North Shore Lake Conditions 2010

Ask and you shall receive. We had no idea the time span of our postings caused some to not be able to read them. We hope doing these postings by the “year’ will help.

As we approach the warm weekend, ice travel continues to be fine. The crack running east/west just north of Pantry, crossing the middle of the Resort Flat has about 5 inches of ice in it now. We still have it bridged as 5 inches should be. The warm temps still have yet to move the ice but the clock is ticking. And we are ready to react asap and keep traffic flowing safely. All 4×4’s, ATV’s, and snow machines are fine. But it doesn’t hurt to carry a shovel as you can still stop in a hard drift and need a little help to go.

Fishing reports by many are still fairly good. The anglers fishing the deeper side of the mud flat edges are doing fine and walleyes are coming off the 23′-28′ water along shore as well. Perch have been on the quiet side but the tullibees, when you find them, are big time action on small panfish type stuff.

After being in the shop the past few days, the trail groomer is back at it. They broke through a swamp and the 6ft. deep water did about $12K of damage. So the trail riders should have smooth tracks to run on in the countless miles of groomed trail that connects to our resort land.

Good luck! Stay safe! Stay warm! And stop in and see us!

Thanks Red Door for the ongoing updates.

Thanks for starting this new post as well.

Who pays for the $12 K of damage to the groomer?

Grouse,

The Garrison Commercial Club owns and operates the groomers in the area. One could assume they had it insured for such things. The state pays them for the grooming but doesn’t maintain the machines for them.

Fishing reports from Friday were consistent with the past few days. We talked to a guy who had been out Thursday and got a limit of keepers. Many had 2-3 keeper walleyes per angler. One guy came in last evening with 3 walleyes for the last hour of the daylight. Of course, we talk to very few of the anglers that come through, as they don’t stop on their way in off the the ice to report.

The warm temps finally got the ice expanding early yesterday. As we hoped, the action is right on the bank. It actually started sliding our big comcrete boat ramp up the hill. The guys will be on that today as needed.

Good luck! Enjoy the heatwave!!

It was one of the busiest ice traffic weekends we ever seen on the lake. Warm temps and easy travel made things as good as they could get for Mille Lacs ice anglers.

However, good catching reports were the exception, not the rule, as has been the case the past few weeks. Many blamed the pressure on all the good spots. But some did well despite the pressure so who knows. We did hear a few over 28″ fish being caught from some of our houses. One rental had only 5 for the weekend but 3 were on the real big side. Again, the good reports came from both the shoreline areas as well as the mud flats. And unlike the past few days, the good reports came from the top of the flats this weekend, instead of the deep side of the breaks.

It looks to be a nice week on the way with maybe some snow for next weekend. If you like quiet, we should see you during the week!

A quiet, warm Monday followng a more than busy weekend, made the ice move and the fish to bite a little. We had to bridge the base of the ramp as the ice moved in as temps rised. The evening walleye bite was pretty good as several anglers reported getting some keepers and releasing some big ones. All the reports we heard were from the shoreline related areas. Nobody let the depth out of the bag however.

Will it rain or snow this coming weekend? Stay tuned!

How is the snow pac on the lake? I am coming up this weekend and wondering if I can go around on my 4-wheeler or would I need to stick the main roads or have a snowmobile?

Wade,

You should be fine off road on the 4 wheeler, especially if you choose a low spot in the road bank to exit the roadways.

Although early, the word is growing that we could have a big amount of snow and or rain over the weekend. As the forecast gets more stable and accurate, we will keep you informed as to what you can expect this coming weekend.

I will be renting a unit from Red Door this weekend. Im curious where do you have the rentals set up?

Right now, the rentals are on the northeast arm of the Resort Flat as well as the south tip of the Resort Flat. Some are off the edge and some are on the slope.

good to know, Thanks and i look forward to this weekend.

No rain or snow yet. We’re hoping for snow versus rain and sleet.

It is very windy from the east. According to some anglers we talked to today, the old saying “wind from the east, the fish bite the least”, isn’t true. But then others disagreed today.

The biggest outdoor ice-skaking rink in the world right now is our plowed road system! And no, we don’t have a Zamboni! Overnight rain glazed over everything. Some south facing fish house doors have been an issue to say the least. Hiway #169 isn’t bad as the crews have been out early. But other less traveled roads are slick.

Fishing reports to follow later today.

We dodged any major issues with the rain and or snow storm. It turned into a little slushy and wet but not much in volume of either rain or snow. Ice travel has not changed. It’s fine in every aspect. And for those that wanted their house moved? Well, ALL the houses moved this weekend! The ice slid your house about 8 feet to the north as the warm temps made the big ice sheet expand. Some bridge work has the access fine again, until the next move.

Fishing reports, far and few between, were generally tough. A few got fish including a few 27″ plus walleyes. Tullibees were caught by many off the flat edges using wax worms on small jigs. A common walleye question was “where’d they go?”

A colder stretch coming in will freeze the slushy snow cover on the lake this week and will make ice travel about as good as it can be.

The snow machine trails in the area need snow!

With about an inch of fluffy snow, the big NW winds have drifted things in pretty good today. The plows don’t do much good with 20-35 mph. winds in place. Some drifting around the houses has created a little flooding and slush under the drifts. Do you need to get your house blocked up higher?

Cross country travel should still continue to be fine for most 4×4’s, ATV’s and snow machines. Stopping in drifts will be tough and avoiding drifts will be key to getting around with ease.

Fishing reports from the weekend were “spotty”. A few had some quick limits of keepers with others not seeing any action at all. Keeper perch are tough to come by in big numbers but fish smokers are happy to see plenty of Tullibees in the mix.

It’s cold! The big wind finally went down overnight though. The cold wind hardend the drifts fast. The cold temps, after about ten days of warm stuff, has been shrinking the big ice sheet fast. The crack, which is following along tight to shore from Weathwood to Myr Mar, and then out further when you go west and south, is about 5-6 feet wide in places. So using a bridge, if on an ATV, truck or SUV, is an absolute must. Snow machines can jump it if going across at right angles. With minus 20 in the forecast, it won’t come together for some time. Our bridging is in place and fine. But always check in to find out current access conditions.

Fishing reports have been few. Traffic on the ice has been little to none the past two days. However, a few walleyes have beeen caught by the locals that we’ve talked to. Low light has been the best as usual. What depth is a question we never get an answer on, when talking to the locals.

A cold but fishable weekend is on the way! Ice travel off road, if you pay attention to the drifts, is fine. Access the lake ONLY on a bridge unless using a snow machine!

How are the driveways from all that wind? Will we need to call before heading up this weekend?

The guys try to do all the driveways as needed but surely, call the office to let us know you are coming and when, so there can be a note made for the plow guys.

A cold Saturday did have quite a few out on the big lake. We didn’t hear of too many good catches. “Lots of small perch and some Tullibees” were common.

Off road travel is fine as the snow pack is shrinking and hard. This past week saw effects of the rain and melting period a few days back. Many of the big houses were frozen in, even though it wasn’t from actual sagging ice flooding. It can take several hours to break one big house loose, so make sure things are blocked high enough, even though looking from the inside of the holes on the skids, looks fine. The heavy winds did drift around the houses and added enough weight in some places to do some actual flooding too.

More and better fishing reports to follow soon, we hope. The forecast is for a warm weekend on the way! That should allow for more mobile anglers and add up to more fish being caught next week.

In a nutshell, or 8 inch augered hole, fishing reports are slow. We are moving some rentals in search of better results.

We’re running into quite a few houses that need blocking bad so be sure you are on that detail soon, if need be, or it will only get tougher when breaking things loose before the end of the season.

Ice travel is fine in every direction! No troubles for any kind of 4×4’s. Nice temps the rest of the weekend and next weekend should be much better for hunting down some active fishing grounds,we hope.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has been using our ice access, our rentals and lodging the past few weeks.

Thanks Red Door for giving us the heads up concerning the flooding problems with the perms. I had my shack blocked with the runners sitting 6 1/2 inches above the ice. When I got there on wednesday, the runners were froze in about 1 inch from the bottom. Thats alot of pooling under the house. I realize that everyones house is different depending on size, weight, and location, but being forwarned, I was prepared to deal with it.( Jacks, spud bars, steel shovels, extra blocking, etc.) It was a real treat just chipping through the banking. Good Luck.

just found your post we did not even know that red door had a post on here,this should be very helpfull in the future. thanks from shack 126.

Mcrew,

Spread the word! Yes, we’re on here ALL year around. As often as needed or as new info is ready for reporting to you all.

Will the coming snow miss the big lake? Or will the 10″ predicted for west of here swing farther east? Stay tuned! For the weekend fishing reports as well as the snow effects.

glad to find a report from red door my brothers are there right now now. i will also give a report on monday, the boy is eating his hat right now being that harvic won the race and stewart took 9th.I would rather be there fishing.

Our area has about 2 inches of fresh snow from the past 24 hours. A pretty stiff east wind has drifted in the ice roads and built drifts around the fish houes with the light, fluffy snow. One could assume the added snow drift weight could add some minor flooding again. As we said last week, make sure your house is up off the ice.

Stay tuned for weekend fishing reports as we hear them in the next day or two.

A short cold snap this week looks like it will turn into a nice warm stretch for the last part of the ice season.

THANK YOU to everyone who visited us this past week!

The lake got about 2-3 inches of new snow from the past front. Heavy east winds drifted things in pretty well though. Big north winds yesterday slowed the plowing process but should be better for clearing roads today. Cross country drinving with 4×4’s is still a go but a shovel is a must and a watchful eye for bigger drifts is key as well.

If you are coming to Red Door in the next day or two or for the coming weekend, and have a perm house we pull, it would be smart to call the office and let us know. That way we can get your driveway on list as a priority.

Fishing reports, although few, have been included some walleye limits. Some local anglers have done well the past couple days. Both on the flats and along the shoreline related areas. Fish smokers are happy with the tullibees being caught in good numbers off the deep edges of most mid-lake mudflats.

All the plowing from the wind driven light snow earlier in the week is completed.

Fishing reports from during the week are few but some reported fair catches, while other still reported very slow action. Several anglers had some good keeper perch action off the south end of the Matton Flat this week. Tullibees continue to jerk on the baits off the deep edges of the mid lake mud flats and some flats closer to shore as well. Wax worms on small to mid size shiney sppons works best. From 3 to 15ft. off bottom. Walleye action has been slow for most, however one local had a nice keeper limit Tuesday evening off the edge of the rocks. One house had 5, 2 keepers and 3 too big on the Bombeck early in the week, late afternoon, on top of the flat.

Weather looks fine. Cloudy but light winds should allow good travel and comfort while roaming the big lake.

Be sure to block the houses if need be! The wind built more weight around the houses and some light flooding has taken place. Some have not done so and are now spending 2-3 hours to get it out, up and off the ice again.

See soon! THANKS!!

The big north winds are finally diminished and the guys are plowing the drifts away.

Fishing reports were spotty again. Many reported seeing walleyes on the camera’s that wouldn’t bite but some houses landed 2-4 keepers. One 28 incher was reported. The Tullibees continue to offer fast action in the deep water, mostly along the mid lake mud flats but there is a big school nw of the Resort Flat a few hundred yards as well.

The big houses are gradually coming off the ice as the season winds down. No big snow storms are in sight so things should end without too much trouble with flooding etc. Generally, it’s been as good a winter as one could ask for with ice making temps and snowfalls average or below average.

The snow machine trails seem to be holding up well, even though new snow has been hard to find for grooming.

THANK YOU to everyone who visited us this past weekend as we look forward to seeing you all before the end of the winter season again.

All the huffing and puffing by both the plow trucks and guys is done. The last of the houses are now on dry ground.

Our access will remain open for road passes, as long as conditions allow. Any changes will be posted here.

THANK YOU to everyone who visited and made The Red Door your Lake Mille Lacs winter destination. We truly appreciate your patience, when at times we can use, and your loyalty. We look forward to seeing many of you this spring when the water turns blue.

Next? The sap run.

Get the sugar shack ready baby! Tap the trees, then go out fishing, fresh maple syrup for breakfast the next AM. MMMMM