On Friday, the fishermen who went out seemed to have pretty good action with the Walleye. The greater majority of those caught and released were 7″-10″. I heard of a few slots caught, but not many. Fishermen were also reporting 15-30 Walleye per angler and many small Perch in the mix.

We staked out what will be roads out to the Banana Reef and NW of North Twin Island to the Tundra. I pulled out two basic rentals with the Jeep yesterday, one on the NW side of Pope’s and the other near Spider-Island. Both are on 11″ of ice, and anyone who wants to rent them will need an ATV to get to them. Most of the ice on the main lake is 9″-11″ thick, with the thicker ice within the first 200 yards from shore.

It will be a while before we pull permanents and larger rentals and allow wheelhouse traffic. Things will start happening once we start seeing a consistent 14″ inches of ice.  Keep watching my report.

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

Yesterday, we checked more ice towards the Banana Reef and Tundra, set cones where roads will be, and looked for ways through the ice ridge out there. I took the Jeep out for the first trip and bladed roads to the Graveyard, Ray’s, and NW Pope’s. Today, I’m headed to the Banana and what we call “the Bowl.”

With the 9″-11″ of ice we found yesterday, I’m sure we will have 10″-12″ when we check today after the sub-zero temps last night. We will be letting small wheelhouses (14ft or less) out-pulled with ATVs or SxSs. I would recommend chains on them also. We have plenty of room for parking rigs onshore and for wheelhouse camping at N/C. An access fee is the only charge. I will be pulling out two of our 8’x12′ Basic rentals for the weekend this afternoon.  Customers will need an ATV to access them, and you must call in advance to reserve.

When we get 14″ inches of ice all over I will start pulling smaller houses and permanents. Starting Monday, Permanents should call in advance to get on the “pull list” and let us know if LP should be checked on the way out. Remember we insist your license is on the house before it goes out.

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

This morning, the cold weather showed up overnight with a low of -12F.  We made some ice and will find out how much today when we head towards the Banana Reef and the Tundra. Unfortunately, a broad ridge of piled ice formed when we had those strong NW winds as the lake was freezing a week ago.  It skirted just south of Hennepin Island, headed southwest toward the Banana Reef, and then west towards the north end of the Tundra.  Today, we will see exactly where it is and what it will change for fishing spots. I’m sure we will get across it at some point so we can head to the East Bar, but there is much to do closer to shore for now.

Yesterday, some anglers went out with ATVs and portables West and northwest of Spider Island. They came in at sunset with reports of lots of small Walleye C/R and steady Perch action, but they were also throwbacks. Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s we had a fishing cycle similar to what I heard from the fishermen yesterday. Will this be the year of the “quarter pounder” once again?  Time will tell.  There are a lot of nice-sized Walleye out there, but when there are so many baitfish and smaller Perch and Walleye, the larger ones are well-fed for now.

We will be open for portables, ATVs, and SxSs for the weekend. Wheelhouse camping at N/C is available, and there is plenty of parking for rigs. Depending on the ice thickness we find today, I might have some smaller 4-hole basic rentals out by the weekend. If I do, it will be in the report tomorrow.

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy