Friday we checked out ice to the Graveyard and Banana Reefs and found anywhere from 6″ to 8″ of ice. Saturday I will be getting what will be roads eventually to those areas. As of Friday there trails staked to Popes Reef, Gull Reef and the Basins SW of Spider Island.

Fishing reports were mixed with 3 anglers getting their slot Walleye along with many smaller ones and some “almost” keep able Perch.  (Most anglers don’t keep them until 10″ length).  The best area was the Basins SW of Spider Island.  Some anglers found Popes Point  unfishable with the slush under the ice.  (That will dissipate over the next few days or so with the warmer water under the ice and warmer temps slowing the ice making progress).  Slush under the ice was caused by the strong NW wind when the ice pushed back our direction a week ago today.  The far NW side of Popes, and the SE side of Ray’s Reef are good.  From what I heard today I would say stay shallow, (12-15 ft), stay out or on the edge of the slush under the ice and fish.

We’ll be open at 7:00 for ATV, snowmobile/portable anglers.  I got the new signs up today for directions on where to park, where to stop at the new office (The Barn), etc. (Thanks to the “Sign Spot” in Baxter).  They did an awesome job!

Weather forecasted the next few days will not be “ice making” weather and let’s all hope that whatever comes our way doesn’t give us too much snow.

Tight Lines!

Eddy