Last evening and overnight the bite was good for some and slower for others. The best report was 9 C/R Walleyes. Most others had action and some in the slot, but not what I expected going into the Full Moon phase.  Today the highlight was Perch for most of the anglers out there. We’ll see what happens with those out tonight.

Ice conditions:  with the last two overnights with slightly above freezing temps and warmer days the ice is showing some signs on the clear dark ice of water in some areas, and nothing to be concerned about yet.   As long as it stays cloudy during the daylight hours it doesn’t affect the ice too much. but It would really be nice if it would start freezing at night.  My biggest concern for us where we are is the exposed clear dark ice, (which is good when it’s cold, but not so good when it’s warm like we are experiencing).  When sunlight hits that with warm temps it softens and deteriorates very rapidly.  It would be no big deal if we had  the normal 24″ plus of ice that we usually have this time of year with some snow cover. But this year we are 8″-10″ less with no snow cover in our areas we access.

This weekend because of the warmer temps and our ice conditions, we are limiting wheelhouse traffic to small wheelhouse pulled by SxS, ATV’s with dollys and chains or small 1/4 rated trucks.. Rentals will need a vehicle under 5000lbs or we will shuttle their gear and they will need a ATV to get back in forth in case of an emergency.  Portable fishermen will need a similar vehicle under 5000lbs. A much better way is a ATV or SxS,  We have access to many of the farther out reefs, including the gravel if you want to try.  Staked and marked roads thru the rougher ice that we have established with the FJ40 and disc so it’s good going. We have plenty of room for wheelhouse camping and parking for portable rigs at N/C, only a access fee required.

Next week and weekend for rentals and everything else will depend on the weather forecasts. I will see what it looks like Sunday/Monday and make our decisions.    FYI.. what we are doing is because of what we have out in front of us on the main lake to areas we go to.  Not what others are doing.  Everyone has their own ice conditions to deal with, and many are different than ours. What they do is their judgement.  Some have better, some have worse. Check with them before you go.

Be Safe.  We need colder weather…

Eddy

The last 24 hours the bite was slower than the previous 24.  Last evening it was not at all like the night before.  Today reports were of activity but more small Walleyes than slots or larger.  Depths were a little deeper for those that had the better luck.

The thaw has started a little. The flooding we did yesterday on the thinner areas of our roads closer to shore didn’t completely freeze overnight like it had done earlier.  By the forecast I have seen and I research many versions of, the clouds over this weekend will help slow the the deterioration somewhat and the low temps at night are just a little below freezing and that will help some. But next week into next weekend is what I’m worried about because of the ice we are running on.  it would be no big deal if we had 24″ of ice, but right now there is 15-16″.

The last two days I have contacted all of our permanent customers, told them of the situation and most everyone understood. They agreed with my decision to wait to go out until “normal” temps happen so we can finish the last 3 weeks of the season if it does.  I will gladly try to do that if we can see some cold coming in the future. There has only been a couple that don’t get it, but I understand, everybody wants to go. But I do not control the weather and my job is to get customers houses out there and back safely. Having been on this ice for over 50 years I have seen many times what warm weather can do to ice with no snow on it, especially the clear dark ice we are running now. I know when things can get bad. With the weather forecasted with the ice depths we have currently this will be one of those years unless something drastically changes.  I am not going to take that chance for that reason. Like it or not.

For this coming weekend what few rentals we have out customers can drive a vehicle to them under the 5000 lb weight limit or they will be shuttled.  Single axle wheelhouses and “light” 1/4 ton rated trucks can go. But I would strongly recommend a chained up ATV with a dolly or SxS instead for pulling.  Wheelhouse people will need to get on our list and call our office tomorrow morning for the weekend.  We have roads established to most of all the places we run including the East Bar,  Tundra, Banana, Graveyard, Spider, Gull, and Popes.  Anything going to the East Bar, Tundra and Banana as far as wheelhouse will need to be SxS pulled as we have a couple cracks in that direction.  All portables, ATV’s etc can run anywhere easily.  Camping available at no charge in our large lot. Just an access required. After this weekend everything is up in the air and we will go day by day.

Keep a Tight Line

Eddy

Fishermen out overnight last evening sent in some of the best reports of fishing in a full moon phase that I have seen in quite a few years.  The midnite to 4 in the morning was very good for for some , not as good for others but it was good.  The best I heard was over thirty Walleye C/R in that period in one house and a couple rentals did almost as well.  With the clear ice with no snow, the old traditions of full moon fishing at night worked. You had to be in the right spot at the right time and all the shallow water outdid the deep.

We flooded roads today to help eliminate the “shatter” cracks that have shown up on all the clear ice we are running on after pulling the smaller permanents on.  We are running on ice that differs from the ice in the bays where they are are pretty much letting everything go for wheelhouse traffic.  We have 15″-16″ of ice that is clear, hard and brittle, but the warmer temps will soften it and make it more flexible.  By the looks of the weather forecast this might be the only weekend to make a run for it for the wheelhouse guys until the cold weather returns. The first weekend of Feb. forecasts do not look good for anyone trying to do anything out there.  I’m hoping they are wrong. We’ll be going day by day.

Starting Thursday thru the weekend we will be letting small single axle wheelhouses, (16 foot  range) pulled by small trucks . (light 1/2 tons under 5500 lbs). SxS’s or an chained up ATV with a dolly would be a better choice.

These days the rating of 1/2, 3/4  and 1 tons are sometimes misleading.  When some say that 1/2 ton rated trucks that could weigh as much as 7500 lbs. curb weight with crew cabs etc.. tell you it’s ok pulling a wheelhouse, think twice.  On 15″-16″ of ice, that is borderline in my opinion.  If might be just fine for one or two rigs, but not repeated traffic traveling on it when i’s warm enough where it can’t refreeze very well.  I recommend everyone should find out what their rigs weighs with the wheelhouse they pull,, (it might surprise you).  It’s much easier to determine how much ice you can go on. Remember, the idea is to be safe, and knowing the weight of your vehicle and house loaded with gear helps!

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy