'll have to check that out sometime.
Quote from: imnofish on February 25, 2014, 09:41:54 AM
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:37:46 AM
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
Is that a threat? JK! ;D Never fished in your area, but my daughter's family has been up a few times and they say it is beautiful up there. I'll have to check that out sometime.
plan an outing! ... i've got the shack-mahal
we spend a ton of time on the ice and have all the crap you would want to have a good time.
Quote from: Handles II on February 25, 2014, 07:47:19 AM
Quote from: Houndhead on February 24, 2014, 06:28:54 PM
Headed to Lake of the Woods on thursday for 3 days and nights in a sleeper shack. The forecast says the temp will never be above zero the whole time we are there. Hope the fish bite.
Where are you headed? Zippel Bay, Arnesons? Typically these temperature crashes have meant very slow fishing on LOW, at least in my experience up there. If the walleye aren't biting, see if they can get you on some perch on the mud flats. There are some absolute jumbos in LOW 13-14 inchers are fairly common. Other options, since you are sleeping out there, night fish for eelpout. Best tasting fish in that lake. I'm not kidding.
Good luck, watch out for the ice heaves.
Sportsman's Lodge. The reports are that the fishing has been ok but not great. Only one pout caught last year out of twelve guys.
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:37:46 AM
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
My buddy took me to Carroll lake at the very end of the ice season last year. There was a good morning perch bite. I think it was the last weekend of April. That was the first time I ever heard turkeys gobbling while I was ice fishing. That was my first time fishing in the Woodruff area.
Quote from: Houndhead on February 25, 2014, 10:30:00 AM
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:37:46 AM
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
My buddy took me to Carroll lake at the very end of the ice season last year. There was a good morning perch bite. I think it was the last weekend of April. That was the first time I ever heard turkeys gobbling while I was ice fishing. That was my first time fishing in the Woodruff area.
if we can get a melt of snowpack and no late storms, the late spring ice season can be the best times you can dream of. warm, sun and with holes staying open and easy getting from spot to spot on your ATV. love a day of sunshine, kids, dogs, food, drink and tip-down crappies, hard to beat it.
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 11:58:26 AM
Quote from: Houndhead on February 25, 2014, 10:30:00 AM
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:37:46 AM
been a great year in N. Wisconsin ... solid early ice walleye fishing, best big pike year ever with 12 over 37" and one giant, one lost even bigger and consistent blue-gil jigging. personal best walleye was the highlight that came while targeting big pike so a great surprise.
cold and wind have been brutal so tip-down fishing has been almost impossible all year long and now we're just hoping for spring and a little frustrated to want to get out until spring starts.
lots and lots of snow and slush throughout the area making travel pretty tough unless you have the right track vehicles to get around.
all wrestlers and wrestling dads are welcome anytime so give a shout if you want to get out or get intel on the fishing in the Minocqua-Sayner-St. Germaine area. we'll even take liberals fishing ... will get your minds right after a day of politics or football discussion on the ice!!
My buddy took me to Carroll lake at the very end of the ice season last year. There was a good morning perch bite. I think it was the last weekend of April. That was the first time I ever heard turkeys gobbling while I was ice fishing. That was my first time fishing in the Woodruff area.
if we can get a melt of snowpack and no late storms, the late spring ice season can be the best times you can dream of. warm, sun and with holes staying open and easy getting from spot to spot on your ATV. love a day of sunshine, kids, dogs, food, drink and tip-down crappies, hard to beat it.
That would be the one thing that would get me out on the ice again this year. Unfortunately, there is so much snow on the ice, I expect a big slushy, wet puddle to form on top of the ice instead.
Quote from: Houndhead on February 25, 2014, 10:22:15 AM
Quote from: Handles II on February 25, 2014, 07:47:19 AM
Quote from: Houndhead on February 24, 2014, 06:28:54 PM
Headed to Lake of the Woods on thursday for 3 days and nights in a sleeper shack. The forecast says the temp will never be above zero the whole time we are there. Hope the fish bite.
Where are you headed? Zippel Bay, Arnesons? Typically these temperature crashes have meant very slow fishing on LOW, at least in my experience up there. If the walleye aren't biting, see if they can get you on some perch on the mud flats. There are some absolute jumbos in LOW 13-14 inchers are fairly common. Other options, since you are sleeping out there, night fish for eelpout. Best tasting fish in that lake. I'm not kidding.
Good luck, watch out for the ice heaves.
Sportsman's Lodge. The reports are that the fishing has been ok but not great. Only one pout caught last year out of twelve guys.
Try glow in the dark jigs with a minnow head. Eelpout backstraps boiled in 7-up/sprite with some butter = awesome.
we have a couple spots in N. Wisco where you can catch some nice eelpout :)
I have yet to catch one of those ugly things. Love to try them. I'm just too far sout fer da pout.
Howavi, how was your LOW trip?
Quote from: Handles II on March 13, 2014, 08:56:34 AM
Howavi, how was your LOW trip?
I was there the on March 1st. The fishing was ok. Could have been better, could have been worse. We caught about 100 fish in our shack in 3 days among 4 guys. Sauger, walleye, tullibee, and 1 pout. Nothing for size on the walleyes in our shack. One of the other shacks in our group had a 25", 24", & 23". Temps never got above zero the whole time we were there. A couple of nights of -34 with a -50 wind chill. It was brutal stumbling back from the other shack at night. Always lots of fun though.
Great weekend of perch fishing on Leech Lake. 6 of us brought back our 240 fish limit. Still plenty of ice if you can find a spot to get out.
My uncle's on Leech right now (or in his cabin). Hope his results mock yours.