Yesterday as fishermen came off, checked in and went home the fishing reports were mixed with about half doing pretty good and the other poor.  Friday eve the best action was deep breaks next to mud at dusk and early morning.  Overnite hours the bite was more  consistent in 14-20 of water. Saturday during the day was quiet except for those fishing in the middle of nowhere mud areas or basins for Perch.  Saturday evening the gravel bars had a good bite but mostly under slot sized Walleye.  14-18 feet was still the best for “keepers” and I seen pictures of 3 over 29″ and numerous 27″-28″, which made for some happy anglers. No reports of Northern Pike this weekend although there were numerous fishermen that had line-breakers.

All in all it was pretty good weekend, it’s just that some anglers weren’t in the right spots.  But that happens to all of us occasionally. The big snowstorm that was forecasted missed us and went 100 miles to the south, but today as it passes I’m thinking the few that are out there are going to have some good fishing.  (and FYI, the truck/wheelhouse I mentioned in the earlier report drove off the ice at 5:30 am Sunday before our office opened,.. I was up and at our residence on the hill and watched them…crazy people these days.)

Keep a Tight Line!    Eddy

Friday evening thru early Saturday morning fishermen on the deep breaks had pretty good action, with as many as 10 Walleyes per house from what reports I heard. Some of the shallow water areas 14-18 feet had intermittent action all thru the night.  Some of the in close reefs produces some trophys, a 29″ and numerous 27″ were reported C/R.

I got all the roads cleaned up and ready along with moving drifts away from all the houses in preparation for the “snowstorm” we were forecast to get.  At the last report we were supposed to receive up to 6″ and some strong winds, but the main snow track shifted about 100 miles south and it sound like we will only get a trace.  But that is the weather.  Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.   Sometimes we luck out.  Sunday/Monday should be some good fishing with the weather system sliding by.

I’m going to sit in the office Sunday and see what reports we get from fishermen and post Sunday evening.  Friday night about 10:30pm (after our office was closed) a truck and wheelhouse went out of our access and did not come in Saturday to the office to settle up with access fees.   It will be interesting to see if he stops today.  All wheelhouses stop when they leave because of the way we charge them when they arrive.  They get a prorated refund for the days they were out there.  So when they just drive thru on their way off I know right away who it was.  It still amazes me after all these years that some fishermen can be that low to not respect the resorter’s efforts to maintain good ice roads and pay a $10.00 access fee to use a privately owned access so they can get out 4- 5 miles on the lake with their $50,000.00 truck and wheelhouse.

Keep a Tight LIne!   Eddy

I’m a day ahead as I’m typing this tonight, (7:00 pm. January 18th), but tomorrow will be a busy one and I wanted to let you know what is going on.

Most of the day fishing was pretty quite from most reports, except for the shallower water late this afternoon. The gravel 4 miles out from us has been not as good overall as it normally is this time of year. Fishermen are not seeing baitfish on the humps they normally fish on and off the sides isn’t much better from what reports I’ve heard.  In closer around the reefs fishermen are seeing much more, especially schools of minnows and Perch. This evening some good reports came in from anywhere from 24′ to as little as 14′ during the late afternoon till dusk.

It sounds like we are going to get some significant snow starting Sunday afternoon and thru Monday. Some of the early forecasts are 6″ plus with strong NW winds Monday afternoon thru Tuesday.  Those of you that have permanent houses I would advise checking your blocking and get them at least 6″ higher off the ice than they are now.  The last couple days we have been clearing drifts from around them after the last two winds to help, but if we do get that much snow and winds things could get ugly..  Just a heads up.  After all the years I’ve out there… it is much better to prepare than struggle afterwords.

Either way with the snowstorm coming it should be good fishing and if everyone plans on getting off the lake so they can get home and watch the Vikings game Sunday morning… most will not be caught out there.

Keep a Tight Line!    Eddy