Alexandria – Last Ice Castle Trip

I’m sorry to say this may be our last over night trip of the year in Alexandria. 4-14-18.

Its been a good night, steady for hours! Plenty of 13″-15″. All fish 13″ and over are back swimmin! Still 32″ of clear ice! The edges will be rough very soon though. I’d recommend you bring an Atv if you’re planning a trip up here in the comming weeks.

Attachments:

1. 

   20180414_011824.jpg
   

These big guys can pull!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180413_235559.jpg
   

Great way to finish the season!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180413_203204.jpg
   

Can’t get much better!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180413_203216.jpg
   

Ice castle trip? I would notify admin there’s something wrong with the date in this thread.

Looks like a great time. I’m jealous!

Great job Joe!! Kids seem to be enjoying themselves. I’m jealous also. Haven’t iced fished for months. No ice left by me.

nice!

Nice fish! PM sent.

Fantastic.

The kids begged and begged so we dicided to stay another night. After all its not everyday you can catch 13″-15″ crappies at will!

Its nasty outside but its warm inside and the slabs are snappin! 16′ of water on jigs and crappie minnows at low light.

Attachments:

1. 

   20180415_002226.jpg
   

After the kids go to bed dad can even fish! Caught this one a few min ago!!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180415_002038.jpg
   

Triple! My buddy and I got 3 of the 4 bites that hit seconds apart. Three 14″ crappie floppin at once is pretty great even for Alexandria! Quick pic and back in the drink!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180414_235706.jpg
   

Another double!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180414_235531.jpg
   

Right on Joe!

15″ on a green #12 Lindy Toad and a minnow!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180414_221101.jpg
   

Nicely done. I want to get out a few more times but have been lazy this winter. The good new is that the Otter is still in the back of the truck.
DT

I kept 8, 12″ers but the rest are swimmin!

The bite has been sick DT! I hope you get out before ice out! Shoot me a PM. The fish are all over from… 2′ under the ice to 16′ deep! The fish don’t even know what season it is!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180415_010138.jpg
   

In full disclosure, I hooked a 14″ crappie in the outside of the mouth with a jig tonight…

I hastely took a picture of it, then unhooked it and released it immediately!!

Attachments:

1. 

   20180414_234654.jpg
   

2. 

   20180414_234634.jpg
   

3. 

   20180414_234640.jpg
   

I’ve heard of chin hooked walleye, but nose hooked crappie!? He must have been swimming upside down and pinned it to the bottom.

Is there a lot of snow on the lakes now up there Joe? Also wondering on how the landings are for getting out and if there are lots of folks driving on? Thinking about another trip that way maybe this next weekend.
Thanks and nice fish. 12’s are perfect for the pan.

Nice snag… I did get my iPhone 6S off the bottom in 40′ this winter… with a camera and a swedish pimple. Try that !!!

leinieman wrote:

Is there a lot of snow on the lakes now up there Joe? Also wondering on how the landings are for getting out and if there are lots of folks driving on?

There’s about 6 in of snow on the Lakes right now. There are very few people fishing. A couple here couple there on most lakes. We have an absolute ton of ice right now. But getting on the Lakes requires a bit of patience. I’d say about half of the accesses you could get on easily right now.

I actually took an auger with old blades on it and drilled 2 feet from the access, 3 feet and 5 feet from the access just to verify ice thickness before I went. There was little-to-no melting in the areas I checked even though the edge was melted about a foot. I found about 2 to 3 in of water under the ice. What I mean is, in a foot and a half of water there was a couple inches of water under the ice and so on until I got to about 3 ft depth then there was about 30 to 32 inches of ice the rest of the way. So in other words the ice is excellent if you can find a way out onto the lake. Of course stay clear of vegetation, rocks or moving water. Those areas this time of year are going to be in poor shape.

This time of year I think one just needs to be extra cautious. I see many people just staying home and then I see other people just driving out because it “should” be good. Take your time check the ice and have a fun time.

I tried to get out on Lake Minnewaska last week and they barricaded all the accesses. There’s 30 some inches of ice out there as well. I didn’t even think it was legal for someone to block off a public Lake? I feel small actions like this are steps towards the government knowing when we can go fishing and when we can’t. Good luck!

big_g wrote:

Nice snag… I did get my iPhone 6S off the bottom in 40′ this winter… with a camera and a swedish pimple. Try that !!!

You must have had a case on it!

I’ve recovered a lot of objects with a camera and a Swedish pimple. But luckily never a phone!

Thanks Joe. I will bring a wheeler and sled with probably if i decide to head that way. I put a message out on the Detroit Forum as well checking the conditions that way. I am assuming very similar if not more ice. Thanks for the report and great photo’s.

leinieman wrote:

Thanks Joe. I will bring a wheeler and sled with probably if i decide to head that way.

Sounds good and my reply above was in regards to vehicle travel. ATV travel would be zero concern up here. Still stay away from moving water but you can get on any lake right now easily with a wheeler.

What Minnewaska accesses were blocked Joe. I drove by the DNR access on the Glenwood side and it wasn’t blocked.
DT

Lakeside and the Beach Access were blocked. I didn’t check the DNR access because of the moving water there. How did that access look?

Does the city of Glenwood own both Lakeside and the Beach Access? I know the accesses are soft and I’m sure that’s why they blocked them. I guess I’d just like to take my snowmobile out on the “very thick ice” if I wanted to, but that choice doesn’t appear to be mine.

Neither the beach or Lakeside accesses were blocked when I went by today. Im not 100% sure of Lakeside or the city owns that access. I feel that Lakeside does because that is where they keep their big launch. Someone went out on a wheeler out of the dnr landing while I was there. They hugged the far left side because of the creek and did fine. You could go out on the opposite side of the parking lot there with a wheeler or sled. They had a small ramp there at one point. Not sure if it was for damage or what. The beach had a small heave just out from sure but it looked less than a foot high.
DT

I actually drove around the lake today. There is an approximate football field of open water in from of the Starbuck beach. I didn’t drive into the park though to see if the channel was open. I could see cement barricades blocking that ramp though across from Hobo park.
DT

Someone must have gotten on their case. I heard a guy at the bait shop complaining about it.

Thanks for the info DT. I might head down their in a few weeks and ice fish.