Ice Fishing Report February 28, 2017 Minnesota Fishing License Renewal I doubt that you need to be reminded, but I wouldn’t want you to forget and find yourself in an embarrassing situation. So here’s a quick reminder; the 2016 fishing season ended today. We all need new fishing licenses in the morning and whenever we fish inland waters, we’ll need to remind ourselves that Walleye, Pike and Bass are now off limits until this spring. Frequent readers have seen this before, but one really slick way to manage your fishing and hunting licenses if to buy them online and print multiple copies. No, you can’t share ‘em with your friends, but you can keep copies in strategic locations; that’s what I do.

A really slick way to manage your fishing and hunting licenses is to buy them online and print multiple copies. No, you can’t share ‘em with your friends, but you can keep copies in strategic locations. You can get yours right now if you want to, here's a hot link that takes you directly to the ... >> Minnesota License Agent

I just printed 4 copies, and then laminated them for protection. I put one in my wallet, one in my truck, one in my boat, one in the snowmobile and I can still print more for whenever my new boat rolls in this spring. I’m all set; I’ve protected myself from having a forgetful moment, which in my line of work, would be really bad for business!
You can get yours right now if you want to, here's a hot link that takes you directly to the ... >> Minnesota License Agent
OH, BY THE WAY, Minnesota does allow you to present your license "electronically" by keeping it on your smart phone. The policy was initiated in 2013 and is a good option for folks who suddenly realize that they've forgotten to buy a license before heading out onto the ice. Here's a link to the original DNR Press Release >> Minnesota DNR Licenses Go Mobile

Ice Fishing Report February 28, 2017 Travel Scenario Too Good To Pass Up! All I intended to do was take a quick ride on the ice to see how travel conditions were holding up. I drove a few hundred feet away from the landing and to my surprise; the surface of the ice was as smooth as a paved road. The contrast between this and my last visit was amazing; it was like a whole new lake. Besides the excellent travel conditions, there was no wind, the temperature was 35 degrees and traffic on the lake was light. It was too much for me to handle, the lake was so inviting so that what began as an afternoon tour of Grand Rapids area lakes, turned into a mini fishing trip.   I didn’t have a lot of time, it was already almost 4:30 PM. But I figured it was worth a shot, I’d drill a few holes and take my chances. The lake had been fished hard earlier this winter and the traffic today was almost all in the same area as before. With 95% of the lake traffic free, I decided to go the other way and try some new territory. I followed my Lakemaster Chart to a hole on the opposite side of the lake, parked the truck and drilled half dozen holes. The ice was good, solid and at least 20 inches thick. I didn’t have a ruler for more precise measurement, but I would not hesitate to drive the truck back out there today. The first hole was over 18 feet of water and I could see movement on the bottom. I ran over to the truck and picked up the Hippie Chick’s secret weapon, her favorite #4 Glow/Red Frostee and tipped it with 2 wax worms. When I dropped it in, I found out that the fish in this hole were small Perch, so I moved on. After trying 3 or 4 more holes, I believed that I’d be heading off the lake without a fish picture. But I decided to drill a few more and this time my luck changed; at about 22 feet, I marked a single, larger fish and this one struck the Frostee. The Crappie, a solid keeper, started off a short-but-sweet run of action that lasted a half hour or so.

I borrowed the Hippie Chick’s secret weapon, her favorite #4 Glow/Red Frostee and tipped it with 2 wax worms. Crappies don't put up a fuss, they just eat it. I drove a few hundred feet away from the landing and to my surprise; the surface of the ice was as smooth as a paved road. The contrast between this and my last visit was amazing; it was like a whole new lake.

I was surprised that the action stopped before sundown, but it did. By 6:00 PM the screen of my Humminbird was painting images of the “death cloud”, clouds of plankton rising above the bottom. If the fish were still in the area feeding, a cloud of microscopic bait like this would never appear and for me, there’s no clearer signal to pack up and go home; so I did.
This may not have been the trip of the century, but this particular fishing trip did something special. My impromptu, experimental test of the “Crappie Hole” gave me renewed enthusiasm for ice fishing. It’s amazing how the little things add up. Easier travel, better weather, reasonably good fishing; it all points to a good run of early spring ice fishing and who wouldn’t be enthusiastic about that?

Photo coutesy Lake of the Woods Tourism and Sunset Lodge. Hayden Picard with a huge Lake of the Woods Pike.

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 28, 2017 "With ice as thick as 24-30 inches and long range forecast for freezing temps, ice fishing season through March in good shape. Roads have smoothed out from the warmer weather and now freezing again. Some snow still remains on the lake. A very active bite continues with many good sized walleyes and saugers. Working every fish with electronics is helpful. Some walleyes are suspended. The anglers working a jigging line with jigging spoon tipped with minnow head or tail and a dead stick with a plain hook or small ice jig and minnow are doing good. Key depth 29-33 ft in the morning/ early afternoon and 17-24 before nightfall. Best colors glow pink/red or chartreuse.

The Rainy River morning and evening bite has been spotty at times. Know the river or use a resort or guide for safety. The river is open from Birchdale to the east. Only some shore ice remains and some reports say anglers have already started pushing boats over the ice. The snowmobile trail is staked from Wheeler's Point to Baudette on the river. Do not deviate from trail unless you are familiar with ice conditions.
Up at the NW Angle, ice conditions are still favorable with 20-24 inches of solid ice in non-current areas. Snow cover is minimal on snowmobile trails but are still being groomed and in good condition. On the Minnesota side, walleyes are being caught on shallower rock points between 20-24 feet as well as deeper mud between 28-30 feet. A good number of saugers and perch are also being produced. Black and gold have been performing very well using a variety of baits. In Ontario the crappie bite has been hot and cold as of last week. Walleyes are are most active on rock humps with successful colors being, blue and white, pink and gold. Remember to move on to another species after you have your limit of crappies as these fish have a high mortality rate over 25' of water. Work through resorts and stay on ice road. Fish houses can stay on ice through March, walleyes/saugers through April 14th. Pike and crappies open all year for LOW MN."  – Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Ice Fishing Report February 27, 2017 A Classified Day At The Secret Crappie Hole

Knowing only that we had been invited to fish at the coveted “family secret” Crappie hole, I purposely avoided asking too many questions. I was just happy to be invited at all, and frankly, I didn't care if the fish cooperated or not. Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered if I’d known more about the lake anyway, it’s surrounded by private property and there’s no public landing. So even if I were susceptible to the “igottagobackagain” virus, a return visit would be all but impossible.
When we arrived at the spot, our young guide allowed me to remove my blindfold, revealing the location. The area where we would fish was a small, deep-water hole at mid-lake. He described the contour of the surrounding structure and issued my instructions; “drill a bunch of holes right around here and look for 40 feet, that’s the magic spot”.
He went back to get the rest of the crew, while I drilled the holes and started the search.
By the time they returned, I’d already fished about half of the holes that I first drilled. I hadn’t caught a fish yet, but I had seen a few in water depths of 36 to 38 feet. It wasn’t supposed to matter that I hadn’t hooked one yet; following the plan of drilling lots of holes and searching between them for active fish would eventually pay off.
That plan is a common one, and most of the time it works, but this time it was beginning to fall apart.
An unexpected wind was gaining strength and almost as fast as I could check out one hole, the others would be filled in by wind driven snow. Our lines were freezing up, our fingers were numb and exploration was extremely problematic. Before long, there wasn’t any choice except to setup our portable shelters and take our chances that the fish would find us.
Even setting up the popup shelter was a challenge. The tent is typically easy to deploy, but not today, the wind tried hard to rip it right out of our hands. By the time it was staked down, the notion of exploring territory and re-locating was the furthest thing from my mind.
Long story short, the fishing action wasn’t very dramatic. Using her old reliable Frostee Jig, tipped with wax worms, the Hippie Chick turned in her usual top ranking performace by picking up 2 nice Crappies. In another shelter, our young guide picked up another one, bringing the total bag to 3 fish.
The Crappies at the top-secret family hotspot are still giggling I imagine, about how they pulled a fast one on us. That’s okay, you win a few and you lose a few. Luckily, our dependence on catching fish for food was the least of our worries.
Back at the cozy cabin, we feasted on grilled venison, burgers and casseroles. Family stories about the “good old days” took everybody’s mind off of the rest of the world. Wind, cold fingers, the shortage of fish, we forgot all about that, none of it mattered; everyone agrees, it was a real good day.

---

I’m not sure if we would have fished on Sunday morning or not, but the weather moved us off of the fence. Snow had fallen overnight, the wind was still blowing and we had work to do. We spent the morning clearing snow and entertaining dogs, opting out of any more fishing adventures.
Meanwhile, closer to home, conditions were much more favorable. By the time I arrived back in Grand Rapids at noon, the sky was blue, the total snowfall amounted to less than an inch and reports about good fishing were coming in from both Winnibigoshish and Bowstring.
Perch action on Winnie has been good, as usual, you’ll need to do some sorting, but the odds of catching keeper fish are better this winter than they have been in recent seasons.
There are some quality fish in deep water, using the mud to feed on insect larvae. Overall, the action is better in shallower water though, there are fish located on the flats in water depths of 12 to 16 feet, especially on the west side of the lake.
Travel conditions remain good on the big lake, cold weather firmed up most of the soft spots and although I suggest staying close to the plowed roads, there are lots of folks traveling off road up there right now too. On Sunday, Bill Powell, Fred’s Bait reported; “Lynne and I went and checked out the Bowens flat area on Winnie conditions were great in the areas we went with 2 feet of ice and no snow. In 3 hours fishing we must have caught close to a hundred sorting out 10 big ones for a meal.”

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 27, 2017

"We continue to stay in the middle of Big Traverse Bay. The good bite continues with a mix of Sauger and Walleye, we are still seeing more of one on any given day and it changes the next. We have been hovering in the 32 foot of water range.
We are still seeing suspended fish so the electronics are a huge factor in catch rate. Active fish have been biting throughout the day and lulls are limited.
There has been very little discussion of what the hot jig is this past week. That is a sure sign you know fishing is good, everything seems to work. Anglers are still sticking with the go to’s, gold is always good and glow red.
Great forecast for the week ahead, if we continue this weather we will have our houses out until the end of March for sure. Highs in the 20 degree range and lows in the single digits overnight." - 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge .

Ice Fishing Report February 24, 2017 Travel Conditions Improve As Temperatures Drop I wouldn’t have had to walk out on the ice yesterday, I could have taken the 4 wheeler, or the snowmobile and gotten to my destination faster. But after 4 days of warm, rainy weather, I felt like I should play it safe. Nice too, was that it aided me in getting a good night’s sleep; partly because of the exercise, but more so because I had proof that we’re a long way from the end of this ice fishing season. The after effects of this melt-down are a lot more pleasant than what we were treated to back in January. Much of the crusted snow, and deep ruts were melted away this week. There was about a half inch of fresh snow covering the freshly frozen, smooth surface of the lake. Walking with a small sled in tow was easy, but as I said, an ATV or Snowmobile would have provided a smooth ride and been faster. I didn’t encounter any vehicles on the lake, and that was good, because there were still a few wet spots under the snow. In another day or two, these will re-freeze and folks, who do drive out, won’t be making those nasty ruts that made travel so rough the last time. It was evident that draining water had softened the ice somewhat, but it was still reasonably good. The ice thickness was about 18 inches and after drilling through a few inches of soft surface ice, the remaining foot was solid. I expect that cold temperatures will allow many of the accesses to heal today and it won’t surprise me if we start seeing moderate vehicle traffic again this weekend. In fact, some of the rental operators who had previously announced access closures are already opening them back up this morning.

There was a half inch of fresh snow covering the freshly frozen, smooth surface of the lake. Walking with a small sled in tow was easy. ATV's or Snowmobile with portable shelters will provide a smooth riding and allow you to cover plenty of territory.

If you're trailering a wheel house, you probably already know where you're headed, but as a precaution, I'd call your favorite operator to be sure that they have re-opened any closed access roads.
Fish locations are beginning to change, so if you’re planning a weekend trip, be prepared to explore some fresh territory.
A friend advised me yesterday that after an extensive search for Perch in deep water failed, he finally moved into 6 feet of water and found good numbers of active fish.
For me, Sunfish activity in 18 to 20 feet of water was minimal, many of the fish that had been hanging on the brealine were gone. I still saw some fish and even caught a few, but they were traveling as singles or pairs, never in large groups.
I’d cut myself short on time, so I didn’t try the weeds before dark, but when we start fishing tomorrow, that will be on the list of things to try.
Ice fishing shelters were few and far between, despite having 3 weeks remaining before the deadline to remove them. Apparently many anglers decided it was worth the trouble to get them off the ice as a hedge against an early ice out. After the odd weather we’ve had, I wouldn’t want to go too far out on a limb. But Mother Nature has a way of balancing things out and I won’t be surprised when the lakes are still ice covered in another month.
No matter how the weather breaks, I do know that you can fish this weekend if you want to and if that’s your plan, I hope you have a fabulous trip. Good Luck!!

Marcell Area - Edge of the Wilderness, Frontier Sports, Paul Larson February 23, 2017

"As usual, the weather is holding all the cards when it comes to things like ice conditions, snow fall and whether or not this weekend will find the fish in a cooperative mood. Ice conditions are good out away from shore but some landings in the Northland have taken a beating. Access can be questionable so ATV’s seem to be the right call although the low temperatures for the rest of the week will be below freezing and this should help a lot. As I mentioned last week, the Walleye bite has tapered of significantly and most anglers are out after Panfish and Trout and Pike, Oh My! Pike were very active last weekend with tip-up flags being tripped fairly regularly for most anglers. Medium sized Sucker minnows were the ticket. Crappie and Sunfish have moved up in the water column and shallow weed beds due no doubt to depleted oxygen supplies in the deeper water. Small jig heads and plastics were very productive. There were quite a few Trout fisherman out on the area lakes. As for their success… well …Trout fishermen never tell. This weekend, being the last gasp for the 2016-2017 season, appears like it might be a good one. Comfortable temperatures and light winds are in the forecast for the next week or so. Any way, it’s always fun to get out and you just never know. The Tackle Department and Bait shop are fully stocked with everything you need for a successful outing on the area lakes. Be sure to drop by when you’re in the area."
Frontier Sports features a complete and fully stocked Sporting Goods department and Bait Shop, Gas, Grocery, Deli and Gift Shop. Frontier Sports is an authorized LIVE TARGET and SAVAGE GEAR dealer. Frontier Sports 218-832-3901 or Email .

Alexandria Ottertail Area, Capt Josh Hagemeister February 23, 2017

"Wow, what a change in events this week ice fishing wise.  Although there have been warm temps and rain, ice fishing is still in high swing.  Have a backup plan as far as travel goes like a ATV or walking as the shorelines in some areas are weak for now.  Only a few more days of the pike/walleye season and then its an easy game of focusing on pan fish.  I have been finding good number of pan fish already in staging areas outside Spring spawning grounds.  If you have a secret Spring shallow water spot, just drill some holes on the closest break line near those areas.  With water running down the holes/cracks in the ice, make sure to fish high in the water column—sometimes only a few feet below the ice.  Use small natural colored tiny jigs (mimic the water insects they eat).  I prefer3 lb test line and a long rod with a soft tip to see the bite vs using a bobber. Skip the split shot too.   The fish should only concentrate on your hook not a “jigging sinker”  Be safe, good Luck!" Capt Josh, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service 218-732-9919, 320-291-0708

Ice Fishing Report February 22, 2017 Surfaces are drying, travel conditions on the ice are good and getting better. As tempting as it’s been for some anglers to proclaim the 2017 ice fishing over, Northern Minnesota Panfish anglers know that it’s not over by a long shot; not yet. On Tuesday, much of the standing water disappeared from Itasca region lakes. What’s left behind now is about a half foot of slushy snow that the Monday’s rainfall failed to melt away. Under that, 18 to 24 inches of ice continues to provide solid footing for anglers hoofing it to their hotspots. Today’s mobile ice anglers are only limited by the condition of access ramps and public landings. Many have switched to using ATV’s now, but there are still numerous vehicles out there and from what I’ve seen, they are sitting high and dry on solid ice. Snowmobiles, in my opinion are better left on the trailer for now, but mine remains ready for action as soon as we receive some fresh snowfall. Although there are still a few days of Walleye and Pike fishing available, most of the “local” anglers appear to have abandoned those pursuits. Permanent shelters for spearing and most of the larger “wheel houses” have already been removed from area lakes. What are left behind are portables, smaller permanent houses and anglers sitting outside on stools. Family activities over the weekend, combined with the rain on Monday, served to break my routine. But now that I’ve been off the ice for several days, I’m beginning to show signs of withdrawal. I am ready to do some fishing today, I haven’t decided where or for what, but whatever happens, you’ll be the first to know.

Permanent shelters for spearing and most of the larger “wheel houses” have already been removed from area lakes. On Tuesday, much of the standing water disappeared from Itasca region lakes. What’s left behind now is about a half foot of slushy snow that the Monday’s rainfall failed to melt away.

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 21, 2017 "Sonar units continue to be an anglers best friend. Still some suspended fish out there. Working every fish hard is key. Some fish are players and some pretenders. A good tullibee and perch bite in some areas amongst walleyes / saugers. The anglers working a spoon and a dead stick with a plain hook and minnow are doing good. Key depth 29-33 ft in the morning/afternoon and 17-24 before dusk. Best colors continue to be glow red and gold on jigging spoons tipped with minnow head or tail. Snow pack on the lake is disappearing and ice is still very good. The Rainy River morning and evening bite has been okay. Know the river or use a resort or guide for safety. Warm weather and current will effect areas harsher than others. The snowmobile trail is staked from Wheeler's Point to Baudette on the river. Do not deviate from trail unless you are familiar with ice conditions. Up at the NW Angle, fishing has really picked up. The dead stick is producing the most fish with depths under a foot off of the bottom. Lots fish in the slot, as well as some over 28 inches! On the Canadian side, walleyes are being caught in transition zones, with gold and pink and whites being the hot colors. The crappie bite is at 30 ft plus in the mud with Tungsten jigs tipped with plastic. Jigging spoons with a minnow head are also producing fish. Remember to move on to another species after you have your limit of crappies as these fish have a high mortality rate over 25' of water. Work through resorts and stay on ice road. Fish houses can stay on ice through March, walleyes/saugers through April 14th. Please remember to "Keep It Clean" and remove trash from ice."  – Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Image courtesy Lake of the Woods Tourism, Elizabeth Determan with big Sauger, Long Point Resort Image courtesy Lake of the Woods Tourism, gigantic Northern Pike caught in Nortwest Angle, Flag Island Resort

Mille Lacs Walleye Season to be Catch and Release February 21, 2017 "There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding the walleye fishing on Minnesota’s famed Lake Mille Lacs, and this year will likely be no different ..." Learn More >>> Mille Lacs Walleye Season to be Catch and Release

Photo courtesy Jim Uran; pictured stepson Heath with a 13 inch sag-bellied Cass Lake Jumbo

Cass Lake Jim Uran February 21, 2017 Fishing has been outstanding for perch and walleyes as of late. The perch are using a couple of predictable patterns; they bite out deep in the sticky bottom areas during the day where they remain active during daylight hours most days, and then up in the shallow flats at sunrise and sunset. We also pick off a walleye here and there while perch fishing. We've had luck during the day in the 28-34 foot areas, do a little drilling until you find a few fish and then you can sit in the same area for a while and pick off fish in waves throughout the day, or else you can drill along the same depth contour along the structure and stay on them. When I have the kids out we just sit and wait it out, but they always come back. These fish out here get even more active during the evening hours. They are coming up from those deeper flats in the evenings and mornings, so when you do reel one up they aren't likely to release so well so use bigger baits to keep the small fish off. During the mornings and evenings we go hit a big 12' flat, spread out and wait them out. It's definitely not a numbers game on most days but when they come through they are big pigs. We've caught and released a lot of 12"+ perch over the last week. We've also caught a ton of 9-11" fish which sure make for a fun time on the ice with the family. Tip-ups tipped with a big fathead or a rainbow in the same area puts a couple walleyes on the ice every evening.

Ice Fishing Report February 21, 2017 Reader Question; Humminbird Helix 5 Ice Unit Q) Zach Pumper wrote; "Thinking about the Helix 5, should i pull the trigger and why? A) Actually, I've used the Helix 5 extensively for work projects and it performs very well. Like all of the Humminbird models I've owned, it has been trustworthy and easy to use. For me, the convenience of having GPS and Sonar combined into one unit, along with the flexibilty of depth shading charts and the seamlessness of using the same technology on the ice as I do on open water are the 3 main reasons why to use the Humminbird.

I sort of skipped over buying the Helix 5 because I had been using my trusty model 597 that's functioned flawlessly for several years; still does in fact.
I did decide to get a new unit this year though and when I looked deep into making the decision for myself, I chose to go with the Helix 7 instead.
I prefer the updated ice bag that the 7 comes with and the added screen size of the 7 is large enough to be very useful as a primary unit in my backup boat. I could also us the 7 as a portable unit for trips to remote areas, with carry in accesses.
That means that I can use the 7 all year long, instead of only on the ice.
Either way you go, the features and menu items are almost identical and using either unit is very easy.

Bowstring Lake, Geiger's Trails End Resort February 21, 2017 Access Ramp Closed To The Public

"On Bowstring Lake, it was very busy over the weekend. There was a lot of traffic and a lot of fishing pressure so the good action that anglers enjoyed on Saturday, fizzled out by Sunday.
Despite having approximately 26 inches of ice at the moment, we have temporarily closed our access ramp to the public. Bowstring has about 2 inches of standing water on it and the ramps are deteriorating rapidly. The impact of our closing is likely to be minimal because by Monday afternoon, there were very few people on the lake and fishing was slow and sporadic.
It looks like there’s a re-freeze headed our way, so watch for an announcement about ice conditions for this weekend." - Bill & Erin Charlton, Trails End Reosrt .

Ball Club Lake, Gus' Place Resort February 20, 2017 "The Boys simply call them ‘Nice Eaters’. Anglers are picking up some walleye in the shallows. Conditions are holding thanks to overnoght low tempertaures falling below freezing." - Gus Sheker, Gus' Place Resort 1-888-246-8520

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 20, 2017

"It seems the weather has become the hot topic, no pun intended. Crazy weather this winter, we are expected to be in the warmer temps for a couple more days then back to below freezing. We still have snow cover on the ice and over 2 feet of solid ice which should have no problem sustaining the current forecast.
The bite remains great in the middle of Big Traverse Bay. There has been a mix of Walleye and Sauger although some days more Walleye and the next more Sauger. We have had some nice Perch as well as a 15-inch Crappie yesterday. We must have our houses in the best spot on the lake as many other resorts have been surrounding us for the last few days. We will most likely want to get away from that traffic and our Walleye Master Guides will find another school to fish.
We are still seeing suspended fish so the electronics are a huge factor in catch rate. Active fish have been biting throughout the day and lulls are very limited.
Glow red and gold are still the go to’s. Spoons and rattles are great for aggressively working the water column and plain hooks or the smaller gold and glow jigs are doing wonderful on the dead sticks.
This week’s forecast starts off with some above freezing temps and maybe rain on Monday but then back below freezing for the rest of the week." - 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge .

Ice Fishing Report February 17, 2017 Minnesota's Warm Weather Dividing Line

Anglers all around Minnesota are wondering about ice conditions and whether they'll have access to lakes for the weekend. The answer is probably yes, but you'll have to drive up north to find the best opportunity. On Thursday, Mike Swanger Wrote;
Q) "Have you been out to Bowstring lately? We are thinking of going there tomorrow night and staying at my uncle's place. Will we be able to take pickups out of the landing? Are there any pressure ridges that would preclude us from making it halfway across the lake? Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
A) As of today, all Itasca Area Lakes continue to be free of surface water. Travel by vehicle remains good on almost all of the most popular lakes, including Bowstring. There are some small pressure ridges on Bowstring, but there aren't any that will interfere with your plans.
Expect rough surface terrain that was caused by vehicle traffic during the January melt-down. Ruts formed in slush, were then re-frozen and are deep. They crisscross the lakes in every direction and if you’re not paying attention, you will eventually hit one deep enough to rattle your kidneys.
It’s unlikely that we have enough snow to cause severe flooding on the ice, most of the snow melted down during the January episode. However, there is enough snow to make the lakes wet and sloppy again.
Today, the forecast calls for highs near 50 degrees and the same is true for Saturday and Sunday; by Monday, it is predicted to rain. This means that conditions will deteriorate steadily all weekend, keeping a watchful eye on conditions should be the first rule of thumb.
If you avoid driving in deep water and drive in areas where the surface is dark and dry, you will minimize your risk. Be sure to bring cleats too, they will be essential equipment for any angler who doesn’t want to slip and risk busting their sacroiliac!
The upshot of today's report is that you'll probably enjoy reasonably good travel conditions this weekend. I'll be amazed if Mother Nature doesn’t set us up with a solid cold front that re-freezes our lakes again, but it’s been a strange winter and I’m not ready to make a prediction about March; at least not yet.  

Marcell Area - Edge of the Wilderness, Frontier Sports, Paul Larson February 17, 2017

"Fishing in the area has been just so so this past week. Reports of good fishing one day and nothing the next were all too common. Bright sunny skies with strong winds and cold temperatures made fishing difficult to say the least.
Things appear to be looking up as of today. I had a few reports of a decent Crappie bite and Pike have been cooperating as well.
The plankton hatch is in full swing in some lakes and the bite has been good before the hatch but once the hatch starts it’s over.
Walleye fishing has all but have shut off, but the smaller isolated lakes in the area can be very good for catching good sized Sunnies and Crappies this time of year. Small jigs and plastics get the nod here. Finding these small lakes using the MNDNR’s lake finder can lead to some interesting opportunities. The last time I fished one of these small lakes, I had no idea where to start. I had my trusty old Humminbird 385 with a Lakemaster chip with me so I followed the sled trail out onto the lake and of course this lake wasn’t in the chip. So I just followed the trail and resorted to the original ice fish finder.
I started to look for holes. The anglers that were there before me had drilled a good number of holes. So I got to work and started to examine each hole and at last I found what I was looking for….Fish Blood! The ice around several holes had this telltale sign and that’s where I started fishing. This is how we used to find good fishing when we were kids and it worked! With a nice batch of Bluegills in the sled I headed home.
Somehow I did well without all the gizmos we ice anglers must have these days to catch a fish, thanks to those who were fishing there before me.
This weekend should be a great opportunity to get out and catch some fish. Nice weather and light winds are forecast so get out there and enjoy. The tackle department and bait shop are fully stocked so be sure to drop by when you’re in the area."
Frontier Sports features a complete and fully stocked Sporting Goods department and Bait Shop, Gas, Grocery, Deli and Gift Shop. Frontier Sports is an authorized LIVE TARGET and SAVAGE GEAR dealer. Frontier Sports 218-832-3901 or Email .

Alexandria Ottertail Area, Capt Josh Hagemeister February 16, 2017 "The last week or so the pike fishing has been quite good. We iced numerous fish in the 28-30 inch range using tip ups and large golden shiners on a chartreuse hook suspended 2 ft. off the bottom on weedy flat areas in the 8-12 ft range. Although the weather is going to be warm, the ice conditions are good and I would anticipate some good fishing the next week or so. I have also been finding pan fish in 6-8 ft of water the last few days. Using nothing but a small glow bug jig tipped with a wax worm in the 14-18’ range, plenty of fish are hitting the frying pan. Have fun and be safe." Capt Josh, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service 218-732-9919, 320-291-0708

Ice Fishing Report February 15, 2017 - Return To Flag Island Lake of the Woods Report A quick trek back to the Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods gave us more good memories. As usual, the folks at Flag Island Resort bent over backward to make sure that we were comfortable and by seeing that we had everything we needed for a successful fishing trip. Despite being half way through their grueling winter schedule, everybody was cheerful, happy and accommodating in every possible way. Far from being experts about fishing the area, we do have a few trips under our belts now and are gaining some confidence about experimenting on our own. So even if we didn’t hit the “perfect spots”, we were able to locate and catch the fish that we were after, so from my point of view, the fishing was good. Mother Nature did complicate things by delivering a very stiff wind on the second day of our trip, but even that didn’t stop us from catching some nice Walleyes. At 25 feet, the Walleyes we caught came from shallower water than the depths being reported by other anglers. I ran into a friend at the lodge on Sunday evening and he said they’d drilled lots of holes before locating good numbers of Walleye in 35 feet. Other anglers were focused on 30 feet, which had been the most common depth for us over the two previous trips. That tells me that you’ll have some latitude to try a variety of locations, tailoring the search to your own personal taste. Working out the presentation wasn’t very hard, the first Walleye lure that I tried was a 1/8 ounce Quiver Spoon and the Walleyes crushed it. In fact, the light weight, flashy gold spoon worked so well that I almost never experimented with others. I did switch to a Red/Silver Wally Talker though and the fish gobbled that one up as well. Tipped with a minnow head, either of the two lures performed equally well. On this trip, we didn’t catch any big fish, but I was impressed by the overall quality. Numerous 16 to 18 inch fish came through the holes, making it easy to gather a few fish for a meal. Crappie action has reportedly slowed since our last visit, but the action was certainly good enough for us. We chose to move away from the popular spots and try to quieter habitat. A rocky point leading into a deep, 35 foot hole produced fish ranging between 11 and 13 inches. Again, the average size of these fish would make anybody grin and for me, I’d choose quality over quantity any day. Our presentation varied more for the Crappies than it did for Walleyes. The Tungsten Toad was probably the best, but we caught fish on Frostee Jigging Spoons and perch Talkers too. No matter which lure we used, they were tipped with wax worms. If you read the story about our last visit to Flag Island, then you’ll be pleased to know that equipment problems were the least of our worries on this trip. In fact, in terms of travel, this may have been one of the easiest adventures I’ve been on. Walleye fishing season remains open until April 14th on Lake of the Woods and just because you don’t have a snow machine doesn’t mean that you can’t make a trip to the angle. You can drive your pickup truck right to the resort and even to some good fishing spots. If you want to get off the beaten path, they have guides who know what they’re doing and they have all of the gear to transport you to the more remote places.

As usual, the folks at Flag Island Resort bent over backward to make sure that we were comfortable and by seeing that we had everything we needed for a successful fishing trip. I was impressed by the average size fish. Numerous 16 to 18 inch fish came through the holes, making it easy to gather a few fish for a meal. A rocky point leading into a deep, 35 foot hole produced fish ranging between 11 and 13 inches.

Personally, I wish that I’d started fishing up in the Northwest angle a long time ago, but it’s better late than never. I’m already looking forward to the next trip and with luck, it will be soon.

Q&A On February 14, James Hummelsund wrote; ISO good ice fishing lakes.

We agree, aren't we all! If you live in Minnesota, chances are very good that you're not very far from several good ones.
Here's a tip, start your search by using the Recreation Compass page on the DNR website. This allows you to explore lakes visually, by simply clicking on the interactive map. All you have to do is zoom into the territory you're interested in searching, select a lake that looks interesting and click.
Once you open the popup for the lake, you can click lakefinder tab for more specific information about the lake.
Here's another tip, survey and creel report information gets outdated fast, so I try not to read too much into the statistical portion of the reports. Instead, I just make a quick check to see if the lake actually contains a significant population of the fish I'm hoping to catch. If it does, then it's time to do some exploring.
There is no greater reward in fishing than to discover your very own fishing hot spot. If you're willing to risk a slow day in exchange for an opportunity to discover a real bonanza, then you will find one and it will happen faster than you think.

Photo courtesy Lake of the Woods Tourism: Zippel Bay's Igloo has been a hot spot for big Pike this winter. Photo courtesy Lake of the Woods Tourism: Key depth 29-33 ft. Best colors continue to be glow red, pink and gold on jigging spoons tipped with minnow head or tail.

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 14, 2017 "Sonar units are big right now as a trend of suspended fish has started with walleyes 10-15 feet below the ice. A good bite in the main basin, combo walleyes / saugers. Working every fish is a must! The anglers working a jigging spoon with a rattle and a dead stick are doing better than a jigging rod and a tip up. Key depth 29-33 ft. Best colors continue to be glow red, pink and gold on jigging spoons tipped with minnow head or tail. Jumbo perch being caught as well in some areas depending on the day. The Rainy River morning and evening bite has been good. Know the river or use a resort or guide for safety. The snowmobile trail is staked from Wheeler's Point to Baudette on the river. Do not deviate from trail unless you are familiar with ice conditions. Good fishing up at the NW Angle. Best colors remain glow pink and gold. Flyers, Buckshot Rattle spoons, Rippin Raps, Pink Charmers or flutter spoons tipped with a minnow head or tail . For walleyes on MN side, morning / evening bite remains in 13-20'. Move off structure in 22-30 feet of water in the afternoon hours. Ontario, walleyes in 25' or deeper. Giant crappies in 30+ feet on small jigs/rattle spoons/plastics/minnows/wax worms. Keep crappies if fishing deeper than 25' as high mortality if released in deep water. Work through resorts and stay on ice road. Fish houses can stay on ice through March, walleyes/saugers through April 14th."  – Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Lake Winnibigoshish and Cutfoot Sioux, Eagle Nest Lodge February 10, 2017

"The fishing report from the Cutfoot Sioux and Lake Winnie neighborhood has been good, especially for Perch anglers.  Friends reported good catches of quality size Perch in both Tamarack Bay and along the Mississippi River channel that runs through the bay.
The best depths ranged between 16 and 20 feet and the crew used fathead minnows on jigs to produce the best catches.  
In Cutfoot Sioux, Crappies are being caught in deep water using bright 1/16th ounce jigs tipped with wax worms.  
Walleye action has slowed, but they are catching a few walleyes on mid-lake humps and bars.
Travel conditions are good, the ice is over 20 inches thick and there’s not too much snow. That makes it easy to get around, so experimenting with fresh territory is possible for everyone." Bryan Harris, Eagle Nest Lodge 218-246-8701

Marcell Area - Edge of the Wilderness, Frontier Sports, Paul Larson February 10, 2017

"Fishing this week has been rather inconsistent and reports of boom or bust outings have been the rule. Not many anglers wanted to brave the very cold temperatures and strong winds for a “maybe they’ll be biting today” fishing excursion.
That may well change for the upcoming weekend.  Warmer temperatures are forecast for this weekend with highs in the thirties.
The snow we received earlier in the week amounted to over seven inches which has resulted in a much better surface on the ice of our area lakes, making travel a lot easier on the sleds and ATV’s, not to mention the riders backs.
Crappies have been biting very tentatively and small jigs tipped with small plastics seem to produce the most bites, which by the way have been very light.
Perch fishing is picking up and they are feeding heavily on blood worms. A Gulp Red Wiggler and a stand up jig seem to be working well. Bluegills will take this combo too.
Pike are still being taken on tip-ups and sucker minnows. There hasn’t been much action from Walleyes during the week probably due to the lack of anglers going after them. Lastly, Trout fishing has been fair. Lake trout have been sluggish. Rainbows in the designated trout lakes have been hitting small spoons and should be doing so again this weekend.
All in all this weekend is shaping up to be a great time to go fishing or snowmobiling, the trails are in great shape! Don’t forget, February is “Ice Fishing Contest Month”. There are many contests both large and small happening across the Northland this month. Try and attend at least one of them. They’re great fun. You get a chance to meet new people and maybe even win some prizes and these contests are important in that they help bring together the communities in which they’re held."
Frontier Sports features a complete and fully stocked Sporting Goods department and Bait Shop, Gas, Grocery, Deli and Gift Shop. Frontier Sports is an authorized LIVE TARGET and SAVAGE GEAR dealer. Frontier Sports 218-832-3901 or Email .

Alexandria Ottertail Area, Capt Josh Hagemeister February 9, 2017 "Fishing throughout the central Minnesota area has been consistent. Pike remain active in the 15-25 ft depths. The larger pike are chasing crappies and can be found near schools of suspended crappies. Suspend a decoy sized sucker minnow on a quick strike rig to up your odds of landing a trophy.

Walleyes remain active during the evening sundown period in the 12-25 ft range. Gold colored jigging spoons seem to be the most consistent.
Bluegill action is a little more scattered due to the change in the oxygen levels commonly occurring this time of year. Small tungsten jigs tipped with a red spike has been bringing fish through the hole.
Ice conditions remain decent, however use common sense when ice fishing. Good Luck out there!" Capt Josh, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service 218-732-9919, 320-291-0708

Q&A February 9, 2017 "Where Are Marl Lakes In Minnesota?" After reading my Face post about the article on Marl Transition patterns for Perch and Panfish, Carl Seckinger wrote; "Jeff, where in minnesota is there a marl lake? A) Marl is easy to find in Minnesota. I've been on two lakes this week where this pattern is in effect and I’m sure that there are many more. In layman’s terms, it’s the sticky clay-like soil that we occasionally discover stuck to our ... >> Read Answer

Earn $1 Million to Stop Asian Carp February 8, 2017 "Who said a fisherman can’t get rich? This is an intriguing story by Wired2Fish contributor David A. Brown for Outdoor Life. We all know Asian carp can wreak havoc on even the most storied fisheries. They breed at an astonishing rate and eat unbelievable amounts of ... Read >> Earn $1 Million to Stop Asian Carp

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 7, 2017 "Resorts are on the move to stay on fish. The bite has been good overall. Working every fish is a must! The anglers working a jigging spoon with a rattle and a dead stick are being rewarded. Key depth is 29-31 ft and best colors continue to be glow red, pink and gold on jigging spoons tipped with minnow head or tail. Dead stick plain hook (try glow or colored) or smaller walleye jigs and live minnow. Some jumbo perch being caught as well. Electronics improving catch rate. The Rainy River morning and evening bite has been good. Know the river or use a resort or guide for safety. The snowmobile trail is staked from Wheeler's Point to Baudette on the river. Do not deviate from trail unless you are familiar with ice conditions. Good fishing up at the NW Angle. Best colors include glow pink and gold. For walleyes on MN side, morning / evening bite in 13-20' targeting rock reefs and points. Mid-day move off structure in 22-30 feet of water. Ontario, walleyes in 25' or deeper. Big crappies in 30+ feet on small rippin raps, small jigs/plastics/minnows. Keep crappies if fishing deeper than 25' as high mortality if released in deep water. Work through resorts and stay on ice road. Some frozen ruts off trail can be dangerous use caution on snowmobile or ATV. Fish houses out through March, walleyes/saugers through April 14th."  – Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Ice Fishing Report February 6, 2017 - Transitional Patterns for Insect Feeders Until this week, Crappies and Crappie fishing has been the mainstay of most anglers up north. But as the days grow longer, seasonal transitions are beginning, the momentum is shifting. During mid-winter, insects, crawfish and Blood Worm hatches begin attracting both Bluegill and Perch into predictable feeding areas. In most lakes, the transition doesn’t go directly from hard bottom straight into soupy, soft muddy territory. Between the two, there are areas of semi-soft bottom content called marl. These precious stretches of real estate provide fish with both food and comfort and give anglers a focal point to begin their search. Even though I’m not an expert on the substrate lying beneath my favorite fishing spots, I do happen to know one. The conversation we had yesterday makes a lot of sense this morning, especially when I connect the dots from other area fishing reports coming in over the wire.

Transition areas between soft and hard bottom hold Perch; Bluegills too.

I’m not sure if my friend would want me to mention his name or not, so I won’t; but I can share some of the knowledge that he passed along to me.
We’ve all been trained that if we want to find fish, we need to find food. That sounds easy, but there’s food everywhere, so there has to be more to it than that, right?
Well according to my unidentified industry expert, comfort is just as important as the food is. So even though there may be “more” food somewhere else, fish will choose an area that provides “enough” food as long as it’s combined with comfort too. These semi-soft, marl transition areas provide just that, a combination of comfort and food.
I promise to pick up where I leave off tomorrow, but right now I am up against the clock and have to run. Please check back in the morning for more.

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 6, 2017 Always on the move!

"As we get into February and March it is difficult to stay too long in one spot. The schools of fish are not as congregated towards the South Shore as they were earlier in the season. Currently we have different spotter houses spread out and will be most likely making a major move real soon. We are still working our way out to deeper water in the middle of Big Traverse and are currently 12 plus miles north of Pine Island.
The bite this past week has been good overall. Nothing that we would brag about, but it provided plenty to have a fresh dinner and some to take home.
We have considered the reef areas, the problem with those areas is they tend to only hold a certain amount of fish, once those fish are caught they are not replenished regularly with traffic of more Walleye. This tends to make an inconsistent bite/action after the first couple days with too many anglers being there at one time. With the increase of pressure around the reefs the last few years the trend for action has been one day or two in a row can be great while any longer past that may not be good at all.
What we know from years of experience and now having our plowed roads we have developed an approach to locate the larger schools and move with them. Additionally, having the comfort and features of your own vehicle while traveling across the ice is much better than being stuffed like sardines in an old rickety rig with some stranger half on your lap.
We have a great Valentine’s Day special this year, if you were considering a trip here is a great opportunity. Arrive on Sunday February 12th for 3 nights lodging and 2 days fishing with meals included for $400.00 per person. That’s $100.00 off, we have limited availability so call 1-800-PRO-FISH with questions or for reservations.
We will stay with the same suggestion of the week this week; glow red and gold. It always seems to work on Lake of the Woods. Plain hooks on a dead stick with an active minnow on one rod and something actively jigging with noise on the other is still the trend.
Another up and down forecast, it seems we have had many of those this year. We have lows into the 20 below mark and highs in the teens above zero with chances of snow." - 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge .

Ice Fishing Report February 3, 2017 Ice Fishing Report Weekend Outlook

The weather has been cold, the wind has been blowing and traffic on the lakes is down, way down on some of the smaller lakes.
I'll bet lots of folks had the same idea that I did, blustery weather was an excuse to look after stacks of paperwork, chores, meetings and small repairs that I needed to take care of. So for the past couple of days, I haven't wet a line at all.
On Thursday, I did drive out onto a couple of lakes just to check conditions and they looked good. The northwest wind has drifted snow into piles along the south and eastern shorelines of area lakes, but they weren't deep enough to stop vehicles from accessing the ice. In fact, I was driving off the lake and encountered a man coming on to the ice with a 2 wheel drive car. He didn't have any trouble following the path developed by user traffic. Expect rough travel conditions, especially on the more popular lakes. Ruts formed in the frozen slush are hidden under the snow and when you least expect it, they come up out of nowhere and grab your wheels!
With a more moderate weather forecast over the next few days, I’ll be looking forward to searching for some Perch. Reports of their whereabouts have been spotty, but there are some bright spots including Winnie, Leech and a handful of smaller waters.
On Winnie, the fish are active, but anglers are sorting through a lot of 8 inch fish to gather a handful of 10 to 11 inchers. Water depths of 16 to 18 feet on the lake’s sprawling flats have been a good starting spot. Some fish hold deeper though, 26 to 30 feet at the transition between firm and soft bottom. Deep points and large mid-lake bars provide the structure you’re looking for.
Leech Lake has offered some anglers better quality fish, but there’s been a lot less action. Shallow water weeds have produced more fish than deep water structure. Focus on cabbage patches located in 6 to 10 feet of water and keep moving until you encounter fish.
If I was going to look for Walleyes this weekend, I would head for Lake of the Woods. The action has been consistent up there for most of the winter and the odds of coming home with fish are very good. There are good reports coming from most areas along the south shore, but folks fishing more remote areas are definitely doing the best. If you can, snowmobile to areas with less fishing pressure and you’ll be rewarded.
Somebody said something about some kind of football game this weekend. So if you’re planning on skipping the fishing and heading toward a party, have fun! But if you’re thinking about spending the weekend on the ice, you should have good access, less traffic and a reasonable chance of finding decent action. Whatever your game plan, be safe, stay warm and don’t do anything silly.

Marcell Area - Edge of the Wilderness, Frontier Sports, Paul Larson February 2, 2017

"Travel on the area lakes last weekend was rough to say the least. The melted snow froze hard which made for an extremely uneven surface on the ice. With a lot of bouncing and scraping you could get out to your spot and you were likely to see very few anglers out on the ice.
Monday’s storm changed all that. Reports of seven inches or more of snow that fell in the area made travelling on the lake ice much easier.
Reports have been coming in this week of a fairly good panfish bite along with a few Walleyes in the mix. Crappies seem to be moving up in the water column, probably to pursue the plankton and small insects that are coming up off the bottom in large masses that you can see as the screen of your electronics become blocked out.
Fishing can be very good just before this happens but during a “hatch” it can be frustrating even down right bad, and it’s time to move.
Pike are still cooperating and the usual tip-up and a sucker minnow have proven to be the most effective. I still like to have a rattle bait in the other hole especially if you’re in a portable on a clear lake where you can sight fish in about twelve to fifteen feet of water. It’s very exciting to watch a fish roar in and smash your lure after you give it a few good pulls.
Trout fishing in the area has been good with some nice catches of Rainbow and Lake Trout being taken. Minnows cannot be used on Designated Trout Lakes so soft plastics, spoons and jigging raps are the lures of choice. Berkley Power Bait Trout Bait rolled in a ball and pushed over a size 14 or 16 treble with a sinker about a foot or so above with the sinker on the bottom is a great way to catch Rainbows.
The bait ball floats of the bottom when a small hook is used and the ‘bows are attracted to the bright colors as well as the Powerbait scent. Weekend temperatures will be cooler than last weekend with perhaps a little sunshine.
It looks like we should have a great weekend in the Edge of the Wilderness area. The trails are groomed and in good shape so be sure to drop by when you’re in the area whether you’re fishing , snowmobiling or just enjoying the scenery. Have a Great Weekend Everyone!"
Frontier Sports features a complete and fully stocked Sporting Goods department and Bait Shop, Gas, Grocery, Deli and Gift Shop. Frontier Sports is an authorized LIVE TARGET and SAVAGE GEAR dealer. Frontier Sports 218-832-3901 or Email .

Recent snowfall isn't deep enough to slow down vehicle traffic, but it's perfect for breathing new life into the snowmobile season.

Ice Fishing Report February 1, 2017 Ice Fishing Report "With Added Whiteness" The timing for the "January Thaw" couldn't have been better. First the surfaces of most lakes were reduced to standing water. Then the cold front froze them solid, eliminating slush and making travel by truck easy. Now we have a blanket of fresh white snow that's making fishing fun again by allowing us to travel by snowmobile again.

Don’t worry, at 5 to 6 inches deep, the snow isn’t deep enough to stop vehicle traffic. On Tuesday I saw pickup trucks travelling freely through the powder, you’ll likely encounter some rough spots caused by tracks in the slush; but you can go most anywhere you want to in your pickup.
One may argue that driving a truck onto the ice is the most convenient way to fish. But for me, Tuesday’s ice experience re-affirmed my belief that the most efficient way to cover territory is with a snowmobile. Equipped with a GPS, a portable, flip-over type fishing shelter and a light weight auger, my rig comes as close to fishing from a boat as one can find. There’s no better mode of transport that allows more mobility in moving around the lake, checking spots quickly.
Now just imagine how happy I’d have been if I would have selected the right lake!
Yup, Tuesday was just one of those days for me. I tried shallow water, deep water, weeds, flats, points, corners and everything in between; the lake fell well short of my expectations.
That doesn’t bother me, the reality is that when you’re exploring, days like this are common. In fact my formula is that only one out of 3 days works out to be really good. That sounds like poor odds, but if you think about it, they are fantastic. That’s because no matter how much I value catching fish, I value gaining knowledge even more.
Almost every lesson that I’ve learned as a fisherman came by failure, not by success. Yesterday’s experience taught me something. I may not be fully aware of the lesson yet, but after I do some more research, ask some more questions, I will know something that I didn’t know before; that’s the way it works.
Today, I’ll be off the ice for a meeting of the “Panfish Workgroup”, a panel of citizens who have an interest in preserving and expanding the opportunity for quality Panfishing experiences in Minnesota. Just for the record, the subject of the next story, Stanley Paalksnis, is not a member of the panel.

Alexandria Ottertail Area, Capt Josh Hagemeister February 1, 2017 "Crappie action remains strong throughout the area. We are finding them in the deep holes now 45-60 ft suspended anywhere from 20-30 ft down. Keep a close eye on your electronics to quickly learn the best presentation depth. Glow jigs tipped with a crappie minnow or a wax worm has been working the best. Because of the deep fish, a good day time bite is not uncommon.

Large pike and walleye can also be a nice bonus in the same areas. Simple use a much larger minnow like a shiner suspended at the same depths, but don’t ignore the bottom –even at depths of 45 or more. Ice conditions are good for vehicle travel, however do not leave your common sense on shore. Avoid current areas, any narrows, or any ice heave. Good luck, Capt Josh" Capt Josh, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service 218-732-9919, 320-291-0708