Minnesota Outdoor News and Hunting Report 12-10-09
gengberg December 12th, 2009
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Minnesota Outdoor News Fishing Report
December 10th, 2009
This report is sponsered by:
Zippel Bay Resort
Big Six
LAKE MILLE LACS
East - There is open water on the main lake, but most bays have four to five inches of ice. A handful of anglers has started fishing the bays for perch with limited success. Early reports indicate plenty of fish, but you have to sort through numbers of smaller perch for your keepers.
Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811
West - There was ice “as far as the eye could see” on Tuesday morning. Just when anglers can start fishing will depend on the weather this week. If the wind and snow stay to a minimum there’s a chance some of the bays and shoreline breaks could be options by the weekend or early next week.
Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430
LAKE OF THE WOODS
As of Tuesday morning, the bays had about two inches of ice. The main lake capped Friday night into Saturday and there’s ice as far as you can see on the big lake. With the cold temperatures this week, there’s a good chance there will be anglers fishing the lake soon, but call your favorite resort for current ice conditions heading into the weekend.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH
LEECH LAKE AREA
The bays of Leech and most small lakes are covered with two to four inches of ice. The deep water in Walker Bay remains open and there has been some fishing taking place on the smaller bodies of water. This just started early this week so reports have been limited as far as a bite.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
LAKE MINNETONKA AREA
The small lakes and bays had a thin layer of ice as of Tuesday morning, but most big lakes were wide open. Those small bodies of water could be ready for foot travel by the weekend, but call ahead or check it as you go.
Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227
RAINY LAKE
The bays and shallow areas are starting to ice over, but there’s a lot of open water on the main lake. There’s a chance that there could be some ice fishing taking place by this weekend in a few areas given the cold that’s forecasted. Look to the bays, channels, and shoreline locations to be the first safe bets for walkable ice.
Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Ice conditions look favorable for fishing by this weekend with three to five inches being the norm in most areas. You might even find a bit more than that along the shorelines where spear houses have started popping up. Foot and ATV travel could be options by the weekend, but call ahead.
Nodak Lodge (218) 665-2226
Twin Cities Metro
NORTHEAST METRO
Select small lakes have up to four inches of ice and there have been some pike caught on lakes such as Battle Creek and Silver with tip-ups and sucker minnows. If this area can avoid a heavy snow, there should be plenty of spots to fish within the next week.
Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle (651) 777-2421
WEST METRO
Many small lakes are completely ice-covered but there wasn’t anyone fishing earlier this week. There is some open water on the bigger lakes and look to those small lakes to be the first spots to provide walkable ice, possibly by this weekend if the wind and snow isn’t too much of a factor during the week.
Cabin Fever Sports (952) 443-2022
LAKE WACONIA
There was still a lot of open water early in the week. The majority of the bays also had open water or floating ice so it’s going to take a few more nights of cold, calm weather before walking out is an option.
Mases In Towne Marina (952) 442-2096
Statewide
ALEXANDRIA AREA
As of Tuesday morning, two to four inches of ice had taken hold on most lakes and a few anglers have started fishing the smaller lakes and bays. With continued cold and lack of snow this week, many areas should be good for foot travel by the weekend, but check it as you go.
Christopherson’s Bait and Tackle (320) 763-3255
ANNANDALE AREA
There’s open water on the big lakes and a few anglers have started fishing on the small lakes where two to four inches of ice was reported. If this area can avoid a big snowfall, there should be plenty of ice to walk on by the weekend.
Little Jim’s Bait (320) 274-5297
BATTLE LAKE
Most lakes capped with ice last Friday night and as of Tuesday morning, up to three inches was reported on many small lakes. By this weekend look for fishing to be an option throughout the area if the snow doesn’t pile up.
Ben’s Bait Shop (218) 864-5596
BEMIDJI AREA
Some anglers started fishing through the ice on Sunday. As of Tuesday morning, four inches of ice seemed to be the norm on most small lakes and bays. The first fishing reports of the season are coming off Lake Irving where tip-ups and sucker minnows are producing pike and a few walleyes have been caught on jigging spoons and minnow heads.
Bluewater Outdoors (218) 444-BAIT (2248)
BLACKDUCK AREA
Ice conditions look good with four to six inches on most lakes. A handful of anglers has started hitting the usual early ice spots with limited success. Given the cold forecast, ATV traffic should be an option on the smaller lakes by this weekend.
Timberline Sports and Tackle (218) 835-4636
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Most fisheries are capped with ice and a few anglers have been on the bays of North Long Lake, Pelican Lake, and Round Lake catching the occasional walleye and northern pike. Generally speaking, four inches of ice can be found on the small lakes and bays.
S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League (218) 829-7010
DETROIT LAKES
A few anglers have started fishing with most reports indicating at least four inches of ice throughout the area. The bite has been limited to an occasional walleye or crappie, but look for more areas to be accessible by this weekend. Portable fish houses are dotting many lakes and given the forecast, ATVs should be an option by Saturday on some lakes.
Quality Bait and Tackle (218) 844-2248
DULUTH AREA
With the exception of a few pockets of open water on the big fisheries, the inland lakes were covered with three inches of ice as of Tuesday morning. A few anglers have already been on Fish Lake and Rice Lake but there hasn’t been much for reports back. If the snow doesn’t pile up the ice should be in good shape by this weekend.
Chalstrom’s Bait (218) 726-0094
EMILY AREA
Depths vary, but most lakes are ice capped. By this weekend there should be no problem getting on the majority of the small lakes or bays. Some reports indicated as much as four inches of ice early this week.
Redding Sports and Spirits (218) 763-2191
FARIBAULT AREA
There was some open water and some lakes with as much as four inches of ice as of early this week. A few anglers have started walking out and fishing the smaller bodies of water but reports back have been limited.
Nagel’s Live Bait (507) 334-8341
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Anglers and spearers have started hitting the bays and small lakes where four or more inches of ice has taken hold. Fishing reports are minimal but should improve since there should be plenty of spots to fish by the weekend.
Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
HACKENSACK AREA
Everything looks promising for ice fishing by this weekend. The small lakes and bays are in good shape and finding ice thick enough to walk on shouldn’t be a problem. Watch the big lakes because some of them were still open as of Tuesday morning.
Swanson’s Bait and Tackle (218) 675-6176
LAKE VERMILION
Four to eight inches of snow fell last week, the lake is ice covered, and it looks like winter so there should be some fishing by this weekend. The small lakes and bays, which capped earlier than the big lake, should be in excellent shape for anglers by this weekend.
Lake Vermilion Trading Company (218) 666-6052
MANKATO AREA
There’s still some open water on the big lakes in the area, but most bays and small lakes are covered with one to three inches of ice. The fishermen who have been checking the ice conditions anticipate fishing those smaller bodies of water by this weekend.
The Bobber Shop (507) 625-8228
ORTONVILLE AREA
Most lakes are capped with three to four inches of ice. A few anglers just started fishing through the ice on Monday so look for the first reports of the year from lakes such as Big Stone and Long Tom by this weekend. Walking out shouldn’t be an issue by Saturday.
Bud’s Bait (320) 839-2480
PARK RAPIDS AREA
A few anglers are fishing through the ice, but conditions were marginal early in the week with about three inches of ice reported. Most lakes are ice-covered so there should be plenty of spots to walk on by the weekend. Look to the small, shallow lakes to provide the best ice over the next few days.
Delaney’s (218) 732-4281
RED LAKE
The entire lake is capped and anglers report that they are fishing on four to six inches of “good” ice. A few walleyes have been caught in six to nine feet, but look for additional areas to be accessible by this weekend. Some resorts on the lake started marking roads early this week, so ATV travel should be an option for anglers by this weekend.
Dr. Tackle Sports (218) 647-8657
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
With the exception of some deep-water areas on the bigger lakes, most fisheries have one to three inches of ice. Whether or not people are walking out by this weekend will depend on the snow and wind during the week. If a major snow event is avoided there should be walkable ice on many lakes.
Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Most lakes have two to four inches of ice and anglers have started hitting traditional first ice spots. Lakes like McCormick and Reno and are kicking out a few walleyes and spear houses are starting to show up. Without a major snow event, the ice should be in great shape by this weekend.
Fletcher’s Bait (320) 352-2155
STARBUCK AREA
Ice has taken hold throughout the area and a few anglers have started walking on up to four inches of ice. Reports have been limited, but should improve by this weekend as more lakes become accessible.
Minnewaska Bait and Tackle (320) 239-2239
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